Social Networks Boy, Are You in Luck

Social Networks Boy, Are You in Luck The evolution of social networks is the major change in the landscape in the last few years, and they’re continuing to evolve every moment. They can dramatically improve your sources of information and your career management results. If you’re not using them and your competition is (and, I promise you, they are), you’re at a disadvantage. Using them is fun, too. You can find people that you haven’t seen in years, from high school friends to former employers and neighbors, as well as meet new people with similar interests. You will discover ways that you can help each other that you never would have known about before. Don’t worry. They don’t have to be a huge time sink unless you allow them to be. This book isn’t a primer on how to use them; those already exist, and the tutorials on their own sites make using them fairly easy and safe. Here, however, I will give an overview of the pros and cons of the three dominant ones, and provide ideas about how to use them to build your reputation, your knowledge, and your entrees into companies. The Pros and Cons of Social Networks Tidy classifications of “pros and cons” or “do’s and don’ts” don’t really work well for social networks. The answer is always, “it depends.” Considering the implications of the four areas below and how you want to be known before you plunge in can lead to improved choices, visibility, and reputation over the long term. Companies can find you. According to Jennifer Scott, Principal at HireEffect, 80 percent of recruiters (agency, independent, and corporate) use LinkedIn to source candidates. It’s free (let that word and its implications sink in), and they’re tracking both passive candidates, ones that aren’t looking for jobs that they find with keyword and interest group searches, and active candidates who may be tracking them down. Remember how you did the research in Strategy #1: Send Clear Signals, about the key words in job postings of interest to your markets or from interviews with your colleagues on “the four most important skills” they’d be looking for? You built them into your résumé so it’s skimmable and scannable, and embedded them in your Elevator Story, right? Now it’s time to embed them in your profile on the social networking sites, your professional headline on LinkedIn, and in your choice of interest groups. Make yourself easy to find! If you make your profile settings as public as is reasonable, including putting your phone number or email on your profile so an employer can contact you by Googling you rather than needing to join LinkedIn, you’ve just helped both sides. My client, George, had a nonsolicit, an agreement with his former employer that he couldn’t ask any of his former clients to follow him to his next firm. George put his new contact info on his LinkedIn profile that popped up on Google and, voilà, people could track him down at his new location, easily and legally. Reputation . . . make it or break it. Any potential employer is checking you out now on Google, LinkedIn, and Facebook, at a minimum. They can’t afford not to since they’re the easiest tools for performing due diligence. According to ExecuNet  research, 44 percent of recruiters have eliminated candidates as a result of information found online. Even your current company is probably checking you out, too. The groups you’ve selected to join on LinkedIn, the crazy pictures you’ve posted on Facebook, rants against your company or bossâ€"this information is never private. Never. It’s fairly simple for others to work around your privacy settings and, after all, you’re posting information, pictures, and opinions on the Internet. Did you think it was really going to be private? “Digital dirt” is a great expression coined by Kirsten Dixson in Career Distinction: Stand Out by Building your Brand. Google yourself and see what comes up. Is there “dirt,” or entries that do not build the brand that you would like, especially on the first page of Google? What about your credit rating or information about legal or marital disputes? It’s all out there. Y ou can set up a Google alert if you want to track when your name pops up on the Internet. Stacey Rudnick, director of MBA career services at the University of Texas at Austin, teaches a required course to first-year MBA students that includes managing your online presence. She suggests Googling yourself on a regular basis (including using Google Images for pictures), thinking of who you’re connecting with, considering how your privacy settings are structured, and, most importantly, making sure your information is consistent. Remember Debra Cohen’s research at the Society for Human Resource Management in Strategy #3: Stop Looking for Jobs? More than 93 percent of their HR members said that they are “less likely to hire” if “information on the applicant’s profile contradicts that provided on the résumé, cover letter, or CV.” If the stories differ, is that person trustworthy? Should you be the victim of digital dirt that isn’t accurate, either bury it, delete it, or differ. “Bury” is pushing a highly ranked Google link further back onto later pages, where it won’t get noticed as much. Burying a link can be done by your publishing material about your research, your blog, or your insights on professional trends. “ The more information you post about yourself,” says Kate Brooks from Career Services at the University of Texas at Austin, “the less likely any negative information is to show up when your name is Googled by an employer.” Unsolicited testimonials, that is, friends or clients who volunteer third-party testimonials about you that are frequently viewed so they appear on the first page or two when your name is Googled, are even better. “Delete” you can often do with comments on your wall on Facebook, and “differ” is contacting the source of the “dirt” and enlisting help to have the tone of the comments changed or reversed. A phone call saying, “I’m really trying to set a professional tone on my wall because I’m starting a job search. Could I get your help?” is much more likely to elicit the response you need over retaliation or defensiveness. Taking the fight outside, so to speak, out of the social network to a direct connection, shows your maturity and wisdom . . . and it gets results. Promiscuous networking. It’s easy to connect randomly and casually on all three sites. If you’re in any way a public figure, people who have heard you speak at a meeting or read about you may ask to link to you. Someone you meet at a party may want to friend you. You may extend the same casual invitations to others. Who wouldn’t want George Clooney as a friend? Do you really know these people though? Are they safe (will they protect your boundaries and identity), and are their connections safe as well? Do you really want all of these people to have access to the inner workings of your network or your life? If the answer is “yes,” link away, but I’m going slowly. I personally use two filters when deciding whether to connect with someone: I need to know the person fairly well and to feel comfortable with writing a reference for the person (not that I will for everyone, but I want to be able to should they want one). Given the amount of time I’m going to spend on each site (finite), the awkwardness of “un-friending” someone if necessary, and the importance of maintaining the brand that my clients value, I want to build something that’s sustainable from the start. After all, this should be a long-term network for each of us. A cleantech investment banker, Bic Stevens, told me that if he isn’t sure about accepting an invitation, he asks the person to call him so they can get to know each other better first, a practice that is both polite and a good idea. Lauryn Franzoni, ExecuNet vice president and executive editor, concludes in the 2009 Executive Job Market Intelligence Report that “There’s a big difference between purposeful networking and ‘friending.’ Do you want to meet the people who can bring you closer to  your career goals, or do you want to collect names? It’s about cultivating your community, nurturing your network and maintaining meaningfulâ€"and reciprocalâ€"connections.” Quantity does not equal quality. Check back with the next edition of this book, since the effect of promiscuous networking that online social networking encourages is still being discovered. In the meantime, use your judgment before clicking “accept.” Value share. In social networks, as in life, it’s not just about you. Even given the 140-character  constraints of Twitter, the etiquette is to help each other instead of shamelessly promoting your own goals. “Retweeting” someone’s message is a perfect example of a three-fer. Jennifer Scott of HireEffect defines “retweet” as forwarding to your followers any information you find useful that other people have tweeted you. “Not only will the person who authored the tweet be thankful, but so will those who see the message as a result of your generosity.” The original sender, the forwarding person, and all his followers benefit. If you find yourself as the originator of a tweet that is fortunate enough to be retweeted, remember to thank the forwarding person for retweeting your message. Doing good deeds pays off at many levels on all of the social networking sites as well as in your  personal network and job creation. Surprised? Related: What Social Networks Have Most Job Search Activity? (Infographic) Reprinted with permission from The New Job Security, Revised: The Five Best Strategies for Taking Control of Your Career. Copyright © 2010 by Pam Lassiter, Ten Speed Press, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, Berkeley, CA.

Sweet + Chic Gift Idea! Headbands of Hope

Sweet + Chic Gift Idea! Headbands of Hope Thinking of a gift for your girls this season? Thinking of a gift for your girls this season? ‘Tis the season for giving and do we have something special for the girlfriends, daughters, nieces, (or maybe just you!) on your list! More than a must-have adorabs accessory, for every headdress you purchase, Headbands of Hope gives one to a girl with cancer and donates $1 to fund childhood cancer research. Ready, Set, Sparkle I love the elegant look of the Crystal Twist design from their diamond collection. The rhinestone trim is perfect for adding a little bling at upcoming holiday parties and the elastic strand in the back is as comfy as my lulu workout headbands. As I usually wear my hair down, at my next social engagement I plan to try something new like weaving my locks into a princess roll updo with the headband as an eye-catching wreath. Get your halo on and grab a few of these feel-good, do great stocking stuffers today. Oh and don’t forget to tag your Headband of Hope finds on social media to spread their  positive mission. Click for their  Insta and Fb. Columnist Archive

The Hunchback Persian Prince - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

The Hunchback Persian Prince - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Admit it … You want to be more than you are. Everyone does. We all believe that there is a greater day ahead for us. Even the icons of business, entertainment and professional sports â€" with all the stature they have amassed â€" seek to advance their brand. Like you (albeit on a much higher plane), they desire to be seen as more savvy in the world of business … more philanthropic to the needs of others … more influential in their communities. What drives us every day We all really do hope to be known as being something a little more special than we are today. In essence, this is what drives us day after day. A greater brand starts with a vision The reality is that you can be more than you are. It all starts in your head and begins with a vision of what you want to be. Consider the case of the Hunchback Persian Prince. It was his destiny to one day be king. He was so tragically deformed, however that many in the kingdom could barely stand to think of the day when the deformed Prince would assume the throne. Though rumors of these feelings troubled the Prince, it did not deter him. One day the Prince made an odd decree. He ordered the royal sculptor to carve his statue out of white marble. Rather than have the statue look as the he did, however, the Prince ordered the sculptor to chisel the shimmering stone into a figure that looked exactly as he would look if he had no deformity. Chisel a perfect likeness When the sculpture was finished, the Prince placed the beautiful effigy in the center of the palace. Then every day â€" every single day â€" that Prince would approach the statue, take off his shirt and try to bend his back straight up against the back of his statue. Then one day he overheard some palace aid remark to another that it seemed the Prince was standing straighter. This fired the Prince’s enthusiasm. He continued his daily ritual and worked even harder to bend his back straight up against the back of the white marble likeness of himself. Then one day â€" an ordinary day of approaching the statue, taking off his shirt and bending upward â€" he was thrilled when his warm shoulders made contact with the cold marble. He now resembled the statue he ordered constructed. One day reality meets vision Your life is much like that of the Hunchback Persian Prince. Your life today is riddled with imperfection and deformities relative to where you want to take it. Take a lesson from the Prince. Metaphorically carve a statue of yourself â€" envision how you want to be seen or draft a description of this greater you. Then almost religiously compare yourself to this image, while at the same time working to become it. Like the Hunchback Persian Prince, one day you will experience of the thrill of having your reality meeting up with the brand you envisioned. Author: Frank Agin is the founder and president of AmSpirit Business Connections. In addition, Frank is the author of Foundational Networking: Building Know, Like and Trust To Create A Lifetime of Extraordinary Success and the co-author of LinkedWorking: Generating Success on the World’s Largest Professional Networking Website and The Champion: Finding the Most Valuable Person in Your Network.

Four Ways Women Talk Differently In The Workplace

Four Ways Women Talk Differently In The Workplace Of all the tired clichés, “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” may be one of the worst. In the workplace, notions that all engineers should be men and all nurses should be women are as outdated as they are ludicrous, and we girls can CEO as good as anyone, thank you very much. Yet when it comes to language, studies suggest that gender often does alter the way we choose to communicate. Women are politer, men are more assertive. Men are more attention-seeking, women more empathetic. Conventional wisdom is that the way to boost your career is to “man up” by copying traditionally masculine traits. Rubbish! There are massive advantages of ‘female’ communication styles, and recognising their uses and effects could get you far. Do women use more questions? Three times as many as men, allegedly. What’s the problem with that? Well, multiple-questioners are accused of slowing down progress and delaying decision making. Nobody wants to be the workplace equivalent of the inquisitive toddler in the backseat of the car but, used correctly, question-asking is actually highly beneficial. Asking a question in a meeting fosters discussion and stimulates debate. Engaging colleagues in this way creates a collaborative environment, and is proven to boost productivity. Asking questions also consolidates understanding and establishes priorities, minimising mistakes and focusing energy on the most important aspects of a project. How should questions be used? By prioritising quality over quantity. Ask questions that encourage specific, focused answers, and concentrate on questioning the particularly complex or controversial aspects of any discussion to ensure clarity and cooperation. Is that clear?     Women are really terrifically awesome at using super interesting intensifiers and adjectives. When Robin Lakoff famously listed the differences between male and female language, she implied that our increased use of “empty” adjectives and intensifiers was a bad thing. While she was right that women tend to use more adjective and intensifiers than men, anyone who claims such descriptive language is meaningless has almost certainly not read any good books lately. Description allows listeners to visualise what we’re saying and therefore connect more intensely with it. Indeed, the ability to paint a word picture is seen as such an effective sales technique that it’s been compared to hypnosis. And while intensifiers can be extremely annoying if overused, no one will be surprised to hear that verbal indicators of enthusiasm for work projects or ideas tend to go down well with managers. Of course, being concise has advantages too. Simple statements are best if you need to convey information quickly or establish hard facts and figures. The trick is to be able to adapt your language style depending on the situation at hand. Women may be a bit more likely to hedge their statements.   A hedge is possibly a form of tentative language which makes statements less forceful or assertive. Maybe. Women are almost 2.5x as likely to use them in conversation as men. Tentative language gets a bad rep because it can give off the impression you are indecisive or unconfident in your opinion. People are therefore less likely to listen to you, and more likely to ignore what you suggest. Certainly, it is a good idea to avoid tentative language for direct requests, especially if you’re the senior party and want to convey authority. But tentative language has its uses. Starting every last opinion or idea as though it is irrefutable fact makes people look foolish and egotistical â€" neither of which is a good look in the workplace! Plus, it’s actually harder to dismiss a statement you oppose if it’s hedged  and therefore offered as one alternative, rather than the alternative. The most important use of tentative language, however, is to disagree with someone. People don’t like to be told they’re wrong and get defensive if they feel their view is being challenged. Particularly when they’re an important client or your boss, it’s crucial to be able to disagree in a polite, non-aggressive way. Using tentative language means you’re not rubbishing someone’s position entirely.  And it lets them ‘save face’, which not only reduces conflict but actually makes it much more likely that they’ll change their mind to align with yours. It has been suggested by various studies over the years that women can display a tendency towards a greater volume of communication. Or; women talk more. Some say we beat men in our verbal word count by a massive 13,000 extra words per day.   But  that figure is hotly debated (presumably by women, men having used up their entire vocabulary by 3pm). It does seem to be true, however, that women tend to be more talkative in the workplace, because they are much more inclined towards collaboration. Ignore the stereotypes of nagging, gossipy women this conversationalist leaning actually gives us a professional edge. You know those trends for open plan offices and hot desking? That’s because employers want to encourage their employees to interact with each other. They understand that this stimulates the flow of ideas and creates a more positive work environment. Oh, and being able to communicate in a transparent, collaborative manner is one of the most highly valued leadership traits. Even non-work discussion with colleagues is an important factor in boosting morale and increasing job satisfaction. It’s always dangerous to generalise, and of course there is no universal ‘female’ language that we all subscribe to. The point is that the above traits are highly beneficial methods of workplace communication, and should be used by anyone who wishes to come across as an empathetic, engaging and cooperative employee. Insomuch as there is a ‘womenspeak’ however, well, we’ve got some pretty good ideas! So lean in boys; you’ve got a lot to learn. Beth  writes graduate careers advice for Inspiring Interns, a graduate recruitment agency which specialises in finding candidates their dream internship. To hire graduates or browse graduate jobs London, visit their website. Image credits. Main.   Question.   Mixed.

Prepare Now to be Healthy and Happy in Old Age [Book Review] - Career Pivot

Prepare Now to be Healthy and Happy in Old Age [Book Review] - Career Pivot Healthy and Happy in Old Age As a middle-aged baby boomer with living parents in their mid- to late-nineties, I think about getting old and wonder how I (with no children of my own) will face my later years on earth. My sister and I look after all my parents’ needs â€" financial, health, well-being and companionship. What can I do now to relieve some of the anxiety I have as I watch my parents lose their health, independence, and finances from living so long? Tips for Aging Well Joy Loverde’s book, “Who Will Take Care of Me When I’m Old? Plan Now to Safeguard Your Health and Happiness in Old Age” has excellent resources, with links to websites and names of organizations, to prepare you with all the details you need to think about as you age. And unfortunately, many of us may end up doing this alone. Loverde says, “One in three baby boomers falls into the category of separated, divorced, widowed or never married” Loverde takes this into account and divides the book into sections of what to start preparing for as if you needed to do it alone. The first four chapters cover: Meet Your Future Self Think Like a Strategist You are Tougher than You Think The Fierce Urgency of Money Other chapters deal with living with chronic illness, staying in your home and moving abroad to age. Every chapter begins with objectives to learn and ends with resources, links to check out and inspirations and insights. The last chapter, “Places to Go and Things to Do,” offers plans and resources on what to do after you die. I was surprised to learn that a mummification is an option as well as a Green Burial. I am undecided at this point. The last page of each chapter offers recommended reading, a YouTube clip, a movie, a song and a TED talk that covers the theme of the chapter. In chapter 11, Love Is Love: Pets Are Family, Too, Loverde covers the pros and cons of owning/adopting a pet as an older person. The recommended reading, YouTube, Movie, Song and TED Talk for this chapter is: What Pet Should I Get? (2015) by Dr. Seuss Ultimate Dog Tease (May 1, 2011), Ultimate Cat Tease (April 12, 2012) The Secret Life of Pets (2016) “No One”, Alicia Keys “Four Legged Citizens,” presented by Francis Battista (Best Friends Animal Society, September 10, 2014) I find these recommendations comforting. By seeing and hearing other people comment on this particular age-issue, I felt like I was connecting with others who know exactly what I know and how I feel. Nice. Listen to the most recent episode Throughout the book, Loverde emphasizes the importance of (1) asking for help, (2) cultivating relationships (even if you are an introvert), (3) making friends with older people to look to them as role models and (4) being purposeful to maximize your physical, mental, social and spiritual life choices â€" make daily conscious decisions. The goal, Loverde says, is to die in the best health possible after a short/brief illness. And she also says that old age begins around ninety. Get Personal and Resourceful She uses her own experiences to illustrate different situations that happen as you age. One powerful antidote is her story about her middle-aged friend who became ill at middle age and had to move into an assisted living facility. He was cut off from the world he knew and lost his independence. Frightening. The book has lots of resources for each situation that comes up. If you decide to stay in your home as you age, you can look up age-friendly resources (think AARP) and also educate yourself about Alzheimer’s and Dementia. No one wants to deal with debilitating conditions/circumstances before they have to. But, Loverde stresses that if you prepare beforehand, you prevent more stress by getting things done before it happens. I agree with Loverde’s step-by-step plan but find that too many resources (and worksheets) overwhelm me. I am also not sure when to start the process. Nothing Like the Present to Start Preparing Do you do it when you’re in my situation â€" the mid-50sâ€" with parents in their nineties? Because my parents’ situation is constantly reminding me of my own mortality and the precariousness of life’s state? Or do you just start doing this, one chapter at a time when you reach 55 or 65? I believe Joy Loverde book is a good, realistic view of what it is like to age and what you need to do to really cover all the bases if you are on your own and need to figure things out. Her advice on understanding what it is like to become a caregiver, deal with ageism in employment and find good, affordable healthcare is spot on. Her advice on taking care of your health really rings true for me â€" “Aging solo means guarding your well-being with a vengeance. Work out regularly. Develop hobbies (and friendships). The goal is to do what it takes to prevent the need to be taken care of in old age.” I think having a living will, having financial documents and pipeline prepared, and having a line of command is a good idea â€" just in case â€" and probably should be set up close if not before middle age. Learn from Others’ Experience Even though my 97-year-old father can’t see, has dementia and needs 24-hour care and my 93-year-old mother has a bad heart and lives in her house (and still drives when she can), they both planned well enough to take care of their finances (so far), get good health care and nurture their minds, bodies (both athletic until they couldn’t be) and social networks to make being very old tolerable and at times, good. Plus, they have me and my sister looking after them. Not everyone will have this. I won’t. And for those who are wondering who will look after them in their later years and how will they take care of themselves, read Loverde’s book. It gives me hope that I can use her steps and find the resources I need to start taking better care of myself right now. This post was written by Pam Willenz. Pam is a Web Content Manager for a health website, a freelance Web Developer and a Writer/Editor. She is a health/fitness nut who loves technology, building websites and bringing her project management/ public relations, technology, research and writing skills to projects. She has written for various health, small business and technology websites as well as authored hundreds of articles/press releases on health, cycling, and nutrition. She is also an integrative nutrition health coach where she coaches clients in functional medicine approaches to health and helps people develop their own roadmaps to wellness. You can find her on LinkedIn, Twitter and GitHub. Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

Tech Mistakes Businesses Are Making In Todays Digital World

Tech Mistakes Businesses Are Making In Todays Digital World It is no exaggeration to say that technology has taken over. It has completely transformed the way that we go about our daily lives and the way that we work too. Of course, there are so many benefits associated with this. Technology enables us to work smarter, quicker, and more effectively. However, this is only the case if it is used properly. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the mistakes that businesses are making with regards to technology in today’s digital world. Skipping the training phase â€" You can purchase the most sophisticated and intelligent piece of tech in your industry â€" something that has received rave reviews across the board. However, if you have skipped the training phase, what is the point? Your tech is only going to be as good as the people that are using it. If they do not know how to use it properly or how to make the most of the different features, then you are missing out on a whole host of opportunities for improvement and efficiencies. Using the wrong tech â€" This is something a lot of businesses are guilty of. They know that software will help them to improve their processes and work more efficiently. They know that most of their competitors are making the most of online tools to help them achieve more. However, this does not mean that you should simply buy any old software solution. You need to make sure it has the right features for your business and that it can easily be integrated into your current set-up. This is where hiring a technology consulting company comes advised. They will be able to assess your current set-up and processes to determine what sort of tech is actually going to be beneficial and take your business to the next level. Failing to plan ahead â€" Last but not least, you have probably heard the following: if you fail to plan, you plan to fail! This is certainly the case when it comes to tech. After all, it is highly likely that you aim for your business to grow. Therefore, your home Internet service and a couple of computers are not going to suffice. You need to plan so you can ensure that your IT can keep pace with the growth of your company. Not only this, but you need to make sure you are able to respond should there be any computer issues so that you do not experience any downtime. So there you have it: some of the most common mistakes that businesses make when it comes to technology in the current day and age. Are you guilty of making one of the errors that have been discussed? If so, there is nothing to panic about! You simply need to make sure that you put steps in place to make some changes for the better.

When Writing the RSum, Which of the Following Writing Styles Is Most Efficient?

When Writing the RSum, Which of the Following Writing Styles Is Most Efficient?The most obvious question that has to be answered before you start to write the Rsum, is whether to write in a classical way or one in which you express yourself more fully. The answer is of course both. Classical style means that you still use the exact same style of writing you were using previously. Whereas when you express yourself more fully you use new terms and concepts to describe what you are writing.One of the most important principles in writing the Rsum is that it is not necessary to be as careful as you used to be when you wrote a thesis. If you wrote the thesis in the first place you were writing in a certain context. But now, you have to write a project in which the context is completely different.So it is better to write the project in the classic way in the first place. If you do that, it will give you a lot of freedom to think in ways that no longer work for you when you write the Rsum. I t is best to take that first step into writing the Rsum in the classic way.This will allow you to know exactly what you are writing in the Rsum and which part of your work you want to emphasize and which is irrelevant. As a matter of fact, you have to find the area that you want to concentrate on when you write the Rsum and that will be the most important thing for you to remember in the project.When you write the project in the classic way, it is likely that you will get a few challenges. This is a good thing and it means that you are on the right track. But do not expect that you will enjoy every challenge you will face because most of them will be technical in nature. The challenge that you are likely to face when you write the Rsum will be mostly technical in nature. This is because you will be dealing with terms that are not very commonly used in students. So you need to familiarize yourself with the English language and these challenges will be technical in nature.Also, the mo st important thing when you write the Rsum is that you have to identify the point in the project that you want to focus on. This is something that you have to remember when you write the Rsum because the moment you do this, it is very likely that you will stumble upon a lot of ideas that you can integrate in your project. This is a very good thing because it gives you an edge over the other students.Another challenge that you might face when you write the Rsum is the fact that you might have to write the project very quickly. If you do this, you will have to think about different ways to present these things. If you do this correctly, you can be sure that the result will be very impressive.