Thursday, September 30, 2010

SEO and YOU, the Job Seeker - Part Two

The objective of all On-line Identity Management, regardless of whether the site is for business or personal use, is three-fold:

  1. Maximize the appearances of positive on-line references about a specific person, or company by targeting not only to users that actively search for that person on any Search Engine, but also to those that eventually can reach a person's reference while browsing the web.

  2. Build an on-line identity in cases where the person or company web presence is minimal or nonexistent.

  3. Solve on-line reputation problems. In this case, the process can also be named on-line reputation management, which like those well-versed in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is fast becoming a specialty unto its own.

The rationale for the increase interest in the subject of On-line Identity Management is closely related to the increasing number of constituencies that use the internet as a tool to find information about people. A recent survey by CareerBuilders.com found that 1 in 4 hiring managers used search engines to screen candidates and that one in 10 checked candidates' profiles on social networking sites such as MySpace or Facebook. Further, according to a December 2007 survey by the Ponemon Institute, a privacy research organization, roughly half of U.S. hiring officials use the Internet in vetting job applications.

As long as the Internet continues to be a rich source of information, that provides quick and relatively easy access to seemingly unlimited data combined with the increasing popularity of social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook, and search engines like Google and Yahoo, employers are finding it easier and less expensive to conduct background checks on potential employees and managing your on-line presence has never been more critical to your job search success.


Copyright © 2010, Career Matters. All Rights Reserved.Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2010, Career Matters. Reprinted by permission of Mary Salvino.“Career Matters” is a blog hosted by Mary Salvino, Senior Consultant for SMART Career Planning.com. This blog is dedicated to those who are seeking advice on managing their career and future job opportunities. We welcome readers to share their experiences, post their comments or ask questions about career related matters. For any questions or comments that are better addressed privately, please feel free to e-mail Mary directly at Mary.Salvino@shaw.ca

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

SEO and YOU, the Job Seeker - Part One

Personal branding is defined as the process by which people are identified as a ‘brand’. It is built upon the premise that personal branding leads to success in both your personal life and career. When used correctly, it can help individuals garner influence and accumulate wealth. Personal branding can also involve the application of one's name to various products. Good examples of people who have used personal branding as a marketing tool successfully are the names Donald Trump and Jamie Oliver. Real estate mogul Donald Trump lends his name to everything from fashion accessories to steaks to bottled water and Chef Jamie Oliver, along with his Food Revolution, is happy to put his name on things like cookware and home fragrances.

With the unemployment rate being what it is, job seekers will have to re-think the way they are positioning themselves in front of potential hiring managers. Job hunters will have to find ways to place themselves ahead of the curve when it comes to taking advantage of social media.

As digital networking tools i.e. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, become more mainstream, job seekers will have to find new ways to market and maximize their knowledge, value and influence by connecting, interacting and potentially cashing in on their own circles of networks.

On-line personal branding, sometimes called On-line Image Management (OIM) or Personal Reputation Management (PRM) is a kissing cousin of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). They all incorporate a set of methods for generating a distinct and distinguishable presence on the World Wide Web. While all properly optimized websites are designed to bring traffic to the site, the main difference between SEO and OIM/PRM is, that in the case of the former, there can be a multitude of keywords to drive traffic to the site[s] and, in the case of the latter, the only keyword is the person’s name.

On- line Identity Management typically involves participation in social media sites like Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, Twitter, and other online communities and community websites, and can also be related to blogging. If you want/need to increase your ranking on any of these sites, it is critical that you, as a job seeker, are not only familiar with all of them, but also know how to use them to your advantage.


Copyright © 2010, Career Matters. All Rights Reserved.Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2010, Career Matters. Reprinted by permission of Mary Salvino.“Career Matters” is a blog hosted by Mary Salvino, Senior Consultant for SMART Career Planning.com. This blog is dedicated to those who are seeking advice on managing their career and future job opportunities. We welcome readers to share their experiences, post their comments or ask questions about career related matters. For any questions or comments that are better addressed privately, please feel free to e-mail Mary directly at Mary.Salvino@shaw.ca

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Have the Itch to Switch? - Interview Do’s

When you finally succumb to the “Itch to Switch”, there are always some basic Do’s to follow when it comes to your interview:

  1. ALWAYS show enthusiasm when it comes to the job and the company.

  2. ALWAYS talk about how you have the skills, education and experience to perform the job.

  3. ALWAYS talk about how you can have an affect upon the company’s bottom line i.e. how you can make money for the company or save money for the company.

  4. ALWAYS concentrate upon what you can do for the company rather than what the company can do for you.

  5. ALWAYS ask intelligent questions, i.e. not answers that can be found on the company website.

  6. ALWAYS use the STAR approach to answering questions - Situation (that needed to be solved); Tasks (required to solve the problem); Action (taken/needed and how); Results.

  7. ALWAYS practice your answers to basic interview questions.

  8. ALWAYS be nice to the receptionist (gatekeepers).

  9. ALWAYS bring your Brag Book to an interview along with extra copies of your résumé.

  10. ALWAYS ask for a business card - You will need it to send a Thank You note (within 24 hours of the interview.)



Copyright © 2010, Career Matters. All Rights Reserved.Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2010, Career Matters. Reprinted by permission of Mary Salvino.“Career Matters” is a blog hosted by Mary Salvino, Senior Consultant for SMART Career Planning.com. This blog is dedicated to those who are seeking advice on managing their career and future job opportunities. We welcome readers to share their experiences, post their comments or ask questions about career related matters. For any questions or comments that are better addressed privately, please feel free to e-mail Mary directly at Mary.Salvino@shaw.ca

Monday, September 20, 2010

Have the Itch to Switch? - Interview Don’ts

When you finally succumb to the “Itch to Switch”, there are always some basic Don’ts to follow when it comes to your interview:

  1. NEVER blame anyone for your performance problems. - YOU are 100% responsible for your performance.

  2. NEVER show negativity towards your (soon to be) former boss, subordinates or peers.

  3. NEVER say that your current job is a stepping-stone to better things.

  4. NEVER ask a question that the hiring manager should not know. Interrogating the interviewer will make them defensive.

  5. NEVER tell a hard-lick story to get sympathy. Interviews are not the place to share the detail of your personal life.

  6. NEVER give answers that do not relate to the interviewer’s questions. If you are unsure of the question or unsure if you have answered the question, ask the interview to repeat the question and then ask if you have answered it.

  7. NEVER go to an interview unprepared. DO YOUR RESEARCH!

  8. NEVER go into an interview assuming that your résumé will speak for itself.

  9. NEVER call the interviewer by their first name unless you have been specifically asked to do so.

  10. NEVER let your guard down during the interview.



Copyright © 2010, Career Matters. All Rights Reserved.Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2010, Career Matters. Reprinted by permission of Mary Salvino.“Career Matters” is a blog hosted by Mary Salvino, Senior Consultant for SMART Career Planning.com. This blog is dedicated to those who are seeking advice on managing their career and future job opportunities. We welcome readers to share their experiences, post their comments or ask questions about career related matters. For any questions or comments that are better addressed privately, please feel free to e-mail Mary directly at Mary.Salvino@shaw.ca

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

WARNING! Bad Résumés Can Be Hazardous To Your Wealth! - Part Two

If you have sent out dozens (maybe even hundreds) of résumés and not even received a nibble, then something is wrong with your résumé, it needs to be fixed, and it needs to be fixed, NOW!

Professional résumé writers know that a résumé should be long enough so that it provides a concise, adequate, and accurate description of an applicant's employment history and skills. They understand that a résumé is a marketing tool in which the content should be adapted to suit each individual job application and/or applications aimed at a particular industry. Gone are the days when job seekers are able to circumvent the job application process and reach potential employers through a direct e-mail contact and résumé blasting.

A résumé, whether electronic or on paper, is what makes the “first impression” on recruiters or hiring managers who are screening candidates. Similar to a product advertisement, a résumé will either draw the reader in and generate interest OR be skimmed, ignored or even generate a negative reaction.

In this difficult economy, with thousands of applicants for every job opening, candidates must stand out from the competition. With a well-written, well-designed, powerful résumé, a job seeker will get more calls, be granted more interviews and find a new job faster.

  • Time is money for both the job seeker and the recruiter, ATS (Applicant Tracking Software) is one more gate-keeping tool used by HR recruiting professionals . Humans never read the majority of résumés. The majority of résumés sent to employers via e-mail are scanned by ATS that enables the electronic handling of company's recruitment needs. This software is used to store and retrieve job information, as well as identify and matched applicants to the specific positions.


  • Recruiters Don’t Have Time For Bad Resumes. Even if you have outstanding qualifications, recruiters don’t have the time to read between the lines of a poorly written resume or try to search for the “good stuff”. They are likely sifting through hundreds or even thousands of candidates for every job opening. They are likely to only read the top third of the first page of your résumé (the part which shows up job the computer screen without scrolling down) - your summary of qualifications and your most recent company and position. A single typo, a run-on sentence, bad grammar, unclear job descriptions and missing accomplishments are all examples of résumé poison.


  • Writing Résumés Require a Specific Set of Skills Writing and formatting a résumé, just like writing and designing an advertising campaign, requires a specific set of skills, knowledge and techniques.
    Professional résumé writers possess the following:

    1. A strong understanding of both business writing and promotional writing

    2. A strong knowledge of the English language, grammar, sentence structure and related rules

    3. A good eye for design and layout options

    4. A good understanding of résumé writing best practices, standards, keywords and trends

  • Résumé Writing Requires Objectivity. When you are writing about yourself and your own experiences, it’s difficult to be objective. In most cases, job hunters who write their own résumé are inclined to downplay their skills and experience; they don’t use powerful, descriptive words and leave out key accomplishments. A professional résumé writer will know the best ways to highlight your accomplishments, promote your work experiences and play up your skills and education.


  • Professional Résumé Writers Know The Power Keywords & Industry TermsIf you are reading this article, you probably found it through an on-line keyword search. Perhaps you went to Google and typed in “Should I hire a résumé writer?” or went to Yahoo and typed “What are the benefits of professional resume writing?” When you did that, the search engine recognized specific keywords and led you to this article.


  • Recruiters will use this is the same method to find your résumé. If you are job hunting you should have your résumé posted on the big job websites such as Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com. and have a profile on LinkedIn.com. Companies that are hiring, pay to get access to these resume databases and use a keyword or content search to find candidates.

    If your résumé includes the valid or most relevant keywords that recruiters use to find candidates in your area of expertise, your résumé will come up in results. If your résumé has very few of those keywords, you will come up at the bottom of the search results.
    For example, a job title of, “Computer Programmer” could also be “Visual Basic Programmer” or “Visual Basic Coder”. A professional résumé writer would identify the keywords used in the industry and incorporate them throughout your résumé content.

  • You Can Focus on Your Current Job or Other Job Hunting Activities While They Write
    Hiring someone to write your résumé will free up your time to focus on other job hunting activities.


  • These activities should include leveraging online social networking on websites such as Linked In or Twitter. Attending face-to-face networking functions and industry events. Researching target companies in your geographic region, and, leveraging online job search websites such as Monster.com, Careerbuilder, Yahoo Hot Jobs and Craigslist.


The bottom line is that when it comes to your future, remember that old adage of, “Penny wise and pound foolish.” A powerful, well-written résumé will get a recruiter's attention, generate interest in you and your qualifications, and has a much higher chance of getting you to the interview stage. A weak or poorly written resume will have the opposite effect i.e., directly to the “no” pile or folder. So, do yourself a favour and hire a pro!


Copyright © 2010, Career Matters. All Rights Reserved.Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2010, Career Matters. Reprinted by permission of Mary Salvino.“Career Matters” is a blog hosted by Mary Salvino, Senior Consultant for SMART Career Planning.com. This blog is dedicated to those who are seeking advice on managing their career and future job opportunities. We welcome readers to share their experiences, post their comments or ask questions about career related matters. For any questions or comments that are better addressed privately, please feel free to e-mail Mary directly at Mary.Salvino@shaw.ca

Monday, September 13, 2010

WARNING! Bad Résumés Can Be Hazardous To Your Wealth! - Part One

Professional résumé writers are essentially marketing specialists of your professional profile whose job is to develop a compelling message that gets you hired.

Yes, a good résumés service will cost some money. However, when you consider that every month an ineffective resume fails to land an interview and a job is a month without a pay cheque, it might be worth the cost. If you’re talking frugal, you’re talking my language. When it comes to bargain résumés, the stated price is often just the tip of the iceberg. With all of the access to free or seemingly “cheap” résumés, a larger cost goes unseen. Here are some points to keep in mind:

Google search for “free résumés templates” returned a whopping 919,000 results if 0.33 seconds and a search for “free résumé guides” returned 8,7200,000 in 0.25 seconds. So, why bother spending your hard-earned cash for something you can get for free?

  • Cheap résumés most likely come from factories - there are resume factories just like there are wing nut factories; each spitting out a high volume of product that all pretty much look alike. While that's fine for wing-nuts, résumés, on the other hand, are marketing documents that should be individualized to each particular job seeker. A résumé factory that’s getting by on a razor thin profit margin simply can’t afford to dedicate much time – if any – to personal attention. Résumé factories ask the client to fill out a questionnaire, that information is then fed into a résumé template, and the wing nut (résumé) is spit out at the other end of the shop floor. With the job market the worst in decades, do you really want to be presenting yourself to prospective employers as just another wing nut?

  • A cheap or ineffective résumé that doesn’t land interviews gets expensive, fast. If you have been laid off or otherwise lost a job that paid $42,000 per year, and you’re simply trying to get back into the job market in that same salary bracket. By doing some simple math, that means that for every week you remain unemployed, you’re losing just over $800.00 in potential wages. Now consider that your run-of-the-mill “factory” résuméis going straight into the circular file of employers just as soon as it hits their desks; other résumés are getting favourable attention and candidates are getting called in for interviews. Now, that “cheap” résuméis costing you $800.00 per week, for every week that your phone doesn’t ring, you are not called in for an interview and you don't have a job. If you have lost a job that paid $75,000 annually, then you’re out a whopping $1,442.00 each week your résumé doesn’t score. Tack that onto the price of that $50 “bargain” résumé, and you’ll begin to get an idea of the true price you’ve just paid for a document that has a competitive disadvantage in the marketplace.

  • Look for value, not price. When you consider key factors: the credentials of the writer, the experience he or she brings to the table, the willingness of that writer to conduct an interview, either by phone or face-to-face, to fully explore your work background and goals and you don’t have to take out a second mortgage to get a résumé that’s polished, professional and helps you put your best foot forward.

  • Professional résumé writers don’t make the mistakes that other writers make. They know how to write the perfect cover letter. Their résumés always have the right mix of experience, qualifications and education. They are aware that there are an increasing numbers of job seekers and employers are using Internet-based job search engines to find and fill employment positions and understand that longer résumés are needed for applicants to differentiate and distinguish themselves.


Bargain hunt the price of coffee makers and laundry detergent and paper plates. But, think twice before bargain hunting a cheap resume writing service or trying to do it yourself.


Copyright © 2010, Career Matters. All Rights Reserved.Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2010, Career Matters. Reprinted by permission of Mary Salvino.“Career Matters” is a blog hosted by Mary Salvino, Senior Consultant for SMART Career Planning.com. This blog is dedicated to those who are seeking advice on managing their career and future job opportunities. We welcome readers to share their experiences, post their comments or ask questions about career related matters. For any questions or comments that are better addressed privately, please feel free to e-mail Mary directly at Mary.Salvino@shaw.ca

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Common Misconceptions About Career Management

By Ford R. Myers (guest contributor)
President, Career Potential, LLC

You get your clothes cleaned when they're dirty. You pay your bills each month. You see your doctor once or twice a year. You send cards to family members at each birthday. So, why is it that most people (maybe even you!) don't integrate career management into their regular routine?

Most individuals have a reactive -- not a "proactive" -- approach to their careers. Thinking that you only need to "fix your career when it's broken" (i.e., when you're laid off, downsized or just plain miserable) is a very unfortunate misconception that will seriously limit your career success!

Here are 10 other common misconceptions about career management:


1. The most qualified candidate gets the job offer
WRONG! Many times candidates with lesser qualifications get job offers simply because they’ve prepared and presented themselves in a more compelling way. In other words, they’re better self-marketers! Being "qualified" is not enough. You must CONVINCE the employer that you're the best candidate for the job.


2. As long as I have a job, I don’t have to work on my career.

WRONG! Even if you’re employed today, you never know what may happen tomorrow! To avoid a career disaster, you should incorporate “Perpetual Career Management” into your professional life. Vital tasks like keeping your Accomplishment Stories up to date, or networking regularly with professionals in your industry, should be incorporated into your regular routine.


3. My professional education stopped when I graduated from school.

WRONG! You should always look for ways to advance your professional knowledge. Attending seminars, reading trade journals, pursuing certifications, etc. – these activities should be a part of your ongoing professional development process. It’s imperative that every professional remain current in his or her field.


4. Employers always offer the most generous compensation they can afford.

WRONG! Employers expect that you’ve done salary research, and they anticipate dynamic negotiations. In fact, they’ll often be disappointed and question your candidacy if you DON'T negotiate. Employers usually state a low salary offer merely as a “trial balloon,” to see how you’ll react – and there’s almost always room to improve on the initial compensation offer.

5. If I just do a good job, my position will be secure.
WRONG! With corporate mergers, downsizings, outsourcing and a shaky economy, NO job is secure. You must take full responsibility for your own career security.


6. My résumé is the only document I need to search for a job.

WRONG! Your résumé is just one of the 10 “tools” you need in your “Job Seeker’s Tool Kit.” In order to land a quality position in today’s market, you’ll also need Accomplishment Stories, Positioning and Departure Statements, a Professional Biography, a Target Company List, and many other vital components.

7. Recruiters will find me a job, so I don't have to search for jobs myself.
WRONG! Although recruiters can be helpful, the most successful way to find a new opportunity in today’s job market is through networking. It’s fine to use Executive Search Firms, but they’re just one vehicle for you to leverage. Only YOU can find you a new job.

8. Employers are responsible for managing my career path.
WRONG! This statement might have been true in our father’s or grandfather’s time. But now, it’s “every man for himself.” Only YOU have the power to take control of your career and manage it for success. So, make the most of it! Get support and guidance from a qualified Career Consultant if you feel that this would be helpful.

9. Networking is only for entrepreneurs and jobseekers – I don’t need to network now.
WRONG! It’s a smart career move to ALWAYS be networking, no matter what’s going in your professional life. If you don’t need help at this time, build-up your networking power by helping others. Consistent, effective networking will always pay big dividends! It’s just a natural part of ongoing career management.

10. Most good jobs are listed on Internet job sites and in newspapers, so they’re easy to identify.
WRONG! Only one percent of job postings that are on the Web or in newspapers are any good! And that’s where you'll be competing against 99% of all the other job seekers! Since these odds are not in your favor, you should spend your time wisely on this search technique and complement it with networking to have a well-rounded job search strategy.

Now that you’re familiar with these deadly career misconceptions, you can easily reverse them to have a very positive impact on your career. The first step is to change your thinking, and then to practice productive new behaviors in a consistent manner!

Copyright © 2010, Career Potential, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2010, Career Potential, LLC. Reprinted by permission of Ford R. Myers, a nationally-known Career Expert and author of “Get The Job You Want, Even When No One’s Hiring.”