Archive for the ‘Career and Employment News’ Category

A recent post on a career industry association e-list sparked quite a discussion about job seeker appearance and hiring standards. An association member came across a job board that caters to “beautiful, skilled and talented people looking for employment” and “employers who are looking to hire beautiful, skilled and talented people.” To access job leads, candidates must first register and upload their photo, which is then rated by visitors and members to determine if the account should be activated or rejected.

Is there no end to the limits some individuals will go to in exploiting the tight job market while making candidates feel less than worthy?

Okay, I will admit that appearance has always been a factor in how candidates are evaluated during the interview. After all, don’t we advise candidates to “look their best” when approaching an employer? We coach clients on what to wear, how to fix their hair and make-up, and what subtle things such as facial hair and fingernail length communicate to an employer. And we talk to clients about how they need “to look the part” to “get the part” – which is what makes some job titles, such as librarian or construction worker,  immediately conjure up images that even the most diplomatic employer has to shake.

Set aside the audaciousness of BeautifulJobSeekers.com and we are still faced with reconciling the impact one’s photo has on their success in landing a job. With the widespread use of social media to match candidates to jobs, are employers - who are trying to comply with EEO regulations - feeling like they need to cover their eyes when reviewing candidate credentials on Facebook, LinkedIn and other online networking sites? Are hungry lawyers lining up to pursue action against employers on behalf of candidates who feel they have been rejected because of their apparent age, race, ethnic background – or heaven forbid, height, weight and eye color!?

I don’t know the answer, but it all makes me a little nervous. As a professional résumé writer, I have always scoffed at competitors who advised clients to include a photo on their résumé, but now I am wondering if I should rethink my position. In a country that seems to have lost its senses to reality TV, entertainment magazines, and viewer-cast ballots for who should be the next “American Idol,” maybe it’s time that employers and career services professionals have some serious conversations about how these trends are impacting the job market – and come up with some realistic solutions.

As the employment market continues to suffer with a lack of high-paying jobs and many industries outsourcing their positions to overseas locations, job seekers are turning to entrepreneurship to control their destinies.

While self-employment may be a good alternative, job search candidates need to understand what it takes to start and build a successful business.

Our guest has done that – several times over – and he is only 25!

Join The Career Clinicians, Kathy Sweeney and Norine Dagliano as we interview our guest, Cameron Johnson, author of “You Call The Shots: Succeed Your Way-- and Live the Life You Want-- with the 19 Essential Secrets of Entrepreneurship.”

Listeners may remember Cameron as the runner-up on Oprah’s “Big Give” TV show in 2008.

The radio show will air live on BlogTalkRadio on Wednesday, April 21st at 7 pm ET. Listeners can tune in to The Career Clinicians Radio Show here: http://bit.ly/a1buFW

We will be taking live calls during the show. Listeners can call (917) 889-9043 to ask questions of our guest.

So, who is Cameron Johnson?

Cameron started his first business when he was nine with $50 and a home computer. By age 17, he earned his first million dollars.

Before he'd turned 21, he'd started twelve successful businesses and was offered $10 million in venture capital to grow his hot Web company, CertificateSwap.com.

And, he has done it without ever taking out a loan!

Cameron will discuss:

• How to determine if entrepreneurship is right for you
• The secrets to starting a successful business
• The risks involved with being an entrepreneur
• How to research ideas to determine whether they are viable
• How much capital you should invest
• How to keep your business profitable
• The role that outstanding customer service plays in the success of a company
• How to know when to sell your business

Don’t start a business without listening to this important show!

Many times I speak with clients who have been laid off and propose the idea of starting a business. While it may sound like a great idea, there are many things to consider before starting a company.

In this post, I will outline some lessons and provide a few pieces of advice that I have learned throughout my 23 years in business.

At the end of the post, I have included two organizations that can help with starting a business.

While this post will not be an "all-encompassing" guide to starting a company, it will provide you with a framework of very basic principles.

1. Be properly funded.

It takes capital to start a business. Most banks will not lend you money until you have been in business at least five years. So,  you may have to tap into savings or borrow from family or friends. The rule of thumb is to have at least SIX months of business operating capital, along with funds to pay your household expenses.

2. Decide whether you will offer a product or service.

In my opinion, service businesses are less expensive to operate, as you will not have to carry inventory. Further, you can start out smaller and then add employees (or subcontractors) as you grow.

3. Will you start your own business or buy into a franchise?

There are pluses and minuses to each. Just make sure you read the fine print on any franchise contract and talk to other franchise owners. Often, franchisees are bound by a lot of rules, and can't use "out-of-the-box thinking" when it comes to marketing, as the "brand" needs to remain consistent. When you have your own business, you call all the shots.

4. Be realistic about whether your idea holds merit.

Conduct due diligence, which includes researching the competitive marketplace,  identifying your target demographic, and determining pricing. In addition, determine which licenses or permits you will need to run your business.

5. Build a business plan.

This is your road map to guide you.  Make sure that you identify EVERY cost you will incur. In fact, enter amounts that are MORE than you think something will cost. That way, you won't be stuck if prices change. However, make sure your business plan is a fluid document. If you find that something isn't working, change it.

6. Create a marketing plan.

This is one document which entrepreneurs typically neglect to formulate. Identify the "advertising" mediums that will bring you the most business for the least amount of money.

One thing to note. When you start your business, you will get calls from every kind of advertising company trying to sell you their service. Never sign on the dotted line until you have given yourself 24 hours to think about it.

7. Network and form alliances with businesses who can enhance your offerings.

For instance, I do not conduct career coaching. So, I have a network of colleagues to whom I can refer my clients.

Another example would be a plumbing company that establishes trusted relationships with heating / air conditioning companies and / or pest control services.

8. Be an expert in your industry.

Participate in continuing education in your industry. Keep up on emerging trends in your business and be ready to jump on those opportunities. However, carefully evaluate whether the trend is real based upon fact-based research or if it is made up by someone just to bilk money from customers.

9. Provide outstanding customer service and deliver a quality product / service!

There is a saying: People buy from people they like and trust. By providing exceptional customer service and delivering quality work, you will set yourself apart from your competition. Further, you will gain referrals. As your referral base grows, you can knock out advertising costs.

In the resume writing business, I have thousands of "competitors." Some of them charge less than I do and others charge more.

However, I have built a strong level of trust with my clients by consistently creating and delivering interview-winning resumes, selling them only what they need for their job search, and providing advice about the employment market. This has resulted in a 98% referral rate. Now, I spend very little money on advertising.

Where Can You Go For Help?

There are great resources available in your community which provide free counseling, including SCORE and Small Business Development Centers, which are funded by the Small Business Administration.

Remember though, just because someone gives you advice, it doesn't mean that it's the only way to run your business. Take the advice given and run it through your mind to determine whether it makes sense.

Do you have a digital footprint? Do you know what one is? Is your online presence getting you "turn downs" instead of "offers" from employers?

More than 90% of recruiters and 50% of employers perform Internet searches on candidates before making a hiring decision. If job seekers don’t have a solid, online presence with a strong career brand, the chances of impressing a potential employer are greatly diminished.

Join The Career Clinicians, Kathy Sweeney and Norine Dagliano, as they interview Barbara Safani, an expert in social media and career branding, regarding the importance of building online profiles and participating in social media / business networking sites.

The show airs live on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 7 p.m. ET on BlogTalkRadio (http://bit.ly/bXzi0t). The Career Clinicians will be taking live calls at (917) 889-9043.

During the show, Barbara will discuss:

• How job seekers can find out what kind of digital footprint they possess.
• Specific websites where job seekers should have a presence, including LinkedIn, Google Profiles, ZoomInfo, Facebook, and Twitter.
• The differences and benefits between the sites.
• Which type of person is right for each online medium.
• Privacy concerns.
• How a great (or poorly written) profile can impact a job search.

Don't miss this important show to find out the best ways to ensure your digital foot is a positive one!

My dad has a saying: "Live as if you'll be found out because you will!" In this post, I will cover a story that plays right into that statement.

While I was browsing "updates" from friends on Facebook the other day, I noticed one of them had joined a "Fan Page" entitled, "Tim Martins is My Hero!"

I was a little perplexed; I hadn't heard of anyone by that name doing something heroic on the news. So, I clicked through to find out what all the fuss was about.

What I found was a page dedicated to someone, who, in the pursuit of his 15-minutes of fame, had made grievous errors in judgment. These errors will now follow him for the rest of his life.

The Beginning of End

It all started innocently enough. Tim Martins is a First Officer (co-pilot) for American Eagle Airlines (the regional carrier for American Airlines). He is also a member of the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA), which is the union representing thousands of professional pilots at several airlines.

In the wake of recent bad press surrounding the airline industry, ALPA decided to write articles in their member magazine featuring pilots who typified their Code of Ethics and set them up as "role models." Two of the tenants in the Code of Ethics include 'representing their airline with the utmost professionalism in both appearance and conduct ' and 'being a good citizen of the community'.

To be featured in an article, a pilot is nominated by a peer and then approved by top members of ALPA. Tim Martins was nominated, approved, and then interviewed by Jan Steenblik, a long-time technical editor for ALPA's magazine.

The article, entitled, "Mature Beyond His Years," was the cover story for the April 2010 issue. In the magazine, Tim Martins, who is approximately 25 years old, told the story of his "rise" through the aviation ranks.

Tim Martins claimed he had graduated from a flight school at 19, stated that he had worked at and was furloughed by Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA - now defunct), started flying F-16s and was an active member of the NJ Air National Guard, and then was subsequently hired by American Eagle.

Further, in the article he claimed to be a FDNY firefighter / paramedic in his off time (quoted as saying he is carrying on a family tradition) as a member of Ladder Company 2 located in midtown Manhattan. He also stated he works in the food pantry at a church near his home and builds houses for Habitat for Humanity as part of his "community service."

Pretty impressive, right? The only problem is, about 90% of what he told the Steenblik wasn't true (a journalist not fact-checking a story is incomprehensible and unprofessional - but, that's another story).

"Outed" By His Peers

As thousands of ALPA members received the newest issue and began reading the article, there was no way to predict that this story would become a "runaway train" without any signs of stopping it.

First, you must understand that the aviation industry (both civilian and military) is a very tight-knit group, and pilots, like other true professionals, don't like individuals putting their chosen career in a bad light.

And, in my opinion, after working in the airline industry for many years, believe they have the right to expect that "one of their own" would not do something to put a "black eye" on an already struggling industry.

I belong to several aviation-related message boards where pilots discuss different aspects of the industry. One member started a thread about this article and Tim Martins, questioning the validity of the information.

What started as an innocent thread, giving Martins the benefit of the doubt (and questioning that perhaps he had been misquoted), turned into a real "fact-checking" mission.

After the thread was posted, several other pilots started to "chime in" with information to disprove what had been written about Martins regarding his airline career. He had never worked at ACA (verified through the seniority list from pilots who had worked there). He also never graduated from the aviation college he claimed in the article.

Then, other members questioned and found out from their military pilot counterparts that Martins had never been a member of the NJ Air National Guard. The military personnel were so incensed (they have every right to be) that Martins was purporting himself to be a military pilot that they called ALPA's national headquarters to bring this issue to light.

Further checking revealed that Martins also was not a member of FDNY Ladder Company 2 - not even as a volunteer.

But, it didn't end there. These pilots were now very upset. They Googled Tim Martins and found his Facebook page and LinkedIn profile.

On those pages, he claimed to be a pilot for Southwest Airlines, a Captain in the US Air Force, a Rescue Diver, and a US Air Force Academy graduate. His Facebook photo page showed pictures of him supposedly working at FDNY and in the cockpit of an F-16 (where he had given himself the name, "Timmy 'The Milkman' Martins").

The only fact that could be verified was that Martins was indeed a First Officer for American Eagle.

Opportunity to "Save Face"

In the true spirit of compassion, the aviation community gave every opportunity for Tim Martins to "come clean" and admit his mistakes.

However, Martins, even with all the facts staring him in the face, continued to deny that he had lied. He even made up "screen names" on these message boards to try to save his reputation by posing as "friends" who knew him and could verify his military background. It didn't work, and he finally "half-way" admitted he had stretched the truth a bit (that was putting it lightly).

But, by this time, it was too late. From there, the information went viral. Even the NY Post jumped on the bandwagon, as a freelance journalist, Christine Negroni, broke the story.

And now, Martins has the auspicious honor of having a "Facebook Fan Page" that doesn't shine a very pleasant light on him.

The Aftermath

Now, allegedly, Martins has been suspended from his job at American Eagle. If he gets fired, it will be unlikely that Martins will ever be hired into another job in aviation. He has shown that he cannot be honest, and trust is everything between flight crew members.

In addition, there may even be repercussions from Martins claiming to be a military service member under the "Stolen Valor Act." Further, I am certain that FDNY is not very happy with him either.

What Lessons Can Be Gleaned From This Story?

So, what can professionals and job seekers learn from this story?

First, live your life with integrity. Don't claim to be someone you're not. Be happy with who you are and what you have accomplished.

Second, don't post bogus information about yourself online or provide false information to a journalist.

Remember, every time you post something online, you leave a Digital Footprint that can be uncovered and used against you. Further, any comments you make to a journalist for an article will likely end up in print, and that information will never go away.

Third, know that if you do lie about your career, it WILL catch up to you. No one likes a "poser" and people will "out you;" it's just human nature.

Finally, if you do make a mistake, own up to it. Your co-workers will be more likely to forgive a mistake if you admit it and apologize.

Considering attending a job fair to search for employment? Not sure what to expect or how to prepare to ensure success? Have you been to a job fair and thought it was a waste of time?

If any of the above questions apply to you, then don’t attend a job fair until you have listened to this important show!

Join The Career Clinicians, Kathy Sweeney, NCRW, CPRW, CEIC, CCM of The Write Resume, and Norine Dagliano, NCRW, CPRW, CFRW/CC of ekmInspirations for their next show, "How To Be Successful At Job Fairs!"

The show airs live on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at 7 p.m. ET on BlogTalkRadio (http://bit.ly/99qIBK). The Career Clinicians will be taking live calls at (917) 889-9043.

They will discuss key strategies and cover what steps to take before, during, and after the career expo to be triumphant, including:

• Conducting company research
• Developing a 30-second Introduction
• The importance of having a stellar, updated resume
• How to be prepared for “on-the-spot” interviews
• How to follow-up after the job fair

After listening to this show, job seekers will be prepared to attend a job fair with confidence!

NBC's hit show, The Apprentice®," starring Donald Trump, is starting casting calls beginning April 1, 2010. And no, this isn't an April Fools' joke!

For this next season, The Apprentice® will focus on applicants who are unemployed, underemployed, or new college graduates who are having a tough time landing a job in this economy.

Frankly, I am proud of NBC and Donald Trump for addressing this situation. They are giving a voice to individuals who have been hit hardest by the recession.

Further, they are providing an opportunity for successful applicants to showcase their talents on national television.You can't BUY that type of exposure!

Win or lose, participants on the show will gain visibility on a national basis in the crowded sea of job seekers, which could open up opportunities for meaningful employment.

For complete information on what the casting directors are seeking, an application to download, locations of casting calls in a number of major cities, or to submit an application via email, visit this page on NBC's website: http://bit.ly/drHKLd.

Good luck and put your best foot forward!

In today's technologically advanced environment, many people are using social media tools to communicate with friends and family, and reconnect with old acquaintances. But, should you use social media to look for work? Absolutely!

However, before charging out and jumping on the social media bandwagon, I think it is important to understand how to utilize social media to attain the most positive results.

In the first post of this two-part series, I will cover why job seekers might want to use social media as an avenue to attain a job, the types of tools available,  and some guidelines. In Part Two, I will share stories of people who have successfully utilized social media to land a great job.

Why Should Job Seekers Use Social Media?

Social media tools can be very helpful in the job search, if utilized wisely. They can help highlight your expertise, provide visibility in search engines when HR or Recruiters decide to Google your name,  and allow you to network with current / former colleagues and friends who may be able to assist in your goal of landing a great position.

What Social Media Tools Should Job Search Candidates Use?

While there are many social media tools available to job seekers, I am going to cover the major players. It is important to not only know what they are, but how they differ, and the methods to successfully utilize them.

Blogs:

Blogs (aka Weblogs) can be utilized by job seekers to show their expertise in a certain subject matter or industry. Successful blogs have a consistent brand - the readers have a clear picture of who the blogger is and can identify a consistent theme to the posts.

In a blog, job search candidate can convey information on industry trends, provide opinions on topics (without offending or bashing anyone), and seek to educate readers. The content should be engaging and useful to the reader.

Putting together a blog is rather easy. There are several free services available, including WordPress and Blogger, that can walk you through the process of establishing a blog.

If you aren't technically savvy, I would suggest enlisting the help of someone who is. If you don't have friends or family members who can help, you can have your project completed rather inexpensively on Elance.com.

LinkedIn.com:

LinkedIn is a free website where you can develop your professional network and look for jobs. It is the most prominent tool used today by recruiters to source "active and passive candidates."

On LinkedIn, it is important to convey your personal brand with a strong profile and "job title." When using this tool, I would suggest linking with people who can help with your job search, which includes current or former colleagues, customers, vendors, etc.

One very important measurement recruiters use when reviewing candidates profiles is the amount of solid recommendations you have on your profile. They need to be very specific to your expertise and from individuals who have directly worked with you in some capacity.

While the "magic number" of recommendations hovers around 3-5, I would suggest you tap into your network and obtain as many "comprehensive" recommendations of your expertise as possible.

Remember though - networking is a two-way street. If you ask for recommendations, be sure to provide them, as well.

Facebook:

Facebook is a great place to connect with old / current friends and family, and if you want, current / former colleagues. It is more of a relaxed atmosphere than LinkedIn. However, stay true to your brand, and don't post information that is too personal or pictures that show you in a bad light.

While you can set your "home page" as "public," I would suggest setting your other pages to "friends only." This way, your private information and photos cannot be seen by HR Managers and Recruiters.

Twitter:

Twitter is a great tool to convey information in a very concise way - you only have 140 characters to get your information out there. The posts you make on Twitter are called "Tweets."

So, what should you "Tweet" about? You can post a short description and link to a blog post you wrote or specific industry information gleaned from articles you have found on the Internet, such as, "SalesForce.com introduces new tool (then link to the article)."  You can also "Tweet" general factual information you have found through research, for instance, "38% of computer users are switching to Mac."

You will need to have an account to "shorten" your URLs so your "Tweets" don't surpass the 140 character limit. I suggest Bit.ly, as it allows you to track how many people have clicked on the links included in your Tweets.

Also, a great book has recently been published regarding how to use Twitter in your job search: The Twitter Job Search Guide: Find a Job and Advance Your Career in Just 15 Minutes a Day.

Guidelines for Effectively Using Social Media

Here are some general and specific guidelines to follow when using social media:

General Tips:

• Post a picture of yourself on all of your social media pages. However, make sure the photo is a professional head shot. There are several freelance photographers listed in US-Photographers or formal portrait studios, including B2BPortraits or JC Penney that can provide you with a digital photo format.
• Establish your brand and stick to it.
• Don't write about controversial topics unless it relates to your personal brand.
• Make sure what you are writing is fact-based - not some information or trends you have made up.
• Make sure your opinions on a particular topic are useful and positive.
• Contribute to "conversations" on other people's blogs. But, do it in a positive, meaningful way. Post information that solves problems - not creates more discourse.
• Remember that your reputation is key to your success - don't bash other people or products.
• Think before you post. If what you are writing can be misconstrued, don't write it.

Blogs:

• Do not write blog posts that are inconsistent with your brand. An example would be a computer expert blogging about different programs and / or industry trends. Then, out of the blue, he posts a message about Healthcare Reform. Unless he can tie information technology to health care reform, then the post should not be written.
• Don't post 10 blog topics in a week and then not post for a month. The key to successful blogging is to be consistent. If you only have time to blog once a week, that's fine. Just set a day every week to write a blog post and stick with it.

Twitter:

• Do find and follow other experts who don't directly compete with you. For instance, if you are a dog trainer, you don't want to connect with other dog trainers (unless it is Cesar Milan, The Dog Whisperer). Why? Because this negates the purpose of being viewed as an expert. However, you might want to connect with veterinarians, canine nutrition experts, and small business owners who sell merchandise, like collars, leashes, dog beds, etc. These people can enhance your knowledge and will show your followers that you aren't a "one-trick pony."
• Do "retweet" (think of this like forwarding an email to someone) Twitter posts made by experts you follow that are relevant to your brand or industry. Not only will it provide them with visibility, but it will show you are connected with experts and they will likely "retweet" items of interest that you post.
• Don't Tweet about topics that are off-brand. These include tweets about how you are walking your dog, having breakfast, or getting ready to go on vacation.  Once again, be consistent in your theme and ensure the content is useful.

LinkedIn:

• Do connect with people that can help in your job search.
• Make sure you have a descriptive job title and thorough profile that highlights your expertise and skills.
• Don't "spam" people you don't know to try and connect with them - you'll get your account taken away from you.
• If you do want to connect with someone you don't know, either find someone in your network that's connected to the person or write a meaningful "in-mail" that conveys WHY you want to connect with the person.
• Ask for and provide solid recommendations to people in your network.

Facebook:

• Do be careful what your write in your updates. Don't post personal information about your divorce, how you are going out drinking every night, etc.
• Don't post pictures of yourself in compromising positions, i.e., photos of drinking, nudity, etc.
• Don't be a lurker. If friends posts something about their family, job, or life in general, write a comment. Just be sure you don't comment on posts related to their "bad behavior."

Watch for my next post that will highlight job seekers who have successfully utilized social media to land a great job!

I received a call this morning from the accountant working on my tax return; it seems I still owe taxes beyond what I prepaid quarterly in 2009. I could use this space to write about how I sunk into an instant depression right after shaking my fist at the "income tax demons." Instead, I decided it would be much more beneficial to me and readers of this blog if I were to offer some useful information about where my (and your) tax money is going.  And, more importantly, how some of our tax dollars are actually creating jobs.

Enter Recovery.gov, the official U.S. government stimulus package website. If you have not logged on to the site, I recommend checking it out - especially if you are in the market for a new job.

Recovery.gov isn't a jobs site,  per se, so you will have to do some digging for what you really seek -- specific open jobs created from the stimulus package. Across the top of the home page are several tabs; there are two you will want to click on.

The first is labeled "Opportunities." Here is where you will find links to actual job openings. You can search by keyword, job title, location or any of the other usual ways you would search a job board.  There are job opportunities listed in every field imaginable and every industry - private sector, as well as federal positions.

The other tab to click on is labeled "Where is the Money Going?" If you are willing to dig into the site, you will find a gold mine of information, including the names of new projects funded by the Recovery Act and the companies who have been awarded the funding. From this link, follow this four-step process to mine for opportunities:

1. Query for contracts awarded in your state (or any state where you would like to target your search).
2. After you've honed in on your state, take a look at the kinds of projects that are funded.
3. Make a list of 10 or so companies and projects for which you can anticipate extra people power will be required.
4. Head over to the Websites of the companies awarded contracts and apply on the company site. Indicate in your cover letter that you found out about the company by doing research at the Recovery Act grants page. This extra work alone might be impressive enough to get you the interview.

I can't guarantee that these activities will lead to a happy ending in your job search, but every savvy job seeker knows that the more strategies one employs to uncover opportunities, the shorter the job search.  Plus, it really does take some of the "sting" out of having to pay taxes when you see that some of our tax dollars are creating jobs - and that's good news for all of us!

Many people are looking to make a career change these days. However, it can be difficult to determine how to transition to a new field.

Next Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 8 pm ET, join The Career Clinicians, Kathy Sweeney of The Write Resume and Norine Dagliano of ekmInspirations as we interview Alexandra Levit, nationally recognized business and workplace author / syndicated columnist and Wall Street Journal contributor on our BlogTalkRadio show.

You can listen to the show live at http://bit.ly/bPgMj6 or call in to ask questions at (917) 889-9043.

Our discussion will be focused on her latest book, “New Job, New You: A Guide to Reinventing Yourself in a Bright New Career.”

During our interview, she will be discussing the research she conducted on what drives people to make a career change, and the seven most common motives she discovered: family, independence, learning, money, passion, setback, and talent. Using a blend of practical advice and anecdotal evidence, Alexandra will share how you can use your prime motivations to make a career change.

Alexandra writes for The Wall Street Journal and Metro US, and has authored several books, including the bestseller, “They Don't Teach Corporate in College,” “How'd You Score That Gig?,” “Success for Hire,” and “MillennialTweet: 140 Bite-Sized Lessons for Managing the Millennials.”