Ilona Vanderwoude / Careerealsim.com

Often, when I speak with a new client about personal branding or when I get a question from someone on this topic, there are two questions that keep resurfacing. They are, “How do I develop my personal brand without sounding self-important and pompous?” and, “How can my brand be authentic if I’m tweaking it for different job opportunities?”

Left to their own devices, I often see people’s confusion result in the following: Concocting a “personal brand” that’s really not a brand at all- It’s just a vague description of something they have experience with.

Example: “Ten years experience in project management.” (Or: finance or marketing, etc.)

The problem: Lots of people have ten years’ experience in project management. It doesn’t tell us what sets you apart.

When you’re in the market for a new position, a personal brand should be developed in conjunction with your focus so it speaks to the hiring person of that specific field.

Keep in mind an employer’s bottom-line question – even if it is not asked – is whether you are worth your money. They want to know what you can do for the organization that makes it worth their while bringing you on board. Hiring is an expensive process! A wrong hire is extremely expensive.

Communicating your personal brand gives the people you network and interview with something specific and memorable – or at least it should!

Here are the answers to those questions – and your tips – to make sure you’re not committing “brand suicide.”

You stay authentic by, of course, by…

• Not making things up
• Figuring out what you do
• Figuring out what skills you have
• Figuring out what combination of traits you have
• Determining the kind of results you consistently get for whichever field and position you want to apply with

Often, the core of the personal brand remains the same and you just tweak parts of it when using it in a different industry, or to position yourself for a different type of position. The thing to remember is your brand – just like you – is multi-faceted.

Many folks are afraid of coming off as self-absorbed when the topic of personal branding comes up. You need to remember, though, even if you don’t uncover your own brand and take charge of it, you already have a brand.

How so?

We’re using the term “brand” here to describe how others perceive you. Brands are all about perception.

People will always have an opinion about you, no matter what you do. So, when you uncover your brand and get comfortable communicating this to the world, you’re directing how others perceive you. You’re basically highlighting what’s most important for possible employers to know about you with your brand.

Ideally, you want to come up with something you consistently do, something you’re “known” for, that has bottom-line value to an organization.

Also, you should not worry about sounding pompous or self-absorbed since you’ll only be talking about facts. Your brand is based on you and your track record, so if what you described really happened (and, of course, that’s the case), then it’s not bragging – it’s letting people know some great things about you that may be valuable to them in their organization.

See the difference in approach? I’d love to hear what has worked for you!

Source: http://lyneerstaffing.com/?p=588&preview=true

by Leslye Schumacher / www.recruiter.com

Mother’s Day is here, meaning millions of people will have flocked to gift shops and picked out flower and rose arrangements to honor their mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, wives and all other women who’ve given birth. Why? Because, these mothers have given something invaluable to their children (and grandchildren), and this special day each May is just one of the many times to recognize that.

Mothers raise and teach their children, often instilling in them wisdom and knowledge the child will keep with him/her throughout the individual’s life. In fact, a “mother’s touch” can ultimately affect the quality of a person’s life, shaping and molding him or her and inevitably influencing his/her character. Yet, did you know this is also true in the recruiting world?

Those same words of wisdom mothers offer over the years can be applied to hiring and managing employees.  In part 1 of this series we covered the first six “what Mom said” phrases. Check out the final six and how you can apply them to your recruitment and management processes:

1. “Do what you say you are going to do.”

Mom harped about the importance of honoring your commitments, whether to something big or small. Obviously, there are a lot of ways this applies to the business world. But I think one of the ways you can and should follow this is in your hiring process. Respond back to everyone who applies even if it is just to let them know you are not considering them for the position. Make sure that you outline what your hiring steps/process is with the candidates you do talk to about the job. Get back to candidates when you say you will. And be honest.

2. “Life isn’t fair.” 

Ok, actually Dad said this more than Mom. It was always in response to one of us saying, “But that’s not fair!” Sometimes you have to do things you don’t feel like doing, they would tell us.  Similarly, it’s hard to get into recruiting mode if you are fully staffed, yet you have to do it to keep your talent bench full. Sometimes you just aren’t in the mood to do that weekly one-on-one meeting with one of your employees, but you have to do it. The best way I’ve found to get through tasks I don’t want to do but have to, is to have some reward for myself after I do them!  Just like Mom did, e.g. no T.V. until the room was clean.

3. “Say you’re sorry, and mean it.”

This is the one I usually heard after I would give a half-hearted apology to Mom, Dad, or a sibling. She knew if you weren’t really sincere and employees can tell also. If you have made a mistake or said something you shouldn’t have (that’s the one I struggle with!), own up to it right away. Go directly to the person(s) who were affected by it and apologize sincerely. A heart-felt apology goes a long way to correcting the damage of doing or saying the wrong thing.

4. “Just because everyone else is doing it doesn’t mean you should too.”

This was a variation of the “If Mary was jumping off a bridge would you want to do that too?” response to my plaintive wail of “But Mom, everyone else is…”  She was trying to teach us to think for ourselves and not just follow blindly. Sometimes it’s hard to stick your neck out and voice a differing opinion from everyone else in the workplace. This is especially true if you have a boss who relishes “yes” men or women. Listen to your gut instincts and don’t follow someone or some idea just because it’s popular opinion.

5. “Is that really the example you want to set?”

I have a sister who is 9 years younger than I am. When I got to my teen years, I heard this one a lot.  She knew that my little sister was watching and learning from her big sisters. She also knew that I wanted to be the kind of big sister that my little sister would look up to – so this was an effective deterrent for me from doing stupid things (most of the time anyway). I think this is very important in the work place as well. If you are managing employees, they take their cues from you.  What you say, how you say it, and what you do are all being closely scrutinized. To be an effective leader you have to set the right example. “Do as I say, not as I do” doesn’t cut it with your employees.

6. “Family comes first.”

Like all great Moms, my Mom made a lot of sacrifices for her family. She always put us first, and still does. She showed us with her words and actions that while your job is very important, family always is the most important priority in your life. We should remember that for ourselves and also for our employees who have their own family responsibilities.

Source: http://www.recruiter.com/i/12-lessons-from-mom-that-apply-to-hiring-managing-employees-part-2/ 

Meet Lindsey Pollak, a bestselling author, corporate consultant, keynote speaker and expert on all things Generation Y (not to mention she’s the Global Spokesperson for LinkedIn). Pollak’s expertise has appeared in prominent media outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal,  CNN, and NPR.

Her book, Getting from College to Career: Your Essential Guide to Succeeding in the Real World, offers advice and tips to students pursuing employment after college. Unsure of how to begin searching for a job? Do you understand how to evaluate a compensation package? Or how to make the most of your paycheck? Pollak can help with that. She also works with companies to understand how to attract, retain and engage Millennial talent. Her latest venture is teaming up with The Hartford on the My Tomorrow campaign to create an ‘adult playbook.’ Pollak’s book was about how to get the job and all the tactics, tips and details of how to land a position; the new campaign details what to do once you have the job.

On Wed. Oct. 3, Recruiter.com interviewed Pollak where she offered advice and suggestions on everything from determining the right position to asking for a raise. Check out the interview below as her background, knowledge and insight are sure to benefit not only students, but anyone soon to enter the workforce.

1. Why did you decide to write your book?

When I graduated from college I knew a little bit about what I wanted to do, but I didn’t feel like there was one resource available that told me everything I needed to know; you had to go to a lot of sources. I think my goal with the book was really to fill what I thought was a gap in the marketplace of really specific tips. My book has 90 tips with lots of check-off lists, and bullet-pointed lists and really everything I could possibly think of that a young person should know about getting from college to career. That’s always been kind of my goal: People don’t just think about the big picture, which is of course very important, but they also think about all of those tactical details and I try to be a guide for young people through those issues.

2. What is the most important step for students to get from college to their careers?

If I could only choose one thing, and this is pretty broad, I would say it’s taking action. I find that the biggest mistake that a lot of young people make is that they try to think really hard what they want to do and then figure it out in their mind. And I think the reality is you have to try a lot of things. So taking lots of different classes, trying internships, part-time jobs, really getting yourself out there volunteering and so forth to try anything you can, start as early as you possibly can. And then throughout your career make decisions based on what you’re enjoying and what you want to do next.

I don’t think you can necessarily chart out every job for your career, but each job leads you to that next position. So action, action. action. Also, through that action you meet people and those are the people who become your network who lead to opportunities in the future as well.

3.  How can recent graduates entering the workforce determine the right jobs for them?

It’s really about trying lots of different opportunities and thinking about what you want in the future, but what’s really going to make you happy today and not being afraid to try something that maybe you didn’t major in in college or you don’t feel prepared for. If you really have an interest or a passion in it, that could be the right choice for you.

4. How concerned should grads be about starting or entry-level salaries?

I think salary is a really important part of working, but you have to take time to figure out what salary and compensation overall is important to you. Based on your situation, what is the rent going to be in the city or town you want to live in? What kind of student loans do you have? What kind of expenses do you have? What are your goals for the future? You want to think about all that in your salary decisions.

Think about your entire compensation package, which is not just the money in your paycheck, but it’s also the benefits that you receive from your employer. We did a research project and found that most Millennials don’t understand life insurance or disability insurance and the kinds of protection those can provide for a young person. Your ability to work is your greatest asset as a young person or a person, so you want to protect that. Don’t just think about your salary as a paycheck, but protecting that paycheck today, and, of course, for your future. I really encourage Millennials to think beyond the dollars, although, of course, that’s really important, but the whole pay package is really what’s going to affect your lifestyle the most.

5. How do you negotiate a salary?

Like anything else, salary negotiation is a skill and it’s something that you can study and learn and practice and get really good at. First you want to do your background research. Figure out what are the salary ranges that are realistic for the job you want. You don’t want to be wildly outside that range or the person won’t take you seriously.

Talk to your career services office. Websites like Vault.com can give you a lot of information about general ranges in your industry and region of the country. So go in with that information and then practice how you’re going to negotiate. Think about all the things that your boss or the HR person might say to get you a lower salary and how you’re going to react to those. Think beyond money. Think about other benefits that you might want like flexible hours, a little bit more vacation time, the ability to work remotely. Anything that would be valuable to you that’s not just salary can be part of the conversation.

But above all, practice this conversation with a friend, with a family member. Know how to say those numbers out loud and how you’re going to respond to any questions or challenges that your employer gives you in that situation. It’s really a skill; practice and build that muscle.

6. What benefits or compensation packages should grads look out for? Should they be wary of positions that don’t offer any benefits?

I wouldn’t be too concerned if an employer doesn’t offer a lot of these benefits; a lot of smaller companies simply can’t afford to. What’s really important, above all, is that you find out what an employer does offer and educate yourself on what benefits you can get from the company that you’re working for and what you might need to look for on your own. So think about health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, any kind of compensation or loan forgiveness or help repaying any college debt that you have. Any education benefits that somebody might give so you can take classes towards a degree or not. Any kind of health benefits like being able to join a health club, any kind of flexible package you can use, flexible spending account. What might be necessary based on your lifestyle today and into the future? If it’s a bigger company they should talk about it on their website. If it’s a smaller company, you may need to ask those questions.

7. Do you have any advice for graduates who pursue an untraditional route (freelancers, independent contractors, entrepreneurs)?

I think you’re picking up on a really big trend of your generation partly because of the economy, and partly because I think Millennials want to pursue their dreams right away without paying their dues. I think if it’s your reality and those are the kinds of jobs you can get right out of college, go for it. I think if you have the entrepreneurial bug it’s a great thing to do. But again, you have to think about planning your finances for that decision that you’re making. How are you going to make ends meet? How are you going to protect your future? How are you going to plan for tomorrow? So, even if that’s your reality you still have to think in terms of the whole picture.

8. Is there a good length of time to stay in your first position?

A lot of these rules have changed. The traditional answer was that you really want to stay in your first job or any job for at least one year, that that would look best on a resume. But my personal feeling is that if you’re absolutely miserable then it’s okay to leave a position. A year is great, but I think one of the negative characteristics of Millenials is they tend to jump around a lot and try a lot of different things. But if you’re really happy in a position you can differentiate yourself by staying a long time. Moving up the ladder, showing your commitment that you’re loyal to that company it could really be a very big differentiator.

9. What are some of the most common mistakes graduates make when trying to enter the workforce?

A couple of common mistakes:

1. Not taking a job soon enough; holding out too long for the perfect opportunity. I think taking action and starting your career is really important.
2. Not giving it a little bit of time to get settled. Making sure you learn the ropes and not worrying that you’re not moving forward quickly enough. Give yourself some time; have a little patience.
3. And then finally, not understanding all the benefits that are offered. Thinking about that entire compensation package is another way to really set yourself up for success in a new job.

10. What ways can Millennials save money?

On our website we have an infographic and it says, “you only live once, so plan for the future.” I think it’s about making small changes today but thinking about the big picture tomorrow. Look at your credit cards; are any of them charging an annual fee that you really don’t need to pay? Can you change that? Can you look at your cable bill and cut corners there? Can you shop at different stores where the groceries cost less?

Make those small changes today but think about your long term plans and just start putting away a little bit every month towards those plans. I love automatic debit from your account so that you don’t even see the money. Commit to whenever you get a check, like a birthday check from your grandmother or any kind of unplanned-for-money, put that money into that account. And it’s really gratifying to see it grow.

So save money today, but setup a system where you’re slowly putting away money month-by-month. The earlier the better.

Source:  http://www.recruiter.com/i/from-college-to-career-tips-from-gen-y-expert-lindsey-pollak/

Since the interviewer can’t actually see you, they are judging you solely on your voice, answers and any other sounds that come through during the conversation.

“If you cannot get through the phone interview, you will not get the job,” Paul Bailo, CEO of Phone Interview Pro. and author of “The Essential Phone Interview Handbook” told us. “If you cannot get through the first date, you will not get married.”

According to Bailo, the stakes are higher today than ever before. More job candidates make initial contact with prospective employers via the telephone and the first “15 seconds either make or break the interview.”

1)   Don’t look in the mirror

MIT

A lot of people think that if you look in a mirror, you’ll become more aware of your speech and will do better in the phone interview, but this is not true.

When you look in the mirror, you become too focused on your own reflection and not on the interview. Doing this also typically makes people smile more than they normally would — which is unnatural when you’re speaking.

“It will affect your voice, making your speech sound unnatural.”

Source: The Essential Phone Interview Handbook

2)   Look at a photograph of your interviewer while you’re on the phone

Bailo advises to find a photograph of the person interviewing you and have it out in front of you during the interview.

This will help you connect to the person and, in turn, make you calmer. If you can’t find a photo of them, substitute for a photo of someone you take seriously like a well-known authority figure.

Source: The Essential Phone Interview Handbook

3)   Don’t talk too much

Some people think that if they talk more during interviews, it’ll help them. But this is incorrect.

“The less you talk, the more you listen and the better you’ll do,” Bailo told us.

The best method to use is to wait three seconds before answering questions. This will give you time to think and to cut out unnecessary “ums” and “ahhs”in your conversation.

Keep in mind that the phone interview is much like a dance. Take time to listen to the music. The hiring manager determines the dance, so if they want to follow, then you lead. If they want to lead, you follow.

“Be sure to listen to what the interviewer has to say, and think before responding. Take a few seconds to understand the question, and then prepare a quality answer before simply blurting out something less intelligent.”

Source: The Essential Phone Interview Handbook

4)   Exercise your voice before the interview

You should practice your voice before an interview so that it sounds clear, confident and rejuvenated. An hour before, talk to a friend or relative to warm-up your voice. Or even better, sing aloud:

“Practice different tones and pitches before your phone interview. Professional speakers exercise their voices before speaking, and so can you. Singing will stretch out your voice muscles and also give you the energy you need to ace your phone interview. Singing also lowers your stress level, leaving you excited and ready for your interview.”

“How many times did you record your voicemail messages before you were content with the results? I doubt it came out perfect on the first try. Most people record their voicemails multiple times before settling on a message they feel comfortable presenting to the world.”

Source: The Essential Phone Interview Handbook

5)   An hour before the interview, soothe your throat

Before the interview, take a spoon of honey or take a cough drop to keep your throat clear and concise.

Both of these options are a lot better than gulping down water during the interview or being too hyper from countless cups of coffee.

Source: The Essential Phone Interview Handbook

6)   Don’t get too comfortable in the room

Make sure your space feels professional like it would in a face-to-face interview room. Beforehand, have all of the papers that you’ll need during the conversation — cover letter, resume, set of questions you have — spread out in front of you so you don’t have to rummage through papers during the interview.

“This will help you produce quality responses.”

Source: The Essential Phone Interview Handbook

7)   Dress up in your professional clothes

attire will pump you up for your phone interview — giving you confidence that you can conquer the world! You will feel more confident in your responses and it will come through during your interview.”

Source: The Essential Phone Interview Handbook

8)   Listen to talk radio during your free time

Bailo told us that listening to talk radio is the best practice to perfecting a professional conversation.

During the talk radio, the announcers task it to tell you a story without you being able to actually see what they’re telling you. Instead, you have to imagine it. For example, if you’re listening to a sporting event, the announcers are illustrating to you what’s going on in the game because you’re not currently there or watching it.

This is a valuable skill to have during a phone interview.

“You must be able to pay attention to a speaker who isn’t right in front of you. This means being able to maintain focus while avoiding distractions.”

Source: The Essential Phone Interview Handbook

9)   Schedule the interview for a time of day when you’re most at your A-game

“Don’t sign up for you phone interview at times when you’re normally sleeping, eating, or running errands. Some people are most focused during the morning hours; others need more time to wake up and are more motivated in the evening. Pick a time when you know you’ll do your best work.”

Source: The Essential Phone Interview Handbook

10)   Prepare 3 days in advance

Day 1: Google the company and research their financial information and corporate culture.

Day 2: Take all of the information you have about the company and comprise it in a way that you can use in your interview, especially set questions you’ll set aside to ask the interviewer. Bailo gives an example question:

[Interviewer's name], what are you most proud of about [name of company]? What corporate issues cause you to lose sleep at night?

Day 3: This is the day to prepare and practice. Set up your environment and decide what you want to discuss.

11)   Convince the interviewer that they need you

Companies are looking for people to solve problems so show them that you are capable of doing this.

With your research on the company, frame your answers during the interview to revolve around these two themes:

1. You can make the company money.
2. You can save the company money.

Source: The Essential Phone Interview Handbook

12)   There are three important steps to take after the interview

At the end of the interview, let your interviewer know that you’re serious about the position and ask them to inform you of the next step.

Then, Bailo says you should:

24-48 hours after the interview: Send an email thanking and articulating why you’re perfect for the job.

24-48 hours after the email: Send a handwritten card on a simple layout and simple stamp. No flower stamps.

24-48 hours after the thank you card: If you discussed any current events during the interview and you happen to come across something in the news, send them the article with a summary of why you think it’s relevant. This will show you’re smart, articulate and sharing.

Source: The Essential Phone Interview Handbook

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/12-things-you-need-to-know-to-ace-your-next-phone-interview-2012-2?op=1#ixzz2AttYkamx

Most employers conduct ‘pre-position’ interviews to determine if a candidate is right for the job. Some hold exit interviews when a person leaves the company. Why not do a stay interview with current employees to see the reasons behind his or her commitment?

A stay interview has many benefits for not only employers, but employees as well. Companies will be able to discover why its employees haven’t sought new opportunities or employment with other companies, which can tell companies its strengths as an employer. These interviews will also show employers areas they can improve upon as employees voice their concerns. This can greatly affectretention and turnover rates.

In a one-on-one setting, interviewees have the chance to ask questions, describe their career goals and explain their likes and dislikes of their positions and working within the company as a whole. Many times, especially at larger businesses, employees can feel overlooked and unappreciated. Conducting stay interviews is a great way to show workers how valuable they are to a company.

Stay interviews are not just for lower-level workers, but managers and supervisors should be interviewed as well. This will not only ensure the manager/supervisor receives the opportunity to be engaged by the company, but understands the proper way to conduct stay interviews with his or her team.

If common issues or concerns arise during interviews, employers can send out messages detailing how the companies plan to address them. Department specific issues can be addressed during team meetings or one-on-one, if the situation permits. The follow up is the key to stay interviews’ success, especially if an employee voiced a concern. Following through helps employees know you were fully engaged during the interview and are committed to keeping them in your company. Every worker needs to feel valued and know they mean something to the company they work for. The stay interview method does just that.

Below are 15 possible stay interview questions to get you started:

• Why have you stayed working for this company as long as you have? Reason(s)?
• What do you like best about your job? Least?
• What are specific reasons that could cause you to leave us?
• Do you think your current position fully utilizes your talents?
• What have you learned since working here?
• Do you have anything new you would like to learn this year?
• Is there anything you’d like to change about your job? Team? Department?
• Have you ever considered leaving? What caused it? Has it been resolved?
• What is your dream job? How can our company support your progress toward it?
• Do you feel supported in your career goals?
• Do you feel we recognize you? If not, what kind of recognition would be meaningful for you?
• What is one thing that would make your job more satisfying and rewarding?
• What part of your role is most challenging? What is least challenging?
• Do you feel you are best suited for your position or do you feel better suited for a different one?
• What can I do to help you stay longer?

Source: http://www.recruiter.com/i/retaining-talent-through-stay-interviews/

The recent LinkedIn profile updates may seem subtle at first glance, but to stay current on this professional social networking site, there are some things you should know and do. First, be prepared to get a professional head shot, given that your smiling face is much more prominent as a result of the updated look that LinkedIn rolled out in late summer.

Wayne Breitbarth, LinkedIn consultant and author of The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success, reminds us that this isn’t Facebook–LinkedIn is all about professionalism and credibility. It’s important to stay current on your profile and give your contacts what they’re looking for. Breitbarth stepped in to help with that task by providing this review of the LinkedIn profile changes and simple tips to help you stand out. Breitbarth’s pointers might take only minutes to execute but will deliver a powerful impression. Here’s how:

1. Put more emphasis on your profile photo.

LinkedIn is putting the focus on your face with a larger profile image. This means you had better have a photo, and it had better be good, now more than ever. Stick with a simple head shot, dressed as you would when meeting a client. People want to do business with people they like, and your photo is the first impression; make it professional and likable!

2. Take advantage of what’s no longer featured.

Gone are the number of recommendations and the full synopsis of your work and educational experience. And your websites are no longer prominently displayed on your profile page. This means that LinkedIn users need to take greater advantage of the other profile features to make this information more visible.

3. Work on your headline–it’s more important than ever!

Because the amount of information in your top box has been reduced, the remaining information is more important than ever, including your headline. The 120-character headline is one of the best spots on your profile to explain your brand. You’ll want to include your most important keywords as well. Your current job title will be shown in the top box only if you have just one. However, if you have multiple current jobs, only the company names will be displayed, not your titles. In this case, consider the keywords by which you want to be found. If the job title is relevant, include it in the headline.

4. Also note: The summary section is much more prominent.

Because of the reduced size of the top box, your summary is now above the fold; thus more important, especially the first few sentences. Those sentences had better pack a punch relating to your current business objectives and your credibility.

5. Treat “contact information” like a business card.

This information used to be in various spots on the old version of your profile page. Now it is summarized nicely in the top box and opens after a person clicks the Contact Info tab right next to the picture of the index card. Be sure to include all the ways you feel comfortable with people contacting you. Available options are websites, Twitter, email, phone, IM, and your address.

6. Consider that website addresses are harder to find.

The websites included on your profile (you can list up to three) were previously front and center, but now they are a bit hidden in the Contact Info section. Thus, you may want to mention your website(s) in your summary and in the description(s) of your job experience. This will not be a clickable link, but at least a person can find it without having to open the Contact Info tab.

So, smile for the camera, update your new profile page, and leverage your LinkedIn experience and relationships to build your business. Let me know how you do!

Source: http://www.inc.com/marla-tabaka/linkedin-profile-changes-new-tips.html?goback=%25252Egde_3775037_member_173062376