4 Ways to Find the Best Employers (guest post)

4 Ways to Find the Best Employers (guest post) This is a guest post from my friend Kevin Donlin, in Minnesota.   More on him after the post. How can I find the best companies to work for? Thats a question I hear almost daily from job seekers. Its hard to answer because its the wrong question. Heres the real issue beneath that question: I dont want to have to think hard about finding the best companies to work for. Admit it. You like me and all humans hate to think. It takes time. You have to pick and choose. You might make a mistake. And it can give you a headache. But unthinking behavior is a sure way to stay unemployed. So, lets re-phrase the query, because a well-phrased question is half-answered. If youve been job hunting for more than 4 weeks, ask this question instead: What have I NOT been willing to do to find the best companies to work for? Thats better. And easier to answer. In fact, I can think of 4 things you can do TODAY to find the best employers to work for 1) Look at your connections on LinkedIn. I mean really look. Pick 5 people you admire, view their profiles, and look for the following: Where do they work now? (Could you work there?) Where did they work before? (Could you work there?) Who are their clients? (Could you work there?) Who are their competitors? (Could you work there?) Who are their vendors? (Could you work there?) Do this for 5, 10, or more people, and youll surely find 5-20 prospective employers. 2) Make connections at your last employers. Specifically, think about everyplace youve worked before. Now ask yourself the following questions: Could you work there again? (Could you work there again? Dont snicker getting re-hired happens every day.) Could you work for your former clients? Could you work for your former competitors? Could you work for your former vendors? 3) Find companies in the news. Spend 15-20 minutes researching the Business section of your local newspaper, looking for fast, smart, growing companies. Cant find any? Consider moving (or looking harder). 4) Ask 5 people you admire. I saved this for last, but it really ought to come first. Because, the more conversations you have, the more people will know about your job search and the faster youll get hired. So, ask the 5 most-connected people you know for advice. Tip: Take them all out for coffee, bring a legal pad, take notes. In 30-45 minutes, youll surely come away with answers that will shorten your job search. Total cost: Less than $30. Resource: If youre in the job market and want to try something new, you can see Guerilla Job Search secrets caught on video and learn more here. Kevin Donlin has partnered with Dave Perry, one of my all-time favorites in the job search world.   I had dinner with Kevin last year in Minneapolis, and got to know him pretty well hes a very cool guy, and quite passionate about helping people get results in their job search.   Kevin and Dave have a Guerilla Job Search Boot Camp and I hear great things about it from people who have finished it. Also, heres a P.S. from Kevins email: If you know anyone looking for a job in the Detroit area, please tell them to come meet David  Perry and  me in person on Sept. 17 http://www.PutMichiganBackToWork.com. Doesnt that look cool? (some of the links in this post are affiliate links) 4 Ways to Find the Best Employers (guest post) This is a guest post from my friend Kevin Donlin, in Minnesota.   More on him after the post. How can I find the best companies to work for? Thats a question I hear almost daily from job seekers. Its hard to answer because its the wrong question. Heres the real issue beneath that question: I dont want to have to think hard about finding the best companies to work for. Admit it. You like me and all humans hate to think. It takes time. You have to pick and choose. You might make a mistake. And it can give you a headache. But unthinking behavior is a sure way to stay unemployed. So, lets re-phrase the query, because a well-phrased question is half-answered. If youve been job hunting for more than 4 weeks, ask this question instead: What have I NOT been willing to do to find the best companies to work for? Thats better. And easier to answer. In fact, I can think of 4 things you can do TODAY to find the best employers to work for 1) Look at your connections on LinkedIn. I mean really look. Pick 5 people you admire, view their profiles, and look for the following: Where do they work now? (Could you work there?) Where did they work before? (Could you work there?) Who are their clients? (Could you work there?) Who are their competitors? (Could you work there?) Who are their vendors? (Could you work there?) Do this for 5, 10, or more people, and youll surely find 5-20 prospective employers. 2) Make connections at your last employers. Specifically, think about everyplace youve worked before. Now ask yourself the following questions: Could you work there again? (Could you work there again? Dont snicker getting re-hired happens every day.) Could you work for your former clients? Could you work for your former competitors? Could you work for your former vendors? 3) Find companies in the news. Spend 15-20 minutes researching the Business section of your local newspaper, looking for fast, smart, growing companies. Cant find any? Consider moving (or looking harder). 4) Ask 5 people you admire. I saved this for last, but it really ought to come first. Because, the more conversations you have, the more people will know about your job search and the faster youll get hired. So, ask the 5 most-connected people you know for advice. Tip: Take them all out for coffee, bring a legal pad, take notes. In 30-45 minutes, youll surely come away with answers that will shorten your job search. Total cost: Less than $30. Resource: If youre in the job market and want to try something new, you can see Guerilla Job Search secrets caught on video and learn more here. Kevin Donlin has partnered with Dave Perry, one of my all-time favorites in the job search world.   I had dinner with Kevin last year in Minneapolis, and got to know him pretty well hes a very cool guy, and quite passionate about helping people get results in their job search.   Kevin and Dave have a Guerilla Job Search Boot Camp and I hear great things about it from people who have finished it. Also, heres a P.S. from Kevins email: If you know anyone looking for a job in the Detroit area, please tell them to come meet David  Perry and  me in person on Sept. 17 http://www.PutMichiganBackToWork.com. Doesnt that look cool? (some of the links in this post are affiliate links)

Finding the Best Resume Writing Service

Finding the Best Resume Writing ServiceFinding the best resume writing service is an important step when it comes to finding a good job. It can be difficult and overwhelming to find the right one to help you get that next job you have been searching for.The process of finding the best resume writing service will vary greatly. Some of the steps are the same. However, there are some ways to reduce the steps of your search.The first step to your search for a resume writing service is to research the company to determine if they have been in business for awhile. Remember that you will need to have a strong written resume to make yourself stand out from the other resumes on the job market. A simple mistake or lagging performance may be more than your resume will be able to withstand.Another thing to consider is that as there are many healthcare careers and opportunities available today, you may be able to get a better job if you have a different experience. Not everyone has the same level of expertise in the field. This is why a little bit of diversification will help you get a better job.Try to keep the paper work down to a minimum. You should not have to start your career all over again after a layoff or transfer. Use the advantage you have to gain that extra edge and a professional resume writer will help you with that.Your resume writing service can help you make the resume the best it can be. A professional resume writer will know how to adjust your resume to your specific career. A well written resume is your ticket to the job you have been looking for.Professional resume writers are capable of coming up with a nice cover letter to use along with your resume. This will help you get an interview much faster.Finding a job is a daunting task that takes time and patience. As long as you keep your eyes open and search for that perfect first job, the road will be easier.

How to Adapt Life After College - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How to Adapt Life After College - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career As many students start to graduate from college, they enter a totally new phase in their lives. Not only they will have to adapt working full-time, they will also have to adapt to their new environments outside of work. Below are some advices for the new graduates that will make this transition smoother and are not thought in schools. Set Yourself Goals: Until you finish college, everything in your life is well defined. First, you get good grades in high school so you can get into a college and then, you choose your college courses which are required by your curriculum or recommended by your advisor. Finally, you try to get good grades again so that you can have a high GPA. Unfortunately, life itself is not well defined like academics. There are ups and downs of it. Therefore, it is up to you to define your life. Start defining your life by setting goals to yourself. What do you want to do in your career? Do you want to go work in corporate world or do you want to start your own business? Or do you want to stay in academia? First, find the answers of these questions and then, make a list of goals. Change Your Habits: When you are attending college, you can easily fit your classes into a 3 day schedule and leave 2 days off or you can choose all the afternoon classes in order to stay up all night and sleep until noon. However, when you have a full-time job, you are expected to wake up early and come to work in the morning. Also, you need to come to work every day so you can’t have anymore 3 day schedules. In order to have a smooth transition, start sleeping early so you can wake up early and be energetic. Moreover, eat your lunches at the same time every day around noon so your body can adapt to this new schedule. Learn to Make a Budget: If you have student loans, once you are out of college and land a job, you will start paying them off. Thus, you need to manage your budget wisely. It is important to pay off your debt on time so that you can have a good credit score. In the future, this score will be very important if you want to buy a new car, a house or even apply to a new credit card. Once you are blacklisted by credit score companies, it is very hard to get out of that list.

Personal Branding Interview Jane Genova - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Branding Interview Jane Genova - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Today, I spoke to Jane Genova, who is a coach, book author, and lecturer on careers, specializes in transitions. She is the author of Over-50: How We Keep Working, and is a blogger for AOL Jobs. In this interview, Jane talks about her predictions for the job market this year, how job seekers can stand out online and offline, and more. Jane, what are your predictions for the job market this year? It’s obvious that there is some recovery going on in the job market. Even the hardest hit sectors such as legal are seeing new jobs created and with some increase in compensation. However, longer term, there will continue to be a loss of full-time jobs with benefits and the growth of just-in-time work opportunities in all professions. That means a paradigm shift in how those who need to make a living define “work” and go after it. This will escalate with the aging of the population. On New Year’s the first of the 76 million Baby Boomers hit 65. Most of them need to continue bringing in income. The odds are that few employers will bring a 65-year old on board for a full time job. That means a surge in the just-in-time or free agency workforce. How can job seekers stand out online and offline? This goes way back to Tom Peters’s concept of personal branding. What most don’t realize, though, is that this is a continuous process. Those needing to find work have to keep redefining the unique expertise they provide. That’s the first step. Then the next task is to make known that unique identity. More and more of our financial survival depends on our ability to promote ourselves. Yes, we are our image or promotion of self in everyday life. Not many want to hear this but it’s the new reality: We all have to become marketing machines. In order to close the deal, we have to become sales animals. So many who come to be for coaching are clueless how to close. Actually all this isn’t new. That’s the gospel of WHAT COLOR IS YOUR PARACHUTE? which dates back to the 1970s. Job hunters should read the latest version several times. Can using social networks to get jobs hurt you in any way? Depending on social networks, just like depending on any one strategy or tactic, will eventually hurt you. No way can you make your “comfort zone” social media. Anyway, those on your network likely are weary of your presence. We all have to develop a variety of strategies and tactics. Those range from participating as a panelist in conferences to joining the local Chamber of Commerce to publishing articles in your field. That’s what I hammer in the seminar I delivered on multi channel marketing for ExcuSense. It was targeted at law firms but the principles are applicable in most professions. Attached is the copy of that presentation. What common mistakes do you see job seekers make regularly? Most job seekers make the fatal error of creating a strategic plan for hunting for work and stick to it. Yet opportunity comes from left field. That’s because of the volatile global economy. The new winners are totally opportunistic. They focus on identifying, pouncing on, and exploiting opportunity. I detail all that in my book OVER-50: HOW WE KEEP WORKING. Another major mistake is trying to protect sunk costs. For example, an unemployed lawyer I coached valued too much his investment in becoming a lawyer, both time and money, and that identity. He blew interviews outside the legal sector by presenting himself first as a lawyer and not a communications expert or marketer with a legal background. Finally, when he gave up his focus on sunk costs he received multiple offers in lobbying. The reality was that his high Emotional Intelligence [EI] was the most valuable commodity he could sell employers. That strength exceeded his analytical ability in law. A third mistake is beating themselves up. Everyone I have coached comes to me telling their story in a way that makes them seem like the world’s worst loser. Of course, that holds them back on their hunt or career transition. It also seems to be the comfort zone in American society: self hate. The way to navigate the difficult process of finding work is what is called “learned optimism.” In his book on the topic LEARNED OPTIMISM, positive psychology founder Martin Seligman, Ph.D. teaches how to re-frame the negative in ways that don’t paralyze you. Since baby boomers arent retiring, Gen-Y is going to find it difficult to get jobs. What advice would you give to them? I frequently address that issue, including here in this article for AOL Jobs. Yet, I have a sense Generation Y isn’t ready to hear about how the world of work really operates. The two obstacles Generation Y faces are that lack of knowledge about how to go to work and over-education. We Baby Boomers had to work. Affluence hadn’t happened. No matter if we were in high school, college, or graduate school, we always picked up part-time jobs. That wised us up in what employers really value. For example, we got it that the boss didn’t care how smart we were but how much we could make him or her look good, work less, and feel good. We had down cold everything from concealing our intelligence to the fine art of sucking up. Generation Y has no idea when to hold and when to fold. Generation Y is also hooked on school. That means they further insulate themselves from professional workplace reality, pile on debt, and develop grandiose expectations about what’s due them because of all the degrees, some from Ivy League institutions. The first thing I insist on with Generation Y is: Get a job, any job. That will teach them how to go to work. The second thing I insist on is: Never again think in terms of leaving a job or business to attend school full-time. Those who heeded that advice have stopped being the Stuck Generation and are earning much more than a living wage. Jane Genova, coach, book author, and lecturer on careers, specializes in transitions. Her talk on professional shifts at the New York State Bar Association has been published in VITAL SPEECHES OF THE DAY. Her latest book is OVER-50: HOW WE KEEP WORKING. She blogs on the subject at http://janegenova.com, http://lawandmore.typepad.com, http://careertransitions.typepad.com and http://over-50.typepad.com.

Examples of Resume Objectives - How to Write Resume Objectives For Better Results

Examples of Resume Objectives - How to Write Resume Objectives For Better ResultsMany people who are seeking employment want to know how to write examples of resume objectives. The job market is full of jobs that require employees to be prepared and well-organized when they apply for new positions.You do not have to take a specialized course to learn excellent examples of resume objectives. Instead, you can learn some important things about the basics that will help you craft them on your own.The first thing you should do is think about what you want your cover letter to include before you go searching for a specific type of employment. What does it say to potential employers? This can help you determine the types of examples you need.The objective should not only be useful to the potential employer but also to you. Write it for yourself as well. This will prevent you from overlooking important information.It is also very important to identify the part of the cover letter that would be filled by the example you are writing. It is important to get a general idea of the exact information the prospective employer would expect to see. If you do not write an example of resume objectives for each section, you will never get to read them.If you do not have examples of resume objectives, you may ask for examples to be given to you in the form of samples. Using examples of resume objectives as a guide can help you come up with the best possible design. Even if you already have a general idea of what the document will look like, it is still a good idea to have samples that you can use.Once you have written the examples of resume objectives, you will need to come up with the major sections of the document. You should put emphasis on the most important section, even if it is the least important. You need to have this section written as clearly as possible so that it will stand out when it goes through the screening process.The next thing you must consider is the person who will read your application. You must make sure that the sample of resume objectives is appropriate for him or her. It should be both professional looking and professional sounding. You must also work hard to convince him or her that you are a good match for the position.

8 Best Apps for Professional Development CareerMetis.com

8 Best Apps for Professional Development Do you ever feel pining for some more time to upgrade yourself professionally and increase a few of your skills?Everyone does! Unfortunately, we are all stuck with a 24 hour day, and long working hours with fewer hours left to ourselves.evalHow in this world can we attain this kind of development that we aspire with limited hours?A lot of people say that time management is the key to professional development. However, even management, you are sometimes unable to achieve even the basic tasks for the day. Urgent meetings and other trivial tasks take up the remainder.That’s where mobile apps come to your rescue. With the world growing smaller and their devices even smaller, mobile app solutions seem to be holding the key to time management, better organization, and professional development. It is a development that you achieve which will help you gather better opportunities for the future.What is this professional development that we are speaking about? Let’s say you are an app deve loper. You have mastered Python. However, you want to upgrade your programming language knowledge and need to enter another arena soon. How would you do that, with half your time spent on getting the day’s work done?Mobile apps and the learning environment created as a result will help you keep abreast of the latest trends, and upgrade your skills.Let’s have a look at some of the professional development apps that should help you improve your knowledge and create opportunities.1) ElevateTrain your brain to think better and faster with Elevate. You tend to analyze better, have sharper instincts and are more confident by using this appHow does it work? Using gaming techniques, it helps improve your basic skills in writing, reading, listening, and Maths, all of which are needed for better development. You can customize the training based on your abilities. The focus of your training can be personalized too. You can track your performance against yourself, as well as others. the bra in training algorithms used in this app are drawn from cognitive research studies as well as memory studies.2) GiveGabevalHow does a non-profit application such as GiveGab offer professional development? Before answering this question, let us tell you what GiveGab does. It tells you about all the non-profit volunteering opportunities you will get in your neighborhood.Apart from being the opportunity driver for the community, it also helps raise funds for non-profit organizations.If you want to connect with other NGOs to volunteer or help them raise funds, then this is your mobile app.How does it help you? When you opt for non-profit work, it gets seen in your resume and gets you more opportunities. Your volunteering experience gives you an edge in understanding what is required to put yourself out there and get the results.3) BrainsparkerevalNeed creative inspiration?. It is an incredible app when it comes to triggering creativity. There is an umpteen number of creative prompts incl uding quotes, images, and action words that can help you illustrate better.It is the perfect app for teachers, who wish to give contextual examples or to the writers and bloggers who are thirsty for some creative inputs.You can even download the premium version of the app for further prompts. This app is available for both iOS and Android.4) IFTTTWe live in a connected world thanks to IoT, which is why this app is essential. Let’s understand how it helps you with professional development.Considering the app requires a trigger to offer a response, this works best in the professional world. IFTTT stands for If this then that, which ultimately means an action would be taken for a particular trigger.It could be used for numerous things including social media marketing or customized versions of personal assistants. In short, the app tends to increase your efficiency through personalized wearable, assistants and marketing channels.5) PocketYou want to learn more and keep abreast with th e changing trends, but somehow it does not happen. While you need to keep up with the time management skills you are yet to acquire, Pocket allows you to keep up with the latest in articles and blogs that are relevant to you.It allows you to bookmark all the different articles, and save them for a later time.evalThe best part of this app is that you can view them in offline mode, and it will be easy viewing. So, basically with pocket, you don’t have to leave out on any news. Just create the right filters and you are ready to carry information in your pocket.6) GripNetworking is the key to increasing business opportunities. However, for most businesses, it is networking that they fail to attain or, it is the networking that makes their lives difficult.With Grip, networking can be made easy and hassle-free. You are connected with people who match your profile and can collaborate with them for work through proper channels. It is a tinder-like app for networking.If the profile and the needs match, you are connected, and you can take the communication forward.With the right connections, you are sure to move forward with your business.eval7) ContactuallyWhat is the most difficult task for you as an entrepreneur or salesperson? Managing meetings, keeping a record of your schedules, and ensuring all the emails are in one place. What if tracking all the information related to one client is kept in one place, such that it helps reach out faster, an app ensures a good follow-up session?Contactually does that for you. it helps keep all the communication in one place, which eventually helps in building relationships, and boosts your efficiency. It keeps an eye out for all the tasks included in relationship building, thus making your life easy and hassle-free. You would know what actions you need to take next, and it will be done without much interference.8) DuolingoLearning a language not only helps you with better communication but also gives you an edge in your profess ional development. However, not all of us can attend a particular language school or train online through paid classes?That’s why you need the Duolingo app. It helps you gain proficiency in foreign languages, which eventually gives you an edge over your competitors.The push notifications and daily reminders help you stay focused and learning the language better with this app. It helps create better opportunities.Summing upImproving your skills and upgrading your abilities is a constant affair, and it will help gain an edge over the competition. You will be abreast of the current trends as well as the technologies and techniques that are being used.You will also have better soft and core skills, which will help you get back to work easily. Apart from being good at what you do, you also need to think out of the box and give your creative and relationship-building side a thoroughnessHere we have listed out 8 apps that will help enhance your professional skills, thus enabling you to g et better chances professionally.

Interview habits that are making you forgettable - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

Interview habits that are making you forgettable One of the hardest aspects of job application success can be the sheer number of candidates going for a single position. And, the trickiest part is, a large amount of their experience and skillset will be pretty similar to yours. If you’re going against a crowd of people with broadly similar CVs and applications, the interview process becomes even more important. Thus, standing out from the crowd is a key factor in getting the job of your dreams. So here are generic job interview behaviours that will make you fade into the background and should therefore be avoided at all costs. Not Asking Questions While some view the interview process as more of an inquisition, it should be more like a conversation. Imagine a conversation where you didn’t ask the other person a single question. You’d look rude, preoccupied and disinterested. And asking the right questions in important, so try to get a feel for the company culture and how things work there. Not only will this help you stand out in an interviewer’s mind, but it’ll actually help you decide whether this is the sort of place you’d like to work. Take the opportunity to gather as much information as possible. Seeming Overly Rehearsed It’s absolutely natural to be nervous before a job interview. Rehearsing some good answers can seem like a great way to prepare. But if you seem like you’re just reading answers from a paper, rather than interacting with your interviewer, it can make you seem robotic and less personable. While knowing what points you want to hit is great, having sentences ready and waiting may end up making you seem less qualified for the job. Using Random Buzzwords If you study the job specification, you’ll likely see a few points that it’s clear the interviewer will want you to hit. But simply repeating what you think they want to hear may actually work to your disadvantage. Instead, it’s a much better idea to demonstrate how your experience and skillset fit in with the ideal candidate you’re looking for. Tossing out “great team player” with no evidence to back it up is an immediate no-no. Not Realising What Makes You Different A sure-fire way to not be remembered is to have no interesting or special aspect to your interview. Everyone has something which can help them to stand out from the crowd, so find out what yours is and play on it. Show the interviewer you’re a person, not just a candidate, and they’re much more likely to remember you. Giving Stock Answers Some job interview questions are pretty much a given â€" so not preparing brilliant and personal answers for them is only going to hold you back. Do some research on the company and know why it’s a perfect fit for you. Compose an honest (but not off-putting) list of your greatest weaknesses. Having impersonal answers to these questions will only serve to make your interview seem impersonal, too. Annie Walton-Doyle writes for Inspiring Interns, which specialises in sourcing candidates for  internships  and graduate jobs.

Executive Job Searching is More Than a Perfect Resume

Executive Job Searching is More Than a Perfect Resume One of the most common misconceptions about an executive job search is thinking a flawless resume will guarantee you a job. It will definitely help your chances if you use one of the top resume writing services to perfect your resume, but there are many more components to a successful job search. The strategy you develop for your search and how you interact with people are two of the biggest pieces of the job searching puzzle, along with your written resume and cover letter. Here are some important points to keep in mind during your job search. Network Networking is a critical part of being an executive and promoting your brand, and it’s even more important when searching for a job. The first thing to do is optimize your LinkedIn profile so you can easily be discovered and your connections will know who you are and what you bring to the table. LinkedIn is usually one of the top resources other executives and hiring managers use to search for candidates, so taking the time to update yours is well worth the effort. Develop A Job Search Strategy Using an online job board to submit applications has never been a recommended job search strategy. The sheer amount of applicants to these postings make it virtually impossible for you to stand out. Modernize your approach by attending networking events and shaping up your resume with one of the top resume writing services. Refocusing your efforts by utilizing LinkedIn and ensuring your executive profile is in great shape will make you more recognizable. Perfect Your Cover Letter Your cover letter gives you the opportunity to introduce yourself, similar to your LinkedIn profile. The only difference is your cover letter is usually presented to a potential employer at the same time as your resume. So if your cover letter doesn’t earn enough interest from the reader, then they may not even look at your resume or LinkedIn profile at all. The top resume writing services can help with all three of these aspects. Practice Interviewing Your people skills in groups can help you earn an interview, but you also have to master the one-on-one communication. Ask a friend or family member to help you by doing a mock interview. The tougher the questions are in your mock interview, the better prepared you’ll be for your real interview. Interviews are all about confidence and how you present yourself. You may be the most qualified candidate, but if you appear hesitant to answer questions or lack confidence, your chances of getting the job will diminish. Professional Resume Services is here to help you throughout your job searching process. Whether it’s developing a quality executive profile, optimizing your LinkedIn profile or providing basic resume writing tips, our main goal is to help you achieve your goals. Feel free to contact us at any time for tips about the executive job searching process, writing resumes and much more.