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Considered working as a Software Analyst? This interview will take you through the ups and downs you can expect in the position, what it takes to land the job, what you can expect to earn and more. (more…)
Archive for the ‘Personal Branding’ Category
Interview with a Software Analyst
Friday, November 4th, 2011How not to do a video resume
Friday, August 5th, 2011The interconnectedness of the internet has made it possible for information to spread faster than ever before, for better or for worse. That makes it very easy to root out fakers.
Case in point: Aleksey Vayner.
The Yale student created a “video resume” in 2006 that he sent to the HR department of financial firm UBS. On the tape, Vayner karate-chopped cinderblocks in half, demonstrated his ballroom dancing skills and bench-pressed 495 pounds. Needless to say, it was hilarious, and the video - titled “Impossible Is Nothing” quickly went viral, exposing even more lies in Vayner’s background (including his claim that the Dalai Lama wrote his college recommendation letter). Needless to say, he didn’t get the job.
He has since taken the video down, but here is a funny parody from Michael Cera:
Helpful Tips You Can Do to Help Stay in Your Job
Thursday, February 24th, 2011| |
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As we all know, we are in deep recession and jobs are trying to cut losses by laying people off. Considering their options, they will usually keep employees that they see are a perfect fit for the company. (more…)
The Most Satisfying Jobs
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011| |
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Satisfaction is largely subjective, which makes nailing down the most satisfying jobs a rather difficult proposition. Everyone has preferences when it comes to what they would like to do, but most people fall into one of two categories: they’re either givers or takers. Some just want to create something of value, help others, or do their part for the betterment of mankind. Others are happiest when they’re sampling all that the world has to offer. If you determine which category you fall into, you’ll have a much easier time finding the perfect job when browsing through those job search sites. But until then, here are a few that might whet your appetite (some of them literally).
Find a job that you enjoy
1. Travel writer. Although there are a lot of home-bodies who don’t particularly care for travel, most of us would give our right arm for the chance to see the world, experience new cultures, and get paid to do so. If you’re a fair hand with a pen (the ability to turn a phrase is essential to this line of work) and you’re keen to see Shanghai this week, Buenos Aires next week, and Juno, Alaska the week after that, then this job could provide an entire world worth of happiness.
2. Food critic. This one is another for the “taker” category, but even givers could probably find something to love in getting paid to sample food for a living. For one thing, we all have to eat. And for another, food critics get treated like rock stars in every restaurant they visit, whether it’s a dive or five-star cuisine. You’ll never wait for a table, you’ll always have access to the “secret” menu, and all you have to do in return is rate the experience. Best of all, people you pan (no pun intended) will try even harder to impress you the next time around.
3. Firefighter. This one is definitely a giver, but if you feel like risking your life to save others qualifies as a satisfying endeavor, then you would be hard pressed to come up with a riskier occupation. While many firefighters face injury and death on a daily basis (and have the aches, pains, and scars to show for it), you’ll rarely find one who would trade in even a day of his career for something less dangerous.
4. Clergy members. The thing that makes this profession interesting is that it’s equally compelling for both people who want to gain something as well as those who want to give something to others. Clergy members have a special communion with God that allows them to enjoy a stronger sense of faith than most people. But they’re also able to counsel their congregation in the ways of the Lord, developing a deeper understanding of their own faith while imparting valuable lessons and wisdom to those they address and speak to one-on-one.
5. Teachers. It can be hard to believe that someone stuck in a classroom full of antsy children all day could be happy, but there is a lot of joy to be garnered from helping to shape young minds. Watching children grow and learn is sort of a miracle in and of itself. But knowing that it’s within your power to help them become smarter and more capable, grasping concepts and developing ideas (in short, becoming the people they are meant to be), provides a satisfaction that few other jobs can match.
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 101 Tips Every Job Seeker Should Know |
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 The First Step to a Job You Love |
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![Higher Learning Leads to Higher Earnings, Especially for Men [InfoGraphic]](../../4022/4340939642_374fbff6e3_m.jpg "Higher Learning Leads to Higher Earnings, Especially for Men [InfoGraphic]") Higher Learning Leads to Higher Earnings, Especially for Men [InfoGraphic |
 How to Ace the Interview BEFORE it Starts |
 Video Resume – May Work Wonders, But Not for Everybody |
 How to Develop All Star Job References |
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10 Great Networking Tips for a Web 2.0 World
Tuesday, January 25th, 2011| |
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If you’re in the midst of a job search, you know that networks are important. Powerful. Essential. Most jobs are found through some kind of networking contact, so bolstering your relationships with all members of your network must be among your first priorities as you pursue your next role.
Effective networking is all about giving. And although the holiday giving season is far behind us, when it comes to your network, giving is a year-long activity.
One of the best gifts you can give to members of your network is help in building their personal brands. When we make others look good, we look good – to them! So consider these free or very low-cost, Web 2.0-focused personal-branding presents. It’s time to demonstrate your personal-brand attribute of generosity and your knowledge of social media.
Here are my Top 10 tips:
- Recommend people on LinkedIn. Nothing says “I care about you” in a Web 2.0 world like a positive reference posted on your LinkedIn profile. To do this, just ensure they are in your network, then click on “Recommend.” You are helping make their LinkedIn profile more valuable and credible – the best kind of personal branding.
- Add them to your Facebook friends. In the world of social networking, virtual popularity is even better than real-world popularity.
- Buy a personal domain name for them. For a year, it only costs about $9. You can search for and buy domain names at www.godaddy.com. Even if they aren’t ready for their own Web site, buying a domain name is like buying a plot of land: You own it so that when you are ready, you can build on it.
- Write a blog post about them or reference them in a comment on a relevant blog. To find blogs around specific topics, enter your keywords at www.technorati.com. You can also link to their Web site or blog or put their blog in your blogroll. (We all know how much Google loves inbound links.)
- Discover their Google Quotient for them. Use the Online ID Calculator to help them understand how their personal brand shows up online. In the new world of work, if you don’t show up in Google, you don’t exist. So help them build their online profile by showing them how they currently show up on the World Wide Web. Use the calculator after Googling them, then e-mail them the results. www.onlineidcalculator.com. It’s free!
- Quote or reference them in an article you are writing or a presentation you are delivering – and make sure they know about the reference. Post the article or slides online.
- If you write a press release about your article or presentation, include their name in all free press-release search engines like www.freepressrelease.com.
- Provide positive feedback. Rate their YouTube video and share their video with others in your network. Creating and uploading videos can be a lot of work, recognize their efforts. www.youtube.com. For your network contacts who are authors, write a review of their book or ebook and post it at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com.
- Create Google Alerts for your close professional contacts. Google Alerts allows you to stay on top of new content related to any person, company or topic. When you establish alerts for your network members, you will be notified each time they are mentioned in a blog or quoted in article. Then you can send them a congratulatory e-mail. www.google.com/alerts.
- Remember, networking is all about giving; and during this recessionary period, helping people with their personal branding is a valuable and appreciated gift.
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| Visit Our Bookstore for Great Values! |
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101 Tips Every Job Seeker Should Know |
The Ultimate Online Job Seekers eBook |
10 Biggest Interview Mistakes |
10 Biggest Resume Mistakes |
|---|
| Check out these hot articles! |
|---|
|
This makes us laugh… every time we see it |
The First Step to a Job You Love |
Palestinian Traffic Cop Loves His Job |
Beef up your email signature |
|---|
Higher Learning Leads to Higher Earnings, Especially for Men [InfoGraphic |
How to Ace the Interview BEFORE it Starts |
Video Resume – May Work Wonders, But Not for Everybody |
How to Develop All Star Job References |
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How to Dress Modestly for In-Person Meetings
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010| |
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Unlike telephone conversations and email correspondence, in-person meetings add an extra dynamic to the mix. No one can see what you’re wearing or tell what you look like by the sound of your voice or by reading your email message. When you meet someone in person, it’s your only chance to make a completely professional first impression. That’s why dressing in modest clothing is an absolute must for in-person meetings. The following guidelines can help you to dress appropriately for meeting face to face:
- Below the Knees – The general rule of thumb for work skirts is to keep the hem line below the knees. This ensures that when you sit, bend, squat and walk, you won’t show too much skin. Contrary to Hollywood’s depiction of appropriate office wear, skin is not ‘in’ at the workplace. Keep yourself out of any HR scandals by following the ‘below the knees’ rule.
- Low Cut Shouldn’t Make the Cut – Low cut shirts belong at the bars and in the clubs. Meeting others face to face for the first time should be done in modest clothing that encourages others to look you in the eye. If their eye is wandering, it might be a sign that your shirt is cut too low. Some cute tops can be adjusted in order to be deemed appropriate by wearing an undershirt or a jacket.
- When it Comes to Bling, Less is More – Jewelry can speak volumes if worn in excess. A minimalistic approach when it comes to trinkets will go a long way. Wearing several bracelets that make loud clanging noises is distracting and unprofessional. Large hoop earrings and over-sized necklaces have a way of overshadowing your abilities and highlighting your shopping habit, too. Indeed, keep it simple and remember that with jewelry, less is more.
- Don’t Overdo the Makeup – Shimmering eye glitter and flashy lip gloss communicate anything but a professional attitude. The type of message that this look sends is best reserved for street corners and last calls. As a general rule, makeup is meant to enhance your natural beauty, not hide it completely. Neutral colors will improve your look while not detracting from your overall message of professionalism and appropriate behavior.
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101 Tips Every Job Seeker Should Know |
The Ultimate Online Job Seekers eBook |
10 Biggest Interview Mistakes |
10 Biggest Resume Mistakes |
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| Check out these hot articles! |
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This makes us laugh… every time we see it |
The First Step to a Job You Love |
Palestinian Traffic Cop Loves His Job |
Beef up your email signature |
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Practical Resume Tips
Thursday, August 5th, 2010| |
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Practical Resume Tips
Today we are going to write about a pleasant experience we had not long ago when we could help out one of our readers.
MyOnlineCareerSpace.com was contacted by an avid job seeker who was not sure how to format his resume and if it in fact was up to scratch. As we’ve written before, having a resume that stands out from the bunch is extremely important. Yet there is a delicate balance to be struck with standing out and still remaining professional.
This was exactly the problem our reader was having so he asked us to have a look. We made a few notes and remarks along the way which we would like to share with you today.
The first problem we ran into was the most serious: we could not open the file he sent us. It was in a file format so obsolete by today’s standards that even a Google search returned mixed results about how to open it or what to do with it. So even if we wanted to, we could not open it. This is something that recruiters will never do. If they can’t open your resume, you won’t get the position. It’s as simple as that.
Luckily this can easily be avoided by always sending resumes in file formats that are considered standards: .doc files are usually accepted as are .pdfs. Some prefer PDF files for their ability to preserve formatting exactly as intended. An excellent article on this matter can be found here.
After we received a file we could actually open, we gave our reader this advice:
1) The formatting of the resume was off. Our reader was an IT professional and as such employers have higher expectations as far as the formatting of the resume goes. It is considered an indication of the job seekers level of professionalism and should not be taken lightly. The formatting has to be constant and easily recognizable for the reader.
2) We recommended a stronger specialization statement. At http://www.ItsNotYouItsYourResume.com there is a free specialization workbook that will help you to clarify this statement and we recommend that you work through this ebook as the opening section of your resume is the most read portion of the resume and it needs to SCREAM what you do and who you do it for. Remember, more resumes have a limited amount of time to make an impression: typically between 20-30 seconds and this objective/specialization statement is key.
3) We advised, especially considering his target position, that you have a professional website that speaks to your specific talents. More and more, employers and recruiters are going online to find their ideal candidates and they are doing more than just checking resumes to find their ideal candidates, rather, they are doing Google searches for your name.
You should take control of that online persona and create a website that you can put on your cover letter and resume that employers and recruiters can click on to find out more about you: your special talents, testimonials and references and what you bring to the table.
| Be sure to look for us on your favorite networks: |
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| Visit Our Bookstore for Great Values! |
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|
101 Tips Every Job Seeker Should Know |
The Ultimate Online Job Seekers eBook |
10 Biggest Interview Mistakes |
10 Biggest Resume Mistakes |
|---|
Higher Learning Leads to Higher Earnings, Especially for Men [InfoGraphic |
How to Ace the Interview BEFORE it Starts |
Video Resume – May Work Wonders, But Not for Everybody |
How to Develop All Star Job References |
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A Timeline: 374 Years of Higher Education
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010| |
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| Visit Our Bookstore for Great Values! |
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|
101 Tips Every Job Seeker Should Know |
The Ultimate Online Job Seekers eBook |
10 Biggest Interview Mistakes |
10 Biggest Resume Mistakes |
|---|
Higher Learning Leads to Higher Earnings, Especially for Men [InfoGraphic |
How to Ace the Interview BEFORE it Starts |
Video Resume – May Work Wonders, But Not for Everybody |
How to Develop All Star Job References |
|---|
Online Personal Branding and Job Search
