tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77072641304471634712024-02-19T00:20:06.976-04:00Educated and InexperiencedA collection of advice from a twenty something with a uniquely cynical view on everything. Sharing the awesome with you as often as I can.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-85057299751593145722013-05-09T09:50:00.001-03:002013-05-09T09:58:08.496-03:00Check Your Own ReferencesAs a recruiter, one of the most irritating and most important parts of the recruitment process is checking the references of prospective candidates. If everyone does their job, this could be a completely painless, easy and even fun process. The problem is that candidates rarely ever think hard about how this is supposed to work.<br />
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References provide a lot of information about a candidate’s potential performance, and can reveal opportunities to coach a candidate. For example, I've had references tell me that the candidate had difficulty saying "no" to management, would take on too many projects and end up staying late to complete them all. This is good information for the candidate’s new manager to have. The problem is that candidates don’t think very hard about who they list as references and it makes the whole process terrible. Most of the time, I assume people just think that I won’t bother to call them, even though I tell them I’m going to.<br />
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First of all, your references should know they are references, and if you went to an interview for a job, you should tell them about it. When I call a reference and ask for information and they tell me they know you went on an interview for the position and were expecting a call, it makes me feel like you really wanted the job. It also gives them an opportunity to think about how good you would be in that position, and they can highlight areas that would market you as an employee.<br />
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When someone agrees to be a reference for you, maybe you should ask them what kind of reference they're going to be. I’m always shocked when I contact someone and they tell me how terrible the candidate is. I understand when there’s a little bit of constructive criticism, but some managers will tell me outright that the candidate is an idiot and shouldn't be employed by anyone.<br />
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Also, if you agree to be a reference for someone, know that this means you will need to make time to talk to someone regarding this employee. I love calling managers who tell me that they don’t have 20 minutes to provide a reference. That means you don’t provide references. Tell your employees.<br />
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I understand that some companies don’t provide references at all, but try and do something to compensate without getting a friend or co-worker to help out. Generally, we’re looking for someone who has supervised your work. Find someone who has managed you in a volunteer setting at least.</div>
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Don't screw up your chances at a position because of a bad reference. Generally, when I contact your references, I already like you. You got through the screening, you did well on the testing and in the interview, and the hiring manager feels you're a good fit. Think about the fact that at this point, it could be between you and one other candidate. Make sure the process for the recruiter and the hiring manager makes us want to hire you.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-3461494936424424122013-04-04T08:53:00.001-03:002013-04-04T08:54:27.268-03:00Make Recruiters Work for You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are many misconceptions about recruiters and what they
do. Some people see them as magical, job-finding elves, who are going to solve
all their problems. Others see them as the bottom feeders of the HR world, who will
staff any position for a buck. Regardless of your opinion…we have all the jobs.
You need to learn how to make us work for you.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Understand There Are Different Types of Recruiters<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Internal Recruiters – These people work directly for the
company you could be working for. They often have direct access to the hiring
manager and are probably the most well versed in the position requirements and
the corporate culture. They likely also work in other areas of HR, which means
if you’re hired, they will have to work with you. If they determine you are
unpleasant at any point during the recruitment process, they will have to think
very hard about whether you will be submitted to the hiring manager or end up
in the “not qualified” pile. <o:p></o:p></div>
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A Recruiter From an Agency – Depending on the Agency’s
relationship with the company, they could have any level of knowledge about the
position and the company. A good recruiter will do their research and be very
knowledgeable about both of these things. Some companies have no interest in engaging
in the recruitment process, they will outsource it to an agency, and provide
very little information. Regardless of how skilled a recruiter is, they may not
be able to answer your specific technical questions about a position, but they
are still the gatekeeper between you and the hiring manager… so play nice. Also,
the quality of the candidates they put forward are a direct reflection of how
effective they are at recruiting. They’re depending on you to be impressive to
make them look good. When you suck, it’s embarrassing for everyone. Don’t take
your interactions with these people lightly… because they’re not. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>How to Talk to Recruiters<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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You already know that when you apply to a job ad, you should
tailor your resume to that position. You sift through the ad and the company
website and make sure you fit with that company and that position. Many people
are very good at this, but when they don’t have those tools to guide them, they
flop. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Think about how recruiting works. Clients contact agencies,
who specialize in recruiting, to make sure they choose the right candidate. Recruiters
talk to a million people per day. You need to make an impression with your
skills and experience and your personality in order to stay out of the
Applicant Tracking System “Black Hole.” To do this, you need to make sure that
several key messages stick in the recruiters mind: <o:p></o:p></div>
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of expertise <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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We understand that being unemployed is difficult, but you’re
not doing yourself any favours by telling us you can do anything… because you
can’t. When we staff a position, we want to have a perfect fit between the
employee and the employer… We’re not interested in finding you something to
tide you over until the next position comes along. <o:p></o:p></div>
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marketable skills and relevant work experience<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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What job would you be perfect for? Which skills make you
perfect for that position, and what relevant, real-world examples can you tell
me about where you exhibited those skills? These are the most important things
to have recruiters remember. Terrible recruiters may not actively ask you for
these specific tidbits of information, so you may need to work them into the
conversation on your own. <o:p></o:p></div>
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(or personality… or both)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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There is something about you that’s memorable. Find out what
it is. For some people it’s their work experience, personality or even just your laugh. You can go as far as to develop a tagline for
yourself that helps the recruiter remember who you are. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Keep Your Leads Warm<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Job hunting is just selling yourself. Keep in touch with
them the same way you would a sales lead. Any recruiter could have an
opportunity for you at any time. Connect with them on LinkedIn. Congratulate
them on new positions (especially if it’s with another recruiting agency), and
find reasons to engage with them on a regular basis. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When the jobs come in, you need to be already known to the
people handing them out and they need to know you well. Before speaking with a
recruiter, picture this scenario…<o:p></o:p></div>
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A new position has come in. Several recruiters are sitting
around a table discussing the qualifications. The lead recruiter asks “does
anyone have any candidates for this position?” If you were successful in your
interaction with the recruiter, they automatically say your name in this
meeting without having to consult the applicant tracking system. <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-5733899279051553192013-03-21T01:11:00.000-03:002013-03-21T08:57:56.603-03:00What’s Wrong With GenY?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADytccG4bhlARjXfHK8_NqS8qhyjI67REV66SAhUZIAUn47RWZ3qhdeFLQqxP9o-o1Men_n3pdFIuUFl-EAn0vqWMCosncBVlIDebLQdKhlFgEqn5rw6qwZurnQmhcLO1byaHQLs7EoM/s1600/cheating_face_fired_for_unprofessional_behavior_mug-p168450050326624845b7uln_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADytccG4bhlARjXfHK8_NqS8qhyjI67REV66SAhUZIAUn47RWZ3qhdeFLQqxP9o-o1Men_n3pdFIuUFl-EAn0vqWMCosncBVlIDebLQdKhlFgEqn5rw6qwZurnQmhcLO1byaHQLs7EoM/s320/cheating_face_fired_for_unprofessional_behavior_mug-p168450050326624845b7uln_400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Greetings from the lazy, entitled generation! You may know
us as those lazy know-it-alls, who need constant positive reinforcement,
ridiculously flexible work hours and a promotion every five to ten minutes.
What happened to us? Why do we seem so much dumber than everyone else?</div>
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I think the real issue we have is a lack of communication. Much
like the traditional married couple, where one stays home and takes care of the
children, and the other is the primary breadwinner, there are arguments that
are standard and could be avoided if both took time to see the other’s point of
view. <o:p></o:p></div>
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For example: The person who goes to work all day often feels
as though the stay-at-home partner is spending all their money, taking
advantage of them, and is lucky to be staying at home. The stay-at-home partner
often feels undervalued, because their contributions to the household aren’t
measurable in currency. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I know this, because it has played out in every sitcom since
the 50’s. If Archie and Edith Bunker can come to an agreement, surely the
Boomers and GenY can figure something out. Let’s try and understand some things.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>We Spend too Much
Time on our Phones<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<i>Perception: We don’t
look you in the eye when you’re talking, because we have a sweet game of Fruit
Ninja on the go. Also, what you’re saying isn’t super important.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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We don’t socialize the way people used to. I recently
attended an Oscar party, where we were all watching the show together while
simultaneously reading and tweeting commentary on our phones. This is how it
works now. When we have dinner or go out for drinks, phones are on the table
and active. You may find it annoying, but trust me…it’s only going to get
worse. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Complaining about smart phones in 2013 the like complaining
about rock music in 1984. Don’t be John Lithgow… nobody likes John Lithgow. <o:p></o:p></div>
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P.S. We’re not being antisocial, we’re experiencing life in
augmented reality.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>We’re Unprofessional<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<i>Perception: We dress
too casually and we’re too informal.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Business attire is not a well-defined term. You can’t write
it on an employment contract and expect everyone to dress how you think they
should. I feel perfectly professional in a dress shirt, a blazer and a pair of
jeans, so I will be surprised when the manager in the Cargo pants, that haven’t
been ironed since the 70’s, tells me I’m inappropriately dressed for work. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Our communication style is admittedly more relaxed. Younger generations
have been corresponding with their peers via the written word since before they
were taught how to write proper correspondence. As a result, the English language is in the process of being completely destroyed. Emoticons are now accepted in
work emails. Other less formal styles of writing will follow. Eventually,
Twitter style abbreviations will become acceptable. As we transition, know that
younger employee’s will jump the gun and start emailing that they will “tlk 2 u
l8tr.” Be sure to correct this, because right now that sh*t’s annoying.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>We Need Constant
Positive Reinforcement<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<i>Perception: We need our hands held...pretty much all the time.</i></div>
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Having studied Human Resources, I know there are studies
that indicate that positive reinforcement DOES motivate people. I also think
some of us have taken this waaayyy too far. I actually find it condescending
when someone throws out one of these.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Thanks for putting that report together.” (i.e. Thanks for
doing that thing I told you to do)<o:p></o:p></div>
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We don’t need the reinforcement as much as we need to know
what the goals are, and if we are attaining them. We are much less likely than
past generations to feel satisfied in a position where we’re doing what we’re
told just because we were told to do it. You have to manage people like they’re
people now. You can’t just tell someone to “push this button every hour”
without telling them what the button does. My Dad has told me that if the boss
isn’t complaining, everything must be fine. I’ve encountered enough managers
who avoid negative feedback in performance appraisals to know this isn’t true. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>We Expect Too Much
Too Soon<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Remember the olden days when you started at a company as the
intern, and you got coffee for people until you were able to prove yourself,
and you slowly moved up the ladder until you finally did something less
degrading? I don’t…but I’ve read about it in books, and saw it on Mad Men. What happened to this era? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Two Things Happened</div>
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<ol>
<li>An undergraduate degree costs as much as half a house. We
can’t afford to get you coffee for a year before we start making money.</li>
<li>Google happened: Companies started publicly telling employees
that they weren’t worthless or completely replaceable … and it just ruined us. </li>
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Every generation thinks the younger generation are idiots. I
used to think it about freshmen when I was a senior. I thought it about
undergrads when I was a grad student, I currently think it about some new
graduates entering the workforce and I fully anticipate to feel this way about
each upcoming generation. The important thing is that I know that they are not
ACTUALLY all idiots, but I will perceive some of the things they do as
unprofessional or stupid because they are different. As a younger generation,
we also have a duty to manage and understand the expectations of our more senior
counterparts. A lot of what we think is normal really gets under their skin. The purpose of this post was not to call
anyone out or justify anything, but to initiate an open dialogue to facilitate some kind of understanding. <o:p></o:p></div>
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CAVEAT: There are some flagrant generalizations in this
post. I chose Boomers and GenY to illustrate a point. I have met Boomers who
blatantly answer voice calls in the middle of meetings, and have peers who
glare at me when I check my phone. There are people at both ends of the
spectrum in either age-range. <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-8924769814504535552013-02-28T09:05:00.002-04:002013-02-28T12:21:07.471-04:00Telecommuting: Is Banning it a Terrible Idea?<br />
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In light of the alleged ban of telecommuting by Yahoo CEO, Marissa
Mayer, I took the opportunity to address some key points on the issue. I read
the memo and despite the media coverage, there was no mention of a “ban.”
Employees were “asked” to come to work physical locations in the interest of
fostering a more collaborative environment … and then the world exploded.</div>
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As someone who has worked on both the administration of a
telecommuting policy, and telecommuted myself, the media coverage of this issue
struck a chord with me. First, let’s
take a look at a few of the issues.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Entitlement <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Granting your employees the ability to work from home gives
them the flexibility to balance their personal lives and their work. This type
of flexibility really lets your employees know you appreciate that they can
benefit from not having to be in the office all day. Nothing says work-life
balance like being able to take a conference call on the toilet, while there’s
a roast in the oven. Employees who have enjoyed this privilege up until now will
be just as outraged and offended as if their pensions had been rolled back. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Legal Obligations<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Employers are required to provide telecommuting as a
reasonable accommodation for disabled employees. An all-out ban would be
completely illegal. The interesting component to this will be how Yahoo
addresses employees who refuse to come back to the office on a full time basis.
Do they have a clause in their contract that requires an employee to be in the physical
office when asked, and does it cover the frequency with which they are now
being asked to be present? Could an employee argue that the terms of their
employment included the assumption that they would have telecommuting privileges?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Cost<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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A remote workforce obviously reduces overhead for the
company, but also reduces the cost to the employee. This includes daycare,
transportation, parking and more. This is going to be another bone of
contention as employees start to experience increased work-related costs as a
result of this new initiative. It’s not good for Mayer’s PR that she’s
increasing daycare costs for some of her employees after building a nursery
onto her office. However, she paid for that nursery with her own money, and
rich people have babies differently than the rest of us. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Innovation<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The whole purpose of the change in Yahoo’s telecommuting
perspective is to foster innovation within the company (I used the term
perspective, because there doesn’t appear to be any changes to a policy
anywhere in the memo). There are many strategies and tools companies can use to
encourage employees to communicate with their peers remotely, but honestly
nothing really beats living with your co-workers for 8 hours per day. You never
accidentally bump into anyone at your home office, and you rarely interact with
anyone you don’t work with directly. Being physically present in the office
creates a lot more opportunity to interact with co-workers on a more personal
level. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Example:</b> Employee
A bumps into you in the hallway and complains about project X, and you (as an
outsider) can provide input that may different from other employees assigned to
the project. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Yahoo is really just going to have to gauge the feedback
from employees to determine how this will play out. The media backlash is
really coming from people talking about efficiency, and it WAS implied that employees cannot be as efficient from home, which contradicts a whole lot of recent research. Many are shocked that this reduction in
flexibility is coming from a working mom…she went to work two weeks after
childbirth…why would you think she would sympathize with someone who doesn’t
want to drive to work in the morning? <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-79191049124642372362013-02-20T23:39:00.001-04:002013-02-22T10:35:19.428-04:00Personal Marketing: The New Job SearchIf you’ve been unemployed recently, you’ll notice that the
job hunt has changed drastically from what it used to be. You used to submit
applications to job postings, sit home and wait for someone to call you for an
interview. People don’t do this anymore. We’re still in a recession and
unemployment rates are still high. Because of this, it’s likely that someone
more qualified than you had applied to these open competitions anyway. If you’re
sitting home waiting for the standard process to work, you’re going to be
sitting there for a long time.<br />
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<img src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTuVOuAKnC7sHairWGLDH_00wQi_AhxEDV4br1F8P71bZwfRQkUGg" /></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I've spoken at length about how to use social media to network and get yourself noticed outside the traditional channels. In addition to doing this, you need something about you that stands out from the other
candidates, and then you need to effectively convey that to potential
employers. You basically need a personal marketing plan.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>1. Describe Your Dream Job</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First you need to identify what you want to be doing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li>What are the skills someone doing that job needs to have?</li>
<li>What are that person’s daily tasks?</li>
<li>What behavioural competencies are required for this position?</li>
<li>What type of experience does that person need?</li>
<li>What does this person’s career path look like?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You should be able to answer most of these questions before
even starting to think about applying. Then you need to identify the gaps
between you and the ideal candidate for this position. Before applying for this
position, you may need to upgrade some skills or gain some experience. Don’t
sit there defeated saying “I can’t get experience because no one will hire me.”
There are internship opportunities or not-for-profits, and small businesses who
would gladly accept a volunteer to do whatever it is you do. Then when you
introduce yourself, you can replace the word “unemployed bum” with “freelancer”
or “professional consultant” even if you’re not getting paid. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2. Identify Your Key Differentiators</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li>What is unique about you?</li>
<li>Why do you stand out from the other candidates?</li>
<li>Do you have accomplishments that other candidates may not
have (i.e. awards, publications, relevant memberships, etc.)?</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Get to know your own personality. Ask some friends how they
would describe you. You need recruiters to look at your resume and online
profiles, and really feel like they know you. Unless you’re just a miserable
person… then hide your personality at all costs. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>3. Build Your Brand</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once you’ve done this, you need to be able to describe
yourself as the ideal candidate. Seamlessly link your description of yourself
to the description of the ideal candidate. When you introduce yourself to
people, they will often ask what you do. You need
a brief description of yourself that highlights your key differentiators. You
should also tailor it to your audience. There may be more than one career path
to your ideal job, or more than one job that interests you. Know your audience,
and make sure you’re telling them what they want to hear from you. Companies
wouldn’t use the same marketing collateral across all clients. They tailor it
to highlight the products or services most valued by different target markets. You
should do the same for your target companies. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>4. Execute<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once you’ve created the outline of your candidate brand,
update all of your social networking sites well as your resume, business card,
etc. to reflect this brand. Then you can start to develop an application
process. Much like a sales process, you’re going to be generating leads and
identifying the most effective methods of reaching out to those companies, that
is consistent with your personal brand. I have an entire series of “How To”
posts about using social networking for the job hunt called “Dude Where’s My
Job?” Take a look back through for more tips on interacting with these companies
online. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sitting at home, filling out applications and applying to
open ads is old-school. That job search model is not productive in this type of
economy, so why would you sit home and do the same thing over and over again
with no results? Stand out and be productive. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-50733459463806831462013-02-13T20:48:00.000-04:002013-02-13T20:48:14.627-04:00The Job Hunt Blues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VyW5eq1yxC5OCBqKCQAERkt83rdSMDGl-ztiCE5262s7dFL8mZMG7eMeuLgcEcU6im324w9dWAVf1OBLqcFCmVgfaBl7kuycwg-cMtvhbz8sUciCpg6PR12PfWWDR5B2X-Xs9MSabxo/s1600/sad-at-office.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VyW5eq1yxC5OCBqKCQAERkt83rdSMDGl-ztiCE5262s7dFL8mZMG7eMeuLgcEcU6im324w9dWAVf1OBLqcFCmVgfaBl7kuycwg-cMtvhbz8sUciCpg6PR12PfWWDR5B2X-Xs9MSabxo/s1600/sad-at-office.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
People often tell you that looking for work is a full time
job. Those people are correct. It is actually the WORST job ever because you
don’t get paid and the more you have do it, the worse you feel about yourself. Like
a regular job, you need a work-life balance. This is actually more important
than it is in a regular job, because companies need to see you at your best. If
you’re too eager, or mopey, or tired your chances of success decrease slightly.
Sitting at home doing the same thing over and over again with little or no
success really demotivates a lot of people and they start complaining about
everything, including the lack of employment in their respective areas. This is
not attractive to any prospective employer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lucky for you, I’ve put together one of my famous numbered
lists to solve all your problems. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b>1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><!--[endif]--><b>Wake Up at an Appropriate Time<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s really easy when you don’t have a place to be, to sleep
in, watch cartoons and live the sedentary life. You still have to put in the
hours to be an effective job seeker. Also, interviews are always during work
hours, so you’ll most likely need to be alert for a morning interview. It’s
hard to do that at a 9am interview if you’re used to waking up at noon. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b>2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><!--[endif]--><b>Plan a Full Workday<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s really easy to get sidetracked when you don’t have a
plan. Create a job hunting strategy and map out all of the tasks involved. You know when you are the most effective, so
you can plan the heavy stuff for those times. You need to take into
consideration the time it takes to fill out applications, write cover letters
and tailor your resume. Make sure you include time to use social networking for
job hunting purposes, and attend physical networking events as well. A former
employer of mine once told me not to work on any one task for more than two
hours at a time. He says after this time, you become less interested and less
efficient. Change it up every now and then.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b>3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><!--[endif]--><b>Take Breaks<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The reason steps 1 and 2 are important is that if you do
them properly, you won’t feel guilty about taking regularly scheduled breaks. Your
employer is required to give you a 15 minute break every four hours and 30
minutes for lunch on a full shift. If he’s not a douchebag, he gives you a full
hour. Take those breaks. They are government mandated for a reason. Don’t be
your own douchebag boss.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b>4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><!--[endif]--><b>Don’t Forget About Your Hobbies/Personal
Life<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you are a regular gym-goer, now is not the time to stop.
You should also take this opportunity to start eating healthier. Continue to go
out and see people on a regular basis. Doing stuff from a computer at your
kitchen table and then moving to the couch at 5pm, and then to bed and back to
the table in the morning can make you a little crazy. The networking events you
attend won’t be enough. Plan things with your friends and go out at night. Be a
regular person even though you don’t have a job…just do it cheaply cause you’re
poor. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When you neglect to properly plan and execute your job
hunting strategy, you start to feel guilty about how little you’ve done. Then
you don’t take time for yourself. This results in you being less effective. It’s
a vicious cycle that ultimately results in a pint of ice-cream, a lot of crying
and still no jobs. The worst thing you can do for yourself at this juncture is
take away the things that make you sane. Also, if you have good friends, they
will pay for things because they feel sorry for you. You won’t get this kind of
treatment again until someone you love dies (true story). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
P.S. These strategies can also be applied to people who work
from home or for themselves. <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-78832607910305192522013-01-17T09:47:00.000-04:002013-01-17T09:47:42.253-04:00Networking Doesn’t Stop Being Important Just Because You’re Employed
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhre4dOSTY_mEQ2FamYRrw1oMcwekFKe2u93oPex4N5EtIMMzPH-7ur12tPOrP7ASMCL0am6037a_KbxoLEJMv1E3JnnsIq6ys9cPRiBNHTfYuUeYBVDAh7IUkd3Yg1ala81hURh8_WCts/s1600/Networking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhre4dOSTY_mEQ2FamYRrw1oMcwekFKe2u93oPex4N5EtIMMzPH-7ur12tPOrP7ASMCL0am6037a_KbxoLEJMv1E3JnnsIq6ys9cPRiBNHTfYuUeYBVDAh7IUkd3Yg1ala81hURh8_WCts/s320/Networking.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Remember when you were looking for work, and people kept
telling you the best way to find employment was to network both on and offline?
Specifically, you should remember ME telling you that. Well once you start
working, your networking shouldn’t stop. Opportunities are going to continue to
present themselves outside of your current position and you still need to be
visible to really take advantage of them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Reasons to Network<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Side Projects:</b>
Other motivated people will always have some kind of side project on the go
that will enhance your resume beyond what your current job can offer you. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Random Really Cool
Stuff:</b> There is always some kind of event going on that you only really
know about because you’re connected to the right people. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Finding Out How Much
You’re Worth:</b> If you’re decent at your job, and others see what you can do,
you could start getting offers to “jump ship.” Then you see things like how
much another company is willing to pay you, and you can feel confident asking
for a raise.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>New Job Opportunities
You Never Would Have Thought of:</b> Sometimes, you SHOULD jump ship and try
something completely new. Sitting at your desk doing the same thing over and
over followed by going directly home and not engaging with people outside your
circle of friends really limits this opportunity.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>You Could Be Looking
Again:</b> Someday your company could shut down, downsize, or just start to
suck altogether. You’ll want to be able to exploit all of your contacts for a
speedy job search. Remember, the bigger your network, the shorter the search. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Networking at Work<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Meet Everyone at
Work:</b> Make a point to engage with as many people within and outside the
company as possible. Vendors, agencies, clients…pretty much anyone. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Be Involved in Your Community:</b>
People are 300% more impressed with you when you are working vs when you are
unemployed (Warning, may not be an actual statistic). So why not meet people at
these events when you’re impressive rather than waiting until you’re sad and
poor? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Leverage Social
Media:</b> Your community is going to have some kind of event calendar posted
somewhere whether it is created by your local Chamber of Commerce or the city
or town that you live in. Whoever has created it is going to love it when you
comment, share or retweet it. This will also increase your presence among
people who attend these events, even before attending them. Make sure to add
all of your contacts to LinkedIn and Twitter as you meet them, so it doesn’t
look so desperate later when you contact them (i.e. try to exploit them). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are millions of ways to network. For a reminder on how
to use social media to do it properly, check out an earlier post <a href="http://educatedandinexperienced.blogspot.ca/2012/01/dude-wheres-my-job-episode-2-networking.html">Dude, Where's My Job 2 - Networking Revisited</a>.
Remember, if you’re an introvert and have difficulty networking and meeting new
people, just get over it cause there’s no real alternative that would yield the same
results. <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-68338690953834251422013-01-10T00:22:00.000-04:002013-01-10T00:22:27.099-04:00Recruiting for Social Media: It’s Easier Than You Think<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://www.newmediawise.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Social-Media-Sites.png" /></div>
<br />
Your company understands that it needs to be active on
social networking sites. Your Facebook page is quickly becoming more important
than your website. The dilemma most small business owners face is though they
understand the need for social media, they don’t understand the most effective
ways to use it. You’d like to ask your marketing guy to do it, but yesterday
you saw him make a voice call from a landline to a record store to see if they had
the latest albums. At this point you resolve to hire someone to create and
manage your online presence. Here are a few tips for when you’re looking.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>1. Age Doesn't Matter</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most people will assume that a young person will be better
at social media, because they grew up in a generation that uses it more readily.
This is incorrect. As a young person, I can tell you that we are literally not
better at ANYTHING. Experience trumps (whatever the hell you think young people
have) every time. We are more apt to engage in social media, but someone in
their 40’s with an affinity for social media also has “life experience,” “related
job experience,” “industry experience” and other things to draw on that a younger
person wouldn't. Social media skills require a specific way of thinking. The
person can’t be intimidated by a new program or feature, because there’s a new
one every 5 minutes. There is no reason someone in their 30’s or 40’s can’t
have this skill.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2. Hire a Writer</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s all words. Your employee needs to make the words happen
and he needs to make ‘em happen good.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>3. Check Up on Them Online</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If this person is planning to work in social media, they
should have given you links to their social media accounts, and their presence
should be quasi-professional. As much as you think you would like to separate
the people from the organization, now that everything’s online, you really can’t.
They will put your company’s name on their LinkedIn, and attach their Twitter
feed to this account. Others will look your company up on LinkedIn and see who
your employees are. Anything they've made publicly available on purpose is fair game to use in your assessment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>4. Beware of Experts</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Someone who walks into an interview telling you they know
exactly what needs to be done and exactly how to do it is a dud. Social media is
social, therefore you need to get to know the clientele before you’re able to
really understand the best way to engage with them. A good candidate will offer
suggestions of possibilities along with the caveat that everything is subject
to change based on the results of the interaction. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don't make assumptions based on what you believe a good social media expert should be. Put these people through the same process you put all of your employees through. Identify the key skills and relevant experience you're looking for. Assess them thoroughly, and hire someone who is the right fit for your organization. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-74989941424263396952013-01-03T00:27:00.000-04:002013-01-03T00:27:31.374-04:00Jumping Ship: Switching Careers<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbgdoK5oRFpSiOppFhpuztqHc1vCE65N6OWpWbVp7FF1kLVTAPZ7NEASG2xE3AE0SjVpY4nH0khw0gFMTFJfsdRVR7HTF7kQkfvwgsw4QCfcOqrI1rtsYerRls-7nnfqwvy3-iRGPvbg/s1600/Fish-Jumping-Ship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbgdoK5oRFpSiOppFhpuztqHc1vCE65N6OWpWbVp7FF1kLVTAPZ7NEASG2xE3AE0SjVpY4nH0khw0gFMTFJfsdRVR7HTF7kQkfvwgsw4QCfcOqrI1rtsYerRls-7nnfqwvy3-iRGPvbg/s320/Fish-Jumping-Ship.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Remember when you started your career and you were
super-excited about all the things you could accomplish? You had lists of
goals, creative ideas, and enthusiasm. Over time, you may have found that the
industry you work in, or the management team you work for, have slowly chipped
away at all of that excitement and now every day is just a struggle not to slit
your own wrists. It may be time for a career shift (or medication).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you started in Human Resources like I did, you may have
found that your position had significantly less “strategic consulting” and a
lot more “glorified secretary” work. You also probably noticed that there was
so much process and red tape, that anything new or innovative you came up with
won’t be implemented for years, and by then it will be outdated. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t’ get discouraged. Basically, you played Russian
roulette with the career revolver and lost. Luckily, the consequences are less
brain-spattery than actual Russian roulette and you can bounce back a lot
faster. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Step 1 – Don’t quit your day job<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The economy still sucks.
You need money. Food and shelter are still very important components of
staying alive. You may not have any experience in this new industry you’re
entering. Keeping your day job and testing the new industry in your spare time
is an excellent way to not make the same mistake twice. Also, people will want
to see proof that you know what you’re doing before they hire you. It’s a weird
thing companies are doing now. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Step 2 – Start doing what you love<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just start doing it. If you want to be an events planner,
start small. Host a dinner party. People will give you feedback on how terrible
you are, and you can see if it is something you want to do full time. You can
take on additional, larger events as opportunities arise. Once you develop a
reputation, people will start asking you to do it, and maybe even pay you!
…unless you suck…in which case, you still have your day job. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Step 3 – Advertise<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Keep a portfolio of the new projects you’re working on. You
don’t have to spend money on advertising. Post your portfolio on LinkedIn,
Facebook, Blogger or any relevant account where your target audience would be. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Step 4 – Network<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Develop a list of relevant people to follow and engage with
online and learn how to do it properly. Think about where your target
customer/employer will see you and who they engage with. If you would like to
become an event planner, you should be interacting with companies that plan
events, the events themselves (which will normally have their own social media
accounts or at least a Facebook event) , and anyone else who is interested in
what you’re doing. The more people sharing pictures of your place settings on
Pinterest, or talking about you on Twitter, the better. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This gives you an opportunity to test out a new job risk-free.
It’s like an internship, but more impressive because of the entrepreneurial aspect
of having to create the opportunity yourself. After a while, you’ll have developed
enough experience to make yourself a marketable employee in a completely new
industry. …or you’ll have realized this job isn’t for you, but without getting
all wrist-cutty. <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-47828037267523865312012-12-07T09:03:00.005-04:002013-01-02T08:49:49.106-04:00Why Recruiting is as Awful as Dating<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here’s a neat little tidbit about recruiters. They’re real
life people and everyday is full of disappointment. E-recruiting, much like
E-dating, has many success stories. You’ve probably met a lot of happy couples
who met online, but for every happy couple, there are 10 horror stories of
people showing up 10 years older or 50 pounds heavier than their picture. The
sad part about recruiting is that you don’t get to date the winners for very
long. You give them to the hiring manager and then you have to start all over
again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOuoVLcodo9Oj4fB6LgYAz6MeynU3YzfAPzhl4HW_GrzHlM3fD2ub-ETZl2UiCVYUEHtz2l-2L11mSoATLdmZyfGi3p8cPvORlstrEPLjRexbA31LfhhrX8fqlevVHCGzzqRu0QdeTSo/s1600/Dating-Online.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOuoVLcodo9Oj4fB6LgYAz6MeynU3YzfAPzhl4HW_GrzHlM3fD2ub-ETZl2UiCVYUEHtz2l-2L11mSoATLdmZyfGi3p8cPvORlstrEPLjRexbA31LfhhrX8fqlevVHCGzzqRu0QdeTSo/s320/Dating-Online.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>A little insight into
the process<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First the recruiter crafts their profile:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I like long walks on the beach, Reggae music and I love to
cook. I’m looking for someone with 5 years’ experience in marketing, experience
with popular software with excellent attention to detail and willing to work in
a remote location. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
…then we sit back and laugh, knowing that person probably
doesn’t exist, especially in the remote region the hiring manager needs them in.
This is basically the equivalent of asking for someone with a six-figure income
who is ok with the fact that you’re a single parent of five. If you ever see
someone in a restaurant writing on a laptop, swirling a glass of brandy and
laughing maniacally like a Disney villain, but crying at the same time...that’s
a recruiter having a normal day.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Speed Dating Round</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Recruiters schedule entire days of interviews just to meet
the people, make sure the person matches the profile and isn’t a complete
douchebag. You need to get through the first date to get to the second date
with the hiring manager. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Step 1 – Make sure you can back up what’s written on your
resume. </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You were chosen to be interviewed because of several things
you wrote on your resume. We’re going to ask you about them to make sure you
did them. Be prepared to elaborate on specific projects. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Step 2 – Know yourself really well.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You are going to be asked to give an overview of your work
history as well as what you’re passionate about. Print off your resume and make
notes if you have to. Just be prepared to talk about this. It sounds like a
given, but a lot of people fail here. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Step 3 – Be Charming</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I interviewed a woman who had her own tagline. She told me
she was “a small town girl with a big city attitude.” I never forgot her name
as a result. Just like people don’t forget a good date, they certainly don’t
forget a bad date. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fact: Sometimes the HR guy won’t know all of the intricacies
of the app development position you applied for. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fact: They will be completely aware of the condescending
attitude you have towards them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Here is a list of things that will not get you to a second
date</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Name
dropping:</b> Tell me on your resume what companies you worked for, don’t spend
a significant amount of time asking me if I know so and so. I’m not impressed
by the fact that you worked for Donald Trump unless you can effectively tell me
what you did for him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Questioning
my questions:</b> If I ask you to elaborate on something, don’t ask me why I
want to know that or how is that relevant to this position unless the question
makes you uncomfortable for some reason. Often recruiters will want to know
about all of your skills (even the ones that don’t pertain to the position you
applied for). They can contact you for other positions, unless you were
uncooperative. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>A Shi**y Tone:</b>
Be intelligent, but don’t get smart. You would be surprised at how many
professionals, after they realize they’re talking to a lowly recruiter, develop
a smarmy attitude. Newsflash! In order to be hired, HR still needs to want to
work with you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I actually had an interview where the applicant told me to
go to his website, because I could stand to learn a little about the field I
was recruiting for…resume deleted.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t be a douchebag. We share all of our notes with the
manager. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Example: John Smith, 10 years of marketing experience,
excellent portfolio, possibly overqualified for the position. Complete ass. If
you hire him, I’m quitting. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Bottom Line:</b> Most
successful organizations are looking for someone who is a cultural fit. Being
an attractive candidate does not give you carte blanche to be an ass. Getting
through the first round is not a difficult task. Know your resume, be confident
and courteous and welcome to date #2. <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-47239504185166969442012-06-14T09:29:00.000-03:002012-06-14T09:30:11.195-03:00Resume Do’s and Don’ts<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://www.interviewmastermind.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/helpful_tips-297x300.jpg" />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Remember when I used to blog about things? Well I’m doing it
again! I committed a cardinal sin of social media and took a short hiatus while
I started a new job. Since my last post in April, my Klout score has dropped 6
points. This can mean one of three things.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">My social media presence is strong enough
without my blog to sustain a fairly consistent score.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">No one was really reading my blog anyway.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Klout doesn’t really measure anything
accurately.</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Luckily, for you guys, my new position is in recruitment. I
have spent the last month going through resumes of marketing and communications
professionals from all over North America, and I have put together a list of tips
that can help you get from the recruiter to the hiring manager.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A while ago, I wrote a blog about how no one really knows
what is supposed to go on a resume. After screening hundreds of applicants, I
have a general idea of what “I” like to see on a resume as well as what I hate
to see. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Do<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Add links to former employer’s websites</u> – If you were
the marketing manager of a company I’ve never heard of, I will want to see that
company’s website. If I can’t find it…how good were you?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Insert a brief description about what your former
employers do</u> – It’s possible that your business development experience at
company ABC is a perfect match for one of my vacant positions. If you don’t
tell me that company ABC produces widgets for a specific niche market, you’re
assuming I will know or that I will go looking for that information. If you
didn’t intrigue me somewhere else on the resume, I probably won’t do that. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Insert links to your social profiles</u> – If I’m on the
fence about someone or I like them and just want to learn more, I will try to
creep them on LinkedIn. If you’ve applied for a position that requires social
media experience, I’m going to creep you. If I can find you easily and see that
you’re active, you get bonus points. (Warning: bonus points are
non-transferable and have no cash value)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Be specific about what you did</u> – If you worked in
business development, throw some numbers in there. If you don’t have numbers,
tell me about some specific impressive accounts you landed. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Example: Generated $1.2M in revenue from new accounts in
fiscal year 2011-2012. OR Secured accounts with Unilever and Proctor &
Gamble. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Don’t<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Only include generic tasks you would read in a job
description</u> – A lot of people appear to copy and paste job descriptions to
their resumes. (i.e. conducted research, lead generation, created marketing
collateral.) This gets scanned over really quickly and doesn’t catch the eye of
the recruiter (i.e. Me). If you do get to an interview I have to make sure I
know:</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">What kind of research it was and what the
results were.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">What kind of leads you were looking for, how you
looked for them, and which ones you were able to secure.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">What kind of marketing collateral you created,
who the target audience was, and how effective it was.</span></li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Include an Objective Statement</u> – No matter how good
you are at writing, these are always terrible. I don’t know who invented these,
but I wish someone would have stopped them from doing so. Include a point form
list of your strengths. These should be correlated to the job description. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Forget to market your abilities in other ways</u> – If
you have a graphic design background, don’t give me a crappily formatted word
document. Show me you know what you’re doing. Don’t tell me you have strong
attention to detail and then leave typos in your resume. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Ignore the job description</u> – I have read objective
statements for applications to marketing positions that state “looking for
exciting new opportunities in human resources” …FAIL! I mostly hire independent
contractors, and though the ad specifically states “contract position,”
candidates tell me they are not interested in contract work. I already have
frown lines from calling these people. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Apply for jobs you’ll never get</u> – Sometimes, you can
get to an interview without all the required specifications. For example, I
might still consider someone for a position where I’ve asked for 5 years’
experience if they only have four years, but an impressive resume. <b>I will not </b>consider you for a marketing
manager position if you’ve only ever been a cashier. Think before you apply. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Cram everything into two pages</u> – Someone made a rule
that resumes had to be two pages long. It’s a stupid rule. If you have 5 years
of experience, your resume will be longer. If you have an impressive resume
that is clear and concise, it can be as long as it needs to be. Don’t leave out
important details or reduce your font to 8 points thinking that you’re helping
yourself get an interview…you’re not. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is just a short list of my own pet peeves disguised as
tips and tricks for job applicants. I’m sure there will be many more to come.
If you’re a marketing and/or communications professional, feel free to send
your resume along asking for feedback or a job. Our contract positions are
listed here: <a href="http://www.ventureweb.com/work-with-us/">VentureWeb Jobs</a>, but often we have many more that aren’t
posted. <o:p></o:p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-88110809170298496182012-04-19T02:44:00.000-03:002012-04-19T02:44:37.268-03:00Your Career Center And You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<img src="http://www.get-uk-jobs.com/images/career-choice.jpg" /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">I whine a lot about how my undergraduate degree really didn’t do much to prepare me for the job market. I also accept full responsibility for not taking advantage of all of the resources I had at the time.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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These included;</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Networking Opportunities</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Internships</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Career Services</span></li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>
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When I mention Career Services, I actually did make an
appointment with a Career Services Counsellor in my third year. I wasn’t really
sure what kinds of services they offered prior to my visit. She looked over my
resume, made a couple formatting suggestions, and gave me some pamphlets. She
was six different kinds of useless. (At
least the Health Clinic gave me a test to see which pamphlets I needed.) After
this meeting, I still had no idea what Career Services could actually offer me.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I’ve heard some Career Centers complain that they try to do
things for students, but no one shows up. They also complain that students don’t
bother with the center until their last year, when they are looking for a job.
I’ve heard them attribute it to laziness and apathy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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News Flash! If your entire University campus is full of
lazy, apathetic students, your selection criteria SUCKS! You might as well stop
offering Career Services, and just start handing out McDonald’s applications. Stop
complaining about how no one comes to visit you, and start fixing the problem.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Educate the students
on why they need Career Services<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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Someone starting a four year degree program may not be
thinking 5 years into the future. Someone starting a four year Liberal Arts
degree is <b>definitely</b> not thinking 5
years into the future. Most 18 year olds don’t think they need to start looking
at employment opportunities for when they’re 22. That’s forever away! This
thinking is obviously wrong. However, someone needs to change it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Side Note: Law Students start applying for internships in
their first year. This could be due to the fact that they already know what
their goal is and how to achieve it. It could also be because they’re expected
to do it. Did someone say cultural? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Spread Awareness<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Until career awareness can be sexually transmitted, it’s not
going to spread itself around campus for you. Students need to know what you
offer, and why you’re offering it. You need to convince them you know something
they don’t. Have you met an 18 year old? It’s not easy. You’re going to need a
full out marketing campaign. Here are some insights from a former student. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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1. Anything YOU say during frosh week will be ignored. <o:p></o:p></div>
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2. Posters will be ignored.<o:p></o:p></div>
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3. Anything you say during mid-terms or exams will be
ignored. <o:p></o:p></div>
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4. Your mass emails will be deleted, right after they’re
ignored.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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There are two ways to get students to pay attention to you. The
first is to work with the University itself to promote career development
across all programs. This is pretty much just a pipe dream, as most
Universities are not concerned with employment rates as much as they are with
the research of their staff. If you wanted to work in an environment where this
was possible, you should have chosen a Career Center at a Community College.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The second is to treat every interaction with a student as a
marketing opportunity. When someone comes into your office <b>DO NOT</b> give them a pamphlet. Do you know who gives pamphlets to
teenagers? <b>Every adult they come into
contact with on campus.</b> You <b>CAN</b>
help them with their resume, but that can’t be all you do. Then you’re just a
glorified proof-reader. Students need to know things like what the hell they’re
supposed to do with an English degree, where to find these jobs and strategies
to set them apart from other applicants. At 18 and 19, they won’t think to ask
you these questions. The few students that you <b>DO</b> get in your office for appointments need to get the Cadillac of
Career Services. If a student walks out of your office with a little more
direction and confidence, word will spread. If not, someone will bad-mouth you
on a blog like this one where tens of people will see it, and you won’t be any
further ahead. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-26987139886843676962012-04-13T00:11:00.000-03:002012-04-13T00:12:37.110-03:00Stalking Your Way To Work<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Have you
ever been reprimanded for following someone too closely? Have you ever been served
with a restraining order? Well then I have good news! Because of the internet’s
ability to lull people into a false sense of security, causing them to report
all of their personal details on a public forum, you can use these skills to
find employment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRRVvICZIMBj6bhlJ6SUN9_TIr1z9LRRpjPDGd4SM1If20h6yBa-_4tQXpdfcfRNu8IdshlplBB_aXhsRdoMnKQeU8-uxD6sEYaArXvOn_53VE_9aFDYVPjVeKT30Kf_ChcDUFVJKwVg/s1600/Blog+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRRVvICZIMBj6bhlJ6SUN9_TIr1z9LRRpjPDGd4SM1If20h6yBa-_4tQXpdfcfRNu8IdshlplBB_aXhsRdoMnKQeU8-uxD6sEYaArXvOn_53VE_9aFDYVPjVeKT30Kf_ChcDUFVJKwVg/s320/Blog+002.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">A lot of job-hunting
enthusiasts will give you all kinds of information about how to set yourself apart
using your cover letter and resume. They also give you a general overview of
how to network, but don’t really get into the nitty-gritty of how to do it. The
current job market is …terrible, and any advertised job you apply for is going
to be riddled with competition. Unless you have been in the industry for years,
have won some kind of award or have like a third arm or something, it’s going
to be difficult to stand out… unless you have an “in” (a contact who is aware
of your talents and your job situation). The more “in’s” you have, the better. A
lot of jobs won’t be advertised, because they’ll be given to people with “in’s.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;">First: Find A Company You Want To
Work For<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Start
following these companies on every social media account they have. Engage with
them. Their websites will also name their executives and employees, who will
most likely also have social media accounts. You need to follow these people
too. Passively begin to engage with them. Retweet, Like, Share, etc. relevant
industry material, current events or general information. (You should already
be doing this…we’ve discussed this already).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">This part is
important. <b>Don’t be creepy!</b> Do not comment on pictures of their vacation (where
they’re wearing bathing suits) or on things their mom may have posted on their
wall. If you have difficulty with this…maybe just skip Facebook altogether. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Through
these accounts you’re using your online presence to let them get to know you. You’re
also getting to know them. They’re going to tell you things like:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">What
committees they are on</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">What
charity/networking events they go to.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">What
events they are hosting, sponsoring or just attending.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><b>You need to
go to those and meet them in person. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">If they’re
sponsoring an event, you can go, network and take pictures of yourself there.
Use your social networks to tell them what an awesome time you had and post
pics of you there on your networks. Blog about it! <b>Companies will eat this
attention up. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Once you’ve
spent some time doing this, find a tasteful way to tell them you’re looking for
work. This at least puts you on their radar. They can let you know if something
comes up. Also, when you apply for an advertised job, you can let the people
you’ve been in contact with know you’ve applied. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">If you were
successful, and they like you, they can give you tips and keep you abreast of
the status of the competition. They can also favor you over other candidates,
because they are familiar with you. This is your “in” and you did it using
social networking…which is something your body needs anyway. <span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-45631561895811594622012-03-23T00:40:00.000-03:002012-03-23T00:41:50.855-03:00Protect Your Career From Your Personal LifeRemember a couple of months ago when we were discussing whether
it was a good idea to use Social Networking to find job applicants? Some of us
were a little gun-shy. These online profiles have pictures, and information
about age, political affiliations, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, and
all of the other things recruiters/employers aren't supposed to know. Then, as
HR got its feet wet, it got braver.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://www.infiniteunknown.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/big-brother-computer-surveillance.jpg" /> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Companies started asking job applicants to open their Facebook
accounts and show them the content. This made some people uneasy, but it could
be justified. Your Social Networking profiles are publicly available
information. It could be assumed that the average social networker (is that the
correct term for us?) publishes their employment details online. It is
important for a company to know how you are going to portray yourself as one of
their employees. Look at some Twitter profiles if you want to see some examples.
People put their employer’s name and position title…and then write “tweets are
my own and do not represent my employer.” Your tweets do represent your
employer though. Especially if you’re one of the people the client will need to
interact with when receiving the company’s service. “Hey remember that
douchebag who posted his unpopular opinion about the situation in the
middle-east? I don’t want to buy a car from him.” Candidates even had the
ability to make their profile employer friendly, and use it to their advantage
in the interview. They could show pictures of travelling and engaging in
activities that make them appear more well-rounded. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now we’ve crossed a line into ridiculousness. Asking for
someone’s Facebook password so you can peruse its content at your leisure is
like asking for their personal cellphone so you can read their text messages. The
<b>ONLY</b> reason companies have the
ability to do this is due to a lack of legislation regarding online profiles of
any kind. If you’re an employer and you’re debating whether this is a good idea
or not…I’d play it safe and wait for some relevant case law. If you’re an
employee, go back through your Facebook profile messages. Did you just realize
that if you’ve never deleted them, they’re all still there? I did! What is an
employer going to think of those messages…especially without the context of the
relationship you have with that person? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>For Example:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li>If someone did not understand my sense of humour, they would
think I was really mean to my Mom.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Did you ever subscribe to a dating app for Facebook? Did you
meet a lot of people? Is your status still set to single? They’re gonna think you’re
either a big player or just a sad, sad man.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Remember that time the obviously fake Facebook profile sent
you a message asking for your banking information, and you responded in the
most inappropriate manner you could think of to see if you could gross them out
enough to stop messaging you? Facebook does! The employer isn’t gonna know that’s
what you were doing. They’re gonna think you’re filthy…and double-jointed.</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Technically, employers shouldn’t be allowed to ask for this
information, and I’m confident they won’t be allowed to in the future. However,
in the interim it might be a good idea to clean it up. You already know that
anything you post online stays there forever. Well so do your emails and
private messages. If an employer interviews one of your friends, they can
access all of the messages you sent your friend as well. Just because you
deleted the message, doesn’t mean they can’t find it. If you are talking to
someone online, and you feel the urge to be inappropriate try not to use a site
an employer would think to request access to. Telling someone off is much safer
and more effective when done in person, or with a good old fashioned telephone
call. <o:p></o:p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-14900119828052727252012-03-14T22:17:00.000-03:002012-03-14T22:26:48.831-03:00Dude Where’s My Job? Panel 1 – Straight Talk on Resumes: Part 2<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://i0.bookcdn.com/data/Photos/LargePhoto2/78/7854/7854144/One-And-Only-Cape-Town-photos-Facilities-Board-Room.JPEG" /> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hey everyone! Remember last week when I got other people to
write the content for my blog….I mean when I consulted professionals in the
field to give you some well-rounded advice on resume-writing? Well go ahead and
get excited, because this is part 2 of that panel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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We’ll start by re-introducing the
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<b>Kathy Wishart</b><i>, Recruiter and Job Search Consultant with Priority Personnel Inc.</i><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Priority Personnel Inc.</span></span></strong><span lang="EN-GB"> is an independent and locally owned New Brunswick recruiting services company. Operating since 1993, our office is conveniently located in the downtown core of New Brunswick's capital city of Fredericton. Wendy Southworth, President, leads this dynamic, forward-thinking organization. Priority Personnel Inc. is driven by a commitment to meet and exceed the needs of our diverse customer base. 75% of our business comes from repeat clients and word-of-mouth referrals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">A wide range of job classifications and services are provided to all levels of Government; not-for profit organizations; and private business such as consulting, legal, insurance, financial, accounting, development projects and corporations, communication, and information technology.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/PriorityCareers" style="color: #cc6600; text-decoration: none;">Click here to follow them on Twitter</a></b></div>
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<b>Dana Leavy</b> is the founder of Aspyre Solutions, and a self-proclaimed "Entrepreneurial Wingwoman", helping aspiring entrepreneurs & creative freelancers start, build & grow sustainable small businesses, through career transition and business consulting. As a career advisor and small business entrepreneur, Dana has helped hundreds of professionals in advertising, marketing, design, multimedia and other industries in creating and executing effective career plans to find and DO the work they are passionate about.<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<b><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/DanaLeavy" style="color: #cc6600; text-decoration: none;">Click here to follow her on Twitter</a></b></div>
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<b>Mark Babbitt </b>is CEO and Founder of YouTern, where emerging talent connects with entrepreneur-driven businesses and non-profits through high-impact, mentor-based internships. Mark has been quoted on internship, experiential education and career matters in Forbes, Mashable, Under30CEO.com and ReadWriteWeb. Mark also contributes to Business Insider, StudentBranding.com and Intern Advocate. A serial mentor, Mark was recently honored to be named to GenJuice’s “Top 100 Most Desired Mentors” list.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/YouTernMark" style="color: #cc6600; text-decoration: none;"><b>Click here to follow him on Twitter</b></a></div>
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Participants were asked to answer
the following questions:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>6. If you are
over-qualified for the position, should you leave out some of your
qualifications? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Kathy Wishart</b> - If
you are over-qualified, please reconsider your application. It’s not likely to go well if you do get the
job. If you need the job, however, be
honest. Omitting items on your resume is
treading dangerous ground since most are likely to regard intentional omissions
as on par with lies and misrepresentations.
You might try using the cover letter to leverage your reasons for
wanting the job.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Dana Leavy</b> - There's
no one right answer here. Generally
speaking the last 10-12 years are going to be the most relevant information,
and you want to be aware of dating yourself if you're a senior level candidate,
or you're breaking into an industry and vying for a more entry-level role. Do your best to only include the information
that's going to be most relevant to the role and the organization. If you're breaking into the creative industry
and going for an entry level designer role, they're not going to care that you
have 12 years of professional work experience, especially if it's in a
completely different field. You're not
misrepresenting yourself.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Mark Babbitt - </b>No.
You want to get the interview – and to do that you have to confidently display
your abilities. Once your foot is on the right side of the door, you’re in a
much better position to counter the “over-qualified” objection.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>7. Chronological,
Competency Based or Other? How do we organize our resumes to screen in and
catch your attention?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Kathy Wishart -</b> A
combined format is probably the most informative type of resume since it links
skills and experiences to actual jobs in a chronological order. In terms of catching my attention, I’m old
school. Make it visually appealing and
don’t give me too much to read or wade through.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Dana Leavy</b> - I
prefer and often recommend using a hybrid-style resume that includes the
summary, a skills or core competencies section, and work experience &
education. I like this formatting
because again, it's really effective for presenting the resume as a branding
tool, really communicating who you are and what you're bringing to the
table. But it also flows really well in
terms of each section - the summary is a general overview of your top skills,
followed by additional skills and core competencies you have, and then the
experience section goes into more context about where you've used those skills
and expertise to be successful and contribute to the organization.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Mark Babbitt - </b>Again,
depends on the career and industry. For old-school medical, legal, and
engineering firms, for management positions and academia a chronological resume
is standard – and expected. For other industries – including digital media,
advertising, public relations and more – a hybrid resume (summary statement and
then chronological) tends to work best.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>8. Is there a better
font, font-size, length etc.? When the employer doesn’t specify these things,
what do we do? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Kathy Wishart - </b>I’m
personally flexible on font type. It
needs to look professional. Most fonts
are fine at a size 11 or 12. Some people
recommend a page of resume for every ten years of work experience. I certainly wouldn’t go more than 3 pages
EVER for a resume; a two page resume with a cover letter is ideal.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Dana Leavy</b> - It's
an antiquated myth that the resume HAS to be on one page, but do keep it under
two if possible. Really it's about what
is the most effective format for presenting the information, keeping
readability, aesthetic and communication in mind. As far as fonts and sizing, stay with the
standard fonts that work on both Mac and PC (Ariel, Helvetica, Georgia,
Palatino, etc.). If you use a
Microsoft-based font that doesn't translate to Mac platform, and it's in a Word
document, you risk throwing off the formatting of your entire document, and it
can look sloppy. With that in mind, I
always suggest presenting your resume in a PDF format, so as avoid any issues
with margins when your reader opens it up.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Mark Babbitt - </b>Same
criteria as above. Old-school industries and positions stick to Times New Roman
12 or maybe a non-serif Arial 11. For other industries use a Cailbri 11 or
similar visually appealing font. Just please don’t use more than two fonts on
the resume; if the resume comes across as loud or obnoxious – it gets
discarded.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>9. Are graphics and
other media helpful in getting through the screening process? If yes, do you
have any tips on this for applicants?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Dana Leavy</b> - I
don't suggest getting overly creative or putting graphics on the resume,
outside of maybe a sidebar as a formatting tool for listing additional
information. Besides taking up space,
graphics on resumes don't really serve a purpose, impress anyone, and in my
opinion they're cheesy. If you're a
designer, your portfolio should speak for itself. Video resumes are kind of cool, but they're
still up and coming, and most companies prefer the standard resume that they
can scan really quick instead of watching a several minute multimedia
presentation - they don't have time for that.
The only time I would say it's okay to get creative with your branding
package is if it's something that's really going to appeal to the type of
company to whom you're applying. If
that's what they do, they might enjoy knowing that you're knowledgeable in that
area. But I would still have a standard
resume, and then maybe redirect them to your blog, or website, if you want to
give them more of an in-depth creative branding presentation on who you are.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Mark Babbitt - </b>Links
to social media sites, as well as an online portfolio or blog, is more than welcome.
Graphics can be a distraction for most industries (design and digital media are
exceptions). Infographic resumes – when well done – can be a great way to get
noticed in new media companies and positions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>10. Is there any
advice you would give to job applicants regarding their resume that you have
not already addressed?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Kathy Wishart - </b>You
wouldn’t walk onto a construction site without a hard hat and steel-toed
boots. Why, then, would you approach
your job search without the adequate tools to get the job done? I’m talking about your resume. Unless you’ve
been formally trained on resume writing and are an accomplished resume writer,
don’t go it alone. Consult a resume
writing service. It’s an investment in
your career.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Dana Leavy</b> - Once
again, just remember that the resume is a branding tool that's meant to tell
the story of your career, and the biggest aspects of that to keep in mind are
professionalism, formatting/readability, and messaging. Is your brand consistent throughout? What do you want the employer to know about
you as a candidate, and are you communicating that? Are you using words and phrases that describe
what is unique about YOU, and not just presenting you as someone with the basic
qualifications? If you look at it as a
branding tool and build it in that way,
instead of a standard required document, it's going to work much better
for you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Mark Babbitt - </b>Your
resume must be positioned to compete. That does not mean the resume has to be
perfect; it just needs to be a little bit better than your competition. To do
that, the resume must be:<o:p></o:p></div>
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1. Free of grammar and spelling errors<o:p></o:p></div>
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2. Tailored to each
position/application<o:p></o:p></div>
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3. Peppered with keywords directly from
the job description<o:p></o:p></div>
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4. MUST contain a statement summarizing
your soft skills <o:p></o:p></div>
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5. MUST contain quantified
substantiation of your performance (i.e., “exceeded quota by 132%)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Proper execution of these five issues alone places you ahead
of at least 90% of your competition, and should be considered mandatory
elements of a good resume.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thanks again to all of the participants. If you have any
questions or comments feel free to add them below, or follow the panel members
on twitter and ask them yourselves. I hope this unraveled some of the mystery behind what the "rules" on resume writing are. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Happy job-hunting<o:p></o:p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-26934684378887525432012-03-08T23:48:00.000-04:002012-03-09T00:06:23.300-04:00Dude Where’s My Job? Panel 1 – Straight Talk on Resumes: Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Remember when I gave you all that super-helpful information
on how to write a proper resume? That’s because I didn't really. What I did
tell you was that the personal taste of the hiring manager and the culture of
the organization are huge factors to consider when it comes to resume content.
There may be some best practices, but for the most part it’s a very subjective
topic. I also encouraged you to get advice and feedback from others. Just in
case you were waiting for me to do it for you….I did!</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The following
individuals have graciously offered to contribute their resume-writing
expertise. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Kathy Wishart</b><i>, Recruiter and Job Search Consultant with
Priority Personnel Inc.</i><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Priority
Personnel Inc.</span></span></strong><span lang="EN-GB">
is an independent and locally owned New Brunswick recruiting services company.
Operating since 1993, our office is conveniently located in the downtown core
of New Brunswick's capital city of Fredericton. Wendy Southworth, President,
leads this dynamic, forward-thinking organization. Priority Personnel Inc. is
driven by a commitment to meet and exceed the needs of our diverse customer
base. 75% of our business comes from repeat clients and word-of-mouth
referrals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">A wide
range of job classifications and services are provided to all levels of
Government; not-for profit organizations; and private business such as
consulting, legal, insurance, financial, accounting, development projects and
corporations, communication, and information technology.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/PriorityCareers">Click here to follow them on Twitter</a></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aNChQka64DClv2jC2_yR0srSX3t2nIMa13xixjhJyrc8-9VOMMxj4EabyIkVV14AL5k0PHzjzeazMJ1GTmBXIlBK4kFjF8-T3suTbUQ_5u6dzuq7PrneAqq6QTkyICAOq8Ra5N_xvCk/s1600/Dana+Leavy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aNChQka64DClv2jC2_yR0srSX3t2nIMa13xixjhJyrc8-9VOMMxj4EabyIkVV14AL5k0PHzjzeazMJ1GTmBXIlBK4kFjF8-T3suTbUQ_5u6dzuq7PrneAqq6QTkyICAOq8Ra5N_xvCk/s200/Dana+Leavy.png" width="153" /></a></div>
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<b>Dana Leavy</b> is the
founder of Aspyre Solutions, and a self-proclaimed "Entrepreneurial
Wingwoman", helping aspiring entrepreneurs & creative freelancers
start, build & grow sustainable small businesses, through career transition
and business consulting. As a career advisor and small business entrepreneur,
Dana has helped hundreds of professionals in advertising, marketing, design,
multimedia and other industries in creating and executing effective career
plans to find and DO the work they are passionate about.<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<b><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/DanaLeavy">Click here to follow her on Twitter</a></b></div>
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<b>Mark Babbitt </b>is
CEO and Founder of YouTern, where emerging talent connects with
entrepreneur-driven businesses and non-profits through high-impact,
mentor-based internships. Mark has been quoted on internship, experiential
education and career matters in Forbes, Mashable, Under30CEO.com and
ReadWriteWeb. Mark also contributes to Business Insider, StudentBranding.com
and Intern Advocate. A serial mentor, Mark was recently honored to be named to
GenJuice’s “Top 100 Most Desired Mentors” list.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/YouTernMark"><b>Click here to follow him on Twitter</b></a></div>
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<br />
The panel was asked to respond to ten questions regarding
resume content and formatting. Below are the first five questions. The answers
to the next five questions will be posted next week. This is in the interest of
keeping the blog post fairly brief, and not (as some have pointed out) an
opportunity for me to have two weeks’ worth of blog posts that I don’t have to
write myself.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>1. What can I include
in a resume that really makes it stand out for you from the hundreds of others
you see?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Kathy Wishart - </b>This
is a tough one because I’ve seen all manner of format and feature in resumes
over the years. A resume that stands out
to me now is one that has energy to it and gives me a glimpse into the person
I’m considering.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Dana Leavy</b> - A
solid resume summary statement is one of the best "tools" you can
utilize to add oomph to your resume, and really give it a solid branding
message that communicates your top skills and experience. I say "summary" instead of an
"objective" statement because a summary focuses in on the great
qualities that you're essentially bringing to the table for the organization
(what are they gaining?), versus an objective, which speaks from the
perspective of what you want as a job seeker.
While that's important, it's not going to grab any company's attention -
they already know you want to work for them, and leverage your skills! A great branding summary tells them who you
are in terms of your qualifications, what you're there to do, and what unique
experience or perspective you can really bring to the role. If you were to answer the question,
"What do I want prospective employers to know about me?" this would
be the place to really answer that strategically.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Mark Babbitt - </b>Good
resumes tell me what you CAN DO for me, not what you DID for someone else. This
includes soft skills, quantified statements of achievement – and confidence.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>2. What is the most
common mistake that people make on a resume and/or what is the one thing you
see on a resume that really irritates you (not including typos)?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Kathy Wishart - </b>A good many people submit
resumes that look like a list. They’re bare bones information and lack the
flesh and muscle that tell me about a person’s accomplishments and
suitability. A straight up pet peeve,
for me, in a resume is the word “etc.” It tells me nothing. I’m also not fond
of the personal pronoun “I” in a resume.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Dana Leavy</b> - The
biggest mistake I see is utilizing a resume as little more than a sheet of
paper that denotes your experience, education and skills. There is no branding message that tells me
why you're uniquely qualified for the role, versus having the minimum
qualifications. A resume should follow a
slightly formalized format, yes, but it should tell the "story" of
your career by really sticking to a clear branding message that's evident
throughout the document. And the other
mistake? Assuming it all has to fit on
one page, cramming information together, and ultimately sacrificing the
readability of the document.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Mark Babbitt - </b>The
inclusion of an objective statement and other “I” related comments. At least until
the first interview, as a recruiter the least of my worries is what “You” want
or expect. I’m looking for a good culture fit, coachability – and someone who
can do the job right now.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>3. I keep hearing
that “keywords” are the best way to get your resume noticed, but I also hear
not to use “over-used” “buzz” words….but the job ad ALWAYS has these words in
it. What are your thoughts on this? <span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b>Kathy Wishart - </b>Buzz words don’t bother me,
personally. I think the problem with
buzz words is that people tend to overuse them and not back them up with
concrete examples that demonstrate that they possess that quality. I’d much rather infer that someone is
creative by reading about a cool accomplishment than the job seeker simply
telling me s/he is creative.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Dana Leavy</b> - The
summary and skill sections are great places to include an keywords or buzzwords
that you know your audience is going to be looking for. Don't overdo it, and keep it genuine -
anything you say in your resume you should be able to back up with context and
examples in the interview, so don't just throw in keywords for SEO sake.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Mark Babbitt - </b>If
you are applying to a larger organization or agency that uses an Automatic
Tracking System (ATS) you have no choice but to pepper your resume with
keywords from the job description.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>4. Everyone says
objective statements are overrated. How should the resume open, and what should
be included with it?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Kathy Wishart - </b>In the most technical sense,
the resume opens with a solid cover letter.
The cover letter should replace the objective statement. Resumes open with the name and contact
information of the job seeker. After
that, I like to see a well-crafted profile statement and relevant summary of
qualifications.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Dana Leavy</b> - See
#1 above: Open not with an objective, but with a summary that clearly
communicates your brand in terms of your skills, experience and any
particularly unique angles that would catch your audience's attention. This is the first section they will read, and
you want to set a strong context for the rest of the document that compels them
to keep reading.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Mark Babbitt - </b>The
summary statement mentioned above is far more effective at showing the
recruiter how you will solve their problem; how you will contribute. The
summary statement can be either a short paragraph (maybe 400 characters) or
five to eight bullet points that highlight your abilities, experience and soft
skills.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>5. How important is
it to include elements of your personality in your resume? Can it be
detrimental?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Kathy Wishart</b> - In my opinion, certain aspects
of one’s personality, as they relate to the job at hand, should come through in
the resume. The employer is hiring the whole person, not just a skill set or
repertoire of experience. This lends
itself to cultural fit which is a huge factor in why people stay in or leave
their jobs. But, be careful, some
details are just “TMI” – too much information.
Employers don’t care to know (and don’t need to know) about things like
sexual orientation, religious beliefs, and hobbies.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Dana Leavy</b> - LinkedIN
is a better place to do that, as well as a blog, or even your cover letter,
because you can make the connection between the qualifications in the resume,
and why you want to work for that particular company. If you're vying for the attention of a
creative company, a startup, or anywhere else where you know there's a very
particular company culture that you have to appeal to, you can make that
connection in the cover letter, or the other documents. While it might seem antiquated, the resume
still has to follow the old standards and function as a more formalized
representation of your qualifications.
But I do think you can get a little creative with your brand - throw
your volunteer or internship experience in there, maybe list your memberships
& affiliations with certain groups they might find appealing. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Mark Babbitt</b> - Depends
100% on the industry and company. In a conservative Fortune 500 company showing
a unique personality can be a huge detriment. In a start-up, non-profit or
entrepreneur driven business, however, “being a character” may be exactly what
you need to do to get the interview. In all cases, tailor the resume to the
audience.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I want to thank all of the participants for taking the time to share their knowledge in this area. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave one on this post, or follow the participants on twitter and talk to them for yourself. Tune in next week where we address the following questions;</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">6. If you are over-qualified for the
position, should you leave out some of your qualifications?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">7. Chronological, Competency Based or
Other? How do we organize our resumes to screen in and catch your attention?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">8. Is there a better font, font-size,
length etc.? When the employer doesn’t specify these things, what do we do?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">9. How helpful are graphics and other media
in getting through the screening process? Do you have any tips on this
for applicants?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">10. Is there any advice you would give to
job applicants regarding their resume that you have not already addressed?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-58257283324140890042012-02-29T23:11:00.000-04:002012-02-29T23:12:20.123-04:00Dude Where’s My Job? Episode 6 – The Follow-Up<br />
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A lot of people think that once you've finished the
interview it’s all up to the employer. Wrong! You need to make sure the
employer remembers your name and stays engaged with you until they make their
decision. This isn't even limited to after the interview. You can keep them
engaged from the time you submit your application to let them know you are
still interested. You just have to make sure you don’t cross the line and
become the annoying person who they can’t wait to be rid of.</div>
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<img src="http://i.ehow.com/images/a04/kd/4i/follow-up-after-job-interview-480X480.jpg" />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Step 1<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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This is a repeat of Episode 2, where I told you to follow
the company’s Twitter account or Like their Facebook page. If this is new
information to you, go back and read these from the beginning. Why would you
start reading from the Episode 6? This isn’t Star Wars, where Episodes 4 – 6 were
awesome and then you watched Episode 1 and it immediately made you want to rant
about it online….all my Episodes were equally awesome. Keep them engaged
through the recruitment process by retweeting, liking, and commenting on their
posts. This is done either before or immediately after submitting your
application, and continues until you’ve been hired…..or rejected. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Step 2<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Keep track of all the positions you apply for. You need to
decide, based on each individual position, what would be an appropriate length
of time to wait before contacting to check on the status of the competition.
Larger companies will have a longer lag time between soliciting applications to
the interview stage. A rough heuristic would be one to two weeks from the
deadline to submit applications if they haven’t already given you a timeline.
Once you have received a timeline, you should avoid asking questions until a
couple days after they said they would get back to you. They will get annoyed
and start to hate you. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Step 3<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Following an interview, some people will instruct you to one
or all of the following;<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Send a thank you email immediately following the
interview</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Send a handwritten thank you note immediately
following the interview</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Call the interviewer after the interview to
thank them for the interview</span></li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Warning:</b> Doing
all of these things lets the employer know that you are not only enthusiastic
and excited about the position, but also just a little bit crazy. If you’re
applying for anything other than a stalker position, this is not recommended. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Choose which course of action best suits your personal
style. You should probably only do one of those things. In the interview, you
should ask what the anticipated timeline is for finding out if you were the
successful candidate. After the interview, thank the interviewer for their time
using one of the three methods above and then after the date they give you, ask
if a decision has been made.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Step 4<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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If you didn’t get the job, ask for feedback. What was it
that eliminated me? Most companies won’t tell you what it is, but every now and
then you get lucky and they say exactly what it was. Some companies will be as
specific as telling you exactly which question you answered incorrectly or
insufficiently. You don’t want to keep making the same mistake if it’s
something you can help. Don’t wait to get an interview to ask this question. If
you don’t get an interview, ask them why you were eliminated. A wise man once
told me that <i>“knowing is half the battle.”</i>
<o:p></o:p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-42466546512331395512012-02-23T22:46:00.001-04:002012-02-23T22:47:34.895-04:00Fitness For Fatties<br />
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<i>“Every great diet
begins with a single step… and there’s like a bunch more steps and eventually
the journey ends up sucking and at some points you’re pretty sure you would be
thinner if you hadn’t even tried... Doritos?” – Scott Keenan</i></div>
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Welcome to the mindset of the out of shape. If you’re like
most people, you’ve probably attempted some diet or exercise regime that
ultimately resulted in complete failure. For some people it’s ok. They just
didn’t get the abs they wanted, or their arms are still a little flabby. For the
rest of us, it usually results a quick loss of about five pounds followed by a
gain of ten pounds, some mild depression and a lot of cream cheese.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I could manage to lose 10 to 15 pounds every year by giving
up junk food for lent only to gain it back immediately upon reintroducing crap
into my diet. I also made several
attempts at exercise regimes, which never worked out…mostly because I hate
exercising. At some point reality has to sink in. You will not do your body any
good by just taking the stairs instead of the elevator or going for a walk at
lunch. Adjusting only your diet or your exercise regime only does so much.
Eventually you have to suck it up and take the plunge with a plan for long term
success.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The first step is admitting that you suck. At some points
during your diet you are incredibly dedicated, forcing yourself to run an extra
10 minutes after your tired and eating an entire notebook of unlined paper
(this is healthier than loose-leaf) in order to extinguish the craving for
chips. You have to identify at what point during the day you are an Olympian
and force “the you that doesn’t suck” to make the decisions about the rest of
the day. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If your gut hangs out over your belt, you have already
proven that you cannot be trusted with food. My recent attempts at eliminating
junk food proved fruitless as a result of discovering easy pastry recipes. Do
you know of a food that you can’t stuff in a pastry and fry, because I don’t.
Replacing junk food with chilli pockets did not result in any weight loss. My
diet needed a more thorough plan than just “no junk food” in order to overcome
the diet hurdles.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Hurdle 1 – Portion
Control<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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It came to my attention that the type of food I was eating
was not the problem. I like eating healthy food, I just eat too much of it. When
you come home from a long day of work you are in no position to make decisions
about what or how much you’re going to eat. The fact is, making something
healthy is usually harder than Kraft Dinner or picking up a burger on the way
home. Decisions about food intake should be made by the you that doesn’t suck.
I found that cooking a big meal at the beginning of the week, portioning it out
into Lunch and Dinner sized portions and freezing them made a huge difference.
If I spend a couple hours not sucking on Sunday, I don’t have to think about
food for the rest of the week. This allows me to focus on work, the gym and my
social life without sacrificing my diet.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Hurdle 2 – What do I
eat?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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The next issue is making sure what you are eating isn’t that
bad. I’m not a lot of help here. I’d go see a dietician. I know you’re supposed
to snack often so I started carrying around a bag of fruits and vegetables,
divided into portion sizes and snacked at least twice in the morning, and twice
in the afternoon. I also hated eating breakfast, so I started taking toast and
peanut butter with me to work, so I would at least have something in my stomach
in the morning. Carry water with you. If it’s on your desk, you will drink it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Hurdle 3 – Ignoring
the Gym Bunnies<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<i> Everyone at the gym is more attractive than I
am. Do they really want to see me there?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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The answer is no. You make them sad. I found a gym in my
area that has significantly fewer attractive people, so I’ve been going there.
My first trip to the gym bunnies’ location was extremely depressing. I
immediately start sweating when I bend over to tie my shoes, so after the first
10 minutes on the treadmill, I look like I’ve become severely dehydrated. The people
at this gym don’t appear to sweat. They’re all sporting Lulu Lemon’s “no pit
stain” collection, with perfectly coiffed hair, reeking of perfume and cologne.
They still have perfectly chiseled bodies and tiny little waists. I assume they
do the bulk of the workout at home, and just come in for a little warm up,
followed by a lot of looking at themselves in the mirror in public. This made
me uncomfortable. If these people intimidate you, try finding a gym with a
homelier clientele. Though, I think all of us regular people should infiltrate
these locations and see if we can get them to just stay home. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Hurdle 4 – Motivation<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<i>I don’t want to go to
the gym.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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Duh! Nobody who isn’t completely full of themselves enjoys
going to the gym. There are a couple different techniques for getting yourself
there.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The Buddy System – Schedule regular times for you and your
friend to go. This way, you know if you don’t go, your friend will be
irritated. Also, your friend could be more athletic than you. This could
motivate you to try harder and they could give you some tips on how to use the
equipment. If you’re like me, this didn’t work because your friends can’t stick
to a schedule and when they tried to encourage you to run faster or longer, you
gave them the finger and stopped talking to them for a while.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Escalation of Commitment – This is a common error made in
business. Basically, you continue to invest time and money into a failing
business unit only because of all of the time and money you’ve already invested
in it, regardless of its potential for success. In this scenario, the failing
business unit is your physical appearance. Buy yourself some expensive running
shoes, and some fancy gym clothes that are supposed to be good in all types of
weather, and are odour resistant. You’ll have invested enough at this point to
keep you going for a couple months. P.S. you still have to wash the odour
resistant stuff….it does end up stinking….no matter how much you paid for it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The most important thing is to not think about the fact that
you’re going to the gym before you go. Just put your clothes in your bag and
get there. Then it’s too late to go back. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Hurdle 5 – Not
Looking Like A Tool<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<i>Won’t I look like an
idiot trying to use everything for the first time?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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Yes….you will, and those people ARE laughing at you behind
your back. My gym happens to have orientation sessions for new people (or old
people who just haven’t taken them before). When I decided to get serious about
going to the gym, I took these courses. The trainer and I decided that I’m
probably not coordinated enough to use the free-weights on my own, so I should
stick to the machines that don’t actually work your core muscles. I think this
was a good compromise. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If your gym does not have orientation sessions, you might
think a personal trainer is a good alternative. Nope! A personal trainer is a
sadistic sub-human who enjoys watching you suffer AND you pay them for it. If
you’re really that hard-up to have your self-esteem undermined, move back home
with your parents. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Hurdle 6 - The Relapse</b></div>
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<i>F#@* it</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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You will most likely lose all motivation and revert back to old habits...possibly even worse than your old habits. I recently put two pieces of pizza between two pieces of toast. I added some mustard and mayonnaise and a little bit of party mix. It was pretty much awesome. When you hit bottom like this, you have to give yourself two weeks of disciplined, back-on-trackedness before you'll feel motivated to start your healthy-living up again. </div>
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<i>Remember, we can't jump every hurdle, but together we can strategically maneuver around them.</i><o:p></o:p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-6345999656418192702012-02-17T00:16:00.002-04:002012-02-20T12:53:46.005-04:00Dude Where’s My Job? Episode 5 – The Interview<br />
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<img src="http://www.shoppersbase.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/job-interview-dress-code.gif" />
</div>
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<br /></div>
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Congratulations on getting your foot in the door. Now all you
have to do is spend a short amount of time with your potential employer and not
screw up. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Step 1 – Suit-Up!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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There is a lot of advice available on what to wear for an
interview. They tell you everything from what colour or brand of suit to wear
to how to knot your tie. Most of this information is bull. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Fact: A Windsor Knot does not make you look more confident.
It makes you look like you’re wearing a tie with a Windsor Knot. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The best advice I’ve heard is “dress like you already work
there.” Find out what the other employees are wearing and dress accordingly. If
the company has a laid-back dress code and all of the executives wear jeans and
blazers, following suit could make them feel as though you already belong
there. It’s also possible that they will expect you to be a little more
polished at the interview and count the jeans as a strike against you. (I bet
you thought I was going to give you real advice for a second, huh?)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Ladies… It doesn’t matter how big or small they are. You still
<b>MUST</b> cover them up. Even the women in
the room are staring at them…fail!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Most advice will tell you to wear something conservative
with neutral colors. This is your safest bet, as the employer will focus more
on what you have to say than your appearance. However, a friend of mine landed
a sales position with a Fortune 500 company after showing up to the interview with
purple streaks in her hair. The employer thought it showed she had spunk (I’m
sure she said a couple things in the interview to lead them to believe that as
well). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Step 2 – Do a Little
Homework<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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Learn about the company you are interviewing for. Get a
little history and a general working knowledge of what they do. Focus
specifically on the position you have applied for. They will want to know why
you are the perfect fit for that position. You want to demonstrate a thorough
knowledge of the industry you work in, while being as specific to the position
as possible. Let’s pretend you’re applying to a government position. Learn
about the branch, it's function, and be able to talk a little about the legislation they would use most often. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The job ad will have listed both technical skills and
behavioural competencies. Be prepared to talk about your past experience/current
proficiency with these technical skills. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Example: Must be
proficient with Microsoft Excel<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>“In my last position,
I was required to create and maintain a database of all employee vacation and
sick time in an excel spreadsheet that calculated monthly totals and averages.
I also took an Operations Management course where I learned to solve complex
mathematical functions using Excel’s Solver function.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Human Resources is going through a phase where everyone
thinks Behavioural Event Interview Questions are pretty much the best thing
ever. To prepare for these types of questions look at all of the competencies
listed in the job ad and think of examples of times when you exhibited those
competencies. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Step 3 - Stay Positive</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Keep the tone on the positive side. Don't bash old bosses or companies. Keep your answers positive too. If someone asks you how you respond to change in the workplace, they are most likely looking for someone who would respond positively to change. Your answer should not include the fact that you are able to adapt, but don't like to (It sounds like common sense, but you'd be surprised).</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Step 4 – Don’t Not
Prepare</b></div>
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<i>Yeah it’s a double
negative….no I don’t care!<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you received any communication prior to the interview, read
it carefully and follow any instructions. Failure to do so will result in the
recruiter raising one eyebrow and bein all “are you serious?” It will enrage them
to a point that will make them want you to fail miserably. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Step 5 – Don’t Stress<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sure your entire future could be decided by this one short
meeting, but don’t worry about it. It’s the interviewer’s job to make you feel
comfortable, and help you explain how you qualify for the position. When you’re
not comfortable, it makes the rest of the room uncomfortable. This makes the
interview awkward for everyone. You don’t want the recruiter to be glad the
interview is over. <o:p></o:p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-8636686259925778412012-02-09T22:41:00.000-04:002012-02-10T13:10:38.673-04:00Dude Where’s My Job? Episode 4 – Your Cover Letter<br />
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<img src="http://www.writers-seminars.com/sites/default/files/images/angry-writer.jpg" /> </div>
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<br /></div>
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After my last helpful post about how there’s no real rhyme or reason to how you throw your resume together, I’m sure you've been on the edge of your seat waiting to hear my advice on cover letters. These are the most irritating part of the application process. They are time-consuming, and while you’re writing them there’s a little voice inside your head saying “they’re totally going to throw this thing in the garbage and not even read it.” Worry-not my friend, that little voice is only correct 90% of the time. The important thing to remember is that if they <b>DO </b>read it, you want them to be impressed enough to call you for an interview.</div>
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</div>
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Your resume may map out your relevant, previous experience, but your cover letter bridges your experience to the job you’re applying for. It says “Hey! See all those things I did in the past? Here’s why you’ll like that I did those things before.”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Step 1 – Content</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Remember how frustrated you were when I explained how no one knows what should go on a resume? Well you’re about to feel it again! </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your cover letter should address the major skills and competencies listed in the job ad and explain how your previous experience proves that you possess those skills and competencies. Using key-words found in the job ad and illustrating how you’re a “perfect match” for the position causes the recruiter to realize “Hey! This guy read the ad and everything!” It makes them happy, especially if they wrote the ad. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is also the appropriate time to explain gaps in employment. Be sure to note any other work you were doing at this time Examples: volunteering, running a home business, blogging…whatever moms do after they have kids. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Step 2 – Format </b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who knows? Use a proper business letter format complete with addresses and dates. Use the same letterhead and font as your resume. Include an introduction and conclusion. I once read one that had bulleted points instead of paragraphs and it didn’t suck (I also read one once that did though). </div>
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<br /></div>
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A career counsellor once told me that the first paragraph (after the introduction) should be how my skills qualify me for the job, and the second should be examples of competencies that make me qualified for the position. You know what I think of career counsellors…sounds like b.s. to me. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Good Luck!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Step 3 – Personalization</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Aside from including the name and address of the recruiter (you should always try and get a name of someone to include in the letter), make sure to include a short tidbit of relevant information about the company you’re applying to. For Example: Company ABC has a reputation for its unique corporate culture, which complements my personality perfectly….or something like that. This lets the recruiter know you are purposely sending a resume to <b>THIS</b> company because you actually <b>WANT</b> to work there, and not because you are looking for a job. It also doesn't hurt to drop some names of people you know in the company…unless the people you know are terrible employees…then don’t mention them.</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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You can take this opportunity to introduce the company to your personality. If, like me, you’re eleven different kinds of adorable (note the quantifiable information) you can slip some elements of your persona in via a short tasteful joke. Be warned that this is a personal choice. You have no way of knowing whether this will work for you or against you. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Putting a cover letter together is a little like putting together a menu for a dinner party. You can nail the planning stage and execute perfectly, but at the end of the day it’s the taste of the individual that matters. You could play it safe and stick to a traditional recipe that is good, but bland <b>OR </b>you could try something unique that has the potential to really impress or disappoint the recruiter. Through no fault of your own, the reaction could be anywhere from inappropriate, euphoric moaning to anaphylactic shock. </div>
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Happy Writing!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-51573422386608953362012-02-02T22:43:00.000-04:002012-02-07T22:25:38.321-04:00Dude Where’s My Job?: Episode 3 – Your Resume<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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</div>
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When you read this title, you probably thought “Oh good,
someone is finally going to tell me the formula for writing the perfect
resume.” I’d like to go ahead and crush expectations immediately. The truth is,
nobody knows what the hell is going on when it comes to resumes, and anyone who
claims differently is a filthy liar. The only person who knows exactly what
will impress the hiring manager is the hiring manager, but here are some simple
steps you can take to set yourself apart for the rest of the world.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.askmen.com/money/keywords/resume_965849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.askmen.com/money/keywords/resume_965849.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<b>Step 1: Pay Attention
To Your Content<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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Read the Job Ad carefully. Make sure you address all of the
essentials mapped out in the ad in your resume. This includes:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Relevant Experience</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Relevant Education</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Competencies</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Training</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Skills</span></li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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A good way to make sure you cover everything is to create a
chart where you have all of the information contained in the ad on one side,
and then content from your resume on the other side. It sounds like a given
that you would do this, but you would be surprised at how many people don’t. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Example:</b> Think of
the poor recruiter who is screening this resume. He probably screened hundreds
of applicants and got to your resume where you assumed that because you have a
college diploma, you didn’t need to talk about your high school diploma. The
truth is there are some college programs that don’t require the high school
diploma, so if the ad states you need it…you need to have it there. When it’s
absent the recruiter has the option of screening you out or calling you. What
do you think is going to happen in a pool of 300 applicants? If they are nice
enough to call you (or they were forced to), they probably had to do it for at
least 20 other people. <b>They hate you now</b>…
in the face. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Tips on Content</b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Quantify your experience as much as possible. People have faith in numbers. If you increased something by XXX percent or managed a process for XXX number of clients/employees, include the numbers…unless they’re not impressive…then don’t.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>No one ever thought an objective statement was a good idea. No one knows where they came from, but they keep showing up….they should stop doing that. A bulleted list of skills and training that highlight why you are perfect for the position would be much more beneficial.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Links!!!! They are the best ideas ever!!! If you’re applying to a position where experience with social media is an asset, include links to your social media accounts. When listing your experience, the name of the company you worked for should be a link to the company’s website. (I stole this idea from @MsJuliaRS and I don’t feel bad about it.)</li>
</ul>
<div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Step 2: Know Your Audience<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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How is the job ad written? Is it very formal and stuffy? Was
it creative? Was it awesome? Were there pictures? Try and adapt your resume to
the style of writing on the job ad AND the company’s website. There are a
million different multimedia tools to present yourself, you just have to find
the best one. This is a personal choice. If you’re applying to an ad that was
written in a very formal way, but you’re a very creative person, you have to
decide whether you want to stand out due to your creativity or if you want to
show them you are a good fit with their culture. Either way is hit or miss. The
important thing to note is that you ARE adapting your resume to each individual
ad. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Dear people sending the
same generic resume to all job ads. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Recruiters are looking for people who are a “<b>perfect</b>” fit
for the position. A generic profile says “Hey! I saw your ad and it didn’t
excite me enough to make me want to put forth any extra effort. I’m cool if you
give me the job, but I’m not gonna try really hard for it.” <b>Epic Fail!</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Step 3: Formatting<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unless the company indicated standards for the format, all
bets are off. Your font should be big enough to see and not something
ridiculous like Wingdings. If you’re applying to a large organization with a
well-developed HR department, they will most likely be looking for a
chronological resume. If you’re applying to a leadership position in a medium
to small sized organization, they may appreciate a competency based resume…but
really…who the hell knows? Just do what you think is best after completing step
4.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Step 4: Ask For
Feedback<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everyone and their dog has some kind of advice for you when
it comes to your resume. Get as much of their opinions as possible, but assess
their feedback and make your own decision. I went to see a career counsellor
for advice on job applications once… she was six different kinds of useless (see how I used numbers to quantify that?).
All she did was show me how to format it “properly” and sent me on my way. If
you ask someone for help and they give you advice without seeing the ad, they
are useless. If you know someone in the company you are applying to, ask them.
If possible, ask someone in HR or management.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Step 5: Proofread<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mistakes = Fail….don’t make them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are no real rules when it comes to resumes, and there
are a million different options. Just try and appear to be the best (insert job
title you are applying for here) on paper (or other forms of media). Make
sure when you finally send it, you’re proud of what was there. You don’t want
to kick yourself later for taking a risk (or not taking a risk) because of
someone else’s opinion. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-49347711935971196292012-01-26T17:13:00.002-04:002012-01-26T18:00:46.176-04:00Social Networking for Nubes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was recently asked by someone who managed a twitter
account for a small organization what they were supposed to tweet if they don’t
have anything to say. My response was “why do you have Twitter?” Apparently in
person I’m slightly less eloquent than if I have time to think about it and
write it down. I thought I’d go ahead and respond to this person’s question in
a less arrogant manor. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Think of the internet like a giant convention. You are in a
room full of people and information. Your goal is to connect and interact with
as many potential clients as possible to promote your business (P.S. if you’re
looking for work, your organization is you, and your clients are companies and
recruiters). You have a booth. The booth
is your company’s website. It has all kinds of information about your
organization including contact information for head office and the contact
information of your employees attending the convention. You brought several
employees to this event. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7M7yPyANlCNvBM08z-3WzFSXfKqlSMhDnZnp6GPnLkoiXrLdzWoXLV8hz8a_gUw9DshwQb48_jz_sKh1tS5RInB3tbqLnTzCuMBYe7HbbukJBswoZKEecpmLWhDGmE0H-RoI7Ag3N05sD/s1600/MP900386306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7M7yPyANlCNvBM08z-3WzFSXfKqlSMhDnZnp6GPnLkoiXrLdzWoXLV8hz8a_gUw9DshwQb48_jz_sKh1tS5RInB3tbqLnTzCuMBYe7HbbukJBswoZKEecpmLWhDGmE0H-RoI7Ag3N05sD/s400/MP900386306.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Employee 1: Facebook<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Facebook is the most well-known of all your employees. He is
connected to the most people, is the life of the party and everyone’s best
friend. They all interact with this guy. He’s great to have around, but sadly
he suffers from ADHD. When he seeks someone out directly he’s able to focus and
get your message across to that person. In a crowd of people his message gets
lost. He often stops to play games with people or show them pictures of his
kids doing idiotic things like learning to crawl or enjoying their first few
moments of life. Sometimes amongst all of the things he’s trying to do, your
message doesn’t really reach anyone. He’s
probably the first point of contact for a lot of your audience, but he’s
definitely not the most effective.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Employee 2: LinkedIn<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This guy is all business. He wore a three-piece suit to a
business casual event, and is shaking the hands of all your employees,
potential job applicants, representatives of affiliate companies, and everyone
who is looking to make business connections. However, these are the only people
who will talk to him. Because of his “all work and no play” attitude, he is not
able to effectively engage people who are just there to mingle and have a good
time. Those girls in the back who could probably benefit from your product or
service are shying away from him, opting to hang out with Facebook, who is
showing them how to play Bejeweled. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Employee 3: Twitter<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is your most efficient employee. In 140 characters or
less, he spits out data in a way that lets everyone in range hear and
understand exactly what your message is. There is no long drawn out
conversation. He generates interest and steers traffic to your booth, where
people can learn more about you. His message is also the easiest for others to
share with their entire network, and he politely reciprocates by sharing their
message as well. He does often get off topic, but your message is there. He
lets people know he has pictures of his dog, but lets them decide whether to
view them or not. Though not as much fun as Facebook, he’s a healthy balance
between business and fun. Just don’t ask him to organize your contact list, it
seems so easy, but he just doesn’t do it (I feel like he could if he tried
though). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p><b>Employee 4: Google+<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your newest employee is a little less distracted than Facebook.
Of all of your employees he is certainly the best at organizing your contacts,
but he doesn’t have the network of Facebook or the efficiency of Twitter. Don’t
count this guy out because he’s new. His affiliation with Google means he has a
lot of potential. At some point he will be the main hub for all interaction
with Google, giving him the potential to surpass Facebook’s network, and his
Android affiliation could make him a more mobile friendly app than Twitter
someday. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You would not expect employees to run around and hand out
business cards and not engage with anyone. You should be using this same logic
with your social networking tools. They are in fact, “networking” tools and not
just promotional tools. When you’re asking the question “what do I tweet.” ask
the question, what would I tell my employees to say if they ran into someone
who knew/didn’t know what my organization does and how it can help them? Treat
it like a conversation. It evolves as your interact with your clients. <o:p></o:p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-62059092896038695082012-01-19T23:53:00.000-04:002012-01-20T00:02:59.438-04:00How I Buy Things Now – Episode 1: The Cell Phone Search<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those that know me know that I've been trapped in a three
year contract with Bell Aliant and an LG Bliss I never wanted in the first
place. I’m going to omit the gruesome details at the risk of this turning into
a rant…ask me about it and I’ll tell you though (A.K.A Don’t get me started). I
thought I would attempt to make a decision using only information found from
Internet Research and Social Networking. I know what you’re thinking, and this
was an experiment and not just an excuse for me to spend an evening sitting on
my couch on my internet machine….mostly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Step 1: Research Hardware<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I didn’t want to be left in the dust, buying a phone that is
clearly inferior to the one everyone is going to have in a couple months (like
I did with this one). I assumed the best would be the iPhone 4S until I started
hearing all my nerdy friends get excited about the Galaxy Nexus. So I put the
question to my nerdiest of friends… the people I have on my social networks. I also
went online and looked up Youtube videos of people with foreign accents (Nasal
is an accent right?) comparing the Nexus to the iPhone as well as the Galaxy SII.
The only apparent downfall of going with the Nexus is that the camera is
blatantly inferior to the iPhone and the Galaxy SII. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Samsung.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tell your engineers that the other companies publish their
specs on their websites. Why you would purposely install an inferior functioning
camera in what could be a superior phone? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hugs and Kisses,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Scott<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After flopping back and forth on this decision I found two
people I trusted to give me accurate advice. I consulted @ZacherySchiller and @SamsungTMobile.
I asked @SamsungTMobile to evaluate the choice between the Nexus and the Galaxy
SII. They recommended the Galaxy SII, but only because of the camera functions.
I was leaning towards a Samsung product, because <b>they actively sought me out on Twitter and always respond to my tweets.
</b>Thus, if I have a “phone” issue, I feel like I have a “go to” person. I
felt I could trust @ZacherySchiller, because his Google+ profile picture shows
a pale individual with dark-rimmed glasses and he once referred to himself as a
Nerdosaurus Rex. He also stated that he has owned both a Nexus and an iPhone which
makes me trust his judgement. He recommended the Nexus because he had more
control over everything on it and it didn't have a “skin.” Then he gave me a
short lesson in what a “skin” was and why he didn’t like them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Short Lesson: </b>When
the operating system is created by someone other than the person who built the
phone (in this scenario, the operating system is created by Google and the
phone is created by Samsung) the phone creator “tweaks” the operating system to
make it look different. This is called a skin. When upgrades come out, it takes
longer for users of phones with skins to get them, because the update needs to
be tweaked to be compatible with the skin. Because the Nexus is “Pure Android” it
will not have a “skin” and will be compatible with anything Google creates. For
those of you who are like me and are an entirely different kind of nerd, the
Galaxy SII is probably muggle-born and the Nexus is a Pure-Blood. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3YaEAm2A1Zt-1hquO2wuP-4D10DZV88Q_02cY-_YT5-8MiS9fsPqPBsXKBPsi3yMVohawqEHJ9pG7wBsrVP3If2QMXy8X4SbjCeVTXYtbqUbJypt_OrGnJiufSiZld0XR5ARjkDH9xk/s1600/google-samsung-galaxy-nexus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3YaEAm2A1Zt-1hquO2wuP-4D10DZV88Q_02cY-_YT5-8MiS9fsPqPBsXKBPsi3yMVohawqEHJ9pG7wBsrVP3If2QMXy8X4SbjCeVTXYtbqUbJypt_OrGnJiufSiZld0XR5ARjkDH9xk/s400/google-samsung-galaxy-nexus.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Samsung Galaxy Nexus </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Step 2: Assessing
Customer Service: Finding a Provider<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next step was to not get stuck with some douchebag provider
with no accountability or concern for my experience. I wanted to assess my
ability to speak with someone about my experience. This would determine my
comfort level with this company. Someone who cares about what people are saying
about them online makes me feel comfortable as they will want to fix my
problems in a timely fashion to avoid a slew of negative tweets about their
products or services. I sent the following tweet out. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ok people. My @Bell_Aliant contract is up soon. @RogersBuzz
@TELUS @Koodo_Mobile There could be a 3 year contract and a happy tweet for you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Within 20 minutes @RogersRavi (a Rogers employee) tweeted
back with a link to their specials and told me that if I needed any help, I
could feel free to tweet him. He won some brownie points, but then I received a
slew of other messages from friends saying things like “anyone but Rogers” and “not
Rogers” and “FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DON’T GO WITH ROGERS!!!” If they do have good
customer service, it must be fairly new. This counteracted the fact that they
won the race to tweet back. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
12 hours later @Bell_Aliant tweeted back.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Unfortunately we cannot assist you but Bell Mobility can be
reached at 1-866-434-0344 or http://www.bell.ca/Mobility .”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After 6 years with them, I found the wording ““Unfortunately
we cannot assist you” to be very appropriate. In their defense, they gave me as
much information as Rogers did AND I should actually be talking to Bell
Mobility. However, Bell Mobility does not have an active twitter site. If I
sold smart phones I feel like that’s a thing I would have. Fail!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Telus and Koodo were absent from this round. Fail! However,
everyone I know who has Telus recommended them, and no one had anything bad to
say about them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Step 3: Pricing<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After deciding on the Galaxy Nexus, I checked the websites
for prices. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Koodo <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Didn’t have it. Fail! Koodo loses.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Rogers <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
599.99 or 99.99 on select three year plans. (Select did not
appear to be defined) Fail!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Telus<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
649.99 or 99.99 on three year plans of 50$/month or more.
The price to purchase just the phone is a little more than Rogers, but I don’t
plan on doing that anyway. I also appreciated the fact that they identified how
much I was going to have to pay monthly in order to get that deal. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Bell Mobile<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
159.95 on three year plans of 50$/month or more, and I
couldn’t find their price for buying it outright. WTF Bell?!?!?!?! You don’t
have a twitter or facebook account and you’re not even trying to be price competitive! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Score Card<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Samsung beat out Apple with its use of social networking to
make me feel like they care about me, and the volume of nerd-hype the Nexus has
been able to accumulate. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Koodo neglected to carry the winning hardware. They lose. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rogers won social networking race, but lost points when
everyone in the entire world told me how much they hated them. They also failed
to clearly define “select plans” somewhere on the site I wouldn’t have to dig
for. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bell Mobile was absent from the social networking round,
they charge more for the hardware than any other carrier and they don’t have a
good history with me. They are only still in the race because they are my current carrier. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While they did not actively participate in the social
networking round, Telus’ clients did and they had only nice things to say. Their
website clearly indicated all of the information I needed ...Telus is currently leading.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tune in for Episode 2 where I look at plans and Bell Mobile
gets a bonus “retention” round, where they try and win my affection.<o:p></o:p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-14196135046970472742012-01-12T23:10:00.002-04:002012-01-12T23:13:56.313-04:00How Banks Could Solve Our Financial Problems<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
During an interesting moderated discussion on twitter with
@GenYchat, @YouTernMark, @MsJuliaRS, @WriterChanelle and a cast of thousands,
the issue of the need for immediate rewards for younger people came up with
regards to finance. It was suggested that if someone from an older generation
had an extra 20$ they would put it away for safekeeping, but a GenY would think
of things to spend it on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fact: Age is not positively correlated with the ability to
manage finances. Stupid does not discriminate based on age. However …<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This generation is a product of its environment. Everybody
has things. You need the latest technology to keep up with the world, so we
splurge on our smart phones and laptops, etc. No one wants to live in a shanty,
so we buy houses we can’t really afford, or pay ridiculous amounts of money to
rent a nice apartment. We don’t make the
decision as to whether we can afford a brand new vehicle or not. The bank does!
If they believe we can make those payments, who are we to argue? The
satisfaction of saving money for the future does not outweigh the immediate
gratification of having nice things. Also, if anyone had any reservations about
going into debt, they were completely desensitized to it after their
post-secondary education. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Side Note on Post-Secondary
Education Costs<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had a conversation
with someone once (a real face to face one) who felt that the issue of the
rising cost of tuition could be solved by encouraging parents to save money for
their children’s education, but he wanted to know how he could encourage parents to do this.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fact: A child should not be punished for having parents who
do not put money away for them. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another Fact: Saving money for tuition does not address the
problem that tuition is ridiculous (Don’t get me started).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>End of Side Note<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are only two ways to address this problem. The first
is to change the way people think about their finances. This involves educating
them on the dangers of not investing/saving and how to properly budget, which
would cost money, take time and might not even work anyway. LAME!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The second (arguably better) way to address this problem is
to add some kind of positive reinforcement or immediate gratification to saving
money. What tool could a banking institution use to persuade a twenty-something
to put a couple dollars in a savings account every month? What trivial thing
motivates us to spend time and money with no real physical or financial gain?
VIDEO GAMES!!! People spend hours on World of Warcraft performing menial tasks
to “level up” or sometimes just to get something new without even knowing what
it is. You can spend a week doing the same task over and over again to get a
new hat for your character. They also spend big bucks on software and expansion packs.
People make a living levelling up characters and selling them to lazy people
who don’t want to spend the time doing it. We just need to mesh this logic with
the banking system.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Solution: </b>Every
bank account has an avatar. The avatar’s level and accessories are based on
your interactions with your account. Now it won’t be funny when you tell people
you only have 20$ in your chequing account, because you’ll say it like this “My
chequing account avatar is a level 2 Imp with a dagger.” This also lets you
tell people how good you are with money without sounding like an ass. You can’t
tell people “I just put $500 into my savings account,” but it would be
perfectly acceptable to tell them “my RRSP avatar is a level 600 Warrior, and
yesterday I purchased the Ancient Sword of (insert mythical/nerd terminology
here) for him.” Not only do you sound
awesome, but you’re well on your way to an early retirement, which of course,
you are entitled to. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAVBGNk2gOtblwckyr6spTZHGRG1ukKa8vtCRBs4PwM8oE7nNmspY5bc1ddtzx_eRn3IIu2ibuD4virganSBG8WWeKfFe-_uzj9Sqw3P15L_N6KySQqFvVTK9PV2b9SzbOo2_N-EuIF0/s1600/wowguildbygenzomaneb0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAVBGNk2gOtblwckyr6spTZHGRG1ukKa8vtCRBs4PwM8oE7nNmspY5bc1ddtzx_eRn3IIu2ibuD4virganSBG8WWeKfFe-_uzj9Sqw3P15L_N6KySQqFvVTK9PV2b9SzbOo2_N-EuIF0/s400/wowguildbygenzomaneb0.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the future, your investment portfolio could look like this</td></tr>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707264130447163471.post-46037091968806241512012-01-06T00:19:00.001-04:002012-01-09T19:08:21.070-04:00Dude Where’s My Job? Episode 2 - Networking Revisited<br />
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I’ve already briefly mentioned the importance of networking,
but I wanted to go into a little more detail. The hardest part about the job
hunt is getting your foot in the door. Then all you have to do is prove you’re
not incompetent.<o:p></o:p></div>
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P.S. If you’re incompetent then it’s all pretty hard. Have
you thought about the circus? Not like Cirque du Soleil, but an actual circus.
You could be like an elephant feeder or something. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m gonna use some declarative sentences to drive the point home.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There ARE relevant associations or groups that are dedicated
to your specific career path. FIND THEM! Reach out and meet all of them.
Sitting in your home filling out applications and sending out resumes is the
least effective way to find employment. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Tell everyone you’re looking for work. You know someone who
knows someone who has a vacancy that is not advertised. You’ll never discover
these links until you advertise that you’re looking for work. Tweet it, put it
as a Facebook status…wear a sandwich board if you have to. <o:p></o:p></div>
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You will make connections online if you use Social
Networking effectively. Here are some steps to get you started. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Step 1: You will need the following tools. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Twitter</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Facebook</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Word Press/Blogger (optional)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Construction Paper, Glue, Glitter and Macaroni</span></li>
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If you don’t already have these things, you’re like 5 years
behind everyone else. Maybe you can find a job in a nostalgia shop or playing
an old-timey person at a historical site. Set up the Social Networking sites
with your professional information. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When it comes to job hunting, Twitter is your most valuable
tool.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Step 2: “Like” and “Follow” relevant companies and
influential people. Identify all of the companies you want to work for, and all
of the companies they engage with online as well as the people who work in
those companies. Follow members of your local Chamber of Commerce and Politicians.
Don’t limit yourself to your geographic region. When people in your region see
you interacting with influential people from other countries, they’ll be
super-impressed and will totally call you right away-ish. Also, if you’re
single with no kids and don’t own land, you can travel at the drop of a hat to
any employer who wants you (OR you’ve got a really good opening for a suicide
note).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Step 3: Engage with these contacts. Just following them
doesn’t really do anything for you. Companies have Social Networking sites for PR
and marketing purposes. When you retweet or comment on something they post, they
feel as though you’ve rewarded them. Think of them like a puppy. Every time you
retweet or reply to their post, it’s like petting the puppy. It makes them like
you more and more. Someday the puppy will get big and you’ll want it to attack
your enemies. Your enemy right now is unemployment. Don’t you want a giant
puppy to attack your unemployment? Start petting one now!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-H1jD8wwoXTslubT3nO9-QJQsue14Lukyn0nw36rUNDrKYpjEry5Ebz1kycRL-l2pWs_3PiEVWLJi0DpZUE2Kx4aSoAxeebwmtT6jvcsIVwhBcq0G7m9qEltALEIck3ow5AJ-9qcphc/s1600/business_dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-H1jD8wwoXTslubT3nO9-QJQsue14Lukyn0nw36rUNDrKYpjEry5Ebz1kycRL-l2pWs_3PiEVWLJi0DpZUE2Kx4aSoAxeebwmtT6jvcsIVwhBcq0G7m9qEltALEIck3ow5AJ-9qcphc/s320/business_dog.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
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Twitter also has a lot of “discussion groups” that get
together and have moderated discussions about all kinds of topics. This is a
great way to increase your network. Provided you don’t act like a complete
tool, people will see your comments and want to see more of what you have to
say. Then they’ll follow you. Then they’ll start retweeting and sharing your
content. Other people will see it…and so on. Nothing is more impressive to an
employer than someone with an impressive list of business contacts who engage
with them on a regular basis…well…except for like education…experience…skills,
but it’s pretty high on the list. (Warning: Companies who don’t understand
Social Networking will actually not be impressed at all).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Step 4: Start a blog. It’s not a waste of time unless you’re
a terrible writer. In that case, it’s actually counterproductive (That’s why it’s
optional). Chances are you won’t have much more information on whatever topic
you’re blogging about than experts in the field, but you’ll have a unique
opinion that others may enjoy. It’s not really what you say, but how you say
it. Attempt to become a “voice” in your desired field. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Step 5: Try not to beat yourself up about not having found something
right away. Finding a job takes time. Use the craft supplies to make yourself a
special little good luck card. If you’re the guy with no family or land no one
else is gonna do that for you buddy. Chin Up!<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685329817615428079noreply@blogger.com7