Researching An Invaluable Skill-Set for A Job-Seeker Building Your Future Now

Researching An Invaluable Skill-Set for A Job-Seeker Building Your Future Now There are some skill sets we tend to overlook because they usually come naturally to us. Research or researching are terms that are associated with academia. But when we consciously reflect on it, we see that we do research on many things in our lives. If you dont believe me take a look at your search history on your browser. You will find somethings that you have Googled; maybe you were comparing hotels for a trip, or trying to find more information on a sports teamwhen it comes down to it, we definitely do a lot of research on things we like or need more data on. In regards to a job search, you will definitely sharpen your research skills by doingits that simple. However, lets dig further and find how you can use this invaluable skill to help you find a job. Researching is about focus If you are honing your time and efforts towards a career in a specific field look at what tools you have around you to help you. You have the library, the internet, social media and books. This is simply a small sample but as you strengthen your researching muscle you will find new resources. Now with those resources start combing through information. Dont worry about weeding anything out at this stage. Compile all the resources you deem useful. Start writing Ideas Down Whether it be long hand or using a laptop, it is vital you record information that you want to have handy. Remember to write sources for the information found! This trick will help you always cite references for work that isnt yoursit is common decency. Research is about assimilating prior information that you can use, but it is also about acknowledging established sources. Be Creative As you progress in your job search look at creative ways to learn more about people, places or things. Can you call a respected person in your field and ask them a question or two? Be proactive and keep researching not only for information that you need but ways to research effectively. Other opportunities There are many people who have found that they needed to share their job searching experience with others. Some have written books or have started a blogthis is a great chance to take what you have learned and help others! You can use your research to not only find a good job, but maybe a better career. Image: Raw Pixels

Why Do Certain People Achieve Success When Others Dont - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Why Do Certain People Achieve Success When Others Don’t - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Why do certain people achieve success when others don’t?  Simon Sinek’s book, “Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Action,” may have some answers. Sinek asserts that great leaders tap into people’s psyches to attract them into becoming followers. Applied to the corporate level, Sinek offers the “inside out” theory, a compelling explanation for why some companies succeed when others doing the same thing don’t. His idea is that all great, inspiring leaders focus on why they do what they do first and explain the how later. These successful businessmen and women possess keen emotional intelligence and exhibit a gift for understanding the deeper psychological reasons as to why people attach themselves to products and causes. Sineks research places a spotlight on Apple computers, the Wright brothers and Martin Luther King Jr. to showcase the greater power of being drawn to ideas, philosophies, causes and a purpose more than a mere product. He concludes that Apple and Dell both offer great products, but Apple is far more successful because of its unique marketing approach. Apples tagline is, “everything we do challenges the status quo” or stated another way, “we and our customers act and think differently.” Customers deeply identify with the companys philosophy and products and how Apple distinguishes its products from the crowd. Samuel Langley, an early pioneer of aviation, had far more access to capital, resources, education and connections than the Wright brothers, but he stopped working on the “flying machine” once he heard of the Wright brothers’ early success. Langley could have tried to improve his flying machine but he gave up the project because he wouldn’t be remembered for being the original inventor. Sinek attributes the Wright brothers success in inventing the first flying machine to being fully dedicated to the project. They invented the worlds first successful airplane and made the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight. The brothers developed their flying machine into the first practical fixed-wing aircraft. Although not the first to build and fly experimental aircraft, the Wright brothers were the first to invent aircraft controls that made fixed-wing powered flight possible. They were driven by the cause, not by money or fame. Similar to the executives at Apple computers, the Wright brothers started with an idea that was changing the status quo and werent distracted or discouraged by multiple crashes or other obstacles along the way. Their relentless dedication to creating a flying machine enabled them to eventually achieve their goal. Sinek also ascribed Martin Luther King’s success as a civil rights leader to his “inside out” approach to gaining support. Sinek recalled that 250,000 people showed up in Washington, D.C. on a steamy August day with no formal invitation or Internet to tell them the time for the speech because they shared the beliefs that King espoused in his speeches. “King succeeded in gaining influence and acquiring followers by making his structure their structure. Huge crowds showed up for themselves, not for King because they believed in his vision about America. He didnt become famous because he said, I have a plan, he became famous because his speech focused on his dream and others could share in it! In addition to being committed to their goals, great leaders are often gifted communicators. It’s almost as if they can somehow read what’s important to you as they relate concepts that appeal to your sensibilities. They create an affinity between you and them and between their message, product or service. It can almost feel as if they know you as they address and highlight values and aspirations that you have or long for. When they speak about a topic they tailor their message so it appeals to their audience. You might feel that by associating with them you enhance your image, as they possess a certain clout. Their exceptional communication skills enable them to capture the essence of why the product, service or idea makes sense to you. Bill Clinton was also said to have these qualities. He was said to have the ability to make you think that he was talking only to you and when talking with him he made you feel as if you were the only one in the room. As a politician, Clinton understood the difference between talking at people and talking to or with them. The Guardians Alastair Campbell called Clinton “the greatest political communicator I ever saw.” Paying attention was, and still is, his secret weapon; attention is about empathy, and Clinton is known for giving everyone he meets undivided attention. “In my state, when people lose their jobs, theres a good chance Ill know them by name,” Clinton said. Great leaders are skilled influencers. As a result of these engaging behaviors they’re more successful in influencing others than those who focus on selling a product/service/cause by pushing its features and benefits. They build loyalty among their followers because they give so much of themselves without expecting a quid pro quo. Ultimately, their followers and customers feel indebted to reciprocate. The tremendous success of Steve Jobs, the Wright brothers and Martin Luther King stemmed from their unshakable belief in what they were doing. They all inspired people to act (either by joining their cause, as with King, or by buying their product, as with Apple) because they tapped into the belief system of their target audience. They were persistent, creative, hardworking, committed to the project and had an uncanny sense for thinking into the future. Their unshakable commitment to their project made it possible to overcome multiple failures and learn from them. Superior leaders share many of the same traits: • High emotional intelligence • Not concerned about achieving personal fame • Driven to actualize their dream • Filled with passion but tempered to be relatable • Empathy • Seek to understand their followers’ motivations and challenges • Consistently show appreciation to supporters • Steadfast commitment to their project, philosophy or ideas • Willing to collaborate with others • Express appreciation to all supporters • Complement and use other people’s ideas • Admit when another person’s idea is better than her own • Encourage participation from peers and subordinates • Learn from mistakes and laugh at mishaps, all with the goal of achieving a common purpose These core competencies, combined with good timing and loyal supporters, are evidently what it takes to become a great leader and a success at marketing a product or service or promoting a cause. Beth Kuhel, M.B.A., C.E.I.P., is a career coach specializing in millennials and career changers. Her weekly Career Path column is sponsored by Executive education at Weatherhead School of Management. Beth  writes about career strategies and improving the workplace for The Huffington Post, The Personal Branding blog, TinyPulse.com and Sharkpreneur magazine, and has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, U.S. News World Report and BusinessInsider.com. Connect with Beth on Twitter @BethKuhel.

Understanding the Hiring Manager Prior to the Interview - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Understanding the Hiring Manager Prior to the Interview - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Who is the hiring manager? Who are they really? You are scheduled for an interview with the hiring manager. Who is this person? What do you have in common? The more you know about the hiring manager before the interview, the more you can do to work on building a relationship during the interview. Remember People hire people they like! It is time to do some investigative work! LinkedIn Check the hiring managers LinkedIn profile for the following: Education What schools did they attend and where? Did you attend a same school or a school from the same conference or even the same area? Do you have the same or similar degrees? Work History Did you work for the same company at any point in the past? Check the LinkedIn groups that the hiring manager belongs to. If you have none in common, join some of the groups and check out their participation. What have they shared? Have they commented on posts? Volunteering What non-profit organizations are listed and how did the hiring manager participate? Recommendations Who has the hiring manager recommended and who has recommended the hiring manager? Have they written recommendations for current or former employees who worked for them? Copy the entire LinkedIn profile, including the recommendations, and paste it into a Word Cloud tool like Wordle.net or TagCrowd. You can then harvest the profile for keywords. You can read and view a video on how to do this on my Career Pivot blog post called Finding Keywords to Manage Your Career. Look for keyword phrases that the hiring manager used. Create a list of these phrases and bring that list with you to the interview. Facebook Check out their Facebook page. Look for the following: Marital status Children Hobbies Vacation photos Look for anything that you might have in common. The more you know about the hiring manager before the interview, the more you can do to work on building a relationship during the interview. Remember People hire people they like! Twitter Take a look at their Twitter profile. What do they tweet? What do they retweet? Have they tweeted out any pictures? Who do they follow and who follows them? Check out the Twitter lists that they subscribe to. Check out the Twitter lists that they belong to. Look for patterns. What do you have in common? Create a list of items that you have in common, both personally and professionally. From that list, create questions that you can ask to start the conversation. Remember People hire people they like! When you show an interest in the hiring manager and who they are, you are more likely to be perceived as likeable. Remember People hire people they like! Marc Miller â€" Career Pivot Check out my book Repurpose Your Career â€" A Practical Guide for Baby Boomers Do not forget to follow me on Twitter or FaceBook

Recruitment Agencies - the Ins and Outs

Recruitment Agencies - the Ins and Outs What’s your dream industry? (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife) Most final year students will be thinking about life beyond university, as the following weeks spell the last of exams and freedom. Casting your job seeking net to span across different mediums (covering letters, CVs, speculative emails, phone calls, etc.) is a good idea, yet you can improve your chances of finding employment further by speaking to a recruitment agency. Although many are tarred with a bad reputation, if you do your research, you could come across a work gold mine. What’s your dream industry? When seeking a recruitment agency’s help, you should focus on what industry or sectors you are interested in, if any. Some recruitment agencies are best known for holding entry-level positions in a particular field, whereas others have a larger selection of work on offer. Even if you are pretty confident you want to work in a specific industry, it might be wise to think of a couple of others in case your dream sector has suffered a few job cuts. Big or small: what sort of recruitment agency is right for you? Recruitment agencies come in all shapes and sizes you can get sector-specific agencies, large, all-encompassing recruitment consultancies or smaller, more personal ensembles. It’s important you choose what’s right for you whereas you might see more jobs at a larger agency, there will also be more competition for the roles and consultants will be overloaded with CVs, meaning there might be little communication between the recruiter and yourself. Smaller agencies will have less on their books, however, they will be able to tell you there and then if they can help you or push you for a role. Multiple sign-ups or just a handful? Choosing to sign-up to a variety of recruitment agencies can work in your favour, however, you risk losing track of what jobs you’ve applied for/where you have sent your CV. It’s a good idea to keep a notebook of all the websites you’ve signed up to and who you’ve spoken to in the past, to be able to cross-reference any calls you may have or even find out whether that particular recruitment agency has been useful for you over the past few weeks. Liaising with your recruitment consultant Generally, you will be allocated a consultant, should your CV be of interest to the agency. As such, you should make a good impression on them but also be as honest as possible regarding your career plan, what makes you tick and what you wouldn’t want to do at work. To have a career strategy and to share it with your consultant means you can both find common ground. You can also go over your CV and interview technique with the consultants, so as to make sure you’ve covered all your bases to give you the edge and confidence you need to pull it off. Staying on the radar You might prove successful in your job search in a matter of weeks or it may take a little longer to get the right job for you. Either way, it’s a good idea to keep in touch with your consultant and recruitment agency for future reference they may have a job that could be of interest to you in a few months time or, if your current job isn’t as exciting as you wanted it to be, you would have the possibility of speaking to them about opportunities. ________________________________________________________________________________________

What Should Happen When You Want to Move On - CareerMetis.com

What Should Happen When You Want to Move On Source â€" Pexels.comThe first thing you do is STOP and PAUSE!And take a look at the reasons behind why you want a move.What’s driving the need you have to move on?evalA boss that’s making everyday a crummy day for you?A bad recent experience on a project that’s left you questioning your future in the organization?The sudden realization that there is no fit between your personal needs and the organization’s value system?Your conclusion that the future opportunities from your current employer are limited and your long term career plan is in jeopardy if you stay?Whatever the reason, it’s critical to get your thinking straight on why you want to change before you jump.evalYou should take action if moving out the only way to achieve your long term goals.Once you go you’re gone and the likelihood of returning is slim to none.At one point in my career I was demoted from the executive leadership team due to a company merger and I felt intense pressure by many people around me Bu t, fortunately, I gave the matter considerable thought because it was a huge decision I had to make; I couldn’t afford to react to my plight and make a quick decision.Be thoughtful when thinking about making a job change; do it for the right reasons.Once you’ve decided to go, create a “moving-on” action plan.Define the things you need to do to not only get you out of your current situation but also leave with your currency strong and your head high.evalBurning bridges when you leave a job is not in your long term interests; it’s dumb. Leave on the winds of elegance.Your moving-on plan should include these five elements.1. Dust off your career game planAnd revise it based on your current circumstances. Look specifically at the organizations you are interested in and wish to target, the position you would like to get and the people you should connect with to help you.Alwaysconsider your career plan a work in progress ; constantly update it because you never know when you mig ht have to revisit it to make a move.2. Revise your resumeReflect any changes you made to your career game plan. As your career game plan changes, your must your CV change to reflect the latest conditions. And keep morphing it to try and make it different from the thousands of resumes out there that all look the same.The way your career story will be noticed by prospective employers is to make it unique and have it standout from others in some meaningful way.3. Engage your networkMeet with each of the top 5 in your personal network.Start the conversation on what opportunities exist in other organizations and get their views on how you should move forward.Actually, engaging with your networkshould be an ongoing priority even when you are not looking to move â€" be in a constant job hunting mode; it will prepare you if and when you decide to pursue other opportunities.eval4. Explain your actionsevalContact close colleagues in your present organization and explain why you are intending to leave.This includes bosses that you have had that you respect. It is extremely important that you leave with strong currency and personal integrity, as you never know when you might need their support in the future. NEVER close the door on the possibility of returning to the organization at some point.5. Say “Thanks!”Thank the people in your current organization who supported you and ask if there is anything you can do for THEM.A little recognition for the people who helped you out goes a long way. They will often give you valuable advice and will recommend you to people in their network.When you decide to close the pages on the current chapter of your career, make sure your champions and allies know they each played an important and valuable role in your life.evalThe decision to leave your present job is one thing, but doing it in the right way is another.Don’t fall victim to a knee-jerk reaction and an emotional exit.