Selling Yourself Work On Your Stories!

Selling Yourself Work On Your Stories! Barbara Safani had a thought-provoking post at the Career Hub blog titled Every Job Seeker Needs a Good Story.   She goes on to share five tips to help you have, or share, better stories: Create an exciting resume that the reader just cant put down. Tell your story with pictures. Showcase samples of your work. Answer interview questions using the Challenge-Action-Result story format. Ask questions that invite the interviewer to tell their story. Read the entire post here, so you can see her supporting thoughts.   I get tired of reading blogs Im online all day, and anything past three paragraphs gets old, boring and cliche.   Imagine how others feel when you sound cliche to them.   Whether its the network contact whos come to expect you in a less-than-chipper mood, coming to ask another favor, or the interviewer who has already interviewed 10 people who all sound the same. When I was interviewing, I was bushed by the end of the day.   Id have 10 15 resumes in front of me, with notes on each of them little scribbles that I might not be able to read the next day.   The candidates who stood out where the ones who made an emotional connection.   The best, easiest and perhaps most impactful way to make an emotional impression is to have a good story. One word of advice, keep your stories short.   I dont have time to,   nor do I want to, hear a NOVEL.   Your story should be ON TOPIC, and CONCISE.   If I want to hear more details, Ill ask.   Can you  tell a story in  two or three sentences?   I just did, in the paragraph above (when I was interviewing). Barbara, as a professional resume writer, suggests you can put a story (or multiple stories) in your resume.   You can also use them in interviews to answer almost any interview question.   I learned about a thing called a power statement which provides  a formula to answer a question with a story the entire response is just three sentences. In JibberJobber you can keep track of your stories under the Interview Prep area, as well as the Job Journal (premium feature). Whats your BEST story to use in an interview, on a resume, or in a networking setting?   NOTE: Im not asking for your LIFE story, Im asking for a story to support your strengths, skills, value-add, etc. Selling Yourself Work On Your Stories! Barbara Safani had a thought-provoking post at the Career Hub blog titled Every Job Seeker Needs a Good Story.   She goes on to share five tips to help you have, or share, better stories: Create an exciting resume that the reader just cant put down. Tell your story with pictures. Showcase samples of your work. Answer interview questions using the Challenge-Action-Result story format. Ask questions that invite the interviewer to tell their story. Read the entire post here, so you can see her supporting thoughts.   I get tired of reading blogs Im online all day, and anything past three paragraphs gets old, boring and cliche.   Imagine how others feel when you sound cliche to them.   Whether its the network contact whos come to expect you in a less-than-chipper mood, coming to ask another favor, or the interviewer who has already interviewed 10 people who all sound the same. When I was interviewing, I was bushed by the end of the day.   Id have 10 15 resumes in front of me, with notes on each of them little scribbles that I might not be able to read the next day.   The candidates who stood out where the ones who made an emotional connection.   The best, easiest and perhaps most impactful way to make an emotional impression is to have a good story. One word of advice, keep your stories short.   I dont have time to,   nor do I want to, hear a NOVEL.   Your story should be ON TOPIC, and CONCISE.   If I want to hear more details, Ill ask.   Can you  tell a story in  two or three sentences?   I just did, in the paragraph above (when I was interviewing). Barbara, as a professional resume writer, suggests you can put a story (or multiple stories) in your resume.   You can also use them in interviews to answer almost any interview question.   I learned about a thing called a power statement which provides  a formula to answer a question with a story the entire response is just three sentences. In JibberJobber you can keep track of your stories under the Interview Prep area, as well as the Job Journal (premium feature). Whats your BEST story to use in an interview, on a resume, or in a networking setting?   NOTE: Im not asking for your LIFE story, Im asking for a story to support your strengths, skills, value-add, etc. Selling Yourself Work On Your Stories! Barbara Safani had a thought-provoking post at the Career Hub blog titled Every Job Seeker Needs a Good Story.   She goes on to share five tips to help you have, or share, better stories: Create an exciting resume that the reader just cant put down. Tell your story with pictures. Showcase samples of your work. Answer interview questions using the Challenge-Action-Result story format. Ask questions that invite the interviewer to tell their story. Read the entire post here, so you can see her supporting thoughts.   I get tired of reading blogs Im online all day, and anything past three paragraphs gets old, boring and cliche.   Imagine how others feel when you sound cliche to them.   Whether its the network contact whos come to expect you in a less-than-chipper mood, coming to ask another favor, or the interviewer who has already interviewed 10 people who all sound the same. When I was interviewing, I was bushed by the end of the day.   Id have 10 15 resumes in front of me, with notes on each of them little scribbles that I might not be able to read the next day.   The candidates who stood out where the ones who made an emotional connection.   The best, easiest and perhaps most impactful way to make an emotional impression is to have a good story. One word of advice, keep your stories short.   I dont have time to,   nor do I want to, hear a NOVEL.   Your story should be ON TOPIC, and CONCISE.   If I want to hear more details, Ill ask.   Can you  tell a story in  two or three sentences?   I just did, in the paragraph above (when I was interviewing). Barbara, as a professional resume writer, suggests you can put a story (or multiple stories) in your resume.   You can also use them in interviews to answer almost any interview question.   I learned about a thing called a power statement which provides  a formula to answer a question with a story the entire response is just three sentences. In JibberJobber you can keep track of your stories under the Interview Prep area, as well as the Job Journal (premium feature). Whats your BEST story to use in an interview, on a resume, or in a networking setting?   NOTE: Im not asking for your LIFE story, Im asking for a story to support your strengths, skills, value-add, etc.

Writing Skills Set In Resume

Writing Skills Set In ResumeIt's nice to have good writing skills set in resume. However, it is important to remember that resume should be designed and written to catch the employer's attention. Below are some tips on how to create a compelling resume that will lead to success for your application.Don't copy an existing resume. You need to know what other resume is offering. You don't want to feel like your resume is just a copy of someone else's.Use an outline. If you can, use an outline as a guideline. Having an outline helps organize your thoughts and ideas in the beginning stages of the job application process.Stick to a very short paragraph, or to a simple one-sentence introduction. Try to avoid using lengthy sentences because it makes it hard to read. You can also go for shorter paragraphs and shorter sentences to make the resume easier to read.Include a summary at the end of the paragraph to summarize what you are saying. You can do this with bullet points to make it more imp ressive. When using a bullet point system, make sure that the bullet points include the main information about the position.Good writing skills set in resume are not the sole key to landing a great job. A strong background is always a plus when applying for a position. A clean record of positive or negative performance is also an essential feature. The ability to work well with others and follow instructions is also important.Resume should include all relevant information and clear call for an interview. Apart from the list of accomplishments, make sure that your resume puts the employee in a positive light. Good skills set inresume put the employee in a position to get the job.Resume writing skills set in resume have a significant impact on a person's career. It is imperative to have a powerful and impressive resume in order to land a great job.

Personal Branding Interview Debbie Weil - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Branding Interview Debbie Weil - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Today, I spoke with Debbie Weil, who is known as the top expert when it comes to CEO blogs. Shes been very effective at positioning herself and has even wrote a book called The Corporate Blogging Book to further her brand over the past two years. Debbie is a very talented blogger and Ive been paying close attention to her work for a while now, ever since I spotted her in the Wall Street Journal. In this interview, she goes over CEO transparency, good and bad CEO blogs, the benefits of blogging and her own personal brand. Debbie, one of your recent blog posts talked about Marc Cuban and how transparent he was for posting about his legal situation. Can you explain why some CEOs have guts like this and others dont? Some CEOs are great communicators, but many are not. Communicating clearly and persuasively is an essential part of their job, but too many top executives seem to have had authenticity beaten out of them. Theyre media trained to the point where they only think/write in approved message points, aka corporate speak. Many are (still) imbued by a corporate culture that, typically, emphasizes caution and hewing to the party line. So I thought it was notable that Cuban as outspoken as he is was willing to talk about something that was personally painful. Whether or not the charges of insider training are legitimate, its painful to be accused. What are the benefits a CEO would get if they started a blog? What are the pros and cons? Should they all do it? The pros of CEO blogging are many but there are obvious cons as well. A few pros: opening up a direct channel of communication with stakeholders (assuming that comments from readers are allowed); putting a human face and voice on a company; the ability to reach a much wider, even global audience; the ability to communicate in real-time in times of crisis, the ability for a CEO to control his/her digital footprint (aka Google results). Note that many public CEO blogs are avidly read by employees, so a CEO blog can effectively reach both an internal and external audience. The cons: writing a blog (if they do it themselves) takes time and a good blog requires writing ability. Thats in woefully short supply in the executive suite. Sun Microsystems Jonathan Schwartz remains the most notable exception. So the answer is no, not all CEOs should blog. The alternatives are easy, however. If a company has a multi-author corporate blog, the CEO can jump in from time to time with a thoughtful post. Or the CEO can do a short video interview (candid, informal) and that can be posted to the company blog. As for the argument that too many topics are off limits, that doesnt hold water. Jonathan Schwartz gives behind the scenes notes about Suns quarterly earnings calls. Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk blogged about layoffs. Can you give 2 examples of successful CEO bloggers and 2 examples of failures? Successful CEO blogs: Craig Newmark, CEO of Craigs List: Its interesting, insightful and candid. Ross Mayfield, CEO of SocialText: Ditto. Bill Marriott, CEO of Marriott International: Its not particularly revealing but I find it charming. Look, the guy is in his 70s. How cool is it that hes blogging. I understand that he does write some (though not all) of the posts and works closely with his communications staff on topics. Michel Eduard Leclerc, CEO E. Leclerc: Its in French. Lets not forget the many corporate and CEO blogs in other languages and countries. Michel has something unique on his blog that I havent seen anywhere else. Its a long alphabetical list of his convictions (loosely translated as passions or interests). Less successful CEO blogs: John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods: The cardinal sin: its rarely updated and it often doesnt look like hes writing it. The blog talks about John in the third person and posts transcripts of his speeches. Nothing wrong with that, per se, just dont call it the CEOs blog. Put that content in an online newsroom. Scott Neeleman, former CEO of JetBlue: The director of corporate communications wrote his blog for him. It still sounded stiff and corporate. Grade: F. I blogged about this here. There are many direct and indirect benefits from blogging. I assume you dont use it as a revenue machine. What benefits have you received from investing time and money in your blog over time? If youll permit me to use the phrase personal branding, that pretty much sums up the benefit for me. I dont think a personal brand is created over night. Once its created, however, you have to decide what to do with it. I havent leveraged my brand as much as Id like to. I want to write another book, Id like to do more speaking around the globe (Beijing, Shanghai, Dubai, Paris and London have been high points so far). And Id like to use social media for social good even if its only on a local level here in Washington DC. I remember when you were first quoted in the WSJ and LA Times in a single day last year. Was that the turning point in your career? How did it help the sales of your book, subscriptions to your blog, and speaking and consulting opportunities (building your personal brand)? No, that wasnt a turning point by any means. It was a nice ego boost for a day or two. But you dont get noticed by reporters until youve put in the time (years) to establish yourself as an expert. My book, The Corporate Blogging Book, came out in 2006. Ive been blogging since 2003. I wrote my first article about business blogging in 2001. The press mentions definitely help sales of my book and readership of my blog but its not something you can measure directly. Debbie Weil is a corporate CEO blogging and social media consultant and sought-after speaker based in Washington DC. Her clients include Global 100 and Fortune 500 companies. he is the author of the widely praised The Corporate Blogging Book published in the U.S. by Penguin Portfolio, and also in Italian, Mandarin Chinese and a UK edition. She has written BlogWriteForCEOs, a leading blog (see #6) on social media marketing, since 2003. Debbie has parsed the implications of Web 2.0 for thousands of executives and entrepreneurs at conferences and events in the U.S., the UK, Europe and China. She has been quoted on the topic of corporate and CEO blogging in The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Business Week, and The New York Times.

Working Smart To Develop Your Study Skills

Working Smart To Develop Your Study Skills Studying.  Its one of those words youve probably learned to loathe.  And yet you know that its just a necessary part of the learning process.  The real challenge comes in trying to figure out the most optimal way to study.  Weve all probably done the fabled cramming for exams.  And you just know its not the best way to do it.  I remember the words of a college English prof on finals day, as he handed out the writing exams.  Paraphrasing Stephen Grellet and reminding us that he just knew how some of us had spent the previous night, he said you shall not pass this way again. Time For New Study Skills? Even now when college is a fading memory, we all still have to study up on this or that from time to time.  So Im thinking it might be time to review and adopt some more effective study habits.  And who knows better about studying than those in fields of medicine?  The team over at  www.studymedicineeurope.com  came up with this infographic that lays out what it takes to hone your study skills to a whole new level. Image credit Main

What Should I Include on My Resume As a High School Graduate?

What Should I Include on My Resume As a High School Graduate?If you are a high school graduate and are looking for a job, do not assume that all employers look for job applicants with the same qualifications. Employers with whom you have worked in the past may well want to see your resume now that you are in the working world.Many people begin their careers with a very limited amount of work experience. This does not matter because employers do not want to hire individuals who did not have enough work experience. However, you will need to provide the type of work experience that they are looking for if you want to get hired.The most common reason that people fail to provide work experience on their resumes is because they do not know where to start. If you do not know where to begin, there are plenty of things that you can do to create your own resume. With just a little planning, you can generate a resume that will meet the needs of prospective employers.Know that you do not need to know everything about anything. You just need to have some basic knowledge about the business and what kind of work you can do for them. You do not want to put yourself out there as a little unknown entity and you definitely do not want to appear as a college student.Before you go online to the local library or bookstore to pick up a textbook, it is a good idea to check out the internet. There are lots of websites that provide information on how to write a resume. Look for sites that offer advice on creating a resume based on specific work experience that you have had.Although you do not want to appear as an uneducated person, it is necessary to describe exactly what you are qualified to do and at what level for the possible employer to be aware of you. When you apply for the same position in the future, your resume is the first thing they will see. It is always a good idea to put all of your skills on display.A resume for a high school graduate will include at least two months of work experience and the last entry should be your name. You do not need to include your high school diploma or state issued ID card, but if you are looking for an employer to verify your date of birth, then the proof of your date of birth will be required.When you are applying for a job as a high school graduate, it is important to keep your resume simple and to be honest in describing all of your experiences. Once you apply for a job and are hired, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

A Quick Guide to Getting Certified When You Work Solo - CareerMetis.com

A Quick Guide to Getting Certified When You Work Solo Source : Pixabay.comTo be self-employed, whether you are working at home or traveling, is no longer news in this age. Still, there are many perspectives that we can touch on for the benefit of beginners and advanced solo workers alike.Our chosen topic today focuses on the advantages and process of getting certified.Why get certifications?evalIndustries are becoming competitive. Your previous experiences as an information technology While your degree and accumulated work experience can cement your career path, adding certifications can help you specialize in certain areas. Should you choose a consultancy path next, you will be able to show prospective clients that you know your stuff. It signals to them that you are a professional they can do business with.Certifications symbolize your investment in specific aspects of the job. Some may check if you have real-world applications for your knowledge and skills. But that cannot take away from you the value of having passed a certification or more.Makes you qualified and recognizedThere are certain jobs that require certification such as in the fitness industry. If you want to become a personal trainer, for instance, you need a personal training certification. You may work independently or get affiliated with a gym or fitness center.In any case, it is better to acquire certification from a reputable agency. American Council on Exercise According to niche platform PTPioneer, “if you want to learn how to become a personal trainer, getting the right certification for you is very important!” In fact, it is the stepping stone.Increases your opportunity to book big clientsIf you have been self-employed for some time, you may look at getting certified as a way to move to the next level. But there is more. By taking on a certification that is recognized in the world for your profession, you will be able to turn it into a potent tool to gain the trust of bigger clients.It also helps you expand your services such as when y ou are an online marketer who is aiming for a project management position.A certification can influence the decision of your prospects and even gives you the confidence to pursue bigger fish.Raises your ratesevalA Microsoft article said that based on a 2016 Value of IT Certification survey, on average, Microsoft certified technologists earn 15% more than their uncertified peers.Aside from the confidence to bid for better projects and bigger clients, you will be able to build the case for raising your rates. And this is not just an isolated case that is applicable to the IT industry.Whether you work as a digital marketer or a personal trainer, you can reasonably set your price according to the level of expertise you can bring to the table.evalPlugs you into new communitiesAmong computer programmers alone, there are multiple languages to explore and acquire certifications for. If you are one, you do not only gain achievement on paper through this experience. You can also become a memb er of a community that understands and uses the same language you just learned.Such a group oftentimes opens new doors. You can meet like-minded individuals or organizations to collaborate with. You can find access to resources so you can continue to enhance your learning.Prepares you as a teacherRoman philosopher Seneca said, “While we teach, we learn.” Once you get your hands on a certification, you become ahead of some people in the industry. Let’s go back to the community example.In this group, you may find younger or newer professionals who will be asking the questions you used to have. This is your opportunity to share your knowledge. The more you articulate what you know, the more you remember it.In the case of a personal trainer, teaching others is the best application of your certification. Yet again, as you pass on your understanding of a fitness activity or regimen to others, you get to refine your knowledge as well.Now, let’s have a quick look at the steps you ne ed to take in order to unlock these advantages.evalHere’s an outline on how you can get the certification that will help you level up your skills and knowledge as a professional:Research about highly-recognized certifications in your field.Look for reputable agencies that provide certification services for professionals in your desired field or area.Consider the cost. While there are free ones such as Google AdWords and Analytics certification, there are also ones that you need to shell out money for.Study diligently. Take this opportunity to review the things you have forgotten and learn new ones as well. Then prepare for the test.Further, use this time to understand your strengths and weaknesses in this certain area. Your goal should not be perfection in that you have to get a 100% mark. It should be excellence. This means you have to be thorough about learning the concepts and their practical applications. If you find yourself struggling at some point, then that’s your cue to glean insight from the moment. At the same time, do not hesitate to ask help from others.Wait for the results. If you’ve done well and got the certification in one go, then you can return to the advantages mentioned above. If you’ve failed, consider it a challenge and do your best next time.Lastly, do not hesitate to share your certifications on your LinkedIn profileand other professional networking platforms. After all, you’ve worked hard for each of them.If you are planning to attract more prospects, do not forget to update your resume as well. These days, self-employed individuals can be competitive just like their corporate employee peers. And certifications are a way to stay on track.

Have You Turned Down A Job Offer

Have You Turned Down A Job Offer My hope for every one in job search is that you have the privilege to turn down an offer because it isnt the best fit for you.   There is no greater feeling!   Being offered a job builds up your self-esteem. However, there are times when turning down an offer just doesnt seem prudent, such as youve been out of work a long time (over 6-9 months) and/or you are dipping into your savings/401K/retirement.   Here are some reasons I have heard people use for turning down an offer (and my blood just boils when I hear these): The company is too small (but may have strong growth potential) I cant afford to take that low of a salary (but it IS greater than minimum wage) The commute distance/time is too long (but other alternatives have not been explored such as telecommunting or carpooling) The job is a lower level than I wanted (however, you are new to the industry) There are so many extenuating circumstances, it is difficult to just look at one part of these situations.   Before you turn down ANY job, think long and hard about the short term and long term value this job will offer to you.   Get outside opinions. Have you turned down a job offer?   Was it the right decision for you at the time?   Do you regret it? And if you have been getting interviews, but not job offers, then perhaps you need to assess what is going on during the interview.

Adding Testimonials to Your Resume

Adding Testimonials to Your Resume Writing an executive bio should include testimonials. Your resume is the one surefire way to market who you are and what you can do.  Top resume writing services  understand this. The companies considering employing you know this too. As  such, your resume will be scrutinized in every way possible during the hiring process. While there are many improvements you can make to your resume, one of the easier ways is to add testimonials. Testimonials Lend Credibility Talking about who you are is tough, but its also easy to spin your abilities in a positive light. Whether youre just  writing an executive bio  or developing  personal branding for senior level management,  you  need every advantage.  Even if references arent required until down the road in the hiring process, you need an edge. If the selection is between you and another candidate, you will need extra support tipping the scales in your favor. Including testimonials would be that tiebreaker. Testimonial How To You know resume writing is an art form. Adding testimonials to your resume is too. Its likely you have quantifiable results and qualified expertise for the job youre applying to. You can clearly articulate your abilities and how well you do your job. The problem is hearing these great things from you is nice but much more powerful when said by someone else. So heres how to enter testimonials into a resume for your benefit: Combined with work experience.  One powerful way to add testimonials to your resume is by combining them with relevant work experiences. For example, lets say you list being the top sales person in your company with a sales staff of 300 people in your resume. Below that, you could add a testimonial from your manager saying, …the best sales person Ive worked with in the last 10 years, to ensure your bio stands above the rest. Whole testimonial section.  If you have two to four testimonials youd like to include in your resume, add a whole section for them. Place this section in your resume just like you would an Education or Work Experiences portion. Its important to note each quote you include should be from solid contacts that can verify your abilities. Testimonials make great filler.  One of the best ways to add a testimonial to your resume is through inclusion in another section or as a filler. For example, if youre an in-demand copywriter, you could add a testimonial as filler under your Skills section. If you claim to write copy that converts up to 10 percent of organic web traffic, a past clients testament to your abilities with a website link will add significant value to your resume. While adding a testimonial to your resume is a good way to improve the document, some people need a little more help. A professional resume writing service can critique your resume and help you make the best of your testimonials.