Twitter Personal Branding QA #3 What is Personal Branding, Should You Do It On Twitter, And More

Twitter Personal Branding QA #3 What is Personal Branding, Should You Do It On Twitter, And More 5 Recent questions people are asking on Twitter about personal branding. Download The Ultimate Twitter Job Search Guide What is a personal brand? Ryan Waters, @cwind, asked: Hey guys, what’s a personal brand and why should I protect it? A personal brand is the impression you want to leave on people, the way you want to be remembered. Everything you do and create to reinforce that impression is also part of your personal brand. Protecting your personal brand means protecting your investment in yourself. Most important part of a personal brand Benson Mensah-Bonsu, @bmbonsu, twittered: What is the most important part of your personal brand? Your capacity to convince people that you are what you say you are.Ideally, that means having an authentic personal brand, one that is just you being you. However, there are people who are quite capable of projecting a personal brand that is an act. My first reaction was to say ‘the quality of what you do’ but there are many examples of top-notch people who had to be “discovered” because they weren’t very good at marketing themselves i.e. building their personal brand. Personal branding on Twitter â€" a big no-no? Sara Hyléen, @SaraHyleen, asked: Is twitter good or bad for your personal brand? That all depends how you use Twitter, which is just a tool after all. If you use it consistently to build your brand by helping other people, answering questions, sharing links and building relationships with people in and out of your sphere of activity, Twitter will be very good for your personal brand. Should you only build your personal brand outside of work? Christine Perkett, @missusP, asked: Is buldng your own personal brand the new “moonlighting?” How do you keep it from interfering w/ day job? Love employee employer/HR views. As someone who has been both an employee and an employer, I can say that the response isn’t too different.An employee wants what’s best for them â€" which is fine â€" and an employer wants what’s best for the company. If it’s a good company, what’s best for the company is also best for the employees, so as long as your personal brand doesn’t involve activities detrimental to the company (even indirectly e.g. via incriminating photos on facebook or flickr), you shouldn’t have anything to worry about by continuing to build your personal brand.But perhaps your question is more about specific brand-building activities like blogging that require lots of time and as a result, might affect your performance at work. In that case there are a number of things you can do: Find a day job that overlaps with the personal brand you’re building. If you can’t or would prefer not to find such a job, then organize your time and your brand so that there’s minimal overlapping. For example, don’t use your work email address for social media profiles, and keep a tight schedule on your brand building outside of work. If even that is too challenging and you’re willing to spend some money for your branding, get a personal branding mentor to help design and manage your branding activities and/or outsource some of your branding activities so you don’t show up to work tired from another late night. The importance of avatars Dave Kirkwood, @SwimmingThrough, asked: Are avatars personal brand marks? If you’re consciously trying to build your personal brand, then yes, your avatar should be a personal brand mark and part of a larger strategy using your imagery on and offline. It doesn’t have to be exclusive though- you can still have a personal monogram or logo as well. Free Bonus Learn how to find use Twitter to find jobs quickly in the short-term and to attract jobs in the long-term.eval This free download contains sections on: How To Make Every Recruiter Jump To Hire You Which Key Tools Need to Be in Your Twitter Job Search Toolbox? An Easy Checklist to Follow Every Day Click the image below to get access to The Ultimate Twitter Job Search Guide: JobMob Insiders can get this free bonus and other exclusive content in the JobMob Insider Bonuses area. Join now, it's free! I originally published this article on the terrific Personal Branding Blog.eval Branded?

Military Experience - Writing a Resume Without References

Military Experience - Writing a Resume Without ReferencesIf you've been fortunate enough to be employed in the United States armed forces, you can count yourself among the lucky few who is writing a resume. The problem is that many applicants spend their time and effort on other parts of their lives, forgetting about their career prospects in the US Armed Forces. They forget to send out a copy of their military resumes as well as a copy of their current college transcripts.These letters of recommendation and credentials are instrumental in helping the recruiter or employer to understand how capable you are of completing basic jobs within the military. These letters should be carefully written, as some may not mention your record as a military service member. The average recipient of a letter is never aware of what the letter mentions, so it is critical that you have written your letter and included it with your resume. Recruiters will appreciate the assistance you are providing them. Although it is fairly easy to write your resume without any reference to your military career, it is usually very easy to talk about specific military skills. While in the military, you will learn a number of skills. As well as these, you will also acquire a lot of work experience. With this experience, you will be qualified for any job that may be available in the civilian world. A resume without referencing your military experience should never be used.There are many places to find military experience included with a resume. One way is to contact your branch of the military and ask them if they will include your military experience on your resume. Even though it may be difficult to get a full military reference, your recruiter will at least give you the opportunity to add in some of your military work experience.However, if your recruiter isn't readily willing to include the experience, you may have the ability to get it included in a personnel file. When the file is opened up, th e decision will be made by the chain of command, which will include an individual in the field. This person will decide if there is enough proof of your military experience to be added in your personnel file.Another option is to submit the resume and cover letter to a recruiter or employment department of your current civilian career. You may be surprised to learn that they are willing to add in your military experience. In most cases, they do not provide you with a list of references, but they are happy to include your military experience on your resume if they feel it will help you get the job. You may also want to request a letter from your commanding officer that will include your military experience.If you do not have any information to add into your military resume, then you are required to send a letter of reference along with your resume. These letters are generally not needed as your recruiter will write the letter himself or herself. However, it is suggested that you send a letter if you don't know where to send the resume, or if the recruiter is sending it to someone else.Writing a resume with no reference to your military experience can be difficult. If your recruiter doesn't give you the option to include it, make sure you send a letter to let them know that you would like to include it.

Day Jobs for Creative Poeple

Day Jobs for Creative Poeple Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'sudabwJ1QfJ5dr4DIxsqpA',sig:'DEhds1medenzGcketAiPUixDigQKUZY6qbuSyLObDAk=',w:'507px',h:'338px',items:'186480747',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); In my first post based on the book written by Carol Eikleberry, Ph.D, which is a career guide for creative and unconventional people, I discussed how challenging it can be for creative people making a living at their art. For most creatives, a day job is a necessity. There are a couple of schools of thought on how to decide where you put in your time to pay the bills. Eikleberry’s book is based on the Holland Self-Directed career assessment, which classifies jobs according to six basic types:  Realistic,  Investigative,  Artistic,  Social, Enterprising, and  Conventional. When you take the assessment, you get a primary and secondary result. Assuming artistic careers are your first interest, you could choose a job that uses your secondary interest. You’ll be more interested in your work, and the people who surround you at work will be more likely to share your work style. My secondary preference is enterprising jobs, which include management, sales and persuasion. Public relations, communications and journalism all fall into the enterprising category, so it’s not a surprise that I have a day job that I really enjoy and that keeps me challenged and engaged. The Holland model also gives you the career group that is least like your preference; you can use that to avoid jobs and organizations whose culture would drive you crazy. Your next option for choosing a day job is to choose to do conventional work in an artistic setting. You get the advantage of working with people who are making art and soaking up the culture and inspiration as a daily bonus. You could manage volunteer schedules for the community theater, for example, answer phones at a publishing house, raise funds for the symphony, wait tables or run the cash register in the museum’s cafeteria or gift store, or usher for the concert venue. If you choose to work around artists in your field, you may be more likely to improve your art or get your work noticed. If you work around artists in another field, you get the advantage of inspiration that may expand your artistic perspective. Either way, you’ll also get a glimpse of the business side of art, working around the people who make decisions about how art is commissioned, sold or displayed. Your third option for a day job is to take the most boring job you can imagine. Yes, you read that right. Albert Einstein, arguably one of the smartest men on the planet, subscribed to this theory. He, like many other powerful men, including Steve Jobs and President Obama, always wore the same thing to work. He chose a job that was so boring it gave him plenty of time to think about his scientific theories. The more mental energy you send on your day job, he reasoned, the less mental energy you have for what really matters. There are plenty of jobs that are repetitive and don’t require a lot of decision making or creative investment. You’ll still need to perform well, of course, but perhaps a job that doesn’t engage your creative energy is just what you need.

Your Job Search Gold Mine - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Your Job Search Gold Mine - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career I believe that virtually everyone in our society is underutilized. One of these days, I will explain what I mean in more detail. Until then, I want to touch on one not so small reason why I believe all of us are underdeveloped, underpaid, underopportunitied, and underaccomplished (Merriam-Webster, please forgive me) and how you can overcome some of  these limitations. You have a gold mine that can help you advance your career, find better opportunities, and increase your income. Your gold mine may be smaller or larger than mine, but in either case, it is an amazing resource. In this article, my intent is to help you better recognize and tap into it. What is it, you ask? It is the wealth of positive relationships you have developed over your lifetime. As mentioned in strategy #2 of Four Strategies for Your Job Search Networking, When you are fully prepared to start your (job search) campaign, begin with your best networking contacts. You can grow your network utilizing your existing relationships and “branch out” from there. Bob Burg, a nationally known speaker and networking guru, suggests you can define your best contacts as those who “know you, like you, and trust you. Recognizing you need to leverage your best relationships in your job search is one thing. Actually doing it is something else! Here are a few suggestions that can help you locate your gold mine and uncover the valuable nuggets it contains: Make a list of your best relationship contacts. Consider adding relatives, friends, co-workers, and bosses who you feel know you, like you, and trust you. Most clients who go through this process come up with at least 20, some over 50. Segregate the list into three groups (a) your strongest relationships that will help you know matter what you do, (b) your weaker relationships that may only give you one useful conversation, and (c) those in between. Your b group would include some of the highest, most important contacts you have. Establish an overall strategy as to how you will engage your contacts. For all that are local and it is practical to do, consider meeting one-on-one for coffee, breakfast, or lunch. Coffee tends to be the least expensive option. Start with your (a) contacts as you can practice on them and come back to them later if you forget things or need to meet a second time. Save your (b) contacts for when you have had enough practice and feel completely comfortable conducting your networking meetings. Define an agenda and objective for your meetings. A shorthand four-part agenda I recommend includes warming your contact up and showing sincere interest in them, seeking to identify ways to help your contact, shifting over to a discussion regarding how you would like your contact to help you, and closing the meeting with a recap of the action items that have been set for both of you. As noted in Fast Track Your Job Search (and Career!),  Your primary objective in networking for a new job is to gain warm referrals into companies of interest and this should be addressed specifically in the third stage of such meetings. Follow up and follow through. Act in a timely manner to insure that items are completed in a timely manner for their sake as well as yours. You have invested years of effort creating your gold mine of relationships. When you find yourself conducting a job search, those relationships can help you find the shortest path between where you are and where you want to be. That has the potential to bring you more personal development, income, opportunity, and accomplishments. I wish these things for you!

Resume Writing: How to Write a Successful Resume

Resume Writing: How to Write a Successful ResumeResume writing requires a large investment of time and effort. If your resume is not up to par, it could cost you the position that you are after. In order to get a job with any of the top management positions, you must have a job well done.There are many reasons why a person who has worked for one company will not be able to land a job at another. The person may have a poor interview style, they may not have a great academic record, or the person may not be suited for the job that they are interviewing for. By considering these factors, you can improve your chances of landing the job you are after.This does not mean that you have to change your work ethic. Resume writing involves writing a document that will get you the job you want. However, the process requires that you take the time to write an effective resume that is relevant to the position that you are applying for. A resume can be attractive if it is formatted in a way that mak es it easy to read and understand.While looking for the right job, you may wonder what kind of resume to write in order to get the job you want. It is important to remember that a resume is going to be reviewed by two different parties. These two parties are the interviewer and the employer. To make yourself stand out from the rest of the resumes that are presented to the employers, you need to be prepared to deliver a strong resume.Resume writing does not always have to be difficult. Many people do not realize that they have a large amount of selection when it comes to different styles of resume. By knowing what type of resume to write and the reasons why you need a resume that is formatted properly, you can save yourself a lot of time and effort.One of the most common types of resumes are the summary resumes. The summary resume is composed of sections that list your work history and educational background. Because the summary resume is shorter than a full length resume, it is ofte n used by both employers and employees.Another format of resume is the 'pre-screening' resume. The pre-screening resume usually consists of several sections that outline the duties that the person was hired to perform for the company that needs the person to fill a particular job position. By using this format, you can highlight some of the specific skills that you have that will be perfect for the job.Finally, there is the cover resume. The cover resume is composed of information about the individual that has been chosen to fill the position for the employer. Although this resume is the one that will get you the first interview, it is not the one that will get you the job. Employers choose the applicant that they feel best communicates what the employer is looking for in a candidate.

Hot Careers - Have you Thought about Consulting - CareerAlley

Hot Careers - Have you Thought about Consulting - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. For those looking to change their career and have thought about consulting, now may be the time for this hot career. Consulting firms generally look for subject matter expertise as well as project/program management skills when considering mid-career hires who dont have consulting experience. There are several ways you can approach consulting as a career alternative as an independent (working as a contractor for a consulting firm or directly for a client) or as a direct employee of a consulting firm. Ill review leads for both alternatives and some very high level pros and cons for each. Independent Consulting Contractor Pros: Allows independence as to clients and assignments you take. The per hour pay tends to be higher for independent contractors. You develop direct relationships with your clients which can be leveraged into additional assignments and introductions to other potential clients. Some expenses related to your role as an independent may be taxdeductible(speak to your Accountant). Lastly, this can be a viable short term alternative while you are looking for permanent full time employment if consulting is not your long term career goal. Cons: You may have gaps in assignments which will create gaps in billable hours ($). You must find your own clients or sub-contract with a third party consulting firm. Your benefits are not covered, so you will need to pay for these yourself. Vacations are not paid. Direct Consulting Employee Pros: Gives you the full backing of a consulting firm. Less pressure regarding assignments as these should be scheduled by your firm. Full benefits (generally) as well as paid vacation. Upside potential for increased bonus for additionalassignments/work identified. Cons: Less control over assignments, pay is likely to be lower than an independent. Consulting Firms: Following is a short list of consulting firms and their career sites. Accenture Accenture is a well known, highly respected consulting firm. Boston Consulting Group Also a very well known and highly respected consulting firm. Gartner Research Gartner provides an overview of company as well as the ability to explore opportunities by business unit. I didnt see a specific link to add a profile, but you can apply through the search jobs function. Capgemini Capgemini also provides company background, career opportunities as well as how to apply for specific opportunities. There is a split between functional roles: Consulting Services, Technology Services, Outsourcing Services, Financial Services and Local Professional Services. It looks like you must decide which of the functional roles you would like to explore and conduct your search from the functional area. The site also allows registration. Capco The site provides company background, recruitment events (none are scheduled at the moment) and job search. If you click apply for a job with us you can submit your resume/cv. Independent Consulting Sologig This website provides leads/potential assignments for freelance (independent) contractors and consultants. Similar to job search sites, this is a clearing house of assignments for both employers and contractors. Consulting/Freelance Extensive About.com website which providesresourcesfor independent consultants and freelancers. Site includes a wide range of information on how to get started, what you need (rates, taxes, contracts, etc.). This is an excellent resource for those who are just getting started in freelancing as well as already established freelancers Independent Consulting Bootcamp This site provides tons of information that can help you make decisions about your career as an independent consultant. We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey

Tips for writing an email that generates a response

Tips for writing an email that generates a response Sending email has made our lives easier AND more difficult.   We are deluged with junk email consisting of those chain emails or funny jokes; all well intended and of which I am guilty of forwarding myself. Email is passive.  You send it and HOPE  the receiver replies or just reads  it.  There is nothing quite as annoying as not getting a response back from an email. I came across a post   Mastering Email Overload Improve Your Productivity from CareerSuccess! and it reminded me of how we all break the rules or expect miracles from email.   Ive taken some of the key points and put a job seeking spin on them: Use the Subject Line to Summarize the Message When responding to a job posting, clearly state the posting information in the subject line. Make Action Requests Very Clear. Early in your brief email content, state what action you expect the reader to take.   No, I dont mean tell them you want to know if they got it.   However, if this is NOT  your first email to the person and followup on their behalf is expected, clearly let them know. Pick up the Phone if a Dialog is Required. Too often we are lured into email dialog.   This is dangerous.  The tone of your email is interpreted by the reader and may not be what you intended.   They might read between the lines or infer something other than you intended. Describe Attachments. Let the reader know that there are  attachments and what they contain. Include Your Full Signature If you want someone to be able to contact you, you need to include your name and contact information.   You may also want to include relevant professional links (LinkedIn profile, social profile, website/on-line portfolio or something else). Use an email signature! Here are some of my own thoughts on email: Use a professional font type, size and color. Make the font professional, not casual or too outrageous.   The font size has to be readable- at least 11, depending on the font type.   Avoid colors that are quirky and use the same color throughout. What doe your Email address say about you I still see cute, funny, or too personal email addresses on resumes.   You want to use an email that links professionally to you.   In job search mode, that would mean first name and last name- period. Using Quotes  in the signature line While this can be a nice touch, just make sure the quote you use is appropriate. While email has made corresponding with others easier, it isnt a replacement for face to face interaction or phone conversations.   Think carefully before hitting the send button.

The Recession is Bullhonkey Michelles Story - When I Grow Up

The Recession is Bullhonkey Michelles Story - When I Grow Up This is part of  The Recession is Bullhonkey series, where I share stories of those who have gotten hired and/or started their own businesses (or sometimes both!) since 2008.  Michelle Fifis  post is not only amazeballs for its inspiration factor (can we say she went from in-house textile designer to freelancer, blogger, teacher and community leader?), but  for giving us the biggest secret of her success and ways to  apply it to your career. I’ve found the secret to growth in just about any economy recession or not. This secret is easy to understand, but oh so difficult to master. Are you listening? Good, because The best way to grow is to really listen….and it’s harder than you think. Listening is the most important skill I’ve ever learned, and it’s also the one I struggle with most on a daily basis. You see, I’m a natural sharer. I love to offer advice, share resources and mention lessons I’ve learned. But in order to really know a client or a market I have to first take the time to truly listen. My first real lessons on listening were in the corporate design world. As an in-house textile designer for Columbia Sportswear, I often worked for weeks or even months on a project before presenting it to a panel of superiors for review. My “clients” were the design directors, CEOs and VPs who would evaluate my efforts, offer feedback and make decisions. I dreaded these events for many reasons  including my natural tendency to defend and protect my work. I wasn’t able to grow and learn from them because I was too caught up on my own perspective. Instead of listening to feedback and observing the reactions around me, I focused on my own creative efforts and the time I’d invested in each project. I couldn’t grow professionally while my eyes were on myself. Things began to change when I learned to look at these meetings for what they actually were an amazing opportunity to learn about the creative directors I worked for and the direction they were taking the company. I realized the feedback wasn’t about me. It was about the project itself. My role was to truly listen to the way my work resonated with them and align my creativity with their vision for the company. My breakthrough? Being defensive is a waste of time. Truly listening makes me a better, more productive designer and a happier person. In 2010 I left Columbia Sportswear to launch my own freelance business as a textile designer. I knew it was time to listen to my heart and build the business of my dreams. I’d already been taking freelance clients at night and on weekends as a source of extra money. It was time to use that experience to start my own company. I planned my departure carefully, putting money aside as a cushion and letting my contacts know of my plans. These steps helped me make a relatively easy transition into self-employment. These days listening is a vital part of my work with freelance clients. I love working with clients from a variety of interesting markets. Each client works in a slightly different way, creating new challenges for me. CEOs and creative directors come and go. Artwork styles and preferences shift. It’s up to me to stay flexible with every change. I might be the designer, but the most important part of my job is listening to my clients and asking questions that get to the heart of what they want. Wondering how you can improve your listening skills? Here are some changes you can implement right now to make an impact in your work. #1 Be Visual I use techniques like a trend board or concept board at the beginning of a project. Visuals like this help clarify the design concepts I’m describing to the client and help us start the project on the same creative page. In other types of work, using a whiteboard or sharing visual examples can really help you communicate with a client and gather feedback. A picture really is worth a thousand words in a project meeting. #2 Be Confident Prepared There’s nothing worse than trying to listen to a client while worrying about my outfit or the next item on the agenda for our conversation. When meeting with a client, make sure you are completely prepared. Love your outfit. Plan for every step on the agenda. Do whatever it takes ahead of time so you can stop thinking about your own role and focus on them. #3 Be Curious It’s incredible how much I can learn about a client just by asking questions. In my work, I really need to know the price point for the product that will use my design. Will the item of clothing be sold in a high end, exclusive boutique and require a big investment? Will it be mass produced and sold at a bargain? I need to understand my client’s market and positioning, and it would help to have a little insight about their competitors too. Asking these types of questions gives me important information and marks me as a professional. #4 Be Intuitive I listen to my clients, but I also listen to my heart. I pay attention to the non-verbal cues I receive from the people around me. I try to get to the heart of what they are trying to say and I notice their emotions during the meeting. Are they suddenly anxious or confused? Do they love the work I’ve presented or are they holding back? Sometimes the most important words I hear are the ones that are never said. I’ve learned to listen to my clients and I’ve also learned to listen to myself. As you might know, building a freelance business involves a lot of downtime. As an entrepreneur, I wait for feedback from clients and I occasionally have gaps between projects too. After I started my business, I had a little time on my hands and also found I wanted to stay connected to trends in my industry. So, with the encouragement and help of my husband a software engineer I started the Pattern Observer blog. My first readers were my mom, husband and a few friends. They faithfully followed along while I shared my sources of inspiration and my artistic and business process with the world. I LOVED it, and I found myself blogging almost every single day. My readership grew slowly as I discovered an international community of people interested in textile design. In 2011 I realized it was time to add teaching to my business model. My inbox was filled with questions from designers who wanted advice on textile design and building their own businesses. I knew I needed to put the answers to these questions into courses and I started teaching online workshops related to becoming a more professional designer. Teaching and helping other designers is incredibly fulfilling to me. Last year I once again listened to my heart and created Textile Design Lab a membership site focused on learning and networking within textile design. This rich community learns together through my online courses, webinars and guest expert trainings, connects and supports each other in community forums, and is continually challenged to improve their designs and their businesses. Through listening to others and to my own heart, I’ve grown personally and professionally. My secret? Growth has nothing to do with the economy. Growth comes from truly listening. Michelle Fifis is a successful textile designer who has worked with such clients as Lucy Activewear, Columbia Sportswear, Jantzen Swimwear, Pottery Barn and PB Textiles. She writes about business and textile design on her blog, Pattern Observer. Her membership community, The Textile Design Lab, offers learning and networking opportunities to hundreds of designers worldwide.