Job seekers often suspend their job search for "the holidays," from early or mid-November through New Year's Day, on the theory that no one is interviewed or hired during that period. It's a big mistake! Employers are STILL hiring during this period (to meet the special needs of the holidays, to prepare for the new year, to replace someone who left, etc.).
Use the Holidays as an Ice Breaker
The common "problem" of "surviving" the year-end holidays can help you establish rapport in an interview. Even if it's just complaining about the holiday crowds or being too busy, discussing the holidays is usually a natural topic. It's also an easy way to break through the awkwardness of meeting someone for the first time in an interview or networking event, and establishing common ground.
Talk About Your Job Hunt or Employment Status at Holiday EventsRecruiter Perspective
Sandra A. MacKay, a Boston-area consulting recruiter, agrees with Dr. Cannon.
Sandra observed that a "significant amount of hiring takes place in last quarter of the year." For example, she was engaged by one client company on September 29 with a goal of filling as many job openings as possible before the end of the year. This is typical of many recruiters and HR staffs during this time of year.
In addition, Sandra recommends continuing your job search, as vigorously as you can during the holiday season, so that you are well-positioned when the traditional January 2nd job market boom begins (and everyone else begins or re-starts their job search).
So:
Don't take the holidays "off." Stay focused on your job search, and you'll land that next great job while everyone else is shopping or not paying attention!
Reach Dr. Cannon, author of "Finding a Job in a Slow Economy," through her Web site the Cannon Career Center. Also, see consulting recruiter Sandra MacKay's articles: "Getting a Recruiter's Attention" and "Getting an Employer's Attention" in Job-Hunt's Online Job Search Guide.
If your friends and extended family don't know that you are looking for a job, let them know, casually, at holiday events. The connections that lead to jobs happen in the unlikeliest places - I've seen people make connections at a funeral that resulted in job offers, even new careers. Use these get togethers as an opportunity to let people know that you are job hunting, and ask if anyone knows someone who works at [whatever employer you want]. If you know someone who works at one of your target employers, contact them directly yourself with a greeting card and/or phone call.
Re-establish Connections
The holidays (all year around, but particularly in November and December) are a great excuse to get back in touch with someone - your former boss(es?) and co-workers, college roommates, high school buddies, people in the house/apartment next door, kid's soccer coach, etc. Think about people whom you genuinely liked but have lost touch with, and track them down using Google, LinkedIn, ZoomInfo, Ziggs, etc. Hopefully, you'll re-establish a relationship that can benefit everyone involved. (Might not be a good idea to track down your high school sweetheart, though...unless you're single.)
If you really know the person well, just call them up. If you don't know them well, send a greeting card - one of the "real" cards, made of paper, put into an envelope with a stamp, and dropped off at the Post Office.
Remind Recruiters of Your Existence
Send a holiday greeting card to that nice recruiter you met back in May or August, or the hiring manager who almost hired you last month or last year. If you don't think they'll remember you (assume they won't), include a brief reminder of your last contact, who you are, and, perhaps, a business card.
Add an Update for Marketing
Include a personal note in your card, perhaps thanking them for their time in the past. If you're feeling bold (what do you have to lose?) include a short, 1 to 3 sentence update on what you've been doing since you last were in contact. The update should contain only "highlights" of the NEW news in your working life and qualifications - contract/volunteer work, education/certifications, publications, and so on -- with a very brief reminder (if needed) of your basic qualifications. You may also want to close with a sentence about getting together for coffee, a drink after work, or whatever is appropriate. Then, follow-up by phone.
Holiday Greetings for the Traditional Holidays
Beat the rush for this holiday season by sending a Happy Thanksgiving card during November. Or, send a Happy New Year card in late December, if you're determined to waste these prime hunting months and compete with everyone else on Jan. 2.
Cards for the obvious holiday (Christmas) are probably appropriate, if you know that the recipient is Christian, but more generic "Happy Holiday" cards are considered safer and more "PC," hopefully covering Kwanzaa and Hanukkah, too. Pick cards for those specific holidays if you know they are appropriate, but be VERY careful not to offend someone with a "wrong" card. Of course, your card will probably be competing with many other similar holiday cards, but not very many from other job seekers.
"Lesser" Holidays = MORE Differentiation!
Your card won't be competing with all the other holiday cards if you pick one of the holidays where sending holiday cards are not a tradition. Ground Hog Day, Lincoln's birthday, and St. Patrick's Day are some good Winter holidays, and you can usually find appropriate greeting cards for those days. Check out the greeting card section of your grocery store next time you do the grocery shopping. You might be surprised at the "holidays" you find. Take advantage of them!
Career Coach Observations
Dr. Jan Cannon, founder of the Cannon Career Center, recommends the holidays as an excellent time to job hunt because:
* Many companies have their budgets for the new year and are recruiting for people to start work in January. So, looking in January is looking too late for jobs at these companies.
* People are generally in a "holiday mood" during this time, even though shopping, vacations, and holiday party schedules may make them more elusive.
* Fewer job seekers try to find jobs during this period, so competition is not as intense, and you will have an easier time standing out from the crowd NOW.
* Holiday events are good networking opportunities.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Your brand is your reputation
Your brand is your reputation – the perception of you held by the external world. It is the combination of personal attributes, values, drivers, strengths, and passions you draw from that differentiates your unique promise of value from your peers, and helps those assessing you determine if they should hire you or do business with you.
You need to identify those qualities and characteristics within you and communicate a crystal clear, consistent message across multiple channels – online and offline – designed to resonate with your target audience.
I’d like to take you deeper into defining your brand than I did in my earlier Job-Hunt article, Creating Your Authentic Personal Brand Statement.
I developed the following 10 brand assessment and defining exercises based on my training as a Reach Certified Personal Branding Strategist, and use them as I guide my clients through executive brand development. Be prepared to devote time to this. In the end, I think you'll find your efforts eye-opening and invigorating.
1. What are your vision and purpose?
Look externally at the bigger picture of your vision for the world, and then internally at how you might help the world realize your vision.
Think about one world problem you would like to see solved or one area of life that you want to see transformed or improved. This is your vision.
What role might you play in making your vision happen? This is your purpose.
2. What are your values?
Your values are your guiding principles – things like:
Balance, being the best, agility, calmness, challenge, decisiveness, perseverance, drive, honesty, integrity, pragmatism, sensitivity, structure, teamwork, sharing, vitality, zeal.
3. What are your passions?
What do you most enjoy doing – in your personal life and work life? Think about the activities, interests, or conversational topics that fascinate and energize you. Your passions make you get out of bed at 6 a.m. on a Saturday morning or get you talking enthusiastically with others. How do your passions converge with what you are best at doing?
4. What are your top goals for the next year, 2 years, and 5 years?
Work on projecting what you intend to accomplish so you can put together a strategic action plan to get there.
5. What are your top brand attributes.
What 3 or 4 adjectives best describe the value you offer? What words do you use to define your personality? Once you pinpoint what you feel are the right kinds of words, it’s a good idea to consult a thesaurus to precisely nail the exact words. Here are some possibilities, but don’t limit yourself to these:
Collaborative, resilient, forward-focused, risk-taking, connected, international, visionary, diplomatic, intuitive, precise, enterprising, ethical, genuine, accessible.
6. What are your core strengths or motivated skills?
In what functions and responsibilities do you excel? For what things are you the designated “go-to” person? What gap would your company be faced with if you left suddenly? The possibilities are endless, but here are a few suggestions:
Analyzing, collaborating, leading, delegating, empowering others, forecasting, crunching numbers, anticipating risk, mentoring, visioning, selling, innovating, managing conflict, defining needs, writing, listening, communicating.
7. Get feedback from those who know you best – at work, at home, anywhere.
The true measure of your brand is the reputation others hold of you in their hearts and minds. Notice how they introduce you to others. Ask them what your top brand attributes and core strengths are. How does your self-assessment jibe with their feedback?
The 360° Reach Personal Brand Assessment (http://www.reachcc.com/360reach), a confidential, web-based tool that collects anonymous 360-degree feedback in real time from your choice of respondents, is a good option to accomplish this step and the basic account is free.
8. Do a SWOT analysis (Strengths – Weaknesses – Opportunities – Threats).
Strengths and weaknesses are internal, and speak to your potential value to an employer. Opportunities and threats are external, and help you foresee what you’re facing in next career steps.
SWOT is an invaluable personal branding exercise that also helps prepare you for interviewing and future career growth and stability.
9. Who is your target audience?
Determine where you want to fit in (kind of job position and industry). Learn what decision makers in that field are looking for when they’re assessing candidates. Create your personal brand messaging around what keywords and content will attract them. Find out where those decision makers hang out, position yourself in front of them, and capture their attention.
10. Who is your competition in the marketplace and what differentiates you from them?
What do the people competing for the same jobs as you typically have to offer? What is it about you that makes you the best hiring choice? What added value do you bring to the table that no one else does?
Bottom Line:
The work involved in uncovering and defining your personal brand may seem daunting, but your efforts will benefit you immeasurably. In job search, defining and communicating your personal brand can help pre-qualify you as a good fit and strategically position you to land your next great gig faster.
You need to identify those qualities and characteristics within you and communicate a crystal clear, consistent message across multiple channels – online and offline – designed to resonate with your target audience.
I’d like to take you deeper into defining your brand than I did in my earlier Job-Hunt article, Creating Your Authentic Personal Brand Statement.
I developed the following 10 brand assessment and defining exercises based on my training as a Reach Certified Personal Branding Strategist, and use them as I guide my clients through executive brand development. Be prepared to devote time to this. In the end, I think you'll find your efforts eye-opening and invigorating.
1. What are your vision and purpose?
Look externally at the bigger picture of your vision for the world, and then internally at how you might help the world realize your vision.
Think about one world problem you would like to see solved or one area of life that you want to see transformed or improved. This is your vision.
What role might you play in making your vision happen? This is your purpose.
2. What are your values?
Your values are your guiding principles – things like:
Balance, being the best, agility, calmness, challenge, decisiveness, perseverance, drive, honesty, integrity, pragmatism, sensitivity, structure, teamwork, sharing, vitality, zeal.
3. What are your passions?
What do you most enjoy doing – in your personal life and work life? Think about the activities, interests, or conversational topics that fascinate and energize you. Your passions make you get out of bed at 6 a.m. on a Saturday morning or get you talking enthusiastically with others. How do your passions converge with what you are best at doing?
4. What are your top goals for the next year, 2 years, and 5 years?
Work on projecting what you intend to accomplish so you can put together a strategic action plan to get there.
5. What are your top brand attributes.
What 3 or 4 adjectives best describe the value you offer? What words do you use to define your personality? Once you pinpoint what you feel are the right kinds of words, it’s a good idea to consult a thesaurus to precisely nail the exact words. Here are some possibilities, but don’t limit yourself to these:
Collaborative, resilient, forward-focused, risk-taking, connected, international, visionary, diplomatic, intuitive, precise, enterprising, ethical, genuine, accessible.
6. What are your core strengths or motivated skills?
In what functions and responsibilities do you excel? For what things are you the designated “go-to” person? What gap would your company be faced with if you left suddenly? The possibilities are endless, but here are a few suggestions:
Analyzing, collaborating, leading, delegating, empowering others, forecasting, crunching numbers, anticipating risk, mentoring, visioning, selling, innovating, managing conflict, defining needs, writing, listening, communicating.
7. Get feedback from those who know you best – at work, at home, anywhere.
The true measure of your brand is the reputation others hold of you in their hearts and minds. Notice how they introduce you to others. Ask them what your top brand attributes and core strengths are. How does your self-assessment jibe with their feedback?
The 360° Reach Personal Brand Assessment (http://www.reachcc.com/360reach), a confidential, web-based tool that collects anonymous 360-degree feedback in real time from your choice of respondents, is a good option to accomplish this step and the basic account is free.
8. Do a SWOT analysis (Strengths – Weaknesses – Opportunities – Threats).
Strengths and weaknesses are internal, and speak to your potential value to an employer. Opportunities and threats are external, and help you foresee what you’re facing in next career steps.
SWOT is an invaluable personal branding exercise that also helps prepare you for interviewing and future career growth and stability.
9. Who is your target audience?
Determine where you want to fit in (kind of job position and industry). Learn what decision makers in that field are looking for when they’re assessing candidates. Create your personal brand messaging around what keywords and content will attract them. Find out where those decision makers hang out, position yourself in front of them, and capture their attention.
10. Who is your competition in the marketplace and what differentiates you from them?
What do the people competing for the same jobs as you typically have to offer? What is it about you that makes you the best hiring choice? What added value do you bring to the table that no one else does?
Bottom Line:
The work involved in uncovering and defining your personal brand may seem daunting, but your efforts will benefit you immeasurably. In job search, defining and communicating your personal brand can help pre-qualify you as a good fit and strategically position you to land your next great gig faster.
VISIONING: TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR DAY
VISIONING:
TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR DAY
Visioning is a method used by many to take control of their day. Do you take charge of your day, or is your day taking charge of you?
When you wake up in the mornings, do you know exactly what you want to accomplish, where you are going and how to get there?
If not, you are like many people who have become 'Wanderers'. They get up in the morning and they wander through the day.
They have no real goals. And they are wide open to every stress, worry and frustration that comes along.
Do you find yourself each day, running to catch up, with no time left for yourself? Would you like to enjoy your days more? There's a simple easy way to do this.
3 STEPS TO VISIONING YOUR DAY
First thing in the morning, before you get out of bed:
1.
ESTABLISH THE FEELING YOU WILL CARRY THROUGH YOUR DAY
* Sit up, close your eyes and relax into a 5 minute meditation.
* Let go of all your worries and intentions for that day.
* Breathe.
* Focus on feeling grateful for what you have, who you have in your life, where you are right now.
Be in the moment . . . peaceful . . . happy. . . grateful . . .
You have now established the feeling you will carry through your day.
2.
ORGANIZE YOUR PRIORITIES FOR THE DAY
* List your 7 Highest Priorities
- these are the things you will get done today.
* Have a small notebook to record them.
* Realize that if you do not set up your agenda for your day, someone else will set it up for you.
At the end of each day:
3.
TAKE TIME TO BE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED
* Feel good about your day.
* If you didn't get to all of your priorities, don't sweat it,
* Put these at the top of tomorrow's list.
DO YOU SEE A TREND?
After a few weeks, notice what the most important things tend to be on your Priority List each day.
* Do these priorities align with your highest values - what you truly believe in your heart?
* Or are you unsure about what you really want?
* You can change that right now. How?
YOUR IRRITATION LIST
At the end of each day, you'll have a list of complaints on how the day went.
* Jot down everything that irritated you.
* You have now noticed what you are not satisfied with in your life.
* You have taken action.
* You have created an Irritation List.
Becoming conscious of what is irritating you allows you to take steps to change it. You can turn this list into a vision of what you'd like to have in your life. Write out the positive version of that list of negatives.
A VISION FOR YOUR LIFE
You now have a Vision For Your Life That Works For You.
Each day revise, change and expand it until it feels just right.
This is the image of your life, that you carry in your heart, into each day.
TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE NOW
Mornings:
* Focus on the Feeling you want to hold for that day
* List Your 7 Highest Priorities
Evenings:
* Write Your Daily Gratitude List
* Write Your Irritation List
* Revise and Adjust Your Vision
See yourself living the life of your Dreams!
Other Articles On Work Life Balance
* An Easy Time-Management System
* Cultivating the Habit of Praise
* Visioning: Taking Charge of Your Day
* 4 Strategies to Deflect 'Worry' in Your Life
* Becoming a Magnet for Prosperity
* What is 'True Happiness'?
* Book Review: "Happy for No Reason"
* Does Your Work Environment Compliment Your Personality?
* Looking for a Secure Job - You Just May Find it in the Trades
* Key Questions to Ask When Looking for a Best Career Fit
* Encore Careers for Retirees
* Simple as 1,2,3 - A Quick & Easy Method of Career Decision Making
Please visit www.best-career-match.com for more information.
Awesome website with free testing and manuals
TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR DAY
Visioning is a method used by many to take control of their day. Do you take charge of your day, or is your day taking charge of you?
When you wake up in the mornings, do you know exactly what you want to accomplish, where you are going and how to get there?
If not, you are like many people who have become 'Wanderers'. They get up in the morning and they wander through the day.
They have no real goals. And they are wide open to every stress, worry and frustration that comes along.
Do you find yourself each day, running to catch up, with no time left for yourself? Would you like to enjoy your days more? There's a simple easy way to do this.
3 STEPS TO VISIONING YOUR DAY
First thing in the morning, before you get out of bed:
1.
ESTABLISH THE FEELING YOU WILL CARRY THROUGH YOUR DAY
* Sit up, close your eyes and relax into a 5 minute meditation.
* Let go of all your worries and intentions for that day.
* Breathe.
* Focus on feeling grateful for what you have, who you have in your life, where you are right now.
Be in the moment . . . peaceful . . . happy. . . grateful . . .
You have now established the feeling you will carry through your day.
2.
ORGANIZE YOUR PRIORITIES FOR THE DAY
* List your 7 Highest Priorities
- these are the things you will get done today.
* Have a small notebook to record them.
* Realize that if you do not set up your agenda for your day, someone else will set it up for you.
At the end of each day:
3.
TAKE TIME TO BE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED
* Feel good about your day.
* If you didn't get to all of your priorities, don't sweat it,
* Put these at the top of tomorrow's list.
DO YOU SEE A TREND?
After a few weeks, notice what the most important things tend to be on your Priority List each day.
* Do these priorities align with your highest values - what you truly believe in your heart?
* Or are you unsure about what you really want?
* You can change that right now. How?
YOUR IRRITATION LIST
At the end of each day, you'll have a list of complaints on how the day went.
* Jot down everything that irritated you.
* You have now noticed what you are not satisfied with in your life.
* You have taken action.
* You have created an Irritation List.
Becoming conscious of what is irritating you allows you to take steps to change it. You can turn this list into a vision of what you'd like to have in your life. Write out the positive version of that list of negatives.
A VISION FOR YOUR LIFE
You now have a Vision For Your Life That Works For You.
Each day revise, change and expand it until it feels just right.
This is the image of your life, that you carry in your heart, into each day.
TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE NOW
Mornings:
* Focus on the Feeling you want to hold for that day
* List Your 7 Highest Priorities
Evenings:
* Write Your Daily Gratitude List
* Write Your Irritation List
* Revise and Adjust Your Vision
See yourself living the life of your Dreams!
Other Articles On Work Life Balance
* An Easy Time-Management System
* Cultivating the Habit of Praise
* Visioning: Taking Charge of Your Day
* 4 Strategies to Deflect 'Worry' in Your Life
* Becoming a Magnet for Prosperity
* What is 'True Happiness'?
* Book Review: "Happy for No Reason"
* Does Your Work Environment Compliment Your Personality?
* Looking for a Secure Job - You Just May Find it in the Trades
* Key Questions to Ask When Looking for a Best Career Fit
* Encore Careers for Retirees
* Simple as 1,2,3 - A Quick & Easy Method of Career Decision Making
Please visit www.best-career-match.com for more information.
Awesome website with free testing and manuals
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Prep Your 30-, 60-, 90-day Business Plan for the Job Interview
Interviewing
Prep Your 30-, 60-, 90-day Business Plan for the Job Interview
Want to land a sales job and start on the right foot? Be ready to explain how you’ll move the numbers in the first months.
August 2, 2010
By Andrew Klappholz
ShareThis
FILED UNDER: Interview Questions, Presentation.
Interviewing
If you work in sales at the manager level or above, you should be prepared to hear the question from a hiring manager on a job interview; he wants to know what your 30-, 60- and 90-day plans are to build a new sales territory, halt a customer exodus or improve revenue. Be ready to deliver your plan and back it with data, said Kathleen Steffey, CEO and founder of Naviga Services, a Tampa, Fla., recruiting and staffing agency that specializes in marketing and sales roles.
“We highly recommend it for candidates, especially in the final stages of the interview,” she said. “It shows them, ‘I’ve thought about this.’ ” In any field where revenue is at stake, if the hiring team sees someone who’s prepared and appears ready to enhance revenue right away, they’ll be more likely to offer that person the job.
Dan, a medical-supplies salesman from the Midwest and a SalesLadder member who asked that his full name not be used, used the tactic to his advantage on a recent job interview for a diagnostic-services company. He said the business plan he put together for his interview showed the hiring manager that he had done his homework and was familiar with the company, its products and the market.
“I did the back research and found out what types of jobs I’ll be going on,” Dan said. “They were mainly concerned about ‘what you can do for me’ in terms of revenue.”
Career Advice from TheLadders
* 10 Good Ways to 'Tell Me About Yourself'
* How Full-Time Parents Can Reclaim a Full-Time Job
* Bringing Networking into Focus
* Why I hired you
Dan provided the potential employer with a detailed account of a sales territory, citing specific numbers of how many doctors and medical groups are in an area; he said his planning not only impressed the hiring manager, but it also prepared him to do the job.
In sales, it takes time to develop contacts and strengthen relationships, so business plans should reflect that maturation as it develops over periods of 30, 60 and 90 days. Dan said his plan was realistic and obtainable – major factors in its effectiveness – “targeting smaller accounts initially and larger ones in the 60- and 90-day period.”
Generic is garbage
The plan doesn’t need to be a 100-page briefing on every factor facing the company’s sales strategy and every data point down to the penny. It can be a simple PowerPoint presentation attached to an e-mail. Nevertheless, you must include a summary that proves you’re capable of making money for the company.
Such presentations are a platform to show the hiring manager how seriously you’re taking the opportunity, Steffey said.
While you can find business-plan templates online, there’s no auto-fill application that allows you to demonstrate your prowess with the click of a button.
Naviga Services’ Steffey stresses that these reports need to be as unique and informative as possible − considering trends and market conditions. The more it speaks to the hiring manager’s needs, the more effective it is, she said.
“It can’t be general. It has to be crafted for the particular employer,” she said. “If it’s general, it’s garbage.”
“That’s a turnoff when they see something generic,” Dan agreed. “If it matches up with their values, that’s what you have to base the business plan around.
Prep Your 30-, 60-, 90-day Business Plan for the Job Interview
Want to land a sales job and start on the right foot? Be ready to explain how you’ll move the numbers in the first months.
August 2, 2010
By Andrew Klappholz
ShareThis
FILED UNDER: Interview Questions, Presentation.
Interviewing
If you work in sales at the manager level or above, you should be prepared to hear the question from a hiring manager on a job interview; he wants to know what your 30-, 60- and 90-day plans are to build a new sales territory, halt a customer exodus or improve revenue. Be ready to deliver your plan and back it with data, said Kathleen Steffey, CEO and founder of Naviga Services, a Tampa, Fla., recruiting and staffing agency that specializes in marketing and sales roles.
“We highly recommend it for candidates, especially in the final stages of the interview,” she said. “It shows them, ‘I’ve thought about this.’ ” In any field where revenue is at stake, if the hiring team sees someone who’s prepared and appears ready to enhance revenue right away, they’ll be more likely to offer that person the job.
Dan, a medical-supplies salesman from the Midwest and a SalesLadder member who asked that his full name not be used, used the tactic to his advantage on a recent job interview for a diagnostic-services company. He said the business plan he put together for his interview showed the hiring manager that he had done his homework and was familiar with the company, its products and the market.
“I did the back research and found out what types of jobs I’ll be going on,” Dan said. “They were mainly concerned about ‘what you can do for me’ in terms of revenue.”
Career Advice from TheLadders
* 10 Good Ways to 'Tell Me About Yourself'
* How Full-Time Parents Can Reclaim a Full-Time Job
* Bringing Networking into Focus
* Why I hired you
Dan provided the potential employer with a detailed account of a sales territory, citing specific numbers of how many doctors and medical groups are in an area; he said his planning not only impressed the hiring manager, but it also prepared him to do the job.
In sales, it takes time to develop contacts and strengthen relationships, so business plans should reflect that maturation as it develops over periods of 30, 60 and 90 days. Dan said his plan was realistic and obtainable – major factors in its effectiveness – “targeting smaller accounts initially and larger ones in the 60- and 90-day period.”
Generic is garbage
The plan doesn’t need to be a 100-page briefing on every factor facing the company’s sales strategy and every data point down to the penny. It can be a simple PowerPoint presentation attached to an e-mail. Nevertheless, you must include a summary that proves you’re capable of making money for the company.
Such presentations are a platform to show the hiring manager how seriously you’re taking the opportunity, Steffey said.
While you can find business-plan templates online, there’s no auto-fill application that allows you to demonstrate your prowess with the click of a button.
Naviga Services’ Steffey stresses that these reports need to be as unique and informative as possible − considering trends and market conditions. The more it speaks to the hiring manager’s needs, the more effective it is, she said.
“It can’t be general. It has to be crafted for the particular employer,” she said. “If it’s general, it’s garbage.”
“That’s a turnoff when they see something generic,” Dan agreed. “If it matches up with their values, that’s what you have to base the business plan around.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Ultimate Job Security Guide
In the past two years, 7 million jobs have been vaporized, and along with them the idea that any of us are indispensable. Here are the tools you need to excel in this tough environment.Unless you’re a professor with tenure or your boss is named “Dad,” you know that true employment security is all but dead. No longer does working hard and doing well at your job guarantee even a modicum of confidence about the future; the Great Recession took care of that quaint notion. Get used to the idea that you could lose your job at any time, for any reason. And if that painful meeting with the HR drone does come to pass, you’ll be vying with an army of talented candidates competing for the rare opening — one job for every six hopefuls. According to recent Labor Department statistics, the average search lasts more than seven months.
In this new environment, working hard is no longer enough. You have to take a bird’s eye view of your company and industry, spot changes as they occur, and shift your efforts quickly in response. And you need to start thinking more in terms of income security rather than job security; that may mean finding a second income stream or working toward a career change now. Likewise, if you’re been laid off or see the writing on the wall, you have to be aware of what it takes to get a job today, from avoiding these resume gaffes to mastering the new job interview process, which has become increasingly drawn-out and intense. In this short video, watch as a career coach teaches executives how to ace an interview. For more advice — and, we hope, a bit of comic relief — follow our Twitter feed of interview goofs. Here’s your guide to the new work order:
* 5 New Rules for Job Security
* 7 Ways to Ruin Your Resume
* Real-Life Resume Makeover
* How to Ace the New Job Interview
* Video: Job Interview Tips
* @InterviewGoofs on Twitter
In this new environment, working hard is no longer enough. You have to take a bird’s eye view of your company and industry, spot changes as they occur, and shift your efforts quickly in response. And you need to start thinking more in terms of income security rather than job security; that may mean finding a second income stream or working toward a career change now. Likewise, if you’re been laid off or see the writing on the wall, you have to be aware of what it takes to get a job today, from avoiding these resume gaffes to mastering the new job interview process, which has become increasingly drawn-out and intense. In this short video, watch as a career coach teaches executives how to ace an interview. For more advice — and, we hope, a bit of comic relief — follow our Twitter feed of interview goofs. Here’s your guide to the new work order:
* 5 New Rules for Job Security
* 7 Ways to Ruin Your Resume
* Real-Life Resume Makeover
* How to Ace the New Job Interview
* Video: Job Interview Tips
* @InterviewGoofs on Twitter
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tax Tips for Job Hunters: What You Can and Can’t Deduct
Tax Tips for Job Hunters: What You Can and Can’t Deduct
by Adam Piore
This article is part of a package on tax deductions you can take if you’re between jobs and consulting or freelancing while you’re looking for work. To find out what you can and can’t deduct if you’re freelancing or a consultant, see our story on tax deductions for freelancers.
As if being out of work and competing with everyone and their grandmother for work weren’t bad enough, a growing number of Americans are discovering yet another unpleasant truth about job hunting: It can be expensive. It costs money to travel to interviews, to get help with resumes, and to look good for those potential new bosses you’re trying to impress. Fortunately the IRS allows you to take tax deductions for at least some of those expenses if you itemize on your return. Job-hunting expenses are grouped in the “miscellaneous deductions” of your tax return, a category which must exceed 2 percent of your adjusted gross income to qualify for the write off. Here are some of the key job-hunting expenses you can and cannot deduct.
Home Office Equipment
* Cannot deduct: The full cost of equipment such as computers, printers, and fax machines
* Can deduct: A portion of the cost of equipment
Since most office equipment can be used for many purposes, you’ll only be able to deduct the percentage of the cost that corresponds to how much of the device you use exclusively for your job search. And even then, you’ll only be able to deduct a portion of the initial cost, since the IRS considers equipment like computers and printers to have a lifetime of five years. In many cases, the deduction will be quite small so you might be better off just going to Kinko’s and doing your job-related computing and printing there, since those costs will be fully deductible.
Education
* Cannot deduct: Classes and materials if you’re training for a new career
* Can deduct: Classes and materials associated with your present career
The IRS generally has strict limits on the deductibility of educational expenses. If you were laid off as a chef and you are going back to school to become an investment counselor, you cannot write those classes off. However, if you were laid off as a chef and you take a cooking class, or you were laid off as an investment counselor and you take a business course, it’s considered career development and is deductible.
Coaches and Assistants
* Cannot deduct: The fees for career coaches, resume specialists, Web site designers, etc., if you are trying to break into a new field
* Can deduct: The fees for the above if you are applying for a job in the same field as your previous job
As with classes and education, if you’re using the services of a coach or specialist to assist your job hunting in the same field, it’s considered deductible career development. Note that the fees for any help related to your appearance — such as hair stylists, tailors, personal trainers, and dieticians are never deductible — since they don’t exclusively benefit your business or ability to do work. Knowing this should help you answer the question posed in this popular H&R Block commercial that aired during the Olympics:
Travel
* Cannot deduct: Your flight and hotel stay in Los Angeles to check out the Santa Monica Pier and decide if you’d like to live there
* Can deduct: Your flight and hotel stay in Los Angeles if you have an interview scheduled or are going to E3 to network
“The IRS wants to see a real reason for your trip; how do they know you didn’t just go there on vacation?” says Tina Salandra, CPA and owner of Numerical LLC, an accounting firm in New York City. Note: Trying to write off the cost of bringing your spouse along isn’t going to fly in either case.
Gifts
* Cannot deduct: A $100 bottle of Bordeaux to thank Mortimer for getting you a job interview
* Can deduct: A $25 case of Budweiser to thank Joe for getting you an interview
The IRS caps business gift deductions at $25.
by Adam Piore
This article is part of a package on tax deductions you can take if you’re between jobs and consulting or freelancing while you’re looking for work. To find out what you can and can’t deduct if you’re freelancing or a consultant, see our story on tax deductions for freelancers.
As if being out of work and competing with everyone and their grandmother for work weren’t bad enough, a growing number of Americans are discovering yet another unpleasant truth about job hunting: It can be expensive. It costs money to travel to interviews, to get help with resumes, and to look good for those potential new bosses you’re trying to impress. Fortunately the IRS allows you to take tax deductions for at least some of those expenses if you itemize on your return. Job-hunting expenses are grouped in the “miscellaneous deductions” of your tax return, a category which must exceed 2 percent of your adjusted gross income to qualify for the write off. Here are some of the key job-hunting expenses you can and cannot deduct.
Home Office Equipment
* Cannot deduct: The full cost of equipment such as computers, printers, and fax machines
* Can deduct: A portion of the cost of equipment
Since most office equipment can be used for many purposes, you’ll only be able to deduct the percentage of the cost that corresponds to how much of the device you use exclusively for your job search. And even then, you’ll only be able to deduct a portion of the initial cost, since the IRS considers equipment like computers and printers to have a lifetime of five years. In many cases, the deduction will be quite small so you might be better off just going to Kinko’s and doing your job-related computing and printing there, since those costs will be fully deductible.
Education
* Cannot deduct: Classes and materials if you’re training for a new career
* Can deduct: Classes and materials associated with your present career
The IRS generally has strict limits on the deductibility of educational expenses. If you were laid off as a chef and you are going back to school to become an investment counselor, you cannot write those classes off. However, if you were laid off as a chef and you take a cooking class, or you were laid off as an investment counselor and you take a business course, it’s considered career development and is deductible.
Coaches and Assistants
* Cannot deduct: The fees for career coaches, resume specialists, Web site designers, etc., if you are trying to break into a new field
* Can deduct: The fees for the above if you are applying for a job in the same field as your previous job
As with classes and education, if you’re using the services of a coach or specialist to assist your job hunting in the same field, it’s considered deductible career development. Note that the fees for any help related to your appearance — such as hair stylists, tailors, personal trainers, and dieticians are never deductible — since they don’t exclusively benefit your business or ability to do work. Knowing this should help you answer the question posed in this popular H&R Block commercial that aired during the Olympics:
Travel
* Cannot deduct: Your flight and hotel stay in Los Angeles to check out the Santa Monica Pier and decide if you’d like to live there
* Can deduct: Your flight and hotel stay in Los Angeles if you have an interview scheduled or are going to E3 to network
“The IRS wants to see a real reason for your trip; how do they know you didn’t just go there on vacation?” says Tina Salandra, CPA and owner of Numerical LLC, an accounting firm in New York City. Note: Trying to write off the cost of bringing your spouse along isn’t going to fly in either case.
Gifts
* Cannot deduct: A $100 bottle of Bordeaux to thank Mortimer for getting you a job interview
* Can deduct: A $25 case of Budweiser to thank Joe for getting you an interview
The IRS caps business gift deductions at $25.
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