Want to become a LinkedIn Expert Check out my LinkedIn DVD!

Want to become a LinkedIn Expert Check out my LinkedIn DVD! Seems like nowadays everyone says they are a LinkedIn expert there are a bunch of people talking about LinkedIn how to use LinkedIn in a job search, how to use LinkedIn to make a sale, how to use LinkedIn for   _________. I realize Im totally biased about my LinkedIn DVD (Im quite proud of it :p), perhaps its not fair to tell you what I think of it.   Let me share what others are saying about it on Amazon.com: VerySuperCool Sue writes from Austin: I was surprised at the amount of information that was on the dvd. I thought I had finished, when I realized I was only beginning! I think everyone who has a Linkedin account could really benefit from watching this. Paul Jones from Salt Lake writes: I loaded Albas LinkedIn DVD and immediately started using the spacebar. You know, the spacebar pauses the video. And I needed to pause the video because so much of his advice was immediately actionable. Kelly Kennedy says: What I especially liked is that the DVD is a webinar format of Jason using LinkedIn, not just him standing there talking about it. As you view the DVD you see what he is clicking on, what Jason thinks about various features, and what you should do with LinkedIn for job search and career management. It is especially helpful how Jason highlights sections of the program and then discusses each section individually for clarity. Our undergraduate and MBA students have taken full advantage of the program and I admit that it was clearly worth the small investment we made. Jeffrey Ogden in Bethpage, NY writes: Jason has created a very useful and informative DVD for anyone who wishes to optimize his or her Linkedin profile. Why is it important? I just met with a Chairman and CEO of a good sized business. He said I loved your resume. I responded What resume? I never gave you one. He said Oh, I mean your Linkedin profile. [I LOVE THIS STORY!!] Sophie Lagace from Eureka (!) writes: I have used several other LinkedIn resources, including Jason Albas own book and blog, and Im employed, not looking. Yet I still found value in the tutorials, and I took several new actions to connect with people and improve my profile. Cultural Tofu writes: Although its geared towards job seekers, I found the information to be relevant for non-job seekers just trying to build their professional brand and grow their professional network. I highly recommend this DVD to anyone interested in updating their professional brand using LinkedIn. Thom Allen in West Jordan, UT writes: Most of the information in the DVD isnt a secret, but Jason brings new ideas on how to use the features that already exist for LinkedIn users. You will find more opportunities to improve your LinkedIn connection base than ever. You need this DVD. Julie Walraven in Wausau, WI writes: even though I have read his book before and worked with LinkedIn for a couple of years, I found a few more tips and changed my profile once again. Screen by screen with Jason giving clear advice, jobseekers will learn what to do and what not to do with LinkedIn and why. As a professional resume writer, I am excited to use this new tool with my clients and am recommending it on my website. Marc W from West Jordan writes: Jason Alba shows us in his new DVD what works and why and how to implement it. He presents his material in a very easy to follow format with excellent examples. Thomas Clifford writes: What I like best is I can review any of the segments quickly and easily and then jump onto LinkedIn and execute the concept. Books on LinkedIn are fine; this is like having a private one-on-one tutorial in your home. Pretty cool! Awesome folks, thank you for those testimonials! If you havent gotten a copy of LinkedIn for Job Seekers, the DVD, yet, click here to order. Want to become a LinkedIn Expert Check out my LinkedIn DVD! Seems like nowadays everyone says they are a LinkedIn expert there are a bunch of people talking about LinkedIn how to use LinkedIn in a job search, how to use LinkedIn to make a sale, how to use LinkedIn for   _________. I realize Im totally biased about my LinkedIn DVD (Im quite proud of it :p), perhaps its not fair to tell you what I think of it.   Let me share what others are saying about it on Amazon.com: VerySuperCool Sue writes from Austin: I was surprised at the amount of information that was on the dvd. I thought I had finished, when I realized I was only beginning! I think everyone who has a Linkedin account could really benefit from watching this. Paul Jones from Salt Lake writes: I loaded Albas LinkedIn DVD and immediately started using the spacebar. You know, the spacebar pauses the video. And I needed to pause the video because so much of his advice was immediately actionable. Kelly Kennedy says: What I especially liked is that the DVD is a webinar format of Jason using LinkedIn, not just him standing there talking about it. As you view the DVD you see what he is clicking on, what Jason thinks about various features, and what you should do with LinkedIn for job search and career management. It is especially helpful how Jason highlights sections of the program and then discusses each section individually for clarity. Our undergraduate and MBA students have taken full advantage of the program and I admit that it was clearly worth the small investment we made. Jeffrey Ogden in Bethpage, NY writes: Jason has created a very useful and informative DVD for anyone who wishes to optimize his or her Linkedin profile. Why is it important? I just met with a Chairman and CEO of a good sized business. He said I loved your resume. I responded What resume? I never gave you one. He said Oh, I mean your Linkedin profile. [I LOVE THIS STORY!!] Sophie Lagace from Eureka (!) writes: I have used several other LinkedIn resources, including Jason Albas own book and blog, and Im employed, not looking. Yet I still found value in the tutorials, and I took several new actions to connect with people and improve my profile. Cultural Tofu writes: Although its geared towards job seekers, I found the information to be relevant for non-job seekers just trying to build their professional brand and grow their professional network. I highly recommend this DVD to anyone interested in updating their professional brand using LinkedIn. Thom Allen in West Jordan, UT writes: Most of the information in the DVD isnt a secret, but Jason brings new ideas on how to use the features that already exist for LinkedIn users. You will find more opportunities to improve your LinkedIn connection base than ever. You need this DVD. Julie Walraven in Wausau, WI writes: even though I have read his book before and worked with LinkedIn for a couple of years, I found a few more tips and changed my profile once again. Screen by screen with Jason giving clear advice, jobseekers will learn what to do and what not to do with LinkedIn and why. As a professional resume writer, I am excited to use this new tool with my clients and am recommending it on my website. Marc W from West Jordan writes: Jason Alba shows us in his new DVD what works and why and how to implement it. He presents his material in a very easy to follow format with excellent examples. Thomas Clifford writes: What I like best is I can review any of the segments quickly and easily and then jump onto LinkedIn and execute the concept. Books on LinkedIn are fine; this is like having a private one-on-one tutorial in your home. Pretty cool! Awesome folks, thank you for those testimonials! If you havent gotten a copy of LinkedIn for Job Seekers, the DVD, yet, click here to order.

Want Help Writing Cover Letters For My Resume?

Want Help Writing Cover Letters For My Resume?It's not easy to write a great cover letter for your resume, but if you can learn how to do it, you can save yourself lots of time and energy in the long run. A great resume is all about what your career is going to be like at the end of your time on earth, and so is your cover letter. Your letter should be interesting, enticing, and something that really gets to the heart of the matter.Not everybody knows what they want their letter to do. Some want it to be personal, some want it to be business oriented, others want it to be business formal. You need to figure out what is most important to you when you're writing your cover letter for your resume.You also need help when you're drafting the letter. You can find a lot of sample letters that you can use as a guide. Find one that you feel matches the qualities that you want to convey in your letter. This could include creating a new perspective for the reader, offering some advice, or even suggesting a solution to the problem at hand.Do you have to use a template for your resume? No, but you should probably have one available. These templates come in a variety of sizes, but they should have a basic outline that you can use as a guide. You can generally customize these templates for your own use or you can purchase one that is professionally done and customized to your requirements.When you're setting out to write a great cover letter for your resume, be sure to make it the best that you can. There's no sense in going through the trouble of crafting a great letter, only to find that you have to submit it in the form of a resume. Take time when you're crafting this letter, making sure that you put in everything that you need to make it really shine.The format of your resume should be different from the format of your letter. You don't want to put a bunch of information on your resume, as this makes it look unprofessional. Take the time to get into the proper format for your letter. Then you can use this same format to format your resume.Once you've completed the proper format for your resume, you'll know that it is professional. It will look professional when it's presented to your future employer. Your letters will also be more likely to be read if they are presented in a professional manner. If they look sloppy or amateurish, they will likely be forgotten altogether.Your resume should be the most effective tool you have to offer your future employer. They should be able to see exactly what you have to offer to them. When you're writing your cover letter for your resume, make sure that you are able to present the very best that you can. You need help with this part of the process so that you can get everything right.

And some days, you just have to stop. Stop everything. Career Coach JobJenny

And some days, you just have to stop. Stop everything. Career Coach JobJenny This is my family. I love them with every fiber of my being. Sometimes, I don't tell them enough because I also love my job. The pace. The demands. The economic wins. The sheer joy that comes from knowing I've helped someone else win. Sometimes, I get going so fast and furiously that I overlook (briefly) things that I should not. Cues that I should not. People that I should not. It's easy to do. As a professional, as a job seeker, as a human. You get all caught up in a whirl of activity surrounding your latest passion, goal or deadline and everything else sort of falls off around you. Today, something very very bad happened, in a school much like my own children's yet, by chance only, on the other side of the country. A tragedy that, try as I might, I can't even remotely fathom. The children who died senselessly today were all of our children. Today, I am overcome with grief, for the victims, for their families, and for all of the children who may have survived, but just had their innocence wrenched away from them by someone with no right to take it. I'm also very angry. Angry that, for a laundry list of reasons, tragedies like this can happen. And so today I will stop. I will hold the blog post that was to go up today. I will take a break from the next ebook I'm outlining. I will set down the phone, stop obsessing over my overflowing inbox and log out of Quickbooks. And I will love my family with all of my heart. I hope you'll do the same.

How to Attract Recruiters with Your Twitter Bio

How to Attract Recruiters with Your Twitter Bio Signed up on Twitter? Struggling to get interest from recruiters, headhunters, HR and hiring managers? I’ve got the answer for you, fact is that your bio on Twitter will be critical to attracting new followers, it’s even been said that you will get up to eight times more followers with a good bio. Get it wrong and people will run to the hills, get it right and you will build up a loyal fan base. Its worth investing some time in a good bio as it could potentially attract your dream job. Staying congruent: One of the most sacred laws of personal branding is consistency. In an ideal world, you’d have the exact same bio across your website, blog, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and so forth. Due to space constraints this isn’t really possible on Twitter and you have to be more concise. What you can do is taking inspiration from your LinkedIn or blog bio when you construct your Twitter bio. Twitter bio guidelines: Any great bio should be based around your personal branding statement. This consists of one or two sentences describing who you are and what your unique promise of value is (what you offer that is unique in other words). Have a think about what problem you solve for others, what solution you provide to your customers for instance. What content should go in: As you only have a tiny space for your Twitter bio, you have to get to the point straight away. Be specific and start with something like “I provide banks with insurance solutions” or “I help people achieve fitness through Pilates”. Make sure you get your relevant keywords in there so that you will appear in search results. List any product or service names that you can expect potential customers to enter in search boxes. Second, list a few specialties that sets your personal brand apart from the pack, such as “first certified scuba instructor in Greenland” or “passionate about your customer experience”. You can also drop any notable achievements or people you are associated with, such as “author of the best selling book Twitterati”, “previous owner of the Springfield Isotopes” or “special advisor to Henry Kissinger”. End it with a call to action, statement or question. You can go with “contact me today for further information” or “satisfaction guaranteed” or simply ask “how may I be of service to you?”. It’s optional to list further ways to contact you, some Tweeters will add a URL at the end, you can do this but be aware it won’t turn into a hyperlink. What to avoid: If you are looking to attract business from your Twitter bio, please omit any references to your political, religious or any other potentially emotive bits. Stay within the realms of political correctness and you’ll be fine. If you want to express your non-PC side, consider setting up another account for that purpose (and keep this away from your customers!). Conclusion: Your bio is short, it’s likely to be scanned in a matter of seconds by any recruiter or HR person. Make sure you have stuffed it with the correct and relevant information about who you are and what you do. Failure to do this will result in an uphill struggle to gain followers and you won’t do your personal brand any favors. Set some time aside to really give your Twitter bio the makeover it deserves today. Related: How To Search and Find Jobs Using Twitter.

When it Comes to Conflict at Work Consider the Danger of Avoiding It Marla Gottschalk

When it Comes to Conflict at Work â€" Consider the Danger of Avoiding It Marla Gottschalk Photo by Tristan Billet on Unsplash Conflict Debt is the sum of all the contentious issues that need to be addressed to be able to move forward, but instead remain undisclosed and unresolved. Liane Davey Over the past years, Ive been on a quiet mission exploring the elements that contribute to stability within our work lives. I refer to core stability as a confluence of elements, such as psychological safety and the psychological contract, that contribute to a strong work life foundation. Their presence help us to become (and remain) engaged and productive â€" even in the face of challenge. To some, stability may seem an odd path, in an age of relentless innovation and digital transformation. However, for those of us who are troubled by enduring workplace problems, such as poor fit and lack of engagement, stability offers fertile ground. When you consider the topics that affect stability, conflict â€" and more specifically the absence of healthy conflict â€" land on the short list. When we think of conflict in our own work lives, we might recall the odd argument or heated discussion concerning a project or client. However, those memories are only part of the conflict story. We also must consider all of the moments where we failed to confront an issue. Instances where we hesitated because of the imagined aftermath. Those forward flashes can resemble a work life apocalypse. In her new book, The Good Fight, Liane Davey lets us know that avoiding conflict comes with a clear cost â€" something she brilliantly named Conflict Debt. Conflict debt is the accumulation of emotions and resentment that can occur when we fail to broach the topic. Davey takes our hand and leads us through the emotions that come with that dynamic. The Good Fight explores the idea that when mastered, conflict builds both courage and confidence. She also explores the roots of why we feel the way we do. (Her personal conflict story is like so many of our ownâ€" laden with judgement, avoidance and outright fear.) There is a certain hell that we quickly correlate with work-related conflict. In fact, that is enough to relegate conflict into near oblivion. We should be doing the polar opposite â€" dancing with it. Normalizing healthy conflict is the goal, Davey explains. Ultimately, we sacrifice ourselves when we avoid conflict. We also negatively affect the strength and quality of our work. Unresolved conflict doesnt fully dissipate. Sadly, it can take on a festering life of its own. Purchase The Good Fight here: Dr. Marla Gottschalk is an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist. She is a charter member of the LinkedIn Influencer Program. Her thoughts on work life have appeared in various outlets including Talent Zoo, Forbes, Quartz and The Huffington Post.

Want to Land a Job Abroad Heres How to Do It - CareerMetis.com

Want to Land a Job Abroad Here’s How to Do It If you’re tired of the same old country, same dull city and same uneventful job, then you might have thought about moving away to another country in order to start a fresh, new life.Or perhaps you just want to work in another country for a little while to see what the world has to offer and to explore while you still can. This isn’t uncommon.Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comIn fact, many people travel all across the world looking for new jobs, and there are some people who are lucky enough to base their career around travelling.evalIf you’re looking to get started with a job abroad, then here is some helpful advice that will assist you in making your dreams come true.Consider your optionsevalThe first thing you want to do is write down a list of your options. Consider what your current profession is and if it can translate well into another country. For instance, if you’re currently working as a chef or a cook, then those skills can easily translate into working at a restaurant in another country.It’s even better if you specialise in a certain type of cuisine that is popular or niche in another country. Other jobs, such as typical office work or an IT professional are also great choices because they are needed all over the world.The other option is to create a business or a freelance career that involves travelling. For instance, photography is a popular option that requires you to travel all over the world and take wonderful pictures.Arm yourself with a camera, a laptop and an internet connection, and you’ll be able to do your job from almost anywhere. Of course, it does take awhile to become a well-paid freelance photographer, and you’re going to need a specific skillset.However, once you break into the industry, you’ll have a lot of freedom to travel and work anywhere in the world.Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comResearch permits and licensesDepending on the type of job you have, you’re probably going to need licenses, visas or working permits before y ou get started. It’s a good idea to search online in these situations so you can learn everything about the country you plan to work in and what restrictions there are for doing so.evalFor example, if you plan to be a construction worker in Australia, then you’re going to need a white card, which is essentially a permit given after a training course that allows you to work at a construction site.In the United States, you’ll need to obtain a work permit if you plan to work, and you’ll also need a green card if you plan to stay in the United States as a resident. Make sure you do enough research and learn about all of your rights and how you can approach gaining entry into a country for the sake of working.Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comSummaryTo conclude, working abroad can be a challenge, but it’s relatively simple and straightforward assuming you do enough research into your choices, permits and visas.It’s also a very slow processâ€"governments and officials aren’t known for their speed when dealing with international matters, so don’t quit your job too early!

Giving Good Phone - How to Perform Well on a Telephone Interview - CareerAlley

Giving Good Phone - How to Perform Well on a Telephone Interview - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. By Anna Mathieu, Marketing Communications Manager Almost every tech company these days will hold phone interviews before any onsite is scheduled. While this means you can keep you comfy slippers on, it doesnt mean you should get too cozy. To perform well on a telephone interview, first you must prepare in much the same way as for an in-person interview (slippers aside). Next, you must put on your phone etiquette and your listening ears. Basic Prep for Any Interview First of all, do your homework! There is no way you will be of interest to a hiring manager, if you do not show that you are interested in the job and the company. Obviously you should check out the companys webpage, but dont stop there. Do some research, find out what analysts think. Network to see who you know who works or used to work at the company and get their perspective. Check out LinkedIn and see how the companys employees and clients interact with it online (are there recommendations, a lot of turnover?). Keep your resume in front of you in case you need to refer to it. Your resume and your dialogue should communicate your knowledge and expertise and demonstrate the results you achieved in various roles. Your objective is to impart the value equation you represent. Have references available in case you are asked. Your preparation should include being aware of any connections you might have with the interviewer directly or through you references or other connections. Specific to Telephone Interviewing Practice good phone etiquette. Be courteous and articulate your words so that your message is transmitted clearly. While you do not want to sounds stuffy or overly formal, it is best to use proper grammar and avoid vernacular. When you are in front of someone, you can pick up on a lot of visual, non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, body language and eye contact. According to UCLA Professor Emeritus Albert Mehrabian, 55% of messages received and processed by your brain are based on your body language. So on the telephone, you are at a disadvantage in terms of understanding and making yourself understood. On the telephone you need to listen very attentively and try to pick up on any cues you can. Listen for repetition, tone of voice, pauses, quick or interrupting responses, laughs or sighs. Watch the speed of your speech, especially if either you or the interviewer is speaking in a language that is not their mother tongue. Set a pace that is similar to that of the interviewer so that there is a flow and handing off turns speaking is natural. Be mindful that you need enough speed to keep the conversation lively and interactive, but you dont want to dominate; and steer clear of taking such a slow speed that there are confusing silences or that you convey a lack of interest. If your interviewer repeats information, this is like a yellow highlighter make sure you pay attention and integrate the information. If a question is repeated, you should make sure you address it; if you feel that you have already answered the question, then articulate your answer a different way or ask for clarification as to what information the interviewer is seeking. Are there background noises that may pertain to your conversation? If the interviewer is shuffling paper, tapping a pencil, or carrying on another conversation, you have lost their interest and better figure out how to get back on track. Quickly evaluate whether this strayed focus has to do with your communication style or content, or whether there is an extrinsic event occurring. If the fault lies with you, try to salvage the call proactively if youve been long-winded, then shorten your answers and stay on point. If you hear that the interviewer is trying to respond to a crisis in the office, offer to re-schedule the call. Be aware of the noises that may be coming from your side of the telephone. Turn your radio, television, other telephones and electronics off during the time of the interview so as not to be distracted, or cause any diversion or loss of communication. If you feel compelled to be up and walking around, be mindful of any collateral noises you are creating or approaching in your pacing. Are you hearing ooohs, aaahs, or uh-huhs? This is generally a positive indicator that you are on the right track. If the noises are ugs or neighs, well try to evaluate whether this is spurred by your content or delivery and make adjustments. Dont forget to make some noise yourself. In a face-to-face interview you can lean forward, you can nod your head, you can smile to affirm your interest and agreement. You need to make sure your enthusiasm and interest come across over the phone. Do not interrupt, but do acknowledge the speaker so that he/she knows you are still there, and that you are interested. Listen to tone and inflection, the interviewers and your own. Professor Mehrabians research shows that 38% of messages are processed based on your tone of voice. So how you say something is as important as what you are actually saying. Be expressive, use a tone of voice that communicates the interest and emotion that you are trying to convey. If you smile when you are talking, it will be infused in your voice a phenomenon that is both psychological and physiological. Pay attention to the interviewers tone. Are they even-sounding or are they progressively sounding more or less interested? If your interviewers voice becomes monotone, youve probably lost them. If his/her voice becomes somewhat high-pitched or emphatic, they are probably enthusiastic. An overly high-pitched tone may indicate disbelief or indignation. Dont just answer the question and await the next, this isnt a batting cage, it is a dialogue. Lob the ball back once in a while, to clarify the role or dig deeper into the positions priorities, ask about the interviewers history at the company, or what they value most about the company culture. An interview is between two humans and its purpose is for both of you to evaluate a potential partnership. Book Corner: [easyazon_link asin=1601631545 locale=US new_window=default nofollow=default tag=caree07-20 add_to_cart=default cloaking=default localization=default popups=default]The Essential Phone Interview Handbook[/easyazon_link] About the Author:Anna Mathieu, Marketing Communications Manager, brings together in-the-trenches recruiting experience as well as years of marketing and sales success in a variety of industries from software to real estate development. She thrives on evangelizing the Redfish brand and communicating Redfishs expert recruiting services, to drive bottom line results.About Redfish Technology Nationwide IT Recruiting for the High Tech IndustriesFounded in Silicon Valley in 1996, Redfish Technology has been a leading provider of high tech and clean tech professional and executive talent. Partnering with growth mode companies, small and large, Redfish staffs executive functions and builds out the teams below. The company provides services nationwide and has offices in Silicon Valley, the East Coast, and Sun Valley. This is a Guest post. We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+ //

Four Ways to Ace Your Year-End Review - Hallie Crawford

Four Ways to Ace Your Year-End Review What comes to your mind when you think about your annual performance review? Many professionals feel stressed, anxious, or unsure of themselves. And according to a 2012 Cornerstone OnDemand/Harris study, less than half of the professionals who participated in performance reviews surveyed said the feedback they received was a fair and accurate representation of their performance. So how can you ensure that you have a successful year-end review? Consider these four things. Prepare all year. For a more effective year-end review, make it a habit to track your progress, goals, and successes on a regular basis. You can’t scramble around at the last minute and dig everything up. Instead, keep an ongoing log of all of your accomplishments in an Excel sheet. Include specific results, obstacles you overcame, client testimonials or team kudos. For example, if your client wrote you an email expressing their gratitude after closing a deal, document it. If you were the team leader on a project that increased sales in the first quarter of the year, document it in numbers and percentages. Set aside 10-15 minutes each month to update this document. Create a positive affirmation. It can be hard to stay calm and easy for negative thoughts to take over while waiting for feedback from your manager. To combat those feelings, create a positive affirmation to replace any anxiety and negativity.  We suggest coming up with one affirmation a word or short sentence that inspires you, calms you and helps you focus. Use something that changes your energy and your thoughts to the positive as you envision the meeting going well. For example, “I will pass with flying colors” or, “I will ace this interview.” Try to relax. Take 10 deep breaths before you enter the room, and focus on your breathing throughout the meeting. Be proactive. Think about any red flags, mistakes or possible issues your manager might bring up, and decide how you will handle them beforehand. Write them down and determine how you could handle those issues in a better way. Then if they come up, you will already have solutions to these issues and won’t feel flustered. Don’t forget to thank your manager. Keep in mind that your manager probably feels just as uncomfortable as you about performance reviews. Make sure to thank them for their time and for any feedback, and let them know you appreciate the work that they do at the beginning of your meeting. Mentioning this at the outset helps set a positive tone and sets the stage for productive, open communication. After a few days, consider writing them a thank-you email or card. If you find it hard to have a positive conversation with your manager, consider the communication tips in our free presentation, Dealing with Difficult Coworkers or Employees.