Hannah Morgan

Summary Sunday

Summary Sunday is a collection of posts from my reader and tweets.  There really is no rhyme or reason for their being selected...they just caught my eye.  There is a lot of good advice out there.

 

Alternative Personal Branding Books from Brand-Yourself.com

• If you are looking for a good book to read on Personal Branding, this post has picked the top 5 (they are on my reading list too). 

Fight Back! Five Blogs for Better Networking! from UpMo

• Perhaps you are looking for networking advice/help/insight.  Here are some suggestions of blogs to read.

Personal Branding.tv from Reach Personal Branding (by William Arruda et al)

• There is a brand new website for video help for your career management.

The New Career "Normal" = Get Reckless

• From CAREEREALISM, JT O'Donnell interviews Seth Godin...this says it all in my mind.  Worth watching!

Avoid these 9 Cold Call Mistakes from Cold Calling Master Class

• Looking for help making cold calls?  This is written by a sales professional for sales professionals, which we all must become.

3 Common Mistakes Made By Job Seekers

If you are about to embark on a search for a new job, either by force or by choice, make sure you avoid these mistakes. You are going to need to use a different approach from the last time you looked.

#1 Be clear about what you are looking for

Don't just tell people you are looking for a new job.  They probably don't know how to help you find one either.   Be specific, even if you aren't sure. 

"I am pursuing a new job.  I think I would like to try something different and I have always wanted to be a teacher.  Could I get your advice on related careers you may see me in?"

"I would like your help.  I want to work for a company like ABC.  What do you know about them?"

If you are sure, then provide your listener with focus to best help you.

"As I look for a new physicist position, I would like your help in finding connections within optics or laser companies in the area.  When would be a good time to sit down?"

#2 Don't spend all your time on-line

It is easy to get lured into the on-line job boards.  Don't fall for that.  The majority of jobs are secured through networking contacts.  Limit the amount of time you spend hiding behind your computer.  Also, make sure that you are not logged in during the hours of 9am-5pm.  That is prime time for connecting with people in person.  

#3 Customize your resume for each job you apply for

It takes time to customize and re-order the bullets under your work history, however, you want to make sure the employer is seeing the correct/relevant examples of your experience in order to see how you'll be a fit.  If it isn't on the resume, the employer doesn't know about it. 

You may think the cover letter explains it all...however, not every person reads a cover letter.  It is a personal preference.  Yes, write one, but don't expect it to explain what your resume doesn't address about why you are qualified for the job.

There are plenty of other areas for improvement, but those are three of the most important.  Here are some other suggestions for starting your search off correctly.

• Get on LinkedIn and make sure your profile is complete and that you have over 50 really solid connections.
• Develop a marketing plan and identify 50+ target companies
• Practice your answers to interview questions starting today
• Don't be a solution to every one's problems, know what you are good at and stay focused
• Research companies and learn
• Invest in professional development
• Attend professional associations
• Become involved in volunteer groups that align with your values

Finding your next job will take longer than you want.  Some of that is out of your control.  Have a good plan and follow it, but don't forget to assess the results.  If it isn't working, try something different or read Why Isn't My Job Search Working?

Job Seekers Aren't Networking

The facts are the facts.  Most job seekers are not networking...efficiently.  Nurturing your contacts and building new connections has to start before you need it, yet that message still isn't being heard.  Many newly unemployed job seekers have no idea where or how to start their job search. 

UpMo has compiled two recent surveys that state just this. 

The first study highlights (full summary here):

• Sporadic communication: Job seekers only talk to—or email—an average of 8 people outside of their current organization on a monthly basis.

• Failure to expand the circle: Job seekers are reluctant to ask for introductions, with fewer than 4-in-10 (38%) asking for an introduction in the past month.

• Small networks: On average, job seekers have a network with of just 29 colleagues, defined as peers they have interacted with in the last 18-24 months.
  
• Misplaced priorities: Jobs seekers say spend 68% of their time is spent looking at online job postings—and less than one-third of their time reaching out to others.

The second study highlights (full post here):

• Are ill-prepared for the job hunt: Only 3-in-10 feel “very confident” or “extremely confident” that they could use their network to land a job within 30 days if suddenly laid off.

This isn't true for many of the job seekers I know.  They have become very active, and I think they will remain active networkers. 

Let's spread the word.  Let all your employed friends know that networking is the new job search.  Start today.

Our Professional and Personal Lives are Blending

Sharing information is a personal value of mine.  I hope that by sharing information that people reading it or hearing it will come up with solutions or new approaches or innovation of some sort that will improve how we all are doing things. 

This week, I was hit over the head by some information and it forced me to think about the advice I've been giving job seekers.  Previously, I've held the belief that a job seeker needs to fit into the employer mold.  Well, kind of.  The job seeker needs to give the employer what they are looking for and my recommendation has always been to keep your personal stuff, personal. 

However, personal and professional seems to blur a lot lately.  Sometimes it is difficult to draw the line.  Is the fact that I am a mother relevant to my future employer?  No, not unless my new employer is an advocate of families or mothers.  But it is a crime to let people know I am a mother?  I used to believe the answer was almost yes.  If you are confused, I am too. 

Social media or change in societal norms is changing my outlook.  What I mean is, you see and hear people sharing both their professional and personal stuff on social media.  Is that wrong?  The old me says yes, the new me says, I don't know.

Chris Brogan is in the forefront of social media.  If you take one look at his blog, you will see the blending going on.  He merges professional and personal.  Please, go read Chris Brogan.  I think it is partially fair to say that this merging/blending of the two is how we start building trust.  Trust is key to building relationships.

What really got me thinking was this post my friend (Mike Lally) forwarded to me.  It is an interview with Seth Godin by J.T. O'Donnell.  Seth is a great thinker.  Here are some of the topics Godin brings up:

• You’ve Been Brain-Washed & Seduced…It’s Time to Fight Back!
• Why Career Labeling Stinks & What to Do About It
• Older Generations: Safe Doesn’t Cut It Anymore
• Get Fearless, Get Reckless

So what this post is really about is understanding how and maybe why things are different today.  We all want to succeed, but we need to understand that perhaps the rules are changing.  Perhaps our definition of success needs to be re-evaluated.  Perhaps our goals are no longer realistic in today's world. 

We can't change the world, we can adapt.

Why Do Job Seekers Obsess Over Their Resumes?

How many people have actually been hired because they had a kick a** resume?  Really?  Did the new boss actually say, "the reason I hired you was because your resume was excellent"? 

The resume can be a door opener.  Can be.  But it depends on so many things. 

• Does it meet the personal preferences of that individual?  Everyone likes to see different styles of resumes. 
• Has it demonstrated you have the exact skills and more importantly background and experience they are looking for?  Or that they think they are looking for?
• Did it get enough key word hits from their resume reading software? 
• Did the intern or new HR recruiter understand what you were talking about?  Will they forward it along?

In many cases, a referral or personal endorsement, is the reason your resume got read or pulled from the stack of hundreds.  This referral may actually be the only reason you were called in for an interview. 

Hiring decisions are made during the interview.  No matter what your resume says, it is your performance during the interview that either moves you forward or not. 

So what will your strategy be to get yourself prepared for the interview?  Do you rehearse?  Do you practice in front of a mirror or video camera?

Most new job seekers ask for help with their resumes. WRONG. WRONG.  WRONG.  They need help in assessing their strengths and developing a marketing plan which will guide their networking activities.  Then they need to begin learning about the needs of their target companies.  Only after these things have been done is the job seeker ready to write a document that addresses the specific needs of those companies.  This is called Marketing .  

It is my contention that if job seekers put twice as much effort into self assessment and market research (instead of obsessing over their resumes) they would be a great deal more active and productive.

Twitter Replaces Job Boards?

TweetDeck's recent news (read article from ClickZ) about partnering with TwitJobSearch is a sign. A sign that we seek a quick solution to finding a job.  There are millions of tweets every day and many are by recruiters and employers leveraging this medium to find suitable candidates.  It weeds out those who do not "speak" social media.  It weeds out those who are not up on technology.  It weeds out people period. 

While this is an interesting phenomenon, posting jobs on Twitter, it is still focusing on the old, old, old model.  Post a job to find a candidate.  The newer model is, find someone you know and trust and hire them.  But, this isn't a new model at all.  Most high level/high profile jobs have always been filled this way.  When was the last time you saw a CEO job posting on Monster? 

Twitter's real power is that it allows us, me and you, to meet new people-  people we may not have an opportunity to interact with otherwise.  On LinkedIn, it is very hard to enter into a discussion with someone you do not know or are not connected to.  This is not true of Twitter.  You can enter into conversation with almost anyone, therein lies its power.

Most jobs are filled through networking.  You don't like to network or you don't know how.  Therefore, it is taking you longer to find a job.  Stop searching the postings.  A very small percentage of people actually secure a job from solely applying for a job online.  So why the big fuss over TweetDeck's new incorporation of job tweets?   It is because no one has been able to quantify or qualify networking well enough to make it easier to find opportunities.  It is far easier to chase the postings. 

What this is all pointing to is that in order to manage your career, you must embrace technology and incorporate Twitter into your networking strategy.  Have a plan. Choose to follow people wisely.  Look for great thinkers and movers and shakers in your industry. 

The @InterviewAngel has a great post with advice on how to brand yourself on Twitter.  20 Tips for Building Your Brand on Twitter.

Here are some other good posts about using Twitter: 

How to Best Use Twitter Lists for Job Search from JobMob

Stop Asking for Informational Interviews

Personal Branding, Who Needs It?

What is personal branding anyway?  Wikipedia says:

Personal branding is the process whereby people and their careers are marked as brands (Lair, Sullivan & Cheney 2005).

Who needs it?  We all need it.  Today, more than ever before.  But it shouldn't be fake.  It has to be genuine- real- authentic. And even if you are "just looking for a new job" you need it too!

Jason Alba posted this slideshow on his blog the other day.  It does a great job of defining what it is and how to define and build your brand.  (sluggish at times, be patient).  Brand You: Personal Branding.

(Great work Kristian Anderson)

If you are looking for more information on personal branding, there are some gurus who write about it.  It seems every one is writing about it, because it is a critical component of career management and job search.  You can say you don't need it.  You can say it doesn't apply to you. However, it is real and it IS for everyone.  

Dan Schwabel:  Personal Branding Blog

Tom Peters, The Brand Called You, from Fast Company from 1997

Collection of Personal Branding Articles from QuintCareers

Reach Personal Branding Newsletter from William Arruda

Executive Resume Branding (and more)

Summary Sunday

Summary Sunday is a collection of posts from blogs, newsletters and other resources that I have come across and would like to share with job seekers and those trying to manage their careers.  My hope is that you will find a new blog or source of information that you will begin to follow.  (I am teaching you how to fish). 

This week's summary begins with the post from Career Collective.  This is a group of talented resume writers, branding experts and career coaches that provides their collective ideas on a particular question.  I am honored to be included with this talented group.  I hope you take time to read these posts...the question for the month of January was,"What can a job seeker do to make the most of 2010?"

Your search for a job is a major project and therefore requires project management skills.  One of those is mapping out your activities.  Most job seekers balk at the idea of tracking their search efforts.  They don't see the purpose.  Hopefully this post from CareerRocketeer will provide a new framework to see the importance.  Plan and Execute Your Job Search Using Gantt Charts

I truly enjoy Nick Corcodilos' straight-forward approach.  I am hoping that everyone reading this next post takes away a perspective on the darn resume.  "How to Apply for a Job: The Working Resume" is from Ask the Headhunter.

Scot Herrick's Blog post "The Most Important Factor in Deciding to Stay or Leave a Job", offers a very good perspective on how to decide whether to stay or leave a job while inserting great thoughts about the "new world of work" (a job isn't for a lifetime).  

If you are looking for insight on how social media is being used (by everyone), subscribe to SmartBrief on Social Media.  Here is a link to the most clicked articles. 

Branding isn't just for those who are career-minded.  Even if you are just looking for a job, you need to understand your reputation and image.  This monthly newsletter is filled with ideas and suggestions and thoughts.  Reach Personal Branding Newsletter 

Thanks for reading!  Remember, if you like something, share! 

Depression and Job Search

I am not a mental health professional, therefore, I am not qualified to offer help in this area.  However, what I know and what I see is that there are a lot, A LOT, of people who are depressed due to their long-term unemployment (LTU is what I'll call this disease).  It is treatable.  It is even curable.  The treatment and cure require visits to a mental health professional and that costs money. 

One of the other bi-products of LTU is that health insurance coverage can lapse due to the cost. 

Here we have a double-whammy, can't get the help because you're unemployed and can't afford it.  It just isn't right. 

Here is my plea to the mental health community, offer clinics for mental health help for the unemployed.  Heck, partner with the Dept of Labor if you need official documentation of unemployment.  Offer group therapy in suburban areas where the professional unemployed numbers run high.  This depression is not just a problem for the poor, but also for the wealthy, who are having a much harder time adjusting to the stigma of not having a job.

As we look at the less than positive outlook for jobs in our country, we must invest in helping them cope with this LTU disease.  It is going to be a year or two before it is predicted to be better.  That is a long time.  

What can be done to offer affordable mental and physical health care to the unemployed?  There are answers.  We just need to get creative and not wait for government to figure it out. 

There are resources in every community for emergency services, food cupboards, counseling, etc.  Ask around and you will start figuring it out.  Unfortunately, it isn't always so easy. 

Be a "Giver", Not a Job Seeker

Instead of focusing your sights on the dream job or any job for that matter, focus instead on being a "giver" or "sharer". 

Here's an example:  A woman attended a professional group made up of community agencies.  She is a job seeker, but did not introduce herself as one.  Instead, she introduced herself as an HR professional and circulated her business cards.  She offered her HR expertise to those in the room, not as a job seeker, as a giver.  Her message and her intent caught the attention of some of the attendees.  No one is sure what will happen next, but it could be the beginning of something.  You just never know.

When you focus too much on FINDING A JOB, a strange and sometimes un-attractive aura begins to follow you.  Leach, mooch, desperate, entitled, over qualified, user or loser are tags I have heard and, dare I admit, even used myself to describe some job seekers.  I know they don't mean to be perceived as such.  Maybe they have no idea.  However, the perceived becomes reality.  

On many occasions I have heard job seekers declare "I won't network with other unemployed people".  How incredibly short sided.  Networking, with anyone, is of value as long as you have a goal in mind.  Sharing could be that goal. 

• Who do you know who could help someone else? 
• What insight can you provide on your industry or occupation?
• Have you heard about a job that might be good for someone else?
• Have you read a good book or article that is worth sharing?
• What resource(s) have you found helpful?

Sharing and giving builds trust.  It makes you likable.  It is sometimes so rare, it makes you memorable.  

In the spirit of sharing, I came across this news that SimplyHired.com has some new functionality to their site.  Here is the article (from Search Engine Watch).  This is a small excerpt from the article:

"Simply Hired has also added a "Share" feature that easily enables searchers to share job listings with their networks on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn - as well as through email. This is an easy way to shoot out a message to social networks to find contacts and referrals."

Can you let me know if any of this works?  Add a comment and share!

The Year of the Tiger

2010 is the Year of the Tiger (officially starting February 14).  There are certain qualities and abilities the tiger possess that you will want to emulate this year. 

ADAPTABILITY

The tiger, as a species, can be found in the most northern and most southern climates.  It is highly adaptable.  Flex your adaptability as you consider new climates and cultures of work- large to small, for profit to non-profit- expand your territory. Also learn new skills that will allow you to survive.

KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS

Tigers can't run fast for very long, therefore, they chose to ambush their prey.  They know what they are good at and they leverage that.  You too have strengths you can capitalize on.  You must start with knowing what you are good at.  

ACT QUICKLY & WITH PURPOSE

Cats stalk their prey.  They watch and quickly plan their attack.  Why?  Because they need to eat.  Be tiger-like as you investigate and plan your attack on target companies.  Pursue these targets with the determination of a hungry tiger.  Be persistent, be swift.  

BE "TIGGERLY"

Remember Tigger from Winnie-the-Pooh? Tigger was cheerful and outgoing.  Embrace these qualities. 

Honor the Year of the Tiger by emulating the best qualities of this well-recognized animal. 

As a member of a new community of resume writers and career coaches called the Career Collective,this post is one of many responses to ideas and concrete steps to secure your future in a changed economy.  I encourage you to visit other members' responses, linked below. Please follow our hashtag on Twitter: #careercollective.

 

@KCCareerCoach, Career Chaos, “The Art of Being Gracious: Much Needed in Today’s Job Search,”

@MartinBuckland, Elite Resumes,  Career Trends and Transition 2010

@heathermundell, life@work, Kaizen and the Art of Your Job Search

@barbarasafani, Career Solvers, Looking Into the 2010 Careers Crystal Ball

@resumeservice, Resume Writing Blog, The Resume and Your Social Media Job Search Campaign

@kat_hansen,  Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters Tips Blog, New Year: Time to Assess Yourself and Your Career

@keppie_careers, Keppie Careers, Help for job seekers in a rut

@heatherhuhman, HeatherHuhman.com, Job seekers: 5 tips for making the most of 2010

@DawnBugni, The Write Solution, Ya, but

@ErinKennedyCPRW, Professional Resume Services, Advice to Job Seekers in 2010–learn Yoga?

@Chandlee, The Emerging Professional Blog, Starfish, JobAngels, and Making a Difference

@ValueIntoWords, Career Trend, Is Your Job Search Strategy a Snore?

@debrawheatman, Resumes Done Write, Making the most of a new year

@walterakana, Threshold Consulting, Starting anew – tips for truly managing your career

@careersherpa, Hannah Morgan: Career Sherpa, The Year of the Tiger

@WorkWithIllness, WorkingWithIllness.com, Dogs Can Do It, Can You?

@JobHuntOrg, Job-Hunt.org, Lifelong Learning for Career Security

@AndyInNaples, Career Success, What Are You Getting Better At? Make This the Year You Become the Best You Can Be!

@GLHoffman, What Would Dad Say, A Flash of the Blindly Obvious

Martin Luther King Jr. So Far Ahead of His Time

Martin Luther King Jr. day  was more than just a day off from work and school.  I hope you found a way to honor what he stood for.  He was so much more than a civil rights activist.  He spoke about the historic past, the immediate present and the distant future.  His words were and still are incredibly powerful and ring just as true today as they did when he first spoke them. 

In his blog, the M.A.P. Maker, Curt Rosengren wrote a wonderful piece on how to incorporate MLK's concepts into your every day life.  Rosengren asks solid, thought-provoking questions to move you forward in becoming all you can be.  

"History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people."

This quote still rings true today.  Don't  be silent.  It is your day to do what you believe in.

Technology Is No Longer A Separate Division

We now live in a world where we have to be technically savvy.  IT departments really don't help us with the basics any longer.  We are expected to know how to access our email from home, know how to connect a wireless hub to our home network, research the most recent tools we supposedly can't live without, set security levels, firewalls, etc, use Smart phones/iPhone/Blackberry/Droids and the list goes on.

At home and in the workplace, new technology is at our disposal.  We have to learn what will be the best solutions for us, based on facts not fear.

Never fear, there are resources.  The best resources generally are free, they are your friends or co-workers who love to use the most recent gadgets.  They also enjoy giving advice and helping.  Tap into their expertise.  On-line you can find user groups and even use Google to find answers to your questions. 

If you don't know how to use LinkedIn, ask!  There are free resources available. 

If you don't know how to keep track of versions of your resume, ask.

If you don't know how to create alerts on job boards, ask.

If you don't know how to use Skype, ask.

This is just the tip of the technology iceberg for job seekers.  It can be overwhelming.   Break the iceberg down into manageable pieces.  Prioritize.

Learning this new technology can demonstrate to employers your ability to learn new things, be adaptable and even resilient.

For a job seeker, a thorough resource to begin with is Job-hunt.org.

There is also a robust tool available called jibberjobber.  It helps you keep track of your vast network and job opportunities.  And so much more.

Don't plead ignorance, claim mastery!

Loss- A Time for Reflection

The loss of a job.  The loss of a family member.  Divorce.  These endings are bitter sweet.  They mark the end of life as we knew it.  They also create new opportunities and open a new chapter in our lives.

There are predictable emotions that we all must go through after a loss.  Elizabeth Kubler-Ross wrote about them and I described them here.  While going through these emotions, I hope you take the time to reflect on what you've learned.  Ask what you've loved doing.  Ask yourself what you want to be known for.  Muddle these answers around in your head for awhile. Share the answers with friends and family.  Out of the past comes our future and there is most certainly a bright light for you to move toward.

I am finally ready to write this post.  My father, whom we called Pop, passed away in early January. He was and always will be my moral compass, mentor, biggest fan, and hero.  As I cope with his loss, I've been reflecting on his life.  Sympathy cards flood the mailbox with wonderful memories from the many people who's lives he touched.  They've called him a connector, they've said he could light up a room, they've recalled how he loved to tell jokes and stories.  Yes, all these are true.  They all stem from his love and interest of people.  He could and would start conversations with anyone.  His interest in other people is his legacy.  

Professionally, Pop was a search consultant, ie executive recruiter. He found high level executives for high profile companies. His love of people created his vast network which allowed him to be successful in his profession.  He wasn't always a recruiter, but that innate talent for building and nurturing relationships was his niche.  He knew what he was good at and he stayed true to that.

I am grateful for the lessons he taught me.  I am sad he won't be around to teach me more.  Yet, as I reflect on what he loved doing and what he was known for and what he wanted to be known for, there is a consistency.  He was true to his calling and his values.  

As you grieve the loss of your job, don't you owe it to yourself to reflect on your past.  Take from those experiences the consistent pieces and map out your legacy, personally and professionally.  It is not the end.  It is the beginning.

Thank you Pop.

Thank You Goes A Long Way

I had a job seeker ask yesterday if he should send a thank you letter for his first interview, even though he has a second interview lined up.  Anyone want to guess what my answer was? 

ALWAYS send a thank you.  Even if you get a rejection.  Thank you goes a long way. Remember, managing your career is about managing relationships.  Do you think you would want to know this person who makes hiring decisions to remember you?

Three simple paragraphs are all you need:

Opening

The opening can be where you initially say thank you.  Try and grab them by saying something nice about them or their company or the people you met or the job.  Flattery, when sincere, is a good thing.

Relevant Points

This paragraph can be used to connect the dots for the employer about why you are a great fit for the job, be specific but precise.  Use intelligence you gathered from the interview.   If you fumbled a question or you think you could give a better answer, this should be where you tackle it.

Closing

Your closing paragraph will thank them again and make reference to the next steps.

Will you email this or send it snail mail?  That depends on the time frame for the next steps and who you are sending it to.  There is nothing wrong with sending a brief email and then following it up with a hard copy in the mail.

Most Hiring Managers or recruiters will tell you that they receive very few thank you letters.  Some say fewer than 5% of job seekers send thank yous.  It is an easy way to set yourself apart and sell your interest in the position. 

I know you want to see samples so here are two resources I respect:

Quintessential Careers Sample Thank You Letters

Alison Doyle's About.com Thank You Letter Samples

LinkedIn Help

If you are looking for a job, you've probably heard of LinkedIn.  If you aren't looking for a job now, you might possibly need to in the future. Now is the time to invest in maximizing your LinkedIn connections.

This one tool is probably all you need to connect with new people and promote your brand.  Sure, there are other tools out there, but if you are feeling overwhelmed, just master this one.  It has the biggest bang for the buck.  Over 90% of Hiring Managers and recruiters are using this tool to find or research you. 

First:  Build your profile

Second: Learn the rules

Third: Invest time in using the tool

Building your profile requires thought

What do you want to be known for?  How will you show it?  There are great resources for building your profile.  Here are just a few.

Executive Branding and Your LinkedIn Profile from Executive Resume Branding

Profiles from the LinkedIn Learning Center

How to: Build your personal brand from Mashable and Dan Schwabel

LinkedIn Etiquette

The Best LinkedIn Invitations from CareerRocketeer

The 20 Most Common LinkedIn Mistakes from Executive Resume Branding

Invest Time and Use the LinkedIn

LinkedIn from JobMob

100+ Smart Ways to Use LinkedIn from Linked Intelligence

The Awesome Power of Linked-In from The Executive Brand

Problem with LinkedIn Account from Susan Ireland’s Job Lounge

LinkedIn Maintenance: Do This Right Now (or else?) from Jibber Jobber Blog

Log Off Your Computer

My computer was broken, leaving me without one for almost a week.  What an odd experience that was.  I couldn't look up phone numbers or information.  I felt disconnected because I couldn't get on Twitter.  I couldn't check email or blog.  As inconvenient as this was, it did force me to do things differently.

In talking with a colleague we thought it would be interesting to ask job seekers to go without logging into their computers and smart phones for a few days to see what happens.  Anyone up for that challenge?  

Part of the logic for asking you not to log in is that it will force you to do things differently- change behavior.  Frequently, this is what needs to happen with your job search anyway.  Remember the old adage "If you continue to do the same things, you will continue to get the same results"!  

It is so easy to hide behind the computer.  Job search is not about applying to jobs on-line.  It is about meeting people and building relationships.  This is possible to do on-line, however, my hunch is that you aren't really doing that.  This challenge is about finding new solutions and it is asking you to be proactive. These are some of the behaviors that might change by going without a computer for several days:

• You stop sending emails to strangers and hoping for a response.
• You stop checking email every 15 minutes hoping there is an invitation to an interview
• You stop searching the job boards for the perfect job
• Instead of Googling for an answer, you pick up the phone and speak with a person

Unplugging can be frustrating. But remember life before computers?  What did we do?  It is about building RELATIONSHIPS!  

Let me know if you try logging off and what happens. 

Summary Sunday

So here we are in a brand new year, 2010!  There have been a lot of posts on resolutions; how to make them, how to stick with them.  I don't really like resolutions, per se.  Here are my favorite posts about making decisions or doing this job search thing better.  You can find your own resolutions from these.

3 Motivation Keys by Career Goddess

A Fresh Start in Your Job Search for the New Year from CareerRocketeer

LinkedIn Taglines by Recruiting Animal

Introducing Confidence Marketing from Spin Strategy

How to write a Bio and Why You Should from Brand-Yourself.com

3 Job Strategies to Get it Right in 2010 from Cube Rules

Cover Letters Are We Thin-Slicing Recruiting? from Recruiting in 3D

Top Job Search Books by Alison Doyle from About.com 

Top 6 Employer/Recruiter Work Magnets from Job-Hunt.org

Give Your Job Search the One-Two Punch

Have you ever wondered why you haven't heard back from a job you posted for?  What about that "hot" lead that turned frigidly cold?  Why are things just not happening in your job search?  A quick analysis may indicate that you've only taken the first step, you need to move on to step two, or as the post title implies, the one-two punch.

There is a lot of competition for jobs right now.  It only makes sense that you are going to have to do more than ever before to be the selected candidate for a job.  I am not necessarily talking about slick gimmicky things, just invest some sweat equity.

Here are some one-two punches you may not be using:

• Find a job on-line. Find an inside connection.
• Make a phone call, don't leave a message.  Call back at another time to connect live.
• Send an email. Follow up regularly if you don't hear back.
• Someone offers to forward your resume.  Take on the task yourself if possible.
• You are given a name of a contact. Follow up immediately.
• Interview.  Send a thank you.
• Someone says No.  Ask why.
• Create a LinkedIn profile. Use the darn tool.

Don't fall into the trap of only going half way with the tasks.  The next time you think you've done all you can do, ask yourself, "what else could I do?" or better yet, ask someone you trust.  You know the right answers.  Well, at least in most cases.  The new rules for job search...

• Do more.
• Be proactive.
• Take action.
• Be accountable.
• Be in control.

LinkedIn Is More than Just Your On-line Resume

Plugging your resume into your LinkedIn profile won't get you the results you are looking for.  You need to USE LinkedIn, not just while you are in job search mode, but even after you've secured your new job.  It is a rich resource with the ability to connect you to the answers you need in your next job.

Once you've secured your new position you should update your profile with your new job title and company and a bit about what you'll be doing.  But don't stop there.

Add to your network

Find new co-workers on LinkedIn and invite them to connect with you. But never, ever use the generic invite that LinkedIn provides.  Personalize it.  CareerRocketeer posted about LinkedIn invitations here.

Easily nurture your network

You know how hard it is to meet people initially.  Once you've met it takes work to stay connected. Thus the power of LinkedIn.  You will be forever connected.  Post an update every once in awhile.  The update can be exciting news about a new project, you could share the link to a great article or news.  When someone you knows gets a new job, congratulate them.  Skim through the updates and see what's going on with people you know. See what events they are attending, what they are reading and doing.  Take a minute and email them. Show interest in what other people are doing.

Join Groups and Discussions

If you haven't done so already, join professional groups related to your occupation or industry.  There are thousands of groups.  If it seems overwhelming to search the directory, try viewing the profiles of industry movers and shakers or people in your profession to see which groups they belong to.

Being employed and being in a group is a great way to learn about topics or issues of interest.  In discussions you may be able to learn or share information.  (Hey, that's part of networking). 

The other benefit to being in a group is that you are able to connect directly with people who are in that group without having to personally know them.  That is assuming that you write a great personalized invitation explaining why you want to connect.

Q&A

Browse the Q&A section.  If you want to be known for something, provide an answer to a question. If you are looking for an answer, it may be there.  You can search by topic or keyword.  Chances are, that someone else is struggling with some of the same issues you are.  Why not collaborate or recycle their solutions.

Help spread the word to employed individuals of the power of LinkedIn.  The more people who use it and understand it, the richer it becomes. 

Move Yourself Along

Are you stuck?  Are you lingering?  Is your job search stuck in a rut? 

I've been thinking that job search is 90% mental and 10% physical.  What is the real reason your search is not moving along?  Is it because you aren't doing it?  Then what is it you aren't doing?  Why aren't you doing it?  Is it scary, frustrating, depressing?  Are these the real reasons behind your being stuck?

Finding an "accountability partner" is a great way to move yourself along.  You just need to find someone you trust to provide honest feedback.  Set a time to meet with them regularly and hold to it.  Your meeting time with them should be productive. Use a weekly agenda to guide the conversation.  The agenda may include:

• What did I accomplish this week?
• How much time did I put in?
• What were my challenges/obstacles this week?
• What are my three goals for next week?

No complaining.  Use the facts.  Take the emotions out of it.

If you begin to look objectively at your job search, you most likely will find a way out of the black hole.  No problem is insurmountable.  You will find a new job.  It is just taking longer than you want and it is a lot more work.

Make 2010 a year of no excuses.  As Nike says: "Just do it".  Stop second guessing.  Stop procrastinating. 

Being

Our time on this planet is short.  For some, shorter than others. 

Live life without regrets. 

Make decisions knowing that you made the right one, at least for now. 

Live a life you would want to be remembered for and be a person of integrity. 

In loving memory of my father, B. Scott Price. 

He will always be my guiding force and moral compass.  Thank you, Pop!

2010- A New Year Begins with Confidence

A New Year, a new you.  A New Year, a clean slate.  A New Year, a new job.  A New Year, a new beginning.  See how all these snippets are future oriented?  That's where we're headed. 

Building confidence is as easy as setting a course and moving towards it.  How do you set the course?  You will want to find the arena you feel best playing in.  What is that?  Where is that, you might be asking.  You already know, because you've done it before. 

1.  Recall the times in your life you've felt on top of the world-you knew what you were doing and you just felt great. 

2.  Next document those events.  Use STAR

Situation
Task
Actions
Result

3.  Now, looking at those actions you took, what were you doing?  Where were you doing them?  Who were you interacting with?

If you have more than one story documented, you can begin looking at the reoccurring themes.  Chances are quite great that you will see some sort of pattern or at least some overlap.

4.  Next, how can you recreate this?

One of the secrets to confidence is your ability to re-create your talents in a similar and/or new situation. 

Hopefully you had a fun-filled evening last night, surrounded by friends and family.  Ringing in the New Year has never been one of my favorite traditions.  The evening is setup with expectations that never seem quite met. But I love the thought of starting the New Year off right.  I've made my resolution or as my son said: "revolution".  I will be nicer to people this year.  Trite, perhaps, yet a huge order to fill.  I'll start off by trying to be other-centric.  I will help where I can.  Thus, today's post is to help a fellow job search blogger...Tim Tyrell-Smith.  He will be talking about confidence too. His blog, Spin Strategy is a must-read for any job seeker/career enthusiast. Tim also has a Spin Strategy LinkedIn group.  It is active and worth joining, so go now!