Discover 5 Steps to Build Your Brand Out of Nothing - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Discover 5 Steps to Build Your Brand Out of Nothing - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career In general, we say your personal brand always exists, whether you know about it or not. That said, when you’re new to the professional world, you get to start out with a relatively clean slate. This gives you the opportunity to build your brand from scratch. In the beginning, it is essential to shape your personal brand so it will portray you as the mature professional you are. A strong brand can really help you down the road, when it’s time to start the hunt for internships or jobs. If you’re new to the personal branding game, discover these five steps to building your personal brand out of nothing: 1. Determine your goals. The overall point of having a strong personal brand is to build your career. So naturally, the first step is to determine where you want to go. No matter where you are in your career when building your brand, it is essential to figure out your goals. Both short-term and long-term goals are important. What do you want to study? What are your passions? Where in the world would you like to live? For which company would you love to work? All of these questions are important to consider now, so you can decide how to shape your brand. 2. Compile your history. The next part of your brand involves your past. Make a list of all of the experiences you’ve had relating to your goals. This might include education, internships, jobs, volunteering, or anything else relevant. All of these experiences will culminate into your resume, which is a big part of your brand. In addition to simply listing experiences in your resume, you can use these to tell the story of who you are and what you’ve accomplished. Stories are the meat of your brand, so figure out the best stories from your professional history you can share. 3. Create a consistent web presence. Once you’ve established your past and your future, it’s time to look at what you can do in the present. A big part of this is establishing an online presence. If you haven’t already, create accounts on Google, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Social media is a great way to make yourself prominent on search engines, which boosts the signal of your brand. Additionally, your email address and all of your accounts on these sites should have consistent and professional usernames (preferably a derivative of your own name). You should also have the same professional photo on all of your profiles. Again, consistency makes you easier to find and more credible. 4. Learn how to stand out. Once you’ve established a presence, it’s time to learn how to stand out from your fellow job seekers. Do research on other professionals on similar career paths. Look for the sites they use, the articles they share, and the content they produce. Use your peers for ideas, but find a way to be unique. Channel their methods into your own mission. You get additional bonus points for going above and beyond the standard social media profiles. Having a personal website is a fantastic way to stand out; only seven percent of other job seekers have one. Plus, maintaining a blog and/or writing guest blog posts on websites in your industry really amp up your brand’s signal. 5. Expand your network. The final step is to get out there and let people know who you are. Connect with people on social media. Reach out with useful information they might appreciate. Attend networking events with the same mentality. Make people want to talk to you because you have something interesting to say. Your network will benefit your brand down the line. When people know you as the strong professional that you are, they’ll be more likely to help you out when you’re looking into your next career move. Once you’ve done each of these steps, your personal brand is never truly finished. In order to have a successful brand, you must continue to shape and add to it. Your brand will expand as you gain new experiences and meet new people, so keep an eye on it. What are some other important steps to take when first building your brand? Author: Heather R. Huhman  is a career expert, experienced hiring manager, and founder president of  Come Recommended, a content marketing and digital PR consultancy for job search and human resources technologies. She is also the instructor of  Find Me A Job: How To Score A Job Before Your Friends, author of  Lies, Damned Lies Internships  (2011) and  #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle  (2010), and writes career and recruiting advice for  numerous outlets.

Job Hunting In the Digital Age [Infographic] - Career Pivot

Job Hunting In the Digital Age [Infographic] - Career Pivot Job Hunting In the Digital Age For those looking to make a career change or looking to get back into the job market, starting a new career can be daunting and with evolving technology in the job market and those who are not up to speed with digital tools the job hunt can be difficult. Established professionals looking to start a new career may find it difficult to compete in today’s Digital Age. Job seekers might find that they have to learn an entirely new strategy to job hunting. The Digital Age has created new necessities when embarking on the job search. Digital resumes and social networking are the new norms for job seekers. Digital Resumes Creating a resume now takes more than just setting pen to paper. Digital resumes are more interactive and aesthetics are just important as the content. The goal with all resumes is to stand out from the many applicants that recruiters might receive. One way to stand out from the crowd is to create a video resume. This is a great way for recruiters to get to know you for more than what is on a piece of paper and gives you a creative platform to present yourself. LinkedIn An extension of your resume takes place on LinkedIn. Creating a LinkedIn page is practically mandatory in today’s digital job hunting. Employers are likely to screen applicants through LinkedIn to verify employment information and to see who might be endorsing you on the site. LinkedIn is also a great way to make connections in the new field you might be interested in pursuing. You can meet professionals and interact with them before even applying for a position. However, LinkedIn is just one way you can enter the social media conversation. Social Media Networking with professionals now means getting on social media and being an active member of the online community. Using social media to launch your new career goals can consist of commenting and sharing a company’s content or entering a conversation with the company’s employees and audience. Starting a new career is always daunting and feels like you might be taking a big risk. However, in today’s Digital Age jumpstarting a new career can be easy if you know how to use the right tools effectively. Creating an interactive resume and entering the social media sphere can help you get to your career goals quickly and successfully. Vera Marie Reed is freelance writer living in Glendale, California. This mother of two specialises in education and parenting content. When she’s not delivering expert advice, you can find her reading, writing, arts, going to museums and doing craft projects with her children. Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Listen to the most recent episode Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

Tom Lehrer interview - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Tom Lehrer interview - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog To my great surprise, Tom Lehrer is still alive he just hasnt made any records for 35 years. For those not in the know, Tom Lehrer is a mathematician who became a very popular satirist and singer in the 60s. His humour was sharp and dry, and his tunes were catchy. His academic background often showed, for instance in his elements song, which is simply all the elements set to music. After making a few records he returned to academia, as you can read in this interview (via bound.dk). Random Tom Lehrer quote: I do have a cause though: Obscenity. (pause) Im for it. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

The Evolution of the Executive Resume

The Evolution of the Executive Resume Experienced executives may be surprised at how resumes have evolved within the last few years since they updated theirs. In general, the information included in today’s resumes is very similar to what it was dozens of years ago, but the presentation has definitely changed. This is why many executives tend to use professional resume writing services to ensure their resume is up with the times. Let’s take a look back at how executive resumes have evolved over time and where they are currently. Printed or Electronic? Most professional resume writing services will suggest utilizing both printed and electronic versions of your executive resume. Printing out your resume and physically handing it to someone may seem old school, but it’s really the only guaranteed way you know they will look at it. With so many jobs posted online today, it can be easy for electronic copies to get lost in the shuffle. However, many companies rely on electronic resumes for keyword searching, so it’s still important to send it electronically as well. Visual and Digital Resumes Visual and digital resumes have become more popular over the last few years. They give you the ability to show off your creativity by demonstrating a skill or providing a work product you created electronically. However, the top rated resume writing services caution you about using this method in certain industries. These types of resumes are generally frowned upon when searching for an executive job, but a marketing or creative design hiring manager would likely appreciate it. What is Best for Executives? When executives craft their resume, it’s best to keep it simple and professional and make the important points stand out. The best executive resume writers can highlight relevant attributes within a standard resume format to make it pop out at the reader. Hiring managers for executive positions tend to be traditional when it comes to the type of resume format they want to see. However, making your resume look exactly like everyone else’s is a good way to get yours passed over. If you need to use professional resume writing services to get tips and tricks on your executive resume format or for any other help, feel free to contact us at any time. Crafting your executive resume is an art, so it’s important to find a good balance between what hiring managers want to see and what is going to get yours noticed over all the other applicants.

Developing Leadership Development Skills

Developing Leadership Development SkillsIf you are applying for a job and the company asks for a leadership development interview, an HR-management skill resume is a must. The manager's assessment of candidates' development skills in areas such as communication, relationship building, teamwork, and delegation is an important factor in deciding whether or not to hire that person. An effective leadership development skill resume will include specific examples of how the candidates were able to demonstrate those skills at different stages in their careers. You must present these examples in the appropriate order to ensure the most effective presentation.Part of developing leadership development skills includes being able to manage an organization. Since so many people apply for jobs, there are several good management skill resume examples available. Following are some of the best samples:Manager: Your capabilities will include being both a team player and a leader. In addition to the ma nagers you have worked with, you can also use the examples of executives and leaders you have worked with. An example might be to relate your accomplishments and successes with certain senior executives from an employer or industry.Customer Service Specialist: You have a reputation for being friendly and able to communicate well with your customers. When you provide customer service advice on how to perform a certain job correctly, this example includes you acting as a mentor. You are a valuable asset to the company, and the example includes a complete resume with your profile. You should include an area where you can show personal achievements or your interest in the company.Additional Managers: Your abilities will include customer satisfaction and fostering a positive environment. You can showcase your involvement in the staffing process to encourage clients to take your recommendation into consideration. Perhaps you will illustrate an example of your role in marketing a new produ ct to clients. You may describe the difference between interacting with customers and having a brand name associated with your client's products and services. Showing examples of a customer service attitude can really be a powerful selling point.Manager: As the examples you provide of your leadership development skills will include your leadership development of employees, the skills you display may include your personal leadership development. If you had a high success rate in managing projects, you could mention this to show the skill level you possess. Regardless of the level, you should document any accomplishments in specific areas.Whether or not you are applying for a managerial position, the abilities you show in your leadership development skills can be a very effective selling point. Because your resume reflects your best strengths, you will be able to convince the company that you are the right choice for the job. Although there are no formal requirements for a management skill resume, the following criteria will help you put together an effective one.

How Many Jobs Applications Should You Send Out

How Many Jobs Applications Should You Send Out Spread the loveWhen youre job searching, you want to make sure youre investing your time and effort wisely. You can spend hours searching for job postings, writing the perfect cover letter, and tailoring your resume. If youre job searching in addition to working another job or balancing obligations, youre probably wondering: how many job applications should I be sending out every week?There is no magic number, unfortunately, but our team sees the best results from applicants who apply to 10 to 15 jobs per week. This range hits the sweet spot between relevant, tailored resumes and plenty of chances for success. The more opportunities you create for yourself, the more results you will see.Why we recommend 10 to 15 resumes per weekSending out 10 to 15 quality jobapplications per week is a good target. This means you should be applying for roughly two to three jobs per business day. The most effective way to organize your job search is to set a schedule each day for the time you only foc us on your job search. Set aside two or three hours per day when you can apply for jobs youre qualified for with a tailored resume.Here are five tips to help you increase the quality of your job applications and land more interviews.5 Tips to Improve the Quality of Your Job Applications1. Write for an ATS scanAn effective resume has to use the right keywords, based on the information found in the job posting. Many companies useApplicant Tracking Systemsnow, and you need to get past those systems. An ATS relies on keyword searches as part of its approval protocol. If your resume doesn’t contain the right words, you’re likely to get rejected. Instead, you should write your resume to include the right keywords and the right formatting for an ATS scan.You could see how your resume does in an actual ATS screening with ourfree resume review.2. Highlight your achievementsGetting your resume past the ATS is importantbut then you need to impress the hiring manager. You do this by includi ng your best accomplishments that show how you went beyond what was expected. Remember that there are 250 job applicants for each corporate job opening in the U.S, so you really need your achievements to shine!Whenever possible, use numbers to explain your impact or results. Hiring managers love numbers!3. Only include relevant informationOne of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is including too much irrelevant information on their resume. Read through the job description before applying to each position to ensure youre including only the skills and experience that are relevant for that particular position. Including irrelevant skills or experience can have a negative impact on your response rate.4. NetworkThe best way to land a job today is through networking. Many jobs seekers only apply for jobs they find on major job sites like Indeed, but this is the hardest way to land interviews. A recent LinkedIn survey revealed that 85% of jobs today are filled through networking.Instea d, you should reach out to your network on LinkedIn and see if there is anyone who can refer you to a specific role or company youre targeting. Here is an example of what you should say when asking for job referrals:Hi Anne,Hope all is well with you! (Insert something personal here, or remind the person of how you know each other)Im wondering whether you have any contacts with your company’s hiring personnel, and if you would feel comfortable making an introduction. If you feel that you’re familiar enough with my work history and skills to put me in contact with [hiring manager name}, I would greatly appreciate it!5. Follow upYou should always follow up after submitting your resume. Experts disagree on how soon and how many times, but not following up at all can put you at a disadvantage. Use your best judgement and remember to be polite!Heres a template you can use to follow up with a hiring manager:Dear Hiring Manager [include the name possible],I want to reiterate my enthusia sm for the [NAME OF POSITION] role. I’m confident that my [unique attributes or skills] will bring huge value to [company]. I’m looking forward to taking the next steps. If there’s anything I can do to help the process, please let me know!SummarySend out at least 10 resumes per week while youre job searching. By focusing on the quality of applications rather than quantity, you will improve your response rate. Remember to tailor your resume and cover letter to each position you apply for. Set aside a few hours a day to get two to three quality job applications out, and keep in mind that job searching usually means communicating with other people.Good luck with your job search! How Many Jobs Applications Should You Send Out Spread the loveWhen youre job searching, you want to make sure youre investing your time and effort wisely. You can spend hours searching for job postings, writing the perfect cover letter, and tailoring your resume. If youre job searching in addition to working another job or balancing obligations, youre probably wondering: how many job applications should I be sending out every week?There is no magic number, unfortunately, but our team sees the best results from applicants who apply to 10 to 15 jobs per week. This range hits the sweet spot between relevant, tailored resumes and plenty of chances for success. The more opportunities you create for yourself, the more results you will see.Why we recommend 10 to 15 resumes per weekSending out 10 to 15 quality jobapplications per week is a good target. This means you should be applying for roughly two to three jobs per business day. The most effective way to organize your job search is to set a schedule each day for the time you only foc us on your job search. Set aside two or three hours per day when you can apply for jobs youre qualified for with a tailored resume.Here are five tips to help you increase the quality of your job applications and land more interviews.5 Tips to Improve the Quality of Your Job Applications1. Write for an ATS scanAn effective resume has to use the right keywords, based on the information found in the job posting. Many companies useApplicant Tracking Systemsnow, and you need to get past those systems. An ATS relies on keyword searches as part of its approval protocol. If your resume doesn’t contain the right words, you’re likely to get rejected. Instead, you should write your resume to include the right keywords and the right formatting for an ATS scan.You could see how your resume does in an actual ATS screening with ourfree resume review.2. Highlight your achievementsGetting your resume past the ATS is importantbut then you need to impress the hiring manager. You do this by includi ng your best accomplishments that show how you went beyond what was expected. Remember that there are 250 job applicants for each corporate job opening in the U.S, so you really need your achievements to shine!Whenever possible, use numbers to explain your impact or results. Hiring managers love numbers!3. Only include relevant informationOne of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is including too much irrelevant information on their resume. Read through the job description before applying to each position to ensure youre including only the skills and experience that are relevant for that particular position. Including irrelevant skills or experience can have a negative impact on your response rate.4. NetworkThe best way to land a job today is through networking. Many jobs seekers only apply for jobs they find on major job sites like Indeed, but this is the hardest way to land interviews. A recent LinkedIn survey revealed that 85% of jobs today are filled through networking.Instea d, you should reach out to your network on LinkedIn and see if there is anyone who can refer you to a specific role or company youre targeting. Here is an example of what you should say when asking for job referrals:Hi Anne,Hope all is well with you! (Insert something personal here, or remind the person of how you know each other)Im wondering whether you have any contacts with your company’s hiring personnel, and if you would feel comfortable making an introduction. If you feel that you’re familiar enough with my work history and skills to put me in contact with [hiring manager name}, I would greatly appreciate it!5. Follow upYou should always follow up after submitting your resume. Experts disagree on how soon and how many times, but not following up at all can put you at a disadvantage. Use your best judgement and remember to be polite!Heres a template you can use to follow up with a hiring manager:Dear Hiring Manager [include the name possible],I want to reiterate my enthusia sm for the [NAME OF POSITION] role. I’m confident that my [unique attributes or skills] will bring huge value to [company]. I’m looking forward to taking the next steps. If there’s anything I can do to help the process, please let me know!SummarySend out at least 10 resumes per week while youre job searching. By focusing on the quality of applications rather than quantity, you will improve your response rate. Remember to tailor your resume and cover letter to each position you apply for. Set aside a few hours a day to get two to three quality job applications out, and keep in mind that job searching usually means communicating with other people.Good luck with your job search! How Many Jobs Applications Should You Send Out Spread the loveWhen youre job searching, you want to make sure youre investing your time and effort wisely. You can spend hours searching for job postings, writing the perfect cover letter, and tailoring your resume. If youre job searching in addition to working another job or balancing obligations, youre probably wondering: how many job applications should I be sending out every week?There is no magic number, unfortunately, but our team sees the best results from applicants who apply to 10 to 15 jobs per week. This range hits the sweet spot between relevant, tailored resumes and plenty of chances for success. The more opportunities you create for yourself, the more results you will see.Why we recommend 10 to 15 resumes per weekSending out 10 to 15 quality jobapplications per week is a good target. This means you should be applying for roughly two to three jobs per business day. The most effective way to organize your job search is to set a schedule each day for the time you only foc us on your job search. Set aside two or three hours per day when you can apply for jobs youre qualified for with a tailored resume.Here are five tips to help you increase the quality of your job applications and land more interviews.5 Tips to Improve the Quality of Your Job Applications1. Write for an ATS scanAn effective resume has to use the right keywords, based on the information found in the job posting. Many companies useApplicant Tracking Systemsnow, and you need to get past those systems. An ATS relies on keyword searches as part of its approval protocol. If your resume doesn’t contain the right words, you’re likely to get rejected. Instead, you should write your resume to include the right keywords and the right formatting for an ATS scan.You could see how your resume does in an actual ATS screening with ourfree resume review.2. Highlight your achievementsGetting your resume past the ATS is importantbut then you need to impress the hiring manager. You do this by includi ng your best accomplishments that show how you went beyond what was expected. Remember that there are 250 job applicants for each corporate job opening in the U.S, so you really need your achievements to shine!Whenever possible, use numbers to explain your impact or results. Hiring managers love numbers!3. Only include relevant informationOne of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is including too much irrelevant information on their resume. Read through the job description before applying to each position to ensure youre including only the skills and experience that are relevant for that particular position. Including irrelevant skills or experience can have a negative impact on your response rate.4. NetworkThe best way to land a job today is through networking. Many jobs seekers only apply for jobs they find on major job sites like Indeed, but this is the hardest way to land interviews. A recent LinkedIn survey revealed that 85% of jobs today are filled through networking.Instea d, you should reach out to your network on LinkedIn and see if there is anyone who can refer you to a specific role or company youre targeting. Here is an example of what you should say when asking for job referrals:Hi Anne,Hope all is well with you! (Insert something personal here, or remind the person of how you know each other)Im wondering whether you have any contacts with your company’s hiring personnel, and if you would feel comfortable making an introduction. If you feel that you’re familiar enough with my work history and skills to put me in contact with [hiring manager name}, I would greatly appreciate it!5. Follow upYou should always follow up after submitting your resume. Experts disagree on how soon and how many times, but not following up at all can put you at a disadvantage. Use your best judgement and remember to be polite!Heres a template you can use to follow up with a hiring manager:Dear Hiring Manager [include the name possible],I want to reiterate my enthusia sm for the [NAME OF POSITION] role. I’m confident that my [unique attributes or skills] will bring huge value to [company]. I’m looking forward to taking the next steps. If there’s anything I can do to help the process, please let me know!SummarySend out at least 10 resumes per week while youre job searching. By focusing on the quality of applications rather than quantity, you will improve your response rate. Remember to tailor your resume and cover letter to each position you apply for. Set aside a few hours a day to get two to three quality job applications out, and keep in mind that job searching usually means communicating with other people.Good luck with your job search!

The E-Note 2014s New Cover Letter - Work It Daily

The E-Note 2014’s New Cover Letter - Work It Daily Is the e-note replacing the traditional cover letter? Not necessarily. Traditional cover letters still have valueâ€"in most instancesâ€"when submitting your job search package. The e-note is most effective when applying via e-mail or making contact via social media. So, what do you need to know about the e-note to leverage its effectiveness in your job search in 2014? Half The Space The e-note should take up about half the space of a traditional cover letter. Brevity is best. Think about the typical length of an e-mail, and then keep your e-note short and sweet. Easy To Read Cutting the length in half also makes your cover letter or e-note easier to read. It’s important that your e-note be short and easier to read because many employers will be reading it from their smartphones. The easier the e-note is to read, the more likely it is the person will read it. You won’t be attaching it to the e-mail; the e-note will be in the body of the e-mailâ€"so concise and polished is key. Subject Lines That Grab Attention Use a subject line that will immediately catch the reader’s interest. Mention a contact name, use the position title, address a needâ€"be creative and catchy. Just remember to be professional. Examples could be: Jane Smith suggested I contact you. John Smith said I should reach out to you about XYZ opening. Jane Smith referred me to you. John Smith, Project Manager Long-term project manager â€" Jane Smith Mention Connections Name drop when you can. Have a connection within the company? Were you referred by someone who knows the hiring manager? Be sure to mention it; referrals are powerful when you’re in a job searchâ€"and extremely effective at ensuring your documents get read. Play The Matching Game Remember when you were a kid and you played the matching game? Consider that an early exercise in your future job searching success. Make the match between the employer’s requirements and your experience. It can be as easy as saying: Project Management: Led 12 teams to ... Cost Savings: Saved $2M in ... Point out their requirement and your experience as it relates to the positionâ€"just remember to keep it short and sweet. Interactive Sign-Off When you end your e-note, be sure to include links to sites where the employer can find more information about you. Directing them to places such as your LinkedIn profile gives them a direct way to find more information about your professional backgroundâ€"without them having to go hunt it down. Consider including in your signature links to your: LinkedIn Profile Twitter Handle Professional Blog Online Portfolio Social Media Resume As technology evolves, so does the job searchâ€"and staying on top of new trends can help set the pace for your job search in 2014. Take some time to practice writing a great e-note that you can customize as you apply via e-mail to different positions. Looking for more great tips? Check out these two articles: Top 9 Cover Letter Tips for 2014 or 25 Best Resume Tips for 2014. Want to work with us? If you would like us to personally work on your resume, cover letter, or LinkedIn profileâ€"and dramatically improve their response rateâ€"then check out our professional and executive resume writing services at www.greatresumesfast.com or contact us for more information if you have any questions. Enjoy this article? You've got time for another! Check out these related articles: 7 Examples Of Fresh New Ways To Start Your Cover Letter 5 Cover Letter Techniques = Spellbound Hiring Managers 5 Key Steps To A Cover Letter That Opens Doors Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!