Networking with Scot Part II

Networking with Scot â€" Part II Today is the the second question of Scots five questions on networking this week. The question is: I’m starting at â€Å"ground zero† in terms of networking. What are the first action items I should do to start building a network? Note in my reply I didnt say and start putting these names into JibberJobber but perhaps I should have ?? Go check out his blog for the dialogue (my answer, his response, and the wisdom in the comments). Dont be shy to leave a comment it was great to see some from yesterday from Liz, Carl and Darlene. Also, Thom Singer had an excellent post where he talks about Steve Harpers (The Ripple Effect) advice on how to wreck a referral network excellent. Networking with Scot â€" Part II Today is the the second question of Scots five questions on networking this week. The question is: I’m starting at â€Å"ground zero† in terms of networking. What are the first action items I should do to start building a network? Note in my reply I didnt say and start putting these names into JibberJobber but perhaps I should have ?? Go check out his blog for the dialogue (my answer, his response, and the wisdom in the comments). Dont be shy to leave a comment it was great to see some from yesterday from Liz, Carl and Darlene. Also, Thom Singer had an excellent post where he talks about Steve Harpers (The Ripple Effect) advice on how to wreck a referral network excellent.

5 Signs Youre Ruining Your Employer Brand

5 Signs Youre Ruining Your Employer Brand The importance of employer branding has grown exponentially as the war for talent rages on, and candidates increasingly make “culture” a deciding factor in their employment decision. Is your company winning or losing the employment brand battle? If you see any of the following items going on at your company, you may be further behind than you’d care to admit. 1. You still think you can control it Way back when, all of a brand’s communications were one-way. The company spit out a message and  people listened. Social media has flipped all of that on its head.  Companies don’t control their brand anymore â€" their consumers do. And, in exactly the same fashion, employees are the key to your employer brand. They are your ambassadors; the living, breathing embodiment of what you stand for as an employer. By far the biggest mistake I see in employer branding is when companies take an old-school approach  and think they can control every aspect of their branding, and then go into panic mode when something negative “gets out. Let’s look at two examples, both bad and good. Earlier in 2016, Yelp fired an employee after she wrote a public blog post complaining about her salary. It seems the public criticism was too much heat for the review company to handle (does anyone else see the irony in that?), and so they fired her. In fact, HR apparently told her it was because it violated the company’s Terms of Conduct, but then later suggested  the firing was because of her “repeated absences”, which the employee denied. In my opinion, instead of firing the employee, Yelp should have taken a more compassionate tone towards the real struggles that their employees face (i.e., the cost of living in San Francisco). They had an opportunity to discuss the matter, both publicly and privately, and talk about additional benefits the company may provide its employees (perhaps insurance, bonuses, heck, even free lunches). They could have discussed an escalating pay scale and tied it back to the availability of career growth at the company. What they missed was the opportunity to turn a negative into a positive. From my vantage point, they turned a negative into a bigger negative. Luckily the fiasco  doesnt appear to have damaged the employee brand beyond repair; Yelp has been awarded several best places to work awards in the past year. Now, a  contrasting  example is what American Airlines did when the leader of their pilots union blasted the company in a scathing public letter. Keith Wilson, president of the Allied Pilots Association, wrote a letter that blasted American for its “on the cheap” philosophy and a “culture gone awry. He even ranked American well behind some of its primary competitors and said he was tired “of apologizing to our passengers. It was lengthy, hard-hitting and brutally honest. And how did American Airlines respond? They actually agreed with much of it and faced up to the criticism. Company spokesman Casey Norton said the union was “exactly right” to raise the issues in its letter. “These are all things that are incredibly important to us. We’re only two years into a five-year integration. Nothing is going as fast as we’re wanting” and “we’re well aware that a cultural change is needed,” he said.  He then went on to mention that the airline has spent more than $3.5 billion on wage and benefit increases since the merger, $3 billion on improving products and services for customers, $4 billion per year for new aircraft and $100 million on new human resources programs and technology. So, two different examples here. Yelp takes a harsh, reactionary stand and chooses to fire an employee after an honest review of a common work condition. American, on the other hand, accepts the criticism head-on and brings to light all of the work its doing behind the scenes to improve. What’s the lesson? You can’t control what people say about you. You can, however, control your response and face any criticism head-on with counterpoints showing what you as an organization are doing to rectify the situation. 2. Not leveraging your EVP Another mistake I commonly see is when companies create an Employee Value Proposition (EVP) but don’t properly stick to it in their messaging. The EVP is the foundation of your employer brand and there should be a common thread that runs through all of your external (and internal) materials.  Here’s a great example of how beer maker Sam Adams weaved their EVP and values into a promotional video: The video speaks directly to the company’s values of “staying independent” and its passion for creating great beer. They know who they are, they know who they’re targeting and the overall message, featured employees and vibe of the video connect the dots. Well done. 3. Lack of transparency (or being inauthentic to start with) One of the top goals in employer branding should be to show the “inside scoop” on what it’s like to work at your company. Is it serious and corporate? Or fun and casual? Don’t shy away from who you are; embrace it.  Many of the mistakes I see here come in two forms: Companies not recognizing their own culture and trying to be something they’re not Companies being so afraid to share anything that their content seems like it’s written by their legal team Want a good example of a company embracing their culture through authenticity? Check out Oracle’s social media pages, where they routinely share employee-generated content that tells an authentic story of what it’s like to work there. Some rock casual Friday, the MDC brings in the weekend w Aladdin Pants Day. #HappyFriday! pic.twitter.com/EQlkTxgWom Explore Oracle (@ExploreOracle) May 6, 2016 In order to do this effectively, go back to point # 1 above, and realize your employees are your voice. Provide them guidance, tips and education and then give them a means to share their thoughts about your company. Scary? Maybe, but even the most negative comments give you an advantage if you listen to them (i.e., they’re telling you exactly what to fix). 4. Not connecting to your consumer brand You’re missing a golden opportunity if you can’t connect your employer brand to your consumer brand. In any B2C business, a huge percentage of your employees â€" and prospective candidates â€" know your company through their consumer experience with you. You must connect that consumer experience to your work experience.  It’s part of the “why join us” answer. What motivates people here? Why do they work here, why do they stay here?  For employees at Amazon, for instance, it’s the chance to lead the pack. Their employer brand attracts people who want to invent new things and pioneer a better way. It’s exactly why they’re the top retailer because they continue to push the boundaries and improve, and they’re recruiting those who match up with that mentality. So, examine your consumer brand and examine what components should connect to your employees. PetSmart, for instance, ties a love of animals to much of their candidate messaging.  How can you connect the two for your company? 5. Offending your potential candidates This one is clearly a no-no, but I have to mention it because I still see it. Some companies create ads â€" either from a consumer perspective or employer â€" that end up offending a segment of their target recruiting audience.  Case in point â€" GoDaddy. When GoDaddy came on the scene, they used racy, sexually suggestive ads with attractive women in their consumer ads.  Here’s an example (warning, this seems more like a strip club video, but is actually an ad GoDaddy created that several TV networks banned): The result was that many current female employees of GoDaddy, and some potential  female candidates, were offended by the ads and didn’t want to work for a company that seemed so degrading.  Fast forward a few years, and GoDaddy has worked very hard to regain the trust of those female job seekers by realizing the impact of what they had done and working together with women to repair the damage. 60% of small businesses are led by women. Today, we celebrate their success across the globe. #IWD2016 pic.twitter.com/auyLQiPdc0 GoDaddy (@GoDaddy) March 8, 2016 Building a strong employer brand means embracing everyone’s opinions (even publicly), being authentic and understanding your target audiences. Hopefully you don’t find yourself in a familiar place with these “bad” examples, but if you do, it may be time to readjust your employer brand strategy.

Who to Use as a Reference How to Go About it

Who to Use as a Reference How to Go About it Many job seekers spend a great deal of time researching prospective employers, polishing their cover letters   resumes, and preparing for job interviews; however, they often neglect one important aspect  of the job search process, and that is to ask people to be their references. Sometimes your references can make or break a job opportunity for you; therefore, you have to be careful about who you  include.   If youre a bit lost about who to use as a reference and how to go about it here are a few pointers to help you out. Who should you use? 1. Your current or  former bosses Your supervisors make good references, as they know about your reliability and professional abilities, and if they can put in a good word for you, you have a much better chance of landing a job. However, if you left a company on bad terms, then its probably best that you avoid using  your supervisors from that company as your references, as you dont want any negative words to be exchanged about you as a person or your work performance. Also, it goes without saying that if your current employer is unaware that you are looking for a new job, DO NOT use them as a reference. A call from another employer regarding your application isnt exactly the most subtle way of revealing that you are looking to jump ship and you dont want to jeopardise your current role if you have not yet made any progress in your job hunt. 2. Co-workers Your former co-workers know your strengths as a team player and are likely the have got to know you pretty well as an individual too, having worked with you on a daily basis. Have you helped out some co-workers in the past or worked on a successful project together? If so they will most likely have something positive to say about you. 3. Customers/ clients If you have a good relationship with some customers or clients during your time working in a particular role, ask them if they can be your references. This is particularly useful if you are looking for work in the service sector or a client facing role, as it puts an emphasis on your customer service and communication abilities. 4. Faculty members If you are a new graduate, you may not have much work experience. In this case, you can use faculty members such as your professors or personal tutor as your references. They know about your learning ability, time management and productivity; which are all qualities that are transferrable for  a work environment.   How  should you go about it? Now that you know who to use as your references, there are several things that you should keep in mind. Ask for permission to use someone as a reference. Before you give out someone’s contact information as your reference, get their permission first. Most people will say yes but it’s a common courtesy to ask for permission. Get the details of each reference. You need more than just their names and phone numbers. Make sure that you know their current position, company name, business phone numbers, as well as their personal contact information, including email address because some employers prefer to make contact by email. Prepare your references. Make sure that your references know what type of positions you are applying for. Give them a copy of your latest resume, and point out any skills and accomplishments that you would like to highlight. Thank you references. Whether your references were contacted by your prospective employers or not, make sure that you thank them for their help.

9 Highly Effective Brand Tag Lines - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

9 Highly Effective Brand Tag Lines - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career What company tag line do you feel is highly effective, and why? The following answers are provided by members of  Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, YEC recently launched  BusinessCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses. 1. Nike: Just Do It This is a very effective tag line and it has nothing to do with sneakers or athletic gear. Just Do It is a state of mind that everyone can relate to athletes, entrepreneurs, business owners and regular employees as we all have  goals and obstacles to conquer. In order to conquer those  goals and obstacles, whatever they may be, you need to  Just Do It.   â€"Jonathan Long,  Market Domination Media 2. Evernote: Remember Everything I love the simplicity of a two-word tag line. Evernotes Remember Everything is effective for me because not only do I get a clear sense of what theyre promising, but using the word remember helps me actually remember! Its amazing how something so simple can be so effective. Its the true definition of it was under our noses the entire time.   â€"  Rob Fulton,  AudioLuminâ„¢ 3. Apple: Think Different I love this  tag line  because it  immediately establishes why Apple is different from other companies they use out-of-the-box thinking tobuild high-quality and well-designed products. In addition, through this tag line they singled out the worlds leaders and influencers (who also think different) to  build perhaps the most loyal following any company has ever amassed.   â€"  Jonny Simkin,  Swyft 4. Geico: So Easy a Caveman Can Do It Geicos caveman campaign and tag line was highly memorable. They took a very dry and boring product and used this tag line to communicate to potential customers that getting an insurance quote is quick, easy and simple. From grandpas to new drivers, this tag line makes people feel empowered to learn about how easy it is to get a new insurance policy. Its fun, short and memorable!   â€"  Marcela DeVivo,  National Debt Relief 5. BMW: The Ultimate Driving Machine BMW’s mantra, The Ultimate Driving Machine, is the gold standard of tag lines. The words speak directly  to the product itself  and  to the experience of engaging with it. Most importantly, BMW is true to their tag line in every functional decision they make. Driving a BMW is a big dose of daily pleasure.   â€"  Kim Walls,  Best Ever Baby 6. Target: Expect More Pay Less I like Targets tag line because its concise and to-the-point. It is exactly what the customer wants to hear, and ideally what the average consumer desires to expect more but to pay less. We created our tagline to reflect a similar idea (Events Made Easy).   â€"  Jayna Cooke,  EVENTup 7. Wranglers: Real. Comfortable. Jeans. I have seen this copied (or attempted to be copied) in many other potential tag lines. The symmetry of the words, with each one having its own meaning and leading into the whole message, is quite catchy and unique. Similar to Nikes Just Do It, it also lends itself to an advertising or branding campaign that can easily be  assimilated.   â€"  Tommy Golczynski,  Assured Flow Solutions, LLC 8. Playstation: Live in Your World. Play in Ours. Playstations tagline is great because it perfectly captures what they do, and the essence of what video game aficionados crave in their video games an escape into another world with different opportunities  and challenges. Its simple and inviting to potential users. It leaves the possibilities of what could happen in Playstations world open while at the same time drawing people in.   â€"  Dave Nevogt,  Hubstaff.com 9. Walmart: Save Money. Live Better. This line perfectly resonates with the companys core. Walmart is historically known to be a cost effective place to shop, hence the message of save money, which says just that.  They also sell everything from groceries to apparel, toys to tech, pharmacy products to tire rotations. Hence, live better applies to  the fact that they have something for  every part of your life.   â€"  Reuben Yonatan,  GetVoI

Vancouver BC Resume Writing and Interview Coaching Services

Vancouver BC Resume Writing and Interview Coaching ServicesIf you are looking for resume writing and Vancouver BC interview coaching services then you have found the right place. We will provide our clients with the right guidance, the right resources and help them prepare and boost their chances of getting hired. We have a team of professional writers, who are also professional interviewers and can provide you with top quality resume writing service.Your Vancouver BC resumes writing is your first impression on your interview, it is a representation of your skills and knowledge, so we want to make sure that it is well written and proofread. This means that you can go to Vancouver BC, even if you are an experienced and skilled professional, we want to give you all the resources and training you need to make your resume stand out among the rest. With experience comes wisdom, we would want to see that you know what you are doing and that you get all the help you need from us.We have bee n in the Vancouver BC hiring field for more than 10 years, with a mission to help out the people who need our services. We work with our clients on your particular resume writing and Vancouver BC interview coaching services project. We provide guidance, resources and training to you so that you do not have to worry about anything on this critical first step on your job hunt. We pride ourselves on giving our clients the best service and we are available every day of the week to answer any questions that you may have.We have clients from all walks of life and industries, all with different careers and goals to achieve. We cater to all of your needs and provide you with a comprehensive approach to solve your specific problem. We have experienced, skilled and professional writers, who can help you create a resume that makes your dream come true. We also have a team of interview coaches who can help you prepare and hone your skills and prepare you for your interview.Our Vancouver BC resu mes writing and Vancouver BC interview coaching services can help you get the first job of your career and help you get a raise, promotion or raise in pay. Our experts understand how the corporate world works and they understand the frustration of people who are trying to achieve their goals but are constantly put on the back burner. All of our job seekers and job candidates need all the assistance they can get and we offer the best in resume writing and Vancouver BC interview coaching services.Resume writing and Vancouver BC interview coaching services are not just about a resume and how to write a resume, they are about how to get the most out of your resume and get the results you want. Our job candidates are waiting for you, we will help you climb the corporate ladder, get your foot in the door and be the employee of the month! We will help you get the education you need to compete with other companies, get hired and be a winner in the corporate world.Now that you know what you need to do to succeed and how to make your resume stand out, it is time to let your skills shine. You have all the resources and help you need to get started, so we will walk you through the process. Let us do the legwork for you, so you can relax and enjoy the process of preparing your resume and Vancouver BC interview coaching services.With all the talent and experience that we have in the Vancouver BC hiring field, you can be assured that you will be given the very best service and help you need. We are confident that when you call our Vancouver BC resumes writing and Vancouver BC interview coaching services, you will be pleased with the results. So, what are you waiting for, call us today!

Save yourself time use job search aggregators - Sterling Career Concepts

Save yourself time use job search aggregators Save yourself time: use job search aggregators Want to spend less time searching online job boards? Aggregate job boards pull listings from multiple boards so you dont have to spend valuable search time combing through individual sites. Two of my favorites are SimplyHired.com and Indeed.com. Both sites offer tools such salary calculators,job search widgets, and email alerts. Simply Hired also has an interface with LinkedIn.com, a virtual business networking tool, which allows you to search the LinkedIn network to see if you have a connection to anyone who works for the company to which you are considering applying. Applyingto online job ads should by no means be your primary method of search, and statistically, less than 10% of job seekers find their positions through jobboards. Nonetheless, searching job boardsis stilla method that can bestrategically incorporated into your search campaign. The Bottom Line:Aggregate job boardshelp youminimize the amount of time you spend onlineso you can focus more ofyour energy on networking cultivating warm leads and building relationships with key business decision makers who can help you secure your next position. And thats a good thing!

Important Factors To Consider When Deciding Where To Go To College - CareerAlley

Important Factors To Consider When Deciding Where To Go To College - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Should you be considering a college education, perhaps to enter a particular career field that demands a graduate degree, there are a lot of factors for you to take into consideration. While we dont have room to list them all here, we will highlight some of the more important factors to help you make the right choice when deciding on a college. Photo by bruce mars from Pexels These are some of the factors you need to consider. #1: The location You might want to enroll at a college as far away from home as possible, especially if you are keen on asserting your independence. On the other hand, you might prefer to be nearer your family, so a college nearby might suit you better. The college setting might be important to you as well, whether you prefer the hustle and bustle of city life or the relaxing confines of the countryside. When thinking about the location, you might also consider what companies are based nearby. If you later want to intern at a certain company, you probably want to choose a college that will afford you the opportunity to do so. Take each of these factors into account when youre choosing from the colleges available to you. Should you be considering a college education, perhaps to enter a particular career field that demands a graduate degree, there are a lot of factors for you to take into consideration. Tweet This #2: The cost This is a biggie, of course, because if you cant afford the tuition fees and any ensuing costs, such as paying for rented accommodation, you are going to struggle financially. Thankfully, there are financial aid opportunities for hard-up students, as well as other low-cost ways to get into college, so you dont have to rule out a college education entirely if money is an issue. Still, no matter how financially stable you are, you do need to consider what you can reasonably afford to pay, so consider your current financial situation and the various funding options open to you, and consider the colleges that arent going to cripple you financially. Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay #3: Flexibility If youre looking for a part-time degree course, perhaps because you have a family to consider, or because you are already working, then you need to choose a college that offers you some flexibility of study. Do your research then, and contact the colleges you are interested in to see if they have flexible options available to you. As an example, those interested in a career in healthcare might consider these Grand Canyon University nursing courses, as they offer a range of flexible distance learning courses alongside traditional classroom-based programs. But think about your area of interest, and look for something that can offer you a similar scope for flexible study. Having a college education will provide you with the opportunity to enter into a career with the knowledge and skills that will help you succeed and do well. One of the biggest factors that encourage people to go onto higher education is due to the significant difference in salary between someone with a college degree and someone with a high school education. Wherever you live in the world, college is very expensive. Despite the fact that the average college graduate in leaves college with debt, it is still worth attending college, however, as in the current economic climate, having a degree is necessary for the competitive job market. Low Cost Ways of Getting Into College #4: Chances of success Within your research, Google search those websites that rank colleges and universities based on their graduation and job placement rates. Visit college websites too, as those that are particularly successful are more likely to publish the relevant data to attract new students. Knowing that you are applying to a college that offers you a greater chance of success, possibly because of the level of support they offer students, or because of the quality of their tutors, should offer you greater peace of mind with your choice. Finally Knowing where to apply to college can be a stressful experience for many, but by considering the factors we have listed here, you should be able to narrow down your choices and find the right place of study for you. We hope our advice was useful to you, but share your thoughts with us, and if you have further tips for our readers, please pass on your words of knowledge to us. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to launch your career. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search