When it comes to networking, going out there and meeting other professionals may play a big part, but it’s actually maintaining and keeping track of those contacts that will be most important thing you can do. Whether you are already employed or looking for a job, you never really know when someone in your network may actually prove to be the next MVP on your career path. That’s why it is so important to keep track of your contacts, even when you don’t need anything and aren’t looking for a new job. How can you keep track of these valuable network connections?

A good way to manage your network and keep in contact is to send periodic messages to each individual on a regular basis. To make this easier, you may want to set a goal of sending a few messages to a small number of individuals each week. These messages can be rather simple – maybe just a “hello, how are you?” or a link to an article that reminds you of them. These small notes can go a long way and will make world of a difference in the long run.

Social and business networking sites such as LinkedIn are good ways to find old connections and make new ones, as well. In recent months, LinkedIn has seen a huge increase in membership as more and more professionals jump on the site in hopes of building up their networks. Using LinkedIn can help make the challenge of creating and managing your network much easier, so consider getting a LinkedIn account if you don’t have one already (we have a great introductory post on LinkedIn and all of its features here).

More often than not, individuals lose touch of their networks because they don’t feel a “need” to keep in touch or don’t think they have the time. Later down the line, however, these same individuals may find that they need a network for a number of reasons, but haven’t maintained one. Once you’ve lost communication with your network, it can be a challenge to reconnect. This is one reason it is so important to build it up while you are still employed and keep track of it. But what happens if you’ve already lost touch with your network? Is there any way to regain your relationships? How can you rekindle the connections you established before?

If you are past the point of maintaining your network and find yourself needing to reconnect, it is important that your first few messages discuss things that will remind the individuals of you and your previous relationships. If possible, you may want to review old messages you sent to your contacts before you speak with them again. Consider mentioning things like when you last spoke, what you discussed and how you left things off.

Once you decide to send a message to reconnect, it’s best to start off by putting the focus on the other person first. Remember that the point of reconnecting is to reestablish the relationship.  Start off by asking the other person how they are doing and avoid stating what you need outright (for example, if you are looking for a job at their company or need to meet a mutual connection). Once you start building towards your relationship again, then you will be able to mention what you are looking for. Asking for something in this way will prompt a much better response from your connection.

Overall, the best thing you can do is simply make an effort to maintain your network from the very start! You never really know when someone may be the connection you needed, so treat everyone in your network as a valuable player in the success of your career.

By Andrew C. Abraham

I was always very ambivalent to the advantages of entering into a sales position upon graduation, but I soon realised how these skills are applicable to all aspects of my life. I remember shortly after being promoted to sales manager, I was training a group of newbies on the sales methodology of our company, citing different non-professional life situations where sales acumen was advantageous to succeed – picking up the opposite sex in a bar, meeting your in-laws for the first time, negotiating a pay rise, pitching to investors…the list is endless. Job hunting is no different, and job-seekers can learn many qualities that successful salespeople possess.

1.   Salespeople create value: If you were to ask many people what they believe to be the most important characteristic of a salesperson, they might say “persuasion” or the “gift of the gab” or “persistence”. While these are important, the fundamental ingredient is creating value for the client. A great salesperson creates a perceived value that justifies purchasing their product or service. Job-seekers need to do the same and demonstrate they can add value to a company that outweighs the cost of purchasing their labor. After all, a position is available so the company can solve a problem, not because they want to increase their headcount.

2.   Salespeople focus on benefits, not features: Creating value therefore switches the focus from yourself to the employer. The product that I used to sell was a media monitoring service that helped companies track press mentions online. The software came with some fancy analysis and distribution tools that were useful also. One of my colleagues was a master salesman. He consistently exceeded his monthly targets and appeared in the top ten list of salespeople within the company globally. If you ever listened to him on the phone, you’d understand why so many clients had bought from him. He never focused on the myriad of great features, but rather the benefits that one or two of them would add to the client’s operation. As a job-seeker it’s important you don’t just list your achievements to future employers, but focus on a specialized skill-set that will unequivocally benefit them.

3.   Salespeople handle objections: I don’t recall one sale I ever made where everything ran completely smoothly and the customer didn’t require any convincing whatsoever – “Yes Sir, your product is great, don’t bother about telling me the rest, I’m sold”. If only life was so simple. The truth is that in every sale and every interview, you’ll face objections. The customer is always looking for reasons not to purchase something and the best salespeople overcome these objections resoundingly. Objections should not be viewed as a negative sign though! Oh no, on the contrary, objections are a “buying signal.” It usually means that the customer is considering your offer but needs to be assured before proceeding. Therefore, if your interviewer ever confronts you about your lack of experience, or apparent job hopping, be ready to smash the objection back over the net!

4.   Salespeople are succinct: They don’t ramble, they articulate value in the fewest words possible. Do I really need to say much more about this one?

5.   Sales people are persuasive: Yes, the power of persuasion works! A great salesperson is able to clinch a deal, just when the customer is about to walk away. Through solid arguments or sound reasoning, they can coax a customer into a purchase at the very last minute or when doubt tops confidence. We used to have job-seekers undertake a little exercise when they were interviewing for our International Management Trainee program. At the end of the personal interview we’d ask candidates to stand up and convince us in thirty seconds why they were the best person for the job. Often, if the candidate was persuasive enough, we would overlook other indiscretions that occurred beforehand.

6.   Salespeople are good story-tellers: Nothing beats anecdotal advice when it comes to convincing others of your argument. If you’re selling skincare products for example, you can praise the effects of clearer, moister skin, or you can tell buyers the story about how one of your regular customers is often confused as her daughter’s older sister. As a job-seeker, telling a hiring manager that you’re a team-player might help your cause, but telling them about the time you worked 28 hours straight with a team to meet a deadline has so much more impact. People don’t just want to hear about what you can do but rather how you’ve done it before. Stories are the best way to communicate your message.

7.   Salespeople are good conversationalists: You might have heard the saying, “People buy People first”, well it’s true when you consider consumer psychology. It doesn’t matter how great your product is, if people don’t like you, they won’t buy from you. Salespeople have a knack for building a rapport with people by getting to know them. There were so many times where I was demonstrating our website on the phone to people and the pages would take ages to load. In these times I needed to be equipped with enough conversational material to get me through to the continuation of the demonstration. A good conversation illustrates that you care about bonding with the person on more than just a business level. Job-seekers should be able to make smalltalk with hiring managers in the same regard, such as immediately prior to and after the interview. Once you leave, the interviewer should be left with a feeling of “Hey I liked that guy!”

8.   Salespeople can take rejection: Let’s face it, you’re probably not going to get the first job that you applied for. I remember I was rejected from McDonalds when I was 15 (I still don’t know why, but that’s besides the point anyway) and there have been many other instances where I wasn’t the lucky candidate. Salespeople understand that it’s a numbers game, and success will elude us unless we persevere. For every sale you make, you’ll face at least 9 rejections. The odds are just as bad for job-seekers. Staying motivated when every employer so far has declined your candidature is difficult, but necessary. Conveying a sense of desperation comes across as too strong, so it’s important to be resilient and understand rejection is a part of the game.

Overall, sales skills aren’t just useful for job hunting but they transcend to other areas also. Perhaps I should recommend job-seekers to pursue sales positions initially to be armed with these skills for subsequent career moves?

What other skills can we learn from salespeople that also aid job-seekers? Interested to hear your thoughts too. Cheers.

About the author: Andrew is Founder of Gradkin, a Branding and Networking platform to connect Candidates with Employers. Please share your thoughts on his careers blog at http://blog.gradkin.com. He offers a unique perspective on Gen-Y, being one himself and having recruited and managed this generation. His previous positions in Sales, Communications and Human Resources have given him an insight into understanding what truly motivates this new generation of Millennials.

Currently, the U.S. unemployment rate is at 9.5% and thousands of job seekers are in search for jobs.  Even if you currently have a job, you may be thinking that now might be the time to start looking again.  I have been interviewing candidates for the past two years for my company and have seen job applicants do the right things and the wrong things.  Here is my best advice on how to ace your next interview:

1. Prepare: Be early, know exactly how to get to the interview and make sure you allow enough time for traffic.  Arrive calm, relaxed and don’t forget to eat beforehand!  My first interview lasted 4 hours because I had to interview with 5 different groups of people.  I had no idea it would take that long and I was famished at the end!
2. Be Confident: Walk into the interview like you will get the job.  Imagine a scale of a 1-10 and walk in feeling like an 8-10. Show enthusiasm and interest about the job and let them know that you want it.  It is a red flag to the interviewer if you don’t seem interested.
3. Ask: Always come prepared with a few questions to ask at the end of an interview.
4. Practice: Do a google search for sample interview questions and prepare answers for all of the questions.  In one of my classes in college, we had to stand up in front of the class and the Professor randomly picked from the list of sample interview questions.  We had to respond to each of the questions in front of the class.  It is amazing how I can now quickly come up with an example for most questions just because I prepared the answers.  You may not get these exact questions but I guarantee that you will be prepared for any question.  Also, before going to the interview, review the job description and know how your experiences match each qualification. Be prepared to give examples!
5. Have a conversation: Know that not everyone who interviews you will be testing your knowledge and skills.  Some people interview employees for the sole purpose of seeing if the person is a team player and if they can see themselves working with the person in the future.  This is why it is important to think of it as having a conversation.  Also, don’t assume that the person with the highest role will be making the decision. Input from everyone may be taken into consideration as to who will get the job.
6. Relax: Ever had to do a panel interview?  Don’t let them intimidate you!  In my industry, we have a lot of stress and pressure placed on us by the client so a panel interview helps us see how the person will be able to communicate to the client under pressure.  If you think panel interviews are terrible, just think about how much faster you will get out of the interview by doing it as a group rather than an interview with each person answering the same questions over and over!
7. Thank: Ask for business cards at the end so that you can send a thank you email.  I am shocked by how few people actually follow through with this because it is so important.

Good luck to you on your next interview!   You will nail it!  What is your best interview advice?

About the author: Classy Career Girl is a consultant at by day and a MBA student by night.  She blogs about her journey through business school while working full time and loves researching and writing about career advice, work-life balance and stress management.  You can read more about journey on her website www.classycareergirl.com

By Phil Rosenberg

Most job seekers leave their recommendations up to chance when careful planning can help you tell the most important parts of your story to a potential employer.

The extent of most candidates’ reference planning stops at asking prior bosses, peers and clients to give a reference. While it’s polite to ask your reference first, it’s just not enough.

Do you know exactly what the reference is going to say to a potential employer? Since this is something you can control, why leave it up to chance?

Why Manage References?

Most candidates leave the content of their references up to chance because they don’t know what their references are saying… placing their faith that it will be something “positive.”

Just because a reference is positive, doesn’t mean it provides the help (or the right type of help) that you may need.

1. ”Positive” references come in many flavors: Will your reference give you just an OK ref, a good ref, or a truly great reference? The difference between these types of “positive” references can be communicated by tone, pacing, enthusiasm, and word choice. Do you know how “positive” of a reference you are being given (may not correlate to the positive reviews you got)?
2. References each tell a part of your story: A “positive” reference may naturally talk about the same aspect of your performance as the rest of your references. On one hand, it’s nice that everyone says the same thing, but it limits the outside corroboration that references provide your personal story. You’re typically better represented if each reference focuses on a different skill that you bring to an employer. Often the references you choose truly want to help, but don’t know what to say that will help you.
3. Reference doesn’t know what’s important to the company: Will your reference choose to talk about what a great team player you were, not realizing you are interviewing for a role where individual contribution is more important than collaboration? Will your well-meaning reference talk about the great job you did as a generalist, when your prospective employer is looking for specific subject matter expertise?

Most candidates leave these types of issues with references up to chance. Since there is so much out of your control in job search, isn’t it in a candidate’s best interest to actively manage the things they can control?

Now that you realize some of the risks of unmanaged references, let’s talk about how to manage your references.

How to manage references:

Managing references can be uncomfortable for many candidates. After all, many of your references are people you used to work for, and who are doing you a favor.

How can you manage your references, without feeling like (or appearing like) you’re telling your former boss what to do?

1. When you ask for the reference: Ask on the phone or in person, not through email. Have a conversation, explain your situation, ask for their advice. Chances are the people you are asking to serve as a reference were at one time mentoring you and taking an active interest in your career. Towards the end of the conversation, after they have agreed to serve as your reference, also ask your reference if they would be so kind as to focus on specific accomplishments or skills you exhibited when you worked for them. This not only serves as a reminder (it may have been a while since you were a direct report), you can also let them know that you have other references covering different areas of your experience.
2. Follow up before each anticipated hiring manager call: When you expect that a specific company will call for a reference, make a call to your reference (an email is acceptable here) reminding them that they agreed to be a reference. Make sure they are available (not out of town), and give them a heads up (so they will know the employer call isn’t a sales call). Take the opportunity here to suggest the reference can help you by fine tuning the message – mention that the company is looking for ways to cut costs, so mentioning some of the process improvement projects that you led and the savings you generated would be a big help.
3. Don’t try to put words into your ref’s mouth: Suggesting topics and areas of hiring manager interest is OK, scripting words for the reference is not. Telling your reference exactly what you want them to say can have unfortunate results – if it comes across as scripted or unnatural to the employer, recruiter, or HR staff, the reference (and therefore you) can lose credibility. Worse, a reference may resent this or may feel it’s unethical, potentially alienating an ally.
4. Make sure you know how they answer the most important question: “If you had a need for someone with X’s skills, would you hire them again?”

By the time an employer or recruiter calls your references, you are being seriously considered for a position, often a finalist… or THE finalist. References that unknowingly change the employer’s perception of you can kill your chances for the job – even if your reference had the best of intentions.

By knowing what your references are likely to say and offering hints of what an employer is seeking can help you guarantee that you’re getting the maximum help from your references.

Do you know exactly what your references are saying about you?

About the author: Phil Rosenberg is President of reCareered, a career coaching service and website.  Phil runs the Career Change Central group, one of Linkedins largest groups for job seekers.  An active blogger about social media and career change, Phil’s articles have been republished by Business Week, The Wall Street Journal, AOL, FastCompany, CIO, ZDnet, The Examiner and the leading job/career/recruiting sites.  Phil can be contacted at phil.reCareered@gmail.com.

Have you attended any networking events this summer? I just RSVP’d for an upcoming networking event in my area and I have to say, I always get excited at the prospect of meeting new people at events like these. Different people go to networking events for different reasons. People may attend networking events because they were invited by a friend, have seen an ad online, want to fill an open weeknight with a social event or have done some research on professional groups in the area and want to get involved. Whatever the reason may be, networking events can provide great opportunities for professionals to meet at a casual event without any pressure. These events serve as great avenues for creating new business and promoting products or services. More importantly, though, these events are meant to establish meaningful contacts and build relationships.

Whether you’re a seasoned veteran when it comes to networking events or just getting started, it’s worth taking note of the people you can expect to meet. Since I’ve started my career, I’ve been to quite a few networking events and have found there are some individuals you’re almost certainly guaranteed to meet while you’re out. So who can you expect to see at your next networking event?

The Connector – Do you know someone who seems to know everybody, enjoys meeting people and likes to help others make the right connections? That person is a connector. If you attend a networking event and know one or meet one, stick by their side! How can you spot a connector? You may have met the connector through another connector, know them from a previous job, went to college together or happen to meet them by chance. Personally, these are my favorite individuals to meet. They are friendly and easy to talk to, good at listening and best of all, this can all actually work for you. What do I mean by that last part? Connectors love networking and understand the importance of it, so these are the people who will help bring people to your life and add value to your networking. At a networking event, they will introduce you to tons of great people and help facilitate your conversations; however, in the end it’s really up to you to seal the deal so don’t expect the connector to do all the networking for you.

The Promoter – We’ve all encountered this person at a networking event. You may find yourself in the midst of networking with one or several other professionals when suddenly someone quickly jumps in, introduces themselves to everyone in the conversation, shakes hands, gives their elevator speech and simultaneously hands out business cards to everyone. The promoter may have a strategy to work the room in an effort to hand out their cards. Whether they choose to only hand out their cards or exchange with others, you’ll find they talk to a lot of people but don’t stay with any one in particular for very long. In the end, it never hurts to take a card or give a card at a networking event, so go ahead and take a card from the next promoter you meet!

The Social Butterfly – Professional networking events often come in the form of cocktail hours to attract attendees with free drinks while they meet and greet; however, these events may also attract another kind of attendee: the social butterfly. This is the person who lives for the free drink and the party. At a networking event, the social butterfly will most likely hang out with people they already know and just want to have a good time. While there’s nothing wrong with having a drink or talking with familiar faces, it’s important to remember that networking events are meant for business, too! You may find that it’s all about the social aspect for the social butterfly (hence the name) and that they never even intended to discuss business at all!

The Quiet One – This may be the person standing in the corner holding onto a drink and watching the event as it unfolds. For one reason or another, you may or may not have found yourself in this situation in the past. If you see someone who is alone, why don’t you take a step up and go talk to them? They may be new to the area, have come alone, or are just as nervous as you are. They could be shy and reluctant and may be standing there in hopes someone will come up to them first. Who knows, it could end up being a great connection for your network!

The Deal Closer – This person is all about selling and closing the deal. If you encounter a deal closer, you will quickly realize it because they will likely keep the conversation focused on their products, services, etc. Opposite of the social butterfly, they are ALL about business at networking events. They want to sell to everyone they can. They may look to sell their services and even try to set appointments right there at the networking event.

The Mentor – The mentor can be your boss, an executive level individual in your organization, an older family member, friend or acquaintance. Mentors should be the people who model success principles that you can you take in your own personal life. They are great to follow and shadow at networking events because they can introduce you to other established professionals very much like themselves. These people want you to grow and succeed so they will be happy to help you in any way they can. Going to a networking event with the mentor is a great opportunity so really try to soak in as much as you can. It would be extremely helpful to take note of how the mentor interacts and behaves at the networking event. You can use this to your advantage the next time you’re at a networking event on your own.

Did we miss anyone on our list? Who have you encountered at your previous networking events?

Image courtesy of: cen.cornell.edu

In the workplace, you’re bound to make a few mistakes throughout the course of your career. Unfortunately, these mistakes happen, whether we like it or not. Many individuals may feel nervous about owning up to a mistake or beat themselves up over it, but it’s actually what you DO about your error that is the most important. What’s the best way to handle your next mishap at work? Try these four steps:

1. Admit to the mistake. One of the worst things you can do after you’ve made a mistake is to try and hide it. It may seem like the easiest way out of the situation at the time, but it will only make matters worse. Instead, it’s best to simply own up to your mistake and it will show that you can take some responsibility. When admitting to your mistake, however, avoid making excuses or getting defensive, as both of these will lead to less than favorable responses from your boss. Just own up to your mistake and your employer will be much more understanding and will appreciate your honesty.
2. Have a plan ready to fix the mistake. This may be the most important thing you can do to rectify the problem and it will make a world of a difference on how your boss reacts. Having a potential solution ready to present will show your boss that you understand the severity of the error and are willing to fix it immediately. This is important for your boss because he/she want to know that you understand what went wrong and that it will never happen again. Regardless if your boss chooses to implement your solution or comes up with an entirely new one, he/she will respect that you’ve given it some thought and taken initiative in the first place.
3. Correct your mistake. This may or may not require you to work with your boss. There are two possible scenarios: either your boss will approve your solution and ask you to follow through or he/she will take the steps necessary to solve the error themself. Whatever the conclusion may be, be sure to follow up and let your boss know you are willing to do whatever you can to help.
4. Explain how you plan to ensure it doesn’t happen again. It is extremely important to prove to your boss that you understand what happened and how it happened, and that you’re equipped to keep it from happening again.

With the onset of the 2010 World Cup quickly approaching, many of us will find ourselves glued to the TV as we watch and cheer on our favorite soccer teams from around the globe. Players will bring fierce competition to the pitch as they strive to beat out international opponents for the coveted gold cup.

In many ways, the job seeking process can be compared to our favorite World Cup soccer teams. In the job hunt, the job seeker can take on the positions of various players as each represents a different stage of the process.  Let’s take a moment to go through the different team positions and how they represent the levels of your job search, and what you should be doing at each stage you follow through:

Step 1 of the job hunt: You are the Goalkeeper

As a goalkeeper, you’re somewhat safe in home territory. Being in this position can be helpful at the beginning of your job search, because you’re at a point where you can step back and assess the current situation right in front of your eyes. This is the best spot to be in when you’re doing research and working on your hiring materials, such as writing your cover letter, updating your resume or filling out an application. It is also a good time to consider devising a strategy or some tactics to make the most of your job search.

Step 2 of the job hunt: Moving on to the Defensive Level

The next thing you’ll want to do is take on the role of defense. As a defender, your main task is to show that you’re willing to beat out the competition, why you’re the best fit for the employer and that you really, really want the job. Sure, there may be other good candidates out there, but at this stage, you should be able to defend your value and prove that YOU are the best choice. You can do this in a number of ways, including simply taking a proactive approach by contacting and introducing yourself to recruiters or hiring personnel to show your interest. Many job seekers wait it out for a job opening or wait for recruiters to seek them out, but taking this first step will give you an extra edge over those candidates who remain passive.

Step 3 of the job hunt: The most important level at Midfield

Just like in any actual soccer game, the midfield level often involves the most work because they play both offense and defense. The most important role you will play on your job seeking process will be at this level. The midfield (middle ground) is the link between all of your efforts and the best stage to set up the scoring opportunities that will later result in scoring the goal.

This is probably the stage where your interview will happen. The interview can be one of the most crucial parts to the entire process. You may have already given some reading material to the interviewer, but the actual interview itself can help a hiring manager determine and solidify their decision. This includes any personality assessments, determining your fit in a particular work environment, answering any outstanding questions, etc.

Final Step of the job hunt: Bringing it home as a Forward

Imagine this: the game is tied at Nil on the 89^th minute and you’ve got one chance to make the shot. You’ll want to make sure you’ve set yourself up on the pitch and created the best opportunity to score, right? Same thing goes for the job seeking process. When your interview is over, try to find a way to stand out over other prospective employees so that you know you’ve given yourself the absolute best chance at landing the job. Make sure you have the best contact information and send a thank you letter to the interviewer. This small gesture can make a world of a difference. Even if you don’t get the job you interviewed for, this kind of good etiquette could actually end up opening other doors and leading to other potential opportunities down the line!

Wherever you are in the job search, remember that you need to maintain your focus on the end goal. Just as in soccer, there is no such thing as a fixed space or exact timeline, so keep in mind that you may interchange positions and roles according to the flow of the game (or in this case, the job seeking process). That being said, good luck job seeking and enjoy the 2010 World Cup!

Special note: To our male readers, we haven’t forgotten about you! Stay tuned for our special Father’s Day blog post in June.

Charlotte, Miranda, Samantha, and of course… Carrie. It seems that talk about Sex and the City is EVERYWHERE lately… TV commercials, radio interviews, Facebook pages, magazine ads… you name it! With the release of the new Sex and the City movie, I thought this would be a great time to talk about just why we love these characters so much. Each of these women embodies four distinct roles of which every woman in the country can relate to. Behind those roles, they are strong, motivated and ambitious – qualities women across the world have come to admire.

When it comes to their careers, the SATC women have got it all. Whether working as a famous columnist and book author, a manager of an art gallery (formerly), a career-minded lawyer or an independent businesswoman with a career in public relations, three of the four main SATC characters has never failed to show prowess when it comes to workplace aspirations (for the sake of focusing on the careers in the workplace, we’re excluding Charlotte on this one because she chose motherhood as a full-time job!). I mean, after all, how do you expect any of these women to buy a pair of extravagant Christian Louboutin shoes without some success on the job?!

Today, more women are graduating from college than men. Women have come a long way as successful professionals and an increasing number continue to make a greater impact on various industries and professions. According to the Department of Labor, women are expected to comprise 46.5 percent of the estimated 164.2 million persons of the labor force in 2016.

So, as the number of women in the workplace continues to grow, it’s more important now than ever to make sure you’re comfortable being a strong woman if you want to succeed and move up in ranks. If your favorite Sex and the City characters could give you advice on how to feel empowered in the workplace, what do you think they’d say? I’ve come up with a list of tips inspired by these SATC characters to help empower all women out there. So grab a cocktail, leave on your favorite pair of heels and start reading these simple ideas that will help empower the working woman starting today:

First off, stand up straight! Body language accounts for 55 percent of your conversation, so if you think your posture is good, check again. Look in the mirror and make sure your back is straight or line up against the wall and feel how your back presses onto it. Standing up straight may seem inconsequential, but it can actually act as a way to show others how you are, the way you see things and the way you approach life.

Learn how to own your voice and assert your opinions. Studies show that women are more frequently interrupted than men. Over the course of many conversations, they get the message that what they have to say is not necessarily as compelling or valued as what men have to say. Stick to your guns and don’t back down. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Truly practicing this can lead to meaningful and effective communication. Not only will you be known as an honest and sincere person, but you’ll also get used to speaking your mind and being heard.

Don’t scare yourself with negative thoughts. Instead, why don’t you let go a bit and take some risks? Stop putting yourself down and start doing something to affect your situation in a positive way. Let go of some of your inhibitions and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. If you change your mindset, you may find yourself freed from some of those fears that held you back before.

Learn how to ask and negotiate for raises and promotions. If you want a higher salary or a promotion, you need to prove you deserve it! That means you need evidence to show your boss that you’ve earned it. In this situation, education can be your best defense. Research everything you can think of to find the competitive salary for your job in your region, including employment surveys, libraries, professional organizations and knowledge from peers.  If you want a promotion, you may want to consider keeping a job diary where you can write down what you’ve done and how it has helped meet the company’s objectives. Have you ever taken on more challenging tasks or responsibilities outside of your own role? These will help support your case.

Join a professional group, organization outside of work, or maybe just volunteer some of your time to a cause you feel passionate about. Being part of something outside of the workplace can in turn work for you when you’re on the job. It never hurts to put yourself out there and network outside of work, which could later lead to professional connections, business partners or potential customers! Plus, the more contacts you have, the more valuable of an asset you’ve become to any company you choose to work for. While you’re at it, why not combine a cause you are passionate about with networking opportunities? Getting involved on a board of directors or committee for a cause will give you great insight on leadership and teamwork while making a positive impact.

At the end of the day, one lesson resonates beyond the glamorous movies storylines and real life challenges women face – whatever you do, stay true to yourself and realize that you alone have a great influence. Women have the potential to rise as leaders as long as they can embrace their own strengths within.

(Photo courtesy of Mlive.com)

Sources:

More women in the workplace, but still not enough opportunities – Smart Blogs

Hot Jobs for the 21st Century, 2006-2016 – Dol.gov

Can She Lead? – Blogs.hbr.org

What the U.S. Can Learn From Europe About Gender Equality in the Workplace – Blogs.hbr.org

Sex and the City characters – Wikipedia

The Gender Gap: 10 Surprising Stats on Women in the Workplace – Jobprofiles.org

Age is nothing but another number in the job seeking game!

It seems older job seekers are in limbo during the current economic and hiring landscape. Recent reports from the U.S. Labor Department earlier this month show that unemployment rates are lower for older workers than other age groups. However, that being said, the same report shows that it actually takes these individuals longer to find a new job than any other age group. What does it all mean for the older job seeker in today’s employment landscape?

Older, mature professionals are now job seekers for a number of reasons. Some older job seekers may get discouraged and lose confidence because of their age. However, if you are an older job seeker, stay positive! In today’s evolving job market, not only have the types of jobs out there changed, but so have the individuals who make up the current workforce. Remember that as seasoned professionals, older job seekers are great resources for any company, filled with loads of information and experience!

There are several steps an older job seeker can take to make the most of their job search. First and foremost, take a career inventory. Make a list of all the positions previously held. What tasks were completed? What accomplishments were made? One of the biggest obstacles for older workers is that they may be overqualified for jobs they’re applying to, so try to narrow down experience to what’s really important. Completing this exercise will help get your job search in gear by identifying potential opportunities and serving as a reminder of accomplishments achieved over the years.

As an older job seeker, keep in mind that resume writing may be slightly different. The résumé is a vital tool in the job search and can help any worker articulate the qualifications and experience they can bring to a potential position. Career consultants and advisors suggest that resumes for more mature job seekers tell a story and not just the last job title. What does that mean? Instead of simply listing the last role within the organization, list the promotions along the way. Another consideration to take into account is making the résumé skill-driven and results-oriented, instead of merely providing dates, titles and responsibilities from past positions.

A great way to keep an edge and stay fresh and vibrant in today’s fast paced job hunt is to take advantage of any learning opportunities that are available. Join professional associations, subscribe to trade journals and keep up with innovations and developments in your field as much as possible. Hone your skills or learn new ones. One of the biggest employment obstacles older workers may face is the concern that their skills are outdated and they aren’t willing to learn new ones. So, stress your willingness to learn. If you’ve taken courses and attended workshops, seminars, conferences and other professional development events throughout your career, be sure to tell your prospective employer.

Using these simple tips in your job hunt will not only help you get a better idea of what you want as an older, more mature job seeker but it will also help you better understand what employers are looking for as well. If you would like additional resume tips for more experienced job seekers, along with other advice for your entire job search from start to finish, check out our free Job Seeker’s Guide. Click here to get your copy.

Sources:

SecondAct.com

CNNMoney.com

Syracuse.com

Msnbc.msn.com

How can you shine like an Olympian during your job search in 2010? Olympic athletes may have four years to prepare for the intense competitions they face during the Olympic Games, but you only need these four steps to go for the gold in your job search and beat out the competition!

© VANOC/COVAN

How can you prepare yourself to top the competition during your job search? In order to succeed, you need to create a strategy that works for you.

Do your research. Research encompasses all aspects of the job hunt. Know the industry you are trying to enter. Are companies in that industry hiring? Do you have experience and the skills necessary? If you don’t know much about the industry you are attempting to enter, now is the time to educate yourself as much as possible.

What jobs are you applying for? What do you know about the companies or organizations you want to join? Do you know what they’re looking for in a hire? How will you convince them you’re the best fit for the job you’ve applied for?

After you research the industry or company, don’t forget to research yourself, too! Here’s a question for you: have you ever Googled your name? If not, you may want to take a moment to type it into the search bar and see what comes up! Many hiring managers and recruiters do this, so you’ll want to make sure positive and professional content appears under your name before a hiring manager may find something you won’t want to be seen.

Expand your Job Search Resources. Job boards and networks can be extremely helpful with your job search. Many companies have their own job boards that are easy to search (for ex., we have a job board on our page). You can try contacting your alumni office or career resource center at your college/university and use industry associations and professional organizations which can all be great resources for your job search. You can also use your social networking pages like LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook to reach contacts and connections that can provide potential leads for your job search.

Use Your Cover Letter and Resume to Your Advantage. A well-written cover letter is extremely important to your job search. Use it to your advantage by writing to show the potential employer that your skills and experience match the position you desire. An effective, targeted, customized resume is equally important. Consider these documents as the tools in your “job search kit.” These will be essential to help the hiring manager assess your fit for the job and the culture of the company.

Make a good presentation during and after your interview. Once you’re on track and an interview is scheduled, make sure you are ready. Since your physical appearance is the first thing an employer sees, it really matters. Remember that your clothing, hair, makeup and jewelry make an immediate impression. For presentation tips, check out our previous blog post on how to present yourself at your interview.

Have other tips for a Gold Medal Job Hunt? Follow us on Twitter at @StormStaff and tell us what you think!

What advice do you have that can help job seekers out there? Send us your responses and we’ll post them!