Job Search Book Recommendations from Rob Joseph

Job Search Book Recommendations from Rob Joseph I love JibberJobber users. They are smart, and collectively have an amazing breadth and depth of knowledge and experience. In a recent email conversation I had with Rob Joseph, a senior commercial manager in Cleveland, Ohio, he wrote this: Some additional feedback: Up until now, my favorite job search books have been  Dont Send A Resume (or, How to Land Your Dream Job)  by Jeffrey J. Fox and  The Two-Hour Job Search  by Steve Dalton.   Some of your advice coincides with Daltons. Fox is more unconventional, but his approach has helped me before. One of my favorite books is Jeffrey Foxs How to Become a Rainmaker. A fast, easy read that was very inspirational. I am excited to read Jeffreys other stuff Steve Dalton  helps Duke MBA candidates with their job search (sounds fun!). Even though we tweeted: Ive also _never_ seen a seeker successfully integrate a CRM into their job search. Less tech is better here IMO, Ill forgive him for that. I wouldnt recommend something like Salesforce, or or CRM that is designed for sales, but JibberJobber, a CRM designed specifically for the job search, is a must-have, imo.   Yes, Im biased. But Im also right, because I have seen seekers successfully integrate JibberJobber, their job search CRM, into their job search, for 13 years. What are your favorite job search books? Job Search Book Recommendations from Rob Joseph I love JibberJobber users. They are smart, and collectively have an amazing breadth and depth of knowledge and experience. In a recent email conversation I had with Rob Joseph, a senior commercial manager in Cleveland, Ohio, he wrote this: Some additional feedback: Up until now, my favorite job search books have been  Dont Send A Resume (or, How to Land Your Dream Job)  by Jeffrey J. Fox and  The Two-Hour Job Search  by Steve Dalton.   Some of your advice coincides with Daltons. Fox is more unconventional, but his approach has helped me before. One of my favorite books is Jeffrey Foxs How to Become a Rainmaker. A fast, easy read that was very inspirational. I am excited to read Jeffreys other stuff Steve Dalton  helps Duke MBA candidates with their job search (sounds fun!). Even though we tweeted: Ive also _never_ seen a seeker successfully integrate a CRM into their job search. Less tech is better here IMO, Ill forgive him for that. I wouldnt recommend something like Salesforce, or or CRM that is designed for sales, but JibberJobber, a CRM designed specifically for the job search, is a must-have, imo.   Yes, Im biased. But Im also right, because I have seen seekers successfully integrate JibberJobber, their job search CRM, into their job search, for 13 years. What are your favorite job search books?

Personal Branding Interview Mack Collier - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Branding Interview Mack Collier - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Today, I spoke with Mack Collier, who is a social media consultant and author of The Viral Garden, which is a top marketing and new media blog. Mack is one of the people I see out there who truly understands what it takes to build community and readership. In this interview, he shares his strategies for growing a community, choosing a domain name, and rewarding your community. He also explains the direct and indirect benefits hes had from blogging his brand over the past few years. Mack, from zero blog subscribers to close to 4,000 now, how were you able to market your blog to grow the subscription base over time? Well part of it comes from checking my blog feeds analytics through Feedburner. That lets me tell which feed readers are most popular for my blog subscribers and offer buttons for those. And moving the subscriber buttons to the top of the blog helps to encourage people to subscribe as well, because its right at the top. And of course producing interesting and valuable content helps. Im very lucky to have the subscribers that I do, and I always view my blog through the lens of how is this going to give value to my readers? The title of your blog is The Viral Garden, yet the URL you use is moblogsmoproblems.blogspot.com. If you could time travel back in time, what would you have done differently and what result do you think it would have had on your personal brand? Well as far as the name of my blog, I should have named it theviralgarden.blogspot.com. Now I have so many incoming links and Google PageRank built up that switching could be a hassle. But Ill probably be moving to WordPress later this year. I guess it always pay to plan for the future. When I launched The Viral Garden in early 2006, it had no readership, and it was a semi-personal blog. At the time I had no idea that I would be where I am now. But again, planning is always a good thing. Out of most of the bloggers, you are one of the few that really understands the art of community building. What are your top 3 strategies for driving conversations within blogs? I have always loved finding hidden gems in the blogosphere, and helping new bloggers get some exposure. The Z-List was started as a vehicle for this, to give some smart, new bloggers a jump-start in getting their name out there. I understand that as a group, my readers will always be smarter than I am. So it pays for me to be doing everything I can to get feedback from my readers. It makes me smarter. I view my blog as being co-created content between myself and my readers. I write a post, and the readers comment. But we all contribute to something greater. If you value your readers in this way, then you respect them, and hopefully that helps my readers connect with me. What indirect and direct benefits do you get from blogging? How has it changed your life? Directly its helped me build a social media consultancy, because the blog became a way for me to establish my expertise in social media. Indirectly, its allowed me to connect and become friends with so many people. And not just connections, but real relationships that transfer almost seamlessly to offline. Last year I attended SXSW, which was the first event where I met a great number of people that I had connected with in the blogosphere. I was floored at how these people, who I had technically never met, where coming up and hugging me. It really opened my eyes to how real these online connections are. Youve been running a Top 25 Marketing Blog recognition post for over 100 weeks. How has this helped build your brand? Well the whole idea of the Top 25 was to create a resource for my readers (especially those new to blogs) on what the top marketing (and later social media) blogs where. I think everyone knew to follow Seth and Guy Kawaski, but after you got past the same 5 names or so, no one knew who the other top marketing bloggers were. And this was in early 2006, before the Power 150 or any other ranking, Im pretty sure this was the first list to rank marketing blogs. I just threw it up one day because I thought it would be interesting to see what the Top 25 marketing blogs were according to Alexa. It was instantly a hit and I decided to do it weekly and have (more or less) ever since. As for how its helped my personal brand, Im sure that The Viral Garden being on the list has helped it be viewed as more credible. But I never really wanted to do the Top 25 as a way to make my own blog look better, and I think my readers are smart enough to sniff that out if I did. I would hope that my readers view it as a resource, and understand that I like to use the Top 25 as a way to create value for them. - Mack Collier is a social media consultant and author of The Viral Garden, a blog focusing on marketing and social media. He also is a frequent contributor to the website Marketing Profs, as well as the marketing blog Daily Fix. Known for his community-first approach to blogging and social media, Mack focuses on teaching companies how they can use social media to excite and engage their customers, as well as better understand and market to them. Mack is a requested speaker and has advised companies of all scopes and sizes on their social media strategies, working with small businesses and startups to companies as large as Dell and Nettwerk Music. His writings have been referenced in several mainstream publications and websites, including The Washington Post, MSNBC.com, Ad Age, CNET, and The Boston Globe.

Working from Home Is it for You

Working from Home Is it for You When it comes to working from home, opinions are rather split about whether it can actually work and how it may affect an employees productivity. Home working and flexible house are a couple of things  that a lot of employers are taking on board as a bid to improve their company culture and facilitate for staffs commitments outside of work. It could be argued that there are too many distractions at home for an individual to be fully focused and remain productive throughout the day, however others claim that they actually feel more relaxed in their own environment and therefore achieve more. Its clearly not for everyone, but do you think working from home could be for you? This infographic Need-a-Office looks into some of the positive aspects of working from home. Latest trends: According to research findings around 66% of people would work from home if given the option. So much so that 36% would take the option to work at home over a payrise! 34 million people in the US work from home, in addition to 4.5 million in the UK. How does home working benefit the employee? It removes the commute, which can be rather stressful at times! In fact, 14% of Americans have changed jobs for a shorter commute. It  allows employees to be more independent and take control over their own work. How does home working benefit the employer? It boosts employee retention. It reduces unscheduled absenteeism, which can be very costly to a business. Employees are likely the work longer hours when they have no commute. ATT found that their home workers fit in an extra 5 hours of work a day! 60% of employers have reported  that telecommuting is cost effective for their business. Could it be for you? Your home must be suitable for working in a quiet environment with all the required tools, documents, etc. You must be disciplined and structured. People who are easily distracted may find working at home difficult. Working from home is well suited for excellent pro-active communicators and tech savvy employees. RELATED: How to Stay Productive When Youre Working from Home Main Image Credit: Shutterstock

10 Tips to Become an Executive From an Intern

10 Tips to Become an Executive From an Intern Many of us will come to a point in our career where it is time to take the step forward into a more professional role. There are various tips and tricks to help bolster your chances, impress your superiors and create a lasting impression in the executive world. Let us examine the top ten. 1. Diligence Pays One of the hallmarks of executive-level thinking is to put in extra work when necessary to ensure the completion of a job. This diligence will demonstrate that you are keenly aware that hard work will lead to future success. 2. Physical Appearance In the office environment, power perceived is often at times power achieved. Dressing professionally exhibits an air of responsibility and will show your superiors that you are serious about the role you are playing within the company. 3. Become a Team Player While a singular drive to succeed is necessary, very rarely does a promotion arise should you not have gained the respect of those around you. Embrace active communication and become friendly with your co-workers. Management will appreciate your ability to recognise the team as an integral part of the company. 4. Become a Team Leader There are also times when you may be put into the position to step forward to take on the role of a team leader in certain situations. Actively embrace this position, as it will display your enthusiasm and sheer ability to step up to the plate when necessary and the fact that you will not shy away from a challenge. 5. Create a New Position One of the hallmarks of an executive-level mentality is the ability to increase the efficiency of internal operations. There may be times when adding a new position to the current workforce is necessary. By suggesting this to middle and upper management, they will see that you are not afraid to offer constructive advice when appropriate. 6. Ask for a Larger Role Asking management to increase your role within a group or sector will show them that you highly value growth and progress, while not being afraid to move forward when you feel stagnated. This proactive attitude will make a lasting impression. 7. Apply for Open Positions Do not passively wait to be given a promotion. If a desired executive position opens, apply for it. Worry less about the experience you bring to the table but instead, focus on showing management that you have the desire and drive to pursue your goals. 8. Schedule a Sit-Down with Management As the saying goes, it can never hurt to ask for a promotion. Speaking to them face-to-face illustrates that you are motivated and can express your desires clearly and effectively; once again showing your communication skills. 9. Acquire Skills Outside of the Office There is nothing more attractive than an individual who is willing to go above and beyond the office environment to learn new, pertinent skills. Examples of this can include attending trade seminars, attaining certifications such as the highly regarded TOGAF-9 or taking online courses to increase your existing knowledge base. 10. Seek Quality Improvement Constantly seek to perfect your role in a certain position. Invent innovative solutions that can streamline your role and always strive to meet and exceed weekly and monthly goals. Executive level management will have no other choice but to reward you for these efforts.

Travelling on the cheap How to do it, by someone whos doing it - Debut

Travelling on the cheap How to do it, by someone who’s doing it - Debut This post was written by an external contributor. Tom Robinson gives a breakdown for anyone who is looking to go travelling without breaking the bank.   Summer may seem a long way off right about now. The nights are long, the days are bitter and deadlines are looming. However, the glorious summertime months will be coming around before you know it. If you’ve got dreams of spending that time travelling the world, yet lack the necessary cash to do so, here are some ways to travel on a budget. Look beyond South East Asia Newsflash there’s more to travelling than South East Asia. Sure, it’s cheap when you get there, but with a one way ticket to Vietnam likely to set you back £300, that’s a sizable chunk of your budget gone before you even get there. Why not check out Eastern Europe instead? There’s a great party scene, golden beaches, rugged mountains as well as a whole bunch of cities packed with culture. The best part? The price. You can catch a flight to the East for less than 20 quid. Why pay for accommodation when you can get it for free? Check out schemes such as Workaway and WWOOFING.  Youll be either working on an eco-farm, in a youth hostel, helping renovate someone’s villa, a meditation retreat (there’s a lot of different options out there) and in exchange youll get free accommodation and food! Not only that, but youll meet a load of interesting people and  learn a whole bunch of new skills. If you like the sound of this, but don’t want to commit yourself to one place, there’s couchsurfing! It’s the perfect way to meet locals and save money on accommodation at the same time. Although, its good to remember this isn’t just a free place to stay, someone will be letting you into their home and there’s a certain social expectation that you’ll hang out with them once you’re there. Get insider tips Make friends and save money by meeting the locals! Ask where they go for drinks, where they have dinner, where the best party spots are. You’ll not only save a fortune on the tourist traps, you’ll also live like a local and go to the best places in town! However, beware of scammers. I’ve been a victim of this myself, and although I got to go watch a pretty bizarre acrobatics show that I’d never have thought of going to before, I ended up paying an absolute fortune for the privilege. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Van life Another option for travelling on the cheap (and what I’m doing right now) is van life! It’s the ultimate budget option as all you really need is a gas bottle and cooker for food, a mattress for sleeping, and some curtains in the window. You could go for the premium experience and get a full on van conversion with integrated showers, toilet, kitchen and so on, but that’s more of a long term (and costly) project. Myself and my travelling companion spent approximately £100 and a couple of weeks converting our 20-year-old Fiat Fiorino into our full time living and travelling mobile, and haven’t looked back since! Some final top tips Before you go, be flexible with your dates and if possible, avoid peak season this is different for different places, so do your research. Always use a private browser when comparing flight prices, as otherwise your cookies will be stored and youll most likely see the flights become more expensive. Once you get there, avoid tourist traps and take advantage of the free culture instead, like local festivals and free museums. Budget for your food and try not to eat out too often, as costs do add up. Finally, get off the beaten track, its always more interesting and cheaper out there! Happy travelling! Download Debut  and  connect with us on  Facebook,  Twitter  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

Landing the Job How to Cross the Finish Line - Hire Imaging

Landing the Job How to Cross the Finish Line - Hire Imaging You’ve been through several rounds of interviews, and you want this job! Your gut tells you it’s right. It meets your “wants” and “non-negotiables.” You’ve had conversations to clarify the heart of the job and the company. And they seem to want you! They said so! Finish line alert! Remember: A job is not yours until you have it in writing, so keep your job search in full swing  until you have a written job offer! Don’t say yes, or quit your current job, until you have your job offer in writing. It’s fine to accept an offer verbally, but let the hiring manager know it is an information acceptance until you get an offer letter. You must see everything in writing â€" job title, description of responsibilities, compensation, and benefits. For example, does your healthcare commence immediately, or do you have to wait several months? What about your 401K? When can you start contributing to that? What about bonuses, 30-, 60-, or 1-year expectations? What’s the start date? Many folks accept jobs where the employer says, “We’ll figure that out when you’re here.” Don’t count on that! You hold your most power at the time a job offer is extended, and the company is waiting for you to start. If you are given an offer from a small company that has never written a formal offer letter, be cautious regarding your situation â€" and helpful to them! Find a sample on the Internet and create it based upon what you understand the job to be. A formal job offer is an agreement to terms. Here’s a sample: Dear [Applicant Name], [Company Name] is excited to bring you on board as [job title]. We’re just a few formalities away from getting down to work. Please take the time to review our formal offer. It includes important details about your compensation, benefits and the terms and conditions of your anticipated employment with [Company Name]. [Company Name] is offering a [full time, part time, etc.] position for you as [job title], reporting to [immediate manager/supervisor] starting on [proposed start date] at [workplace location]. Expected hours of work are [days of week and hours of work]. In this position, [Company Name] is offering to start you at a pay rate of [dollar amount or annual base salary] per [year, hour, annual salary, etc.]. You will be paid on a [weekly, monthly, etc.] basis, starting [date of next pay period]. As part of your compensation, were also offering [If applicable, you’ll describe your bonus, profit sharing, commission structure, stock options, and compensation committee rules here]. As an employee of [Company Name] you will be eligible for [briefly name benefits, such as health insurance, stock plan, dental insurance, etc.]. Please indicate your agreement with these terms and accept this offer by signing and dating this agreement on or before [offer expiration date]. Sincerely, [Sender Name] If asking for a formal letter means you lose the job, you don’t want to work for that company. If they don’t care enough about you now, they will care less about you once you are on board. Navigate bonuses and/or commissions carefully. If your sought-after job includes bonuses and/or commissions, ask to see the plan in writing before accepting an offer. Be sure you are crystal clear about what you need to get paid. Unless you have it in writing, you’ll lose your right to challenge a bonus you were told verbally would be X percent. I can’t tell you the times I’ve known candidates to move in good faith, to have it come back and bite them in the you-know-what! This is so important! I see it happen all the time, with the best intentions. Job offers are extended. Then, hiring authorities move on to another place. Budgets get cut. People quit or get let go. Mergers and acquisitions put all hiring on hold or in question. Don’t be left wondering what happened to what was promised you when hired. Protect yourself against unforeseen circumstances. A formal offer letter is not a guarantee that your job won’t change or dissolve. There are no guarantees. But it is a safeguard toward protecting your best interests. I always love to hear from you! Please feel free to comment below.

Career Corner Stay in Balance - Hallie Crawford

Career Corner Stay in Balance Ever notice how when we’re learning, we tend to bounce around between extremes? For example, we accept a position that ends up not being a fit for us, so we decide to try something that is the complete opposite. Or we decide that one boss isn’t the right fit, so we look for someone who’s the exact opposite of that person. After trial and error, we finally realize that what we wanted all along was something in-between, and that bouncing around between extremes didn’t work. It’s OK to try different things, but realize that just because you don’t like something, the answer may not be the exact opposite. Instead, give some thought to what career path you really want to follow. Take the time and do the work to find out what would work best for you. It will be worth it! I promise. A great place to start on this is my “Jumpstart Your Career” audio. It provides the components to finding a satisfying career and is only $15. Read more about it here. Career Transition Coach Career Corner Stay in Balance Ever notice how when we’re learning, we tend to bounce around between extremes? For example, we accept a position that ends up not being a fit for us, so we decide to try something that is the complete opposite. Or we decide that one boss isn’t the right fit, so we look for someone who’s the exact opposite of that person. After trial and error, we finally realize that what we wanted all along was something in-between, and that bouncing around between extremes didn’t work. It’s OK to try different things, but realize that just because you don’t like something, the answer may not be the exact opposite. Instead, give some thought to what career path you really want to follow. Take the time and do the work to find out what would work best for you. It will be worth it! I promise. A great place to start on this is my “Jumpstart Your Career” audio. It provides the components to finding a satisfying career and is only $15. Read more about it here. Career Transition Coach