Job SeekersHelp Your Network Help You

Job Seekers…Help Your Network Help You Next week Im in California all week my schedule is here. The week after Ill be in Atlanta and have three presentations I know about, and hopefully a few more. You can see one Atlanta presentation here, and another here.   Today, enjoy a guest post from a recruiting professional who recently entered the job market! Since being laid off, I have spent hundreds of hours researching career opportunities, building my network and helping others with their job searches. I quickly discovered that while we all seek support from our networks, we havent necessarily figured how to make it as easy as possible for our contacts to help us on our search. If youve ever been asked, you know it requires some thought and involves some pressure to offer the help youd like to provide. Here are 3 steps to “Help Your Network Help You” in your job search. Be specific about what you need Connection to a specific job opportunity or general networking leads? Advice and feedback on your resume or general job search advice? A personal or professional reference? A sounding board or drinking buddy? Be prepared to share the parameters of your search Do you want to stay in the same profession or are you looking to explore a new field? What companies are you interested in? Are you open to relocation? If yes, what are your top three preferred locations? Are you looking for full-time, part-time, consulting or contract work? Are you available for travel? Is your salary fixed or negotiable? Are you determined to have the same title or level or would you consider lateral or other moves? Arm your network with the tools to easily share your info with their network Prepare your resume and cover letter. Have these done professionally if you can afford it. Take the time to write an email introduction for your contact to use, describing who you are and highlighting what makes you unique. This can be personalized by your contact to make quick and easy virtual introductions. Be sure to provide current contact info that includes email, phone, and the best way and times to reach you. Finally, be sure your linkedin, facebook and other social media profiles are professional and do not contradict the image your contact is vouching for. While these few steps may seem simple and self-evident, they are some of the most productive steps you can take in your job search journey. Good luck in your search and dont forget to thank your contacts and pay it forward when others are seeking your help. What other steps have you taken to make it easy for your network to help you in your job search? Share your experiences in the comments section and share this with your network, it’s easy. Craig Campbell has an awesome website you have to check it out. It says Im a professional all over it from the domain name (CraigsCareer.com) to the design to the content just awesome. Heres his   tagline: A results driven recruiting leader, with 15 years of experience connecting the dots between business strategy and talent strategy. Contact: craig@craigscareer.com Job Seekers…Help Your Network Help You Next week Im in California all week my schedule is here. The week after Ill be in Atlanta and have three presentations I know about, and hopefully a few more. You can see one Atlanta presentation here, and another here.   Today, enjoy a guest post from a recruiting professional who recently entered the job market! Since being laid off, I have spent hundreds of hours researching career opportunities, building my network and helping others with their job searches. I quickly discovered that while we all seek support from our networks, we havent necessarily figured how to make it as easy as possible for our contacts to help us on our search. If youve ever been asked, you know it requires some thought and involves some pressure to offer the help youd like to provide. Here are 3 steps to “Help Your Network Help You” in your job search. Be specific about what you need Connection to a specific job opportunity or general networking leads? Advice and feedback on your resume or general job search advice? A personal or professional reference? A sounding board or drinking buddy? Be prepared to share the parameters of your search Do you want to stay in the same profession or are you looking to explore a new field? What companies are you interested in? Are you open to relocation? If yes, what are your top three preferred locations? Are you looking for full-time, part-time, consulting or contract work? Are you available for travel? Is your salary fixed or negotiable? Are you determined to have the same title or level or would you consider lateral or other moves? Arm your network with the tools to easily share your info with their network Prepare your resume and cover letter. Have these done professionally if you can afford it. Take the time to write an email introduction for your contact to use, describing who you are and highlighting what makes you unique. This can be personalized by your contact to make quick and easy virtual introductions. Be sure to provide current contact info that includes email, phone, and the best way and times to reach you. Finally, be sure your linkedin, facebook and other social media profiles are professional and do not contradict the image your contact is vouching for. While these few steps may seem simple and self-evident, they are some of the most productive steps you can take in your job search journey. Good luck in your search and dont forget to thank your contacts and pay it forward when others are seeking your help. What other steps have you taken to make it easy for your network to help you in your job search? Share your experiences in the comments section and share this with your network, it’s easy. Craig Campbell has an awesome website you have to check it out. It says Im a professional all over it from the domain name (CraigsCareer.com) to the design to the content just awesome. Heres his   tagline: A results driven recruiting leader, with 15 years of experience connecting the dots between business strategy and talent strategy. Contact: craig@craigscareer.com Job Seekers…Help Your Network Help You Next week Im in California all week my schedule is here. The week after Ill be in Atlanta and have three presentations I know about, and hopefully a few more. You can see one Atlanta presentation here, and another here.   Today, enjoy a guest post from a recruiting professional who recently entered the job market! Since being laid off, I have spent hundreds of hours researching career opportunities, building my network and helping others with their job searches. I quickly discovered that while we all seek support from our networks, we havent necessarily figured how to make it as easy as possible for our contacts to help us on our search. If youve ever been asked, you know it requires some thought and involves some pressure to offer the help youd like to provide. Here are 3 steps to “Help Your Network Help You” in your job search. Be specific about what you need Connection to a specific job opportunity or general networking leads? Advice and feedback on your resume or general job search advice? A personal or professional reference? A sounding board or drinking buddy? Be prepared to share the parameters of your search Do you want to stay in the same profession or are you looking to explore a new field? What companies are you interested in? Are you open to relocation? If yes, what are your top three preferred locations? Are you looking for full-time, part-time, consulting or contract work? Are you available for travel? Is your salary fixed or negotiable? Are you determined to have the same title or level or would you consider lateral or other moves? Arm your network with the tools to easily share your info with their network Prepare your resume and cover letter. Have these done professionally if you can afford it. Take the time to write an email introduction for your contact to use, describing who you are and highlighting what makes you unique. This can be personalized by your contact to make quick and easy virtual introductions. Be sure to provide current contact info that includes email, phone, and the best way and times to reach you. Finally, be sure your linkedin, facebook and other social media profiles are professional and do not contradict the image your contact is vouching for. While these few steps may seem simple and self-evident, they are some of the most productive steps you can take in your job search journey. Good luck in your search and dont forget to thank your contacts and pay it forward when others are seeking your help. What other steps have you taken to make it easy for your network to help you in your job search? Share your experiences in the comments section and share this with your network, it’s easy. Craig Campbell has an awesome website you have to check it out. It says Im a professional all over it from the domain name (CraigsCareer.com) to the design to the content just awesome. Heres his   tagline: A results driven recruiting leader, with 15 years of experience connecting the dots between business strategy and talent strategy. Contact: craig@craigscareer.com

How To Pick The Right Winter Hat

How To Pick The Right Winter Hat Since it’ll be nothing short of a necessity for the next few months, you should absolutely put some serious time and effort into picking out your next hat for this winter. They can be hard to pull off since it’s quite often that style points will have to be sacrificed in the name of comfort and functionality. Designers have been aware of this tradeoff for some time now and are doing everything in their power to try and bridge the gap between warm and wearable. Those who think that hats don’t suit them will be surprised to learn that there’s now so many different iterations of common winter hats that it’s more or less statistically impossible to not find at least one or two that’ll compliment them nicely. Here’s how to figure out what winter hat will work best for you: Consider Your Face Shape Much like choosing glasses or hairstyles, the face of your shape overall will play a big part in what hats work best with you. The common face shapes are: oval (long face, curved jawline), oblong (long, narrow), round (as wide as it is long), heart-shaped (long pointy jaw with strong cheekbones), and rectangular (long, wide, strong jawline). Look in the mirror and figure out which of these shapes best describe your face before moving forward. The Beanie A classic look and an absolute staple of the winter wardrobe, the beanie works great for those with an oval shaped face as it won’t make your face look longer and uncanny. Beanies are now available in just about every color under the sun and they’ve even branched into some more interesting concepts like the knitted ponytail beanie that will allow you to wear your hair up but still get all of the benefits of a warm and comfortable hat. Bobble Hat The bobble hat is much like a beanie except it has a pom pom on the top for a little extra flair. Nearly all face shapes are complimented well by the bobble hat, with oblong and oval faces seeing the most benefit. These knitted caps are great at keeping you warm and also have a very inviting and laid back vibe to them, which is probably why they’re so popular in the first place. Fur Hat A glamourous and formal choice, the fur hat or faux fur hat is perfect for those with a rounder face. If your head is smaller overall, a fur hat might not be the best choice as you risk looking like you’re more hat than human. Headband  The winter headband has been making significant inroads into the wardrobes of the nation as they are a great way to keep your ears and a bit of your head warm without having to commit to a full piece of headgear that might end up ruining your hair. Those with the heart shaped face or round face are served well by the headband. Conclusion Buying the right hat sometimes means you’ll need to take your facial shape into account and figure out what compliments it best. A good hat will frame your face nicely by accentuating your positive features and minimizing the negative. If you choose your hat poorly you might end up looking a little out of place or that your face is actually a bit shorter or longer than it really is. Always try on a hat before you buy it if you can!

The iPhone 6 Is a Great Choice for the Modern Career Girl Â

The iPhone 6 Is a Great Choice for the Modern Career Girl   In today’s increasingly digitized world, it’s important to stay on the cutting edge of technology for both business and personal pursuits. Keeping in tune with the latest technological advances is particularly important for the modern career girl, especially those attempting to juggle that delicate work-life balance. In this respect, upgrading to the iPhone 6 can be an ideal way for career-oriented ladies to remain in touch with friends and family, while also staying connected to important workplace happenings. Past iPhone versions have proven to be a real hit with women for a number of reasons. Some point to the device’s advanced social status among younger generations for its immense popularity, while others posit that the design of the iPhone is simply more in tune with the modern woman’s life. Despite the underlying reasons, studies show that iPhones are preferred by most women when it comes to mobile devices. All New Features of the iPhone 6 Of course, the iPhone 6 with a dependable network is bound to go above and beyond its predecessors in terms of usability and convenience. Apple’s latest release is brimming with a range of exciting new features, many of which are ideal for young women on the move: Improved Navigation â€" Apple has carefully tweaked its design of the iPhone to allow for improved navigation. For instance, accompanying software offers users a dual-screen capability, which can be a great function for perusing email on the go. This and other changes have increased the iPhone’s usability exponentially. Extended Battery Life â€" Previous iPhones have raised the ire of many users for not possessing a longer battery life. The iPhone 6 has remedied this by affording day-long endurance, which is thanks to the latest generation processor. This allows iPhone 6 users armed with a trustworthy carrier to browse the web for up to 10 hours on the standard iPhone 6, while the iPhone 6 Plus offers 12 hours due to its larger battery. Apple Pay â€" For those women tasked with making a majority of the purchases for a home, Apple Pay can greatly simplify the process. This feature essentially creates a digital wallet, which enables things like one-touch checkout and the ability to add credit card information by merely taking a photo. A number of major retailers are already on board, and Apple has forged partnerships with the top three credit card companies. Enhanced Camera Technology â€" The iPhone 6 also features enhanced camera technology for capturing those important moments you want to remember for years to come. More efficient focusing capability comes courtesy of the Focus Pixels feature, which allows for phase detection auto focus. Additionally, the five-element lens enables richer, more realistic skin tones, and face detection is greatly enhanced thanks to the dedicated hardware block for this exact purpose. Advanced A8 Processor Makes for Rapid Fire Computing Advanced computing power is yet another great feature the iPhone 6. The newly implemented A8 processor provides 84 times the performance of the previous A7 chip. This new addition greatly enhances the computing power of the iPhone, while also enabling highly improved graphics. Apple also claims this new chip will afford something that is known as ‘sustainable performance’. This means your iPhone will not lose performance capability over time, which can be an issue with other types of processors. The A8 design is a key component in the extended battery life mentioned above, which is an important consideration for women who rely on their smartphones for both work and play. Get the Most Out of Advanced Design With New Apps Apple has also made available a slew of new apps that ably highlight the many exciting features of the latest iPhone. These range from advanced photo editing software to password management systems that allow users to keep all passwords in one convenient location. In conjunction with the iPhone’s advanced camera technology, the Litely app offers the ability to create seemingly professional photo filters for your most cherished pictures. This is great for women in search of a convenient way to capture family memories with veritable ease. As for advanced typing capabilities, the Swype app enables a smooth swiping motion instead of tapping keys when creating text messages or emails. Technology Suited to Today’s Woman Having it all is possible for today’s woman, from the great career to a loving and fulfilled family life. The iPhone 6 can help every woman stay connected to what matters most, no matter how busy or hectic a lifestyle she may possess.

10 Ways to Boost Your Confidence - Classy Career Girl

10 Ways to Boost Your Confidence Do you believe in yourself 100%? Confidence is the feeling of believing in yourself totally and completely. Healthy self-confidence is at the core of achievement, success, and, yes, even happiness! Confidence builds the foundation for you to set boundaries, take risks, try new things, and stand up for yourself, and when you have confidence, life is more enjoyable! So let me ask you, do you want to believe in yourself? Do you want to be happy? Do you want to love your work and get paid what you’re worth? Keep reading if you answered yes to any of these questions! Confidence doesn’t come from what you look and feel like on the outside, or from outside validation. Confidence comes from within. Your core beliefs determine your self-worth. You can choose and create a new belief about you- and you are great! Whether you are lacking self-esteem or need a just a small nudge in the right direction, here are some ways to boost your confidence. 10 Ways to Boost Your Confidence 1. List your strengths A fun challenge is to make a list of your best qualities. Write it down on paper to fully experience the awesomeness of you! Write it in color. Draw pictures. Make it uniquely you. If this exercise is difficult for you, start by asking others for help. Ask a trusted friend to help you brainstorm your strengths. Use this brainstorming session as a starting point and keep adding to your list! 2. Accept your limitations No one is perfect. I repeat, no individual is perfect. Perfectionists, you’re off the hook! We all have limitations and you can better utilize your strengths when you are aware of your weaknesses.  Your weaknesses don’t define you, they are simply the boundary between what you can and can’t do. You can’t be it all or do it all and that’s okay. Besides, your limitations make you accessible and approachable to others so don’t hide who you are- embrace yourself! 3. Don’t “should” yourself “Should” is an ugly word and I want you to strike it from your vocabulary! Should implies blame and shame. There is nothing in life you “should” do to be a good person and enjoy a happy life. There are things you can do to improve your life, and it’s always your choice. Instead of “shoulding” yourself, try replacing should with “choose”. I choose to go to the gym. I choose to eat healthy. I choose to make choices that support my future. 4. Gain some perspective Many people have learned to exaggerate thoughts and feelings, which leads to worst-case-scenario thinking that accompanies low self-esteem. If you find yourself getting caught up in self-judgment (positive or negative), ask yourself, “where’s the evidence?” A feeling isn’t true just because it feels true, and very few situations in life as bad or as good as we give them credit for. A balanced, honest self-image allows for healthy self-confidence! 5. Try something new A sure way to build confidence is to tackle a challenge! Whether or not you succeed is less important than challenging yourself and learning about you in the process. If you succeed on your first try, you’ll know you can do it! If you don’t succeed at first, you can assess what you learned and try again. Succeeding after failure is a bigger confidence booster than succeeding on the first try! 6. Celebrate your wins Acknowledge your accomplishments! Celebrate your wins- big and small! Make a list of everything you did great each week, or even each day. As you celebrate your wins regularly, you’ll find you have greater confidence, motivation, and energy. 7. Practice positive self-talk What you tell yourself is more important than what others tell you. You believe whatever you tell yourself, so tell yourself something positive about you! You may not be able to stop negative thoughts from popping up from time-to-time, but you can interrupt this pattern by consciously thinking two positive thoughts when you catch yourself thinking negatively. Better yet, say your positive self-talk out loud. Say it to yourself in the mirror. It may feel strange at first, but with practice will begin to feel great, and you’ll feel great! 8. Accept compliments A simple, “thank you” is a great response to a compliment. A self-affirming response would be, “thank you. I really worked hard and I’m proud of my accomplishment. I appreciate your acknowledgment.” When accepting a compliment, avoid qualifying or negating the compliment, such as saying “oh, it was nothing.” Chances are you deserve the praise if you’re receiving it! 9. Show others how to treat you How you treat another person tells that person how you feel you deserve to be treated in kind. Treat others with respect, compassion, kindness, and honesty and it’s far more likely they’ll return it to you. 10. Be kind to you Treat yourself at least as well as you treat other people, and practice self-kindness. Be patient, considerate, supportive, and loving. If this is difficult for you, imagine how you would behave towards a loved friend or family member, and show that same kindness to you. If you’re still struggling, picture yourself as a 6-year-old child and be as patient and kind with yourself as you would with a child. Comment on this post and share your strengths or celebrate a win!

13 Things You Should Never Ever Wear To A Job Interview - CareerMetis.com

13 Things You Should Never Ever Wear To A Job Interview Source- cheatsheet.comPreparing for an upcoming job interview? Let’s see if you’re a hundred percent ready.Killer resume and cover letter? Check.Have you done a bit of research about the company and its possible interview questions? Check.evalProfessional interview attire? Well, let’s talk about that.While hiring managers should focus more on your credentials, your job interview attire is also crucial to making a good first impression and landing a job. Generally, work clothes fall under two categories: business professional attire and business casual attire.Whether you’re applying for a laidback startup company or a big corporation with a formal dress code, your goal is to look presentable and professional from head to toe.Not all hiring managers are as intimidating as Miranda Priestly when it comes to fashion. However, you want to make an impression with your strong credentials and communication skills, rather than your revealing red dress with heart patterns and leopard pr int pumps, right?Below are 13 of the biggest fashion no-nos hiring managers don’t want to see you in when you show up for an interview.1. Loud Colors and PrintsevalAvoid anything distracting and attention-seeking, like bright colors and busy prints. That means your favorite floral blazer and bright pink dress should stay inside your wardrobe.Choose solids over patterns and graphic prints. Choose dark and light neutrals over brights. Opt for “safe” colors, like white, black, gray, brown navy, and various shades of blue, which look professional.evalThere are exceptions, though. Bright colors may be used as accents, to have a pop of color to your neutral outfit. Small patterns like thin pinstripes, which look like solids from afar, are okay too.2. Anything RevealingIf you were to ask a hundred people their opinion about what to wear to a job interview, the majority might answer, “Dress on the conservative side.” Anything tight, bright, short, or sheer shouldn’t make it into the interview.Tops that have lacy or sheer fabrics and low-cut necklines may be dealbreakers for apparent reasons. For bottoms, super short skirts Less is more. Avoid dangling earrings, big necklaces, and arms full of bracelets. Wear little to no jewelry other than a watch, a wedding ring, and/or simple stud earrings. No HR representative would like to hear noises from a bunch of metal jewelry pieces as you present yourself.Purses and handbags should also look inconspicuous and conservative. Avoid bags with loud colors and prints.4. Visible Tattoos and Piercings To be safe, consider covering your tattoos or taking out your piercings if you have them. The majority of workplaces, especially in corporate settings, are still not open to these bold forms of self-expression. It wouldn’t hurt to wear long sleeves and taking out your rings for now.eval5.High-Heeled, Toe-Baring ShoesLet’s debunk the myth that all high heels = professional.A pair of overly high-heeled Step it up. Go for a buttoned-down top with a collar or decent neckline, trousers, and closed shoes. If you need something to elevate your casual weekend look, you can never go wrong with blazers and mid heels.10. Leather Jackets I know, wearing another layer, like a suit, make you look career-readyâ€" unless it’s a leather jacket. It seems more like outerwear rather than an officewear. Go for a versatile blazer in non-glossy fabric, which looks chic yet professional.11.Overpowering PerfumeWhile it’s a no-brainer to smell good, if your fragrance is too powerful it can be a dealbreaker for interviewers. Don’t wear strong perfume, especially if it smells overpowering or might cause an allergic reaction.12. Outfits You’re Not Comfortable With Make sure to wear clothes that fit you, not too tight, too loose, or too old

Changing Careers, Changing Industy.

Changing Careers, Changing Industy. In order to survive and/or thrive you might need to make a change in your targeted industry or job function. Making this change can be a challenge and take time, but it is possible. Decide what it is you want to do. Easier said than done, I know. Ive met people whove taken the Myers-Briggs, DISC, and all sorts of other assessments. Sometimes they work, sometimes they dont seem to. I like the simplicity and practicality of O*Net Interest Profiler. But it isnt as easy as waving a magic wand and getting the answer. Youll need to test the answers by talking with people in that industry and career. Charting A New Career Course by Susan Joyce provides recommendations on how to evaluate a new career choice. Once youve narrowed your options down and pinpointed the right direction, it is crucial that you begin to connect the dots for people. You are responsible for conveying the connection of transferable skills. To learn how to do this, read Networking for Career Changer and Renaissance Personalities Here are some interesting posts about connecting the dots Improve your job search prospects dont order in French at a Chinese food restaurant Career Testing Good, Bad and Ugly 4 Lames Excuses to Not Assess Yourself I Can Do That Have you changed industries or careers? How did you do it?

Writing on Resume: When is the Right Time to Add Your Skill?

Writing on Resume: When is the Right Time to Add Your Skill?Antoinette Dipietropolo writing on resume is one of the most well-known writing skills that you can put on your resume. It is also a skill that is easy to learn, but you need to keep in mind that if you do not know what you are doing, it is very difficult to make an impression on the employer.The first thing you should do is write down the skill you wish to have on your resume. This will give you a starting point to put all the other information in a more concise way.Describe how you know this particular skill. Write it in words and make sure that the words are accurate. You should only use correct words for your resume and writing a job description.To make your particular skill more vivid, try combining a specific topic with it. For example, if you are able to use your writing skills, then it can help to teach the letter 'O' to beginners. Try to think of a topic that relates to your skill.When it comes to communicating your skilled skill, it is important to use words that relate to it. There are two ways to communicate your skill, using a word that is used to express or saying it out loud. If you want to let the employers hear your talent, you can do this by being more vocal.Use words such as 'I'Me' when you use your writing skills in a specific field. However, if you want to impress the employer, you can either write down a list of things you have learned and made use of, or you can just tell the truth.Do not forget to thank the employer for hiring you because it can help you improve your resume. Use the words 'Employed,' 'Parasitica'Embedded' if you want to use these words to help your resume.The next time you need to write a resume for a job interview, it is important to highlight your skill on your resume. The key is to explain how your skill relates to the employer's needs. If you use a good and clear explanation, you can be assured that you will easily get the job.