How to Clean Up Your LinkedIn Connections

How to Clean Up Your LinkedIn Connections I’ve been in recruitment a while, even back in the day before PCs and when CVs littered the halls like something from the movie Brazil. Recruiters hoarded paper like there was a war on, collaboration happened only at work nights out (do you get my drift?) and the CRM (which was only used by the massive team of CV administrators) was the old, flea-ridden dog in the corner. As the digital wave has swept over us, we have collected more and sourced harder. Our LinkedIn connections number on our profile is a badge of honour â€" new consultants stride towards the 500+ at speed! This is not sustainable or necessary. Why you should clean up your act (and connections): The algorithm in LinkedIn (people you may know, jobs your may be interested in, groups you may want to join etc…) â€" these “personal shoppers” rely on a clean and tidy contacts database to add value and give recruiters data which makes their day better. Recruiters and USPs?  I rarely see genuine USPs â€" but I do work with recruiters who have superb databases.   Data which is better than their clients’, candidates’ and competitors’ â€" this could be a great USP … “we know people”, “we can get to them quickly”… Speed â€" never before has speed been so high a priority for my clients.   It’s fair to say that many clients of the average agency recruiter want candidates, but they’ll settle for anyone who can do the job, and not necessarily wait for the best candidate.   This is reflected in typical case studies around recruiters competitors with numerous agencies for first past the post talent. There are 2 camps when it comes to the how to build your network: Connect with anything “in a skirt” and hope that when it gets to 3am and everyone’s gone home, there’s still a “unit” to score. (I worked in recruitment in the early 2000s and picked up some interesting language!) Be strategic â€" connect with people up and down the food chain in your industry (and the industry of your ideal talent and clients). (Guess which one I subscribe to!) So, if you agree that a clean and tidy database is one which is an asset, helps you do your job better and persuades your clients to get back to their desk and let the experts take care of the recruitment piece, then check out these 3 (free) ways of keeping your data clean. InMaps â€" check out this video, then run it for yourselves.   Don’t worry if it takes a little while (it can do) but it’s worth it.   You’ll see your network, you may even see randoms* that you rarely should “cull”.   I often run sessions and demo this and everyone coos like doves whilst seeing who they are really connected to.   Plus a great Ops Manager I know tells me he uses this to test the real value of a prospective employee’s network â€" Oh I love that! (Thanks for the tip Dave!)  Your LinkedIn Contact screen â€" study the “congrats” pane at the top.   Are there any randoms* in there?   You’ll see people’s birthdays, work anniversaries (look out for those lovely “I’ve been in my role 3 years â€" help me get out of here” contacts.   Look for “I’ve changed my role and forgotten to call you” contacts â€" bin or re-ignite. Bullhorn Reach â€" now step away from the “look how easy my job is â€" I press this job advert button and loads of money” button â€" and “reach” for the radar instead.   Surely you’d love to know when people appear to be getting itchy feet (Potential Movers”), or when they’ve been promoted / moved businesses (Recently Changed Jobs). Spend 5 mins a day on this and you’ll do a fabulous job of creating a database which pays you back every time you search it (and every time LinkedIn offers you people, groups and jobs).  Let’s also not forget that whilst you are doing this weeding, you may find hidden gems that you can re-engage with. It’s never been easier to collect people, and indeed remove people from your LinkedIn contacts â€" make sure you spend time developing the database you need, rather than simply scalp hunting. *Randoms defined: people you connected to when you’d probably had too much to drink at the club #BeerGoggles

Why Writing a Resume Is Hard

Why Writing a Resume Is HardMany people wonder why writing a resume is hard. They find that they have to put more time and effort into writing a good resume than they might have otherwise, but it still isn't easy.Writing a resume is tough because you have to have information about yourself to get past the screeners and into the hiring process. There are hundreds of different programs to weed through resumes, to filter them out based on certain criteria, so that companies can focus on the right ones for the job opening. Every employer has different criteria for who they want for the position. This makes writing a resume a challenge for many people.You might think that there is a shortcut to getting it done quickly. That would be to use a service. The truth is that writing a resume is a skill. It is not something that you can easily learn in an hour or two. For many people it takes months to learn how to do it properly.Another reason why writing a resume is hard is because most people don't know what they want to see in their resume. Most people tend to think that the best way to improve their chances of getting hired is to put up a lot of information that includes their work history, education, skills, experience, and so on. When this doesn't pan out, the problem is that most people write off the resume as 'not good enough'. They feel it was done poorly.To write a resume you need to know what your strengths and weaknesses are. There is nothing wrong with having all of that information on your resume, but that's not the way to get a good chance of getting hired. A person who does that ends up becoming discouraged and will stop trying to write a good resume.In order to get a job, you need to show a prospective employer that you have good skills and work history. There is no shortcut to this. If you go in there and have the things that they are looking for, it won't matter what you've got wrong about yourself on your resume.It is possible to skip step number one an d start writing a resume by taking advantage of free resources. They are great at letting you start from scratch with just a little bit of information. Most have screeners so that employers can search resumes for any sort of problems. These programs also offer a huge database that allows you to start fresh with one good resume.If you're looking for a shortcut to getting more job openings and more jobs, this is the best way to go. It's going to take some time to perfect it, but if you are persistent you will learn how to use it properly. It is the one method that will get you that job you are after.

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese 7 Ways to Tell a Story That Makes Employers Crazy About You

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese 7 Ways to Tell a Story That Makes Employers Crazy About You Career experts often advise job seekers or networkers to tell your story. But what does that mean? Should you share how you won the school science fair in third grade or how you once locked your keys in the car with the engine still running?Its difficult to know exactly what story to tell at the right time and how to make it interesting enough that eyes dont start to glaze over or someone pulls the fire alarm just to get away from you. There is a skill to telling the right kind of stories at the right time so that you not only gain the interest of an employer or contact, but also will enable the person to recall you more vividly later.One important key: Make sure emotion is evoked. Telling the story of winning the science fair might work if it conveys a sense of joy gained through hard work. Even locking your keys in the car can become a funny tale that underlines the sense of satisfaction gained by overcoming an obstacle. Dan McAdams, a Northwestern University psychology professor who has studied storytelling for more than 10 years, told a publication for the American Psychological....Read the rest of my story on Intuit's Quickbase blog....

Tips for a Successful Career in the Finance Industry

Tips for a Successful Career in the Finance Industry Competition is fierce and expectations are high for those working in the finance industry. If youre a finance professional, you probably already know that you cant just coast by on what youve been doing. You have to hustle and to prove yourself in this industry. Top leaders like Pete Briger have gotten where they are because they know the ins and outs of success and what it takes to propel forward in the world of finance. Follow these tips, and youll be well on your way toward a successful career in the finance industry. Always Be Willing to Learn Taking classes in other areas such as marketing, technology or communications will only enhance your professionalism and overall appeal. If you can claim an expertise in a certain niche area in combination with your knowledge of finance, that will set you apart from others in your field. It will also help to enhance your reputation. You can pursue a formal online mba in finance or look into some sort of certification program. You can even choose to take free courses through an online source simply for personal development. Use Communication to Instill Trust Convincing others to trust you is crucial to your success. You want to use words that are genuine. Always show your true personality. Impart authenticity and be willing to stand behind your word. Whether youre looking for a business collaborator, an investor, partner, client or employer communicating trustworthiness will take you far. Be Willing to Put in Long Hours Finance jobs, especially those for the big firms, are demanding. Not only do they require you to give your all from 9 to 5, you are expected to put in extra to make sure the job is done right. Maybe staying late to finish up that spreadsheet is something youll have to do. Meeting after work with clients or to attend networking events are other activities that will pay off in the end. Always Be Flexible You really need to be open to change and to be flexible with your plans when it comes to the finance industry. If somethings not working, stubbornly charging forward will not get you better results; it will only waste time and make you look bad. Be open to making a new plan, maybe even changing directions or jobs entirely, will bring more success your way. Have Some Ambition From the very beginning, even in the job hunt, dont be afraid to go for the big goals. Making a name for yourself requires going for it and taking risks. Apply for the impressive jobs. Take time to network with those already entrenched in the industry. The phrase,Go big or go home, definitely applies here. These tips for a successful career in the finance industry should be a good start to get you thinking and taking steps in the right direction. Be bold, genuine, driven and open. Youll be well on your way to reaching your goals.

Should My Freelance Writing Resume Include My Photo?

Should My Freelance Writing Resume Include My Photo?The first question that comes to the mind when I hear this question is: Should my freelance writing resume include my photo? The answer, no. Your resume should only include your name, but I will tell you why. This article will tell you why and what to look for when it comes to a resume.First, before you start creating resumes, you need to make sure that your picture is up to date. Many jobs are hiring because they want to see who you are before you start giving them any business. The better the photo is, the more likely you are to get a job.So where can you find these jobs? You can find a lot of them on sites like Elance or you can find them in your local newspaper. You can also look in classified ads in your local paper or even on craigslist. I don't recommend using craigslist because they are scams. You can check out their site and you will see what I mean.Your resume should include your photo, but only in one place. That place is on the resume.If you have other information about you and what you have done in the past, then you may want to write that information on your freelance writing resume. For example, if you are an SEO expert, write that information on your resume. When you are listing your skills, listing those skills that you are most familiar with, such as 'Content Writer' instead of 'Content Writer'.Other than that, just write what you know about yourself, including any references that you have to give, previous employers, past clients, and more. But do not mention your previous employer unless it isin a relevant field.If you are using a freelance writing resume to land a job, then you need to make sure that it is professional. Don't submit something that you might use to take a picture of at a kid's birthday party or an employee of yours. You can be accused of impersonation, which can lead to a lawsuit or worse, so do not use anything that you wouldn't show a prospective employer.Just make sure t hat your resume includes your photo, but you should include it in a very professional way. Look at some sample resumes online. After that, you should be able to decide whether your resume will get you a job or not.

How to stay sane on your post-graduate job hunt - Debut

How to stay sane on your post-graduate job hunt - Debut This post was written by a member of the Debut Contributor Network. The post-graduate job hunt is a challenging time for everyone looking for their first opportunity, but Sarah Wilson has the answers. Leaving uni is no walk in the park. After the excitement of graduation and those congratulatory pats on the back have begun to subside, the realisation that you finally have to face the real world can be a tough one. Particularly if you don’t have a job waiting for you when your final year ends, it’s easy to feel nervous especially if you’re surrounded by people who’ve already moved on. Whilst there’s no shame in taking time out to relax and consider your options, it’s crucial, if you’re serious about eventually finding work, to keep up some kind of routine when you look. Falling into random sleeping patterns and filling out applications at the very last minute might not just affect your chances as an applicant, but your mental health too. Over the last couple of months, I’ve learned a few key things (and made more than a few mistakes) while trying to work out my next step, but probably the most important of all to remember is: Don’t freak out The sudden change from the certainty of an academic year to uncharted time stretching out ahead can make people do lots of silly things. The most common is to rush haphazardly into the first grad job that comes your way, regardless of whether you’re interested in it or not. Do not fall into this trap. Whilst it’s great to get part or full time temporary work to earn cash, rushing straight into a professional career just because you got scared of waiting too long is something you’ll only come to regret. You already made the decision to take some time out so take it   remember that (in most cases) the professional world doesn’t run on an academic timetable!   Plan your time On job applications, I once heard some very good advice: treat it like a job in itself. In other words, if you’re not working during the day, set aside concrete hours in which to do your applications. If you are working, try committing to one or two hours either side of work to do them. I’ve found that it helps to leave the house and set up shop in a library or coffee shop both to minimize distractions and to increase your sense of it as work. That way, your down time at the end of the day can be properly enjoyed.   Strike the right balance   Job applications, especially for competitive roles, can be incredibly lengthy and you need to be realistic about how much you can get done in a day. You’ll naturally be slow when you first start off, but the beauty of being able to recycle parts of one application for another will speed things up gradually. On that point remember to always save copies of the answers you’re giving in an online application. I’ve more than once made the mistake of simply sending answers off without thinking then coming to a new application and kicking myself for not saving my previous responses. Without saving them you also run the risk of the internet cutting out and having to start all over again. Once you get into the swing of things, set yourself realistic goals for each day and self impose your own deadlines. Stay healthy   Without a real structure to your day, it’s easy to slip into unhealthy habits I certainly did for a while. But eating properly and getting regular exercise is crucial for staving off post-graduate blues. Not only are both great for keeping your mood up, but going for a run or to the gym can be excellent for clearing your head before embarking on another application or interview. Take a break Remember that it’s fine to have off-days or days when you just don’t want to face another blank “personal statement” box staring out at you from the screen. After all the stress of finals you definitely deserve a break. If all you’re thinking about is the next step, you won’t enjoy any of the time you’re having off, and it will take a toll on your mental health. Take time to socialise and catch up with friends; if you’ve moved back home temporarily it can offer a chance to reconnect with people you haven’t seen in a long time. Have faith in yourself   This un-anchored period of time can be scary, disconcerting and stressful but there’s plenty of others in the same boat. Don’t worry if things don’t magically fall into place straight away they very rarely do. Just look after yourself and have faith that eventually you’ll find success, whether small or large, and I promise you’ll be okay take it from me, a fellow confused and undecided graduate.

Open Space week - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Open Space week - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Its always a joy seeing Open Space meetings, and this week Ive been part of two VERY different ones. First, last wednesday I helped organize a workshop for 25 teenagers from the worst part of Copenhagen. Were talking 25 kids aged 12-18, with completely different attitudes and backgrounds. But it went great! Open Space was only a small part of the day, but the kids took to it like ducks to water. They dove right in, organized the meeting and got really far in the discussions in no time. Excellent stuff! The second Open Space meeting I attended this week was organized by Thomas Madsen-Mygdahl, to gather inspiration on creating an innovative office environment/community in Copenhagen. This was a totally different crowd, with a scary amount of talent participating. Again, the meeting got organized in no time, and the talks were open, positive, focused and creative. So the record still stands: Every Open Space meeting Ive ever attended or planned has been a success. Which tells me that Open Space Technology is simply a formalization of the way we humans like to meet and interact. OST is somehow natural. BTW: I talked to Lars Pind and offered to help him with his Open Space meeting in april. Lets see what happens there. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Hallie Crawford Career Coaching

Career Coaching I have enjoyed articles Penelope Trunk has written in the past and I stumbled across this article recently: http://www.bnet.com/blog/penelope-trunk/forget-the-job-hunt-have-a-baby-instead/185 Titled: “Forget the Job Hunt. Have a Baby Instead.”   As a woman and a mother I found this article intriguing and thought I’d share and comment on it for you.   In it, Penelope Trunk offers reasoning on why she suggests forgetting the job search and having a baby instead. I’m sure you can guess that she has had some heated responses to her article. That’s very bold advice. Her reasons were definitely interesting. However, I think as with any career advice, every individual has unique situations and that this solution would only make sense for certain individuals.   This would make sense for someone who was planning on having kids in the short-term. With the free time it might be the opening a woman needed in order to begin a family. But the truth of the matter is that not everyone can afford financially to have a child, especially without income and maternity leave. Some women don’t want to have children and some might still be searching for a partner. Other younger women are simply not ready to have a child. While this might make good sense to your neighbor, it might be bad advice for you.   This type of advice is situational and there really is no one answer that applies to everyone across the board. Just because you are a woman currently unemployed, you should of course think about the financial ramifications and the support from your partner and family, among other things.   As a certified Career Coach, I agree with Penelope’s point that women who want children need to manage their career choices differently than men because of their biological constraints. And they need to manage kids differently, career paths and unemployment differently than men.   Still, I want to reinforce that decisions you make about your career path and motherhood should be based on your own situation; now and long-range, with lots of other factors weighing in.   So, just because you might be an unemployed younger woman right now this doesn’t mean you should jump on board and take her advice: to forget the job hunt and have a baby instead. You need to consider all the factors in your life to make this decision.   What do you think of her article?   Career Transition Coach   Are you stuck in your job search? Download my FREE REPORT: Take Control of Your Career Transition: Uncover Hidden Opportunities