Fridays, slow days and holidays oh my!

Fridays, slow days and holidays… oh my! What do you do on a weekday, holiday, or slow day? You know, the days when no one seems to be around? Even the automated e-mail replies arent coming back to you? You know what I mean this is the wierd part of the job search. It definitely is tempting to play hookie, take some time off or call in sick on your job search. Actually, it is quite easy to do this. But if you are serious about your job search you have to keep at it. If nothing else, having some personal daily goals will be helpful here. Here are some example goals note that the number is based on your personal situation (seriously looking vs. just keeping your ear to the ground): I will make 10 new contacts a day (put them in your network in JibberJobber) I will do 1 informational interview a day (could be at a target company, as you network in with different people) I will make contact with 1 new company each day etc. Note that you can have a goal of submitting x resumes per week but you must ensure that you are not after crazy numbers on resume submissions (like to all the jobs on monster) it has to be reasonably balanced with other parts of your job search. Yes, submit to real job postings, but dont have a goal of 70 per week just to have 70 per week. This will lead you to an artificial feelings of successful work. Get the point? Here is what I think would be good for a slow day, especially a Friday: Make sure to meet your daily goals (as per above). Take some time (enough to do this exercise justice, but dont dwell on this too much!) to recap the last week and see how your daily and weekly goals went. Were they realistic? Do you see any positive results from what youve done? Plan your next week. Take the goals that you have and figure out your game plan how are you going to make 10 new contacts on Monday? Or each day of the week? Who specifically will you call, at what time, and what will he ask him/her? did you meet your daily goals (see #1 above). If you have any loose papers take care of them. All those little notes with names and numbers and dates put them into JibberJobber once and for all. Take some time to make sure that you are taking care of yourself physically (get out of the chair and go on a walk even if you dont feel that you deserve to) and your loved ones (if you have kids, spend some time with them). It is hard to gain a proper balance since you should be looking for a job, and you have a sense of urgency to do so, but you also have to maintain your sanity. Fridays, slow days and holidays… oh my! What do you do on a weekday, holiday, or slow day? You know, the days when no one seems to be around? Even the automated e-mail replies arent coming back to you? You know what I mean this is the wierd part of the job search. It definitely is tempting to play hookie, take some time off or call in sick on your job search. Actually, it is quite easy to do this. But if you are serious about your job search you have to keep at it. If nothing else, having some personal daily goals will be helpful here. Here are some example goals note that the number is based on your personal situation (seriously looking vs. just keeping your ear to the ground): I will make 10 new contacts a day (put them in your network in JibberJobber) I will do 1 informational interview a day (could be at a target company, as you network in with different people) I will make contact with 1 new company each day etc. Note that you can have a goal of submitting x resumes per week but you must ensure that you are not after crazy numbers on resume submissions (like to all the jobs on monster) it has to be reasonably balanced with other parts of your job search. Yes, submit to real job postings, but dont have a goal of 70 per week just to have 70 per week. This will lead you to an artificial feelings of successful work. Get the point? Here is what I think would be good for a slow day, especially a Friday: Make sure to meet your daily goals (as per above). Take some time (enough to do this exercise justice, but dont dwell on this too much!) to recap the last week and see how your daily and weekly goals went. Were they realistic? Do you see any positive results from what youve done? Plan your next week. Take the goals that you have and figure out your game plan how are you going to make 10 new contacts on Monday? Or each day of the week? Who specifically will you call, at what time, and what will he ask him/her? did you meet your daily goals (see #1 above). If you have any loose papers take care of them. All those little notes with names and numbers and dates put them into JibberJobber once and for all. Take some time to make sure that you are taking care of yourself physically (get out of the chair and go on a walk even if you dont feel that you deserve to) and your loved ones (if you have kids, spend some time with them). It is hard to gain a proper balance since you should be looking for a job, and you have a sense of urgency to do so, but you also have to maintain your sanity.

Know the Standards Before You Start Writing Your Resume

Know the Standards Before You Start Writing Your ResumeResume writing standards are one of the things that are respected in today's society. The standards are what you are held to when it comes to building a good career, both personally and professionally. In order to meet the standards, you have to abide by the rules, and adhere to a set of guidelines that are common to all.Resume writing standards go as far back as the time of Homer. It was in the ancient times that people were sworn to secrecy about the jobs they were to accomplish and how much time they would devote towards them. Being sworn to secrecy is one of the things that make the times so profitable for people who have decided to be as discreet as possible in their careers.You are expected to write the basic resume, which lists your qualifications and why the employer should hire you. You should not start listing your interests or hobbies unless the company does not require this in their standard employment contract. What you should list on your resume will depend on your particular field of work.The hiring company is expected to meet the resume writing standards by at least providing you with an outline of the areas you should address on your resume. All you are required to do is to be as brief as possible when listing these aspects. If you are to be hired, you should present yourself as a good candidate, not a glorified secretary.Make sure that you also use the cover letter and your resume together. These documents should complement each other and provide insight about yourself and how you want to be perceived. Remember that it is expected that you are a great communicator and it is only fair that you use your skills as such to convince the employer to hire you.If you are having trouble meeting these standards, then there is always the option of taking a look at the rules that have been established. Youcan also ask for help from a resume writing service that will give you expert advice and guidance on meeting the standards. You can also opt to do it yourself, but this will require some time and effort.The standards are not just there for the sake of it, but for your benefit as well, as you can see by the standard terms. You are required to put up these standards so that the employer is assured that they are working with a professional when they hire you. If they have found a suitable employee, then there will be no need for them to retain the person.When you understand these resume writing standards, then you will be able to better understand what employers expect and what to include in your resume. In order to meet the standards, you should adhere to the requirements as well as the guidelines as well as those of the company.

How to Create a Blog -- To Get A New Job Teleseminar

How to Create a Blog -- To Get A New Job Teleseminar Hey readers!  I have been asked so many questions about blogging, how I started this blog and how I used it to get a new career for myself that I finally decided it is time to do a teleseminar on it!! So if you are thinking about starting a blog or have one that you want to use to find a new career, then mark you calendars for Monday, July 1st and sign up at this link below: http://tinyurl.com/blog2newjob I started a blog in 2010 and it transformed my career and helped me get multiple new jobs. I want to tell you how I did it and how you can do it too. In this teleseminar, you will learn: How to get started blogging to find your next career opportunity How to gain exposure and credibility as an expert in your field Why you should start a blog to find a job What NOT to do as a blogger looking for a job How to develop blog relationships that will help you find a job How to blog if you are still currently employed (but want to transition ASAP!) How to create a “Blog to New Job” Action Plan And much more! Make sure you sign up here today so I can send you the dial-in instructions and note taking action sheet to use during the call. http://tinyurl.com/blog2newjob Talk to you on July 1st! P.S. And if you cant make it no worries! I will send you the recording after.

Three Tools for Productivity in Freelance Work

Three Tools for Productivity in Freelance Work The world is filled with productivity killers. Especially if you’re a freelancer. Especially if your primary source of income is online. This humble writer, for example, has been plagued by them all morning. An empty pet food dish is, after all, an emergency, and Facebook notifications must be compulsively checked and cleared. Productivity in freelance isn’t just about removing distractions, however. Creating a workflow that leads you through the day, minimizes multitasking, and helps you set priorities is one of the best ways to reclaim your time. You can do this by adding new tools and apps to your repertoire, creating automated or streamlined ways of performing routine tasks, and even changing the way you think about your projects. Streamlining Your Time for the Best Productivity Focus on completing one task at a time. A clear set of task priorities can be an elusive thing, but it’s important to keep a clear head and a sense of priority so that you can work efficiently through stressful days. The choices can be agonizing when something urgent comes up in the middle of a time-intensive task. An email from a panicked client, a problem with a project on a tight deadline, or a simple overabundance of things to do can wreck an entire day. But if you take it one task at a time, in order of priority, you’ll spend less time worrying and more time knocking work off the list. Don’t be tempted to multitask. Research shows that focusing on task priority, cutting the fat in terms of busywork, and avoiding multitasking all make you a more efficient worker. Multitasking splits your attention and it’s easy to lose sight of your priorities. Multitasking can quickly lead to “mission creep” â€" where one unexpected task leads to another, over and over again, until you’ve spent an entire day on work you weren’t planning on doing. Apps and Tools to Keep You On Task Quickbooks has a great resource that collects tools from across the web and various app stores. It’s comprehensive, and a long read, but well worth the time if you’re looking for some automated little boosts to your time management. Some of the most useful tools are quite passive, and include time trackers that let you know how long you spend on particular sites (coughfacebookcough) or blocking them completely during set hours. Others set focus timers for you, remind you to take breaks, or even alter the colours on your computer screen for less eye strain. Simple additions like this, even the occasional reminder to get up and stretch, can have a major impact on your day. This isn’t just about squeezing every ounce of productivity out of your day, it’s also about managing your health and happiness. Changing the Way Your (and Your Clients) Think About Your Time Here’s the big change. It’s time to think hard about the way you and your clients view your time. As a freelancer, you probably know very well that many clients view you as an unlimited well of time and attention. They’re not intentionally disrespecting your time, they just don’t necessarily think about the fact that you might have other clients, need a break, or maybe to eat from time to time. Managing the expectations of clients is one of the most useful tools in reclaiming lost time. In order to do that, you might need to rethink things yourself. There are a few ways you can change these points of view. Two big ones come down to hours versus project tracking, and office hours. Hourly Compensation Or Project Compensation? Freelancers often work by an hourly rate, which can be a mistake. Clients can take this to mean that they’re entitled to as much time as they will pay for. As long as they’re paying, you should be at their beck and call. That’s why switching to an emphasis on projects, not hours can be such a critical change in your freelance lifestyle. A project contract can outline exactly what services, support, and hours a client can reasonably expect. It helps you to enforce a degree of professional separation, forcing them to think of your work as a project, not just the result of a remote wage slave. This will also stabilize your financial planning and invoicing. And About Those Office Hours . . . Office hours are the next step in reclaiming time lost to emails, phone calls,questions and demands. Establish a set of office hours (even if you work at home â€" your computer is your office). The crucial thing to note is that your office hours are not “I work from X until X.” Office time should be “I am available to take questions between X and X.” Do you see the difference? Only tell a client that you’re available during time that you specifically set aside for communications. Make it a reasonable window of a few hours, especially if you have international clients, but never, ever, make it your entire workday. If you get an email or phone call outside of office hours, ignore it until those hours next begin. Have a voicemail greeting that politely re-affirms your office hours so that clients who call outside of them know what to expect. You’ll have to be firm about this, and deal with some unhappy people, but if a client can’t be trained to respect your office hours, it’s time to fire them. Let us know how these strategies work out for you. Have you tried them before? What are your experiences? If you have thoughts or tips to add, let the world learn from you! This guest post was authored by  Brooke Faulkner Brooke Faulkner is a writer, mom and adventurer in the Pacific Northwest.  She spends her days pondering what makes a good leader, and dreaming up ways to teach these virtues to her sons creatively enough that she’ll get more than groans and eye rolls in response.

Making Money by Using Free Resume Templates

Making Money by Using Free Resume TemplatesThere are lots of resume templates online for free, but you can save money by making your own. While you don't have to pay for a professional job writing resume, you can make a difference in the cost of your resume by creating it yourself.Even full-time jobs these days have to be streamlined, and the result of this is that many companies are outsourcing. The goal of the outsourcing is to lower costs and find the best employees. Outsourcing has made it much easier for companies to find people with different skill sets, as well as looking for people who already have the skills they need.Resume templates will help you to do this, but they won't be able to do it all. For example, they can't tell you how to handle a complicated layout or tell you how to format your resume. You'll still have to come up with these details yourself and use them on your resume.While you can save money on your resume by creating it yourself, the investment can pay off . By coming up with an original idea that no one else has thought of, you will add value to your resume. People remember things that other people are not able to see. This means that even though you have taken the time to create a unique resume, you will still be competing against the hundreds of other applicants who have done exactly the same thing.The reason it is worth it to come up with some fresh ideas is that no one else will have created a similar template. If you get it right, you will get a lot of attention, and if you get it wrong, you'll get no attention at all.In order to write a good resume, you will need to create a variety of templates so that you can build a resume that caters for different types of job. Some resumes will be written for entry-level positions, while others will be written for mid-level positions.If you want to really make a difference in the look and feel of your resume, you should consider creating multiple resumes. If you write your own, you will kn ow exactly what type of applicant you are looking for. You can then focus on selling your services to that specific type of applicant.While you can get professional resume templates online for free, this isn't really the way to go if you want to create a personalized resume. The more time you put into creating your own, the better the end result will be.

Lead The Pack With Your Love For Social Media

Lead The Pack With Your Love For Social Media Can you use your social media savvy to help your career? I write a lot about using social media in job search, but now I want to share some thoughts on how and why your social media skills can help you while employed. The War For Talent Needs A Pro-Active Strategy In case you havent heard, companies are worried about losing disengaged employees and are complaining they cant find people to their job openings.  This is where you and your passion for social media come in. Be A Solution Maybe my post on US News World Report today will give you some ideas about how you can be the solution by stepping up to share your social media skills. What Im encouraging you to do is propose a social media recruitment strategy at your company. Important Data If you are looking for data to support your proposal, check these out. Bullhorn Reach Social Recruiting Reports Jobvite Social Recruiting Reports Trends QA I had the opportunity to interview Erin Osterhaus who  researches and reviews HR systems  via  Software Advice blog. Erin recently wrote an article featuring Twitters recruiting tips, How Twitter Uses Twitter to Recruit. I had some questions for Erin based on reading her article, and here they are with her answers. What if I am a small company with under 250 employees? Can I still reap the rewards of using Twitter to attract talent? Definitely. In fact, there might even be some hidden advantages to being a small company and recruiting on Twitter. Software Advice is relatively small, yet we still encourage our employees to Tweet out job postings and company news. However, unlike Twitter, we don’t have a corporate recruiting profile on Twitter. Instead, our two full-time recruiters have individual accounts which they use to Tweet postings and respond to potential applicants. We’ve found that this works better for us. Since we are a small company without the name recognition of a company like Twitter, allowing candidates to have personal interaction with our recruiters keeps them interestedsomething larger companies don’t have the time for. Is frequency of tweets a factor to growing followers? Yes. In my experience, growing your Twitter following has a direct correlation with how often you Tweet. I would recommend Tweeting at least two to three times per day. There are great tools out there like Tweetdeck, that allow you to schedule multiple Tweets at once. I usually set aside an hour on Mondays to create the Tweets that I’ll post throughout the week. Do you think companies that are serious about using Twitter need to train their employees on best practices? Recruiters, and HR in general should train employees to avoid social media catastrophes (like what happened at KitchenAid). You should always be aware of what’s going on and develop a social media policy so employees are never confused about what is and isn’t allowed. What if a company doesnt have a great culture like Twitters does? Are there other things a company could share if they dont have photos of a cool yoga studio or mimosa bar? (Or maybe this might inspire a company to add more perks?!) Even if your company culture isn’t as “great” as Twitter’s, it still has one. You can share events that your company has participated in, conferences you’ve attended, or even cool projects you’re working on. If you’re honest about your company culture and can more or less accurately portray the environment potential applicants will be working in, then you’ll probably have more serious candidates apply anywayones who aren’t merely after the free mimosas. How are employees incentivized to share tweets? A lot of companies are now using software solutions that allow employees to automatically post open positions to their social media profiles. The link each employee posts has a unique URL that identifies their profile as the source of any subsequent application. At Software Advice, we use such a system, and our employees are rewarded with a $1,000 bonus if a successful new hire comes from one of their social media profiles. It’s a great way to encourage employees to get the word out. Thank you Erin! I appreciate your thoughts on recruiting using Twitter!

Managing Career Goals

Managing Career Goals Our career development revolves around our ability to grow. We need to grow both our soft skills and our hard skills to progress in our careers. Challenges in Measuring Skill Development At times it is easy to tell if we are positively developing those skills. For example, you take a training class on a piece of software and begin utilizing the software on the job. After a period of time, the basics of the software become second nature. Other skills, though, are harder to measure. Your annual review states that you need to improve your adaptability and flexibility. Besides your boss opinion, it can be difficult to compare one year to the next. Leadership, communication skills and so on can be challenging to establish a baseline and to measure. Choose the Skills to Develop What skills are you trying to develop this year? Keep the list reasonable. Individuals typically don’t have time to complete all their job tasks and develop multiple skill areas they targeted. If you list out too many areas to develop, you are likely to be overwhelmed and ignore all of them! Measure Your Progress How are you going to measure your improvement? It is possible that the skill development is on your official performance plan. At the end of the year, your manager will rate you on your skill development so make sure you understand how youll be measured. For true skill development, you cannot wait until the end of the year to review. So, set a few milestones throughout the year. For example, if you are trying to become a more clear and concise communicator in your writing, take time every few months to compare your writing and see if there is improvement. Ask the recipients of your writing for their opinion on your improvement and ways you could have done better. Routinely Solicit Feedback Asking for feedback is crucial in skill development. For example, if you are working on presentation skills, you can ask for feedback directly after a presentation. However, you don’t want to ask the generic question How did I do? Individuals will typically give you a positive and non-detailed response. Ask specific questions: Did I seem nervous? Did I use a lot of filler words? Was my volume appropriate? Did I have too much information on the slides? Did I speak too quickly or too slowly, etc? Now, you also don’t want to corner someone for 30 minutes peppering them with questions like this. Find individuals you trust to give you honest feedback. Let them know you are seeking honest feedback as a way to improve your speaking skills and you are really trying to improve. Then have a few questions ready that can help you illicit some specific feedback. Another point to mention is to be open to the feedback. Don’t debate with the individuals that their perceptions were incorrect. T his is a time to gather feedback. There may be some irrelevant items mentioned and that’s fine. You can easily sift through to the ones that are meaningful. Skill development takes work, but if it is a skill you truly want to improve on, its worth investing your time. The extra time now will pay dividends in the end.