Articles, RSS, stories and news about the job market and careers.

01/01/1970 01:00 AM What's Your Body Saying?

"Job seekers beware that what you do with your body during an interview could make a bigger impression than what you say. It won't matter how adept you appear on paper if your body language screams bored, disrespectful or sloppy. Make sure you communicate a good message verbally and nonverbally."
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01/01/1970 01:00 AM Networking IS the Name of the Game

The other day, I caught a news report on CNN about workers who went from six-figure salaries to unemployment. One of the more interesting segments was about a man who told his story online at the CNN iReport section of the station's Web site. After sharing his story on iReport, he received an offer to work on a contract basis for a health care company.

Although unconventional, this was an example of how networking and sharing information about yourself and your work experience may lead to opening doors for a new career or employer.

Networking is still the best way to find a job, or at least make the contacts that can lead to a new job. But are you prepared to be a top-notch networker? Take a few minutes to do some research about the best places to network for employees working in your industry with your expertise.

Next, make a plan of action including a "to do" list of Web sites and networking communities to join, such as LinkedIn. The key in making sure these sites work of you is to come accustomed to visiting them daily for updates and to make new connections.

Don't be afraid to use unconventional means to network, but make sure you have the personality to pull off something quirky. I wouldn't necessarily recommend standing at an intersection wearing a sandwich board to advertise your qualifications, but you may want to consider using some of the newer methods of getting noticed. One suggestion would be to create your own YouTube video to deliver your elevator speech.

Networking doesn't always have to be a litany of after work mixers and overcrowded job fairs. Let creativity be your guide and get noticed for a new career.

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11/02/2009 10:22 PM What's In a Title?

For many employees, the title they receive means more than the salary they make. It is a sign of stature and significance within an organization. Some employees will even accept a title change or "increase" if salary bumps are not feasible.

Some may ask why a title is that important, but I can tell from experience, for some employees a title can be the difference between feeling stuck in the same old job, and infusing a little enthusiasm into the mundane.

Even something as simple as a "dressed up" title can motivate employees to feel better about their current job responsibilities. Although "executive office manager" is still the same job as "receptionist", it can be a morale boost to that employee.

However, some titles today are silly and can be down right confusing. "Chief Education Officer" is still probably in charge of employee training and development, and one article even mentions a "vice president of cool"...whatever that is.

The key is to not be over the top when assigning new titles. Yes, they can bring a sense of pride and stature, but be careful not to make a mockery of the job, or the person, attached to them.

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01/01/1970 01:00 AM How to Change Your Job-Search Thinking

I just returned from a two-day trip to Toronto.

In the airports, in my hotel, and on the plane, I got a lot of work done.

It happens every time I get out of the office and expose my brain to new stimuli, such as landscapes, people, food, accents, radio stations, etc.

In fact, I find it impossible NOT to be productive when I'm on the road for a few days.

What does travel have to do with your job search?

This: If you're stuck in a rut, unable to solve your job-hunting problems, why not change your environment for a day or two?

Because new stimuli can produce new thinking -- and new solutions.

But you don't have to leave the country, or even leave your house.

Here are four ways to change your job-search results simply by changing your surroundings, wherever you may be ...
 
1)Change Your Location

If you work on your job search at home, check into a hotel for a day and see how much you can get done in 8 hours of focused effort.

Don't have time or money for a hotel?

Head for a coffee shop or public library that you've never been to and work there. Any place that forces you to get dressed and encounter new people can help lift you out of a rut. And it can make you more productive when it comes to writing your resume, making networking calls, or just getting clear on exactly what job you're looking for.
 
2)Change Your View

While outlining this article, I was looking out my 34th floor window at the city of Toronto, a view that included City Hall, The Canada Life Building and scores more, all lit up in fiery shades of orange by the setting winter
sun.

It's a lot more mentally stimulating than the view of suburban Minneapolis I see out of my office window every day. (I'm not knocking the suburbs or Minneapolis. It's the sameness I needed a break from -- even chocolate cake
will bug you if you have it every meal.)

Don't want to leave town?

Try hanging one or two inspirational pictures on the wall in the room where you work. Or buy some fresh, cut flowers and put them on your desk.

Any change in what you look at most of the day can inspire changes in your thinking.
 
3)Change Your Soundtrack

If you usually listen to rap, country or pop songs while you work on job-search projects -- or don't have on music at all -- try listening to classical music as an experiment. Especially something from the three Bs:
Bach, Beethoven or Brahms. Listen for an hour or two and see if your creative juices don't start flowing faster.

For extra stimulation, tune into a foreign radio station on your computer.

I stream classical music from a French station in Montreal, CJPX 99.5 FM. I understand exactly zero French, but the new language patterns are mentally invigorating without being annoying.
 
4)Change Your Schedule

One final way to shake things up is to change the times you work on your job search.

If you prefer to make networking calls in the afternoon, for example, why not do so before lunch? Not only might your delivery and tone of voice on the phone change for the better, but you might find more people are available to take your calls.

If you usually write cover letters and revise your resume after dinner, try getting up at 5:30 one day and writing before breakfast.
 
By changing your environment and work patterns, you can change your thinking. Changed thinking can produce changed results. And if you're not happy with how your job search is going, aren't changed results what you're
after?

Kevin Donlin is Creator of TheSimpleJobSearch.com. Since 1996, he has provided job-search help to more than 20,000 people. Author of 3 books, Kevin has been interviewed by The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio and others. His latest product, The Simple Job Search System, is available athttp://www.collegerecruiter.com/guaranteed-resumes.php%22%3Ehttp://www.collegerecruiter.com/guaranteed-resumes.php%3C/a%3E%3C/em%3E%3CbrArticle courtesy of thehttp://www.recruitingblogswap.com/%22%3ERecruitingBlogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site forhttp://www.collegerecruiter.com/pages/internship-job-postings.php%22%3Ecollege students looking for internships and http://www.collegerecruiter.com/jobs/%22%3Erecentgraduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

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01/01/1970 01:00 AM Career Strategy for the New Age

Career Strategy and Interview Strategy

     Students who graduate from today's universities, business schools and MBA programs have worked long and hard to develop themselves as the ideal candidates for progressive careers in business and technology.  University curriculum in this market requires not only courses in strategic financial management and integrated business and marketing communications, but also seminars in career and personal development such as resume building, interview skills, and the construction of an individual career strategy. Business technology in the 21st century demands that job applicants prepare for the webcam interview as a component of their career training.
     Mapping a career among the vast highways of technology, competition and outsourcing is not easy.  Unlike the career paths chosen by the small percentage of college graduates during the 1940s and 50s, applic ants now must €˜fit€™ themselves into the fast lanes of a company€™s culture and technological purpose.  Progressive job seekers know that real career success depends on a comprehensive individual plan that details specific professional goals and proven techniques for achieving them.  Moreover, successful candidates must be able to convey their skills and their €˜fit€™ into available business positions during the initial meeting with potential employers.  This is where part two of the individual career plan begins€¦.
     A few years ago, potential hires were called €˜in€™ to a human resources office for a face-to-face interview.  Suits were cleaned, shirts were ironed, and shoes were shined.  As business went global, the face-to-face became less prevalent so employers could cut their investments of time and overhead.  The telephone interview became the most common method for conducting initial interviews; the limitations, however, of th e telephone interview were obvious and offered interviewers very little information beyond what had been submitted via resume and cover letter. Thanks to technological advances and inexpensive digital and web technology, the webcam interview has been adopted as the initial interview format of choice. In truth, the webcam interview is the least problematic method for both the interviewer and the applicant.  Although the human resources representative can€™t shake an applicant€™s hand, he or she can observe the candidate€™s demeanor, body language, energy and reactions to skill and experience questions. Serious job candidates need to be prepared to excel in this new and growing practice.
     Experts in the field of human resources offer job seekers advice on preparing for and succeeding in a webcam interview:  A webcam interview is not informal; a job candidate must look professional even if he or she will only be seen from the waist up.  Having a copy of a resume and occasionally glancing at it is not taboo; reading from notes, however, is amateurish. Looking frequently at the webcam while speaking gives the interviewer the feeling of €˜eye contact€™ and establishes a more personal interview. Experts suggest that job candidates try to relax, smile, and be natural.
     Of course, all job applicants should go into an interview with knowledge of the available position and its requirements, information about the company and its policies, locations, benefits, etc. Applicants should also bring a list of questions about the available position and the company to the initial interview.
     Graduates and job seekers have labored to become the ideal candidates for today jobs.
Career and personal development has become an important component in that labor, and business demands that successful applicants be prepared for the future of human resources: webcam technology.

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01/01/1970 01:00 AM Common Job Interview Questions: Prepare for the Expected

Have you ever been caught off guard by a job interview question?  It is natural to be nervous during a job interview, and it can be particularly unnerving to be asked a question that you didn€™t expect.  The best thing you can do to prepare for your next job interview is to put some time into preparing answers to some of the most common and important job interview questions.   

Can you tell me something about yourself?
No interview is complete until the interviewer asks this question.  It is silly to go to an interview without preparing to respond to this question, because it is almost certain to be asked.

Before you decide how to respond to this question, it is important to consider why it is usually asked during job interviews.  Most job interviewers believe that they can learn a great deal about applicants based on the way they respond to this question.   

The first thing that you say in response to this question is generally believed to be a true indication of your self-concept.  Whatever you choose to use to describe yourself to an interviewer tends to be the defining characteristic of how you see yourself.

If you respond to this job interview question by stating that you get along well with just about everybody, then the employer is likely to conclude that you have an extraverted, social personality.  If you respond to the question by saying that you are very career minded and are focused on moving up in your career as quickly as possible, the interviewer will likely interpret your response to indicate that you are very ambitious.   

Either of these responses can be viewed in a positive or negative light, depending on the specifics of the job for which you are applying.  Your response should be honest, but you do need to be careful about how you answer, so you can be sure that what you are saying is sending the right message to the prospective employer.   

Keep in mind that if you aren€™t prepared to answer this question, your lack of preparation sends a negative message to the prospective employer.  No matter what job you are applying for, being unable to answer this question sends a very clear message to the employer that you aren€™t really interested in the job and that you don€™t prepare properly for business situations.   

Where do you see yourself in five years?
One of the main reasons that employers ask this question is to determine if the job you are interviewing for is consistent with your long-term career goals.  One of the biggest expenses for most companies is the high cost of turnover.  Employers want to hire people who have a high likelihood of succeeding and staying.   

Keep this in mind when you prepare your answer for this question.  If you are applying to work as a medical billing clerk in a hospital, it probably isn€™t a good idea to tell the interviewer that you hope to be writing scripts for Hollywood sitcoms in five years.  If this is your response, you have given the interviewer several reasons not to hire you.   

First, by responding this way, you have let the interviewer know that you have no interest in a long-term career in this hospital, or any hospital.  This sends a loud and clear message that you are not going to be committed to the job, and that you are not going to be a long-term employee.  Medical billing is a detail-oriented, stressful job that requires a high degree of concentration.  Someone who doesn€™t want to work in medical billing isn€™t going to be very good at it.

Additionally, the interviewer knows that you are probably going to be spending a lot of time actually writing scripts if you want to become a script writer.  The interviewer might wonder if you will spend time that you are supposed to be doing medical billing work actually working on scripts.   

You don€™t need to lie and tell the interviewer that you want to be a medical billing clerk for the rest of your life.  Ambition isn€™t a bad thing.  Just keep in mind that employers need to reduce turnover.  An hospital administrator is going to be more likely to hire a medical billing clerk who sees themselves as a healthcare social worker or a nurse five years from now rather than one who wants to be a sitcom writer in Hollywood.   

If you really do want to be a sitcom writer in Hollywood, your long-term career goals might be better served by seeking a different type of job anyway.  It will be in your best interest to seek employment in publishing or media.  That way, you will be getting experience related to the industry that you really want to be in.  You€™ll also be able to answer questions about where you want to be in five years truthfully, without hurting your chances of getting the job.   

About the Author
Mary G. White, M.A., SPHR is the Training Coordinator for for http://www.mobiletechwebsite.com Technical Institute & MTI Business Solutions, where she specializes in human resources, management, and marketing training. She teaches open enrollment classes for MTI, provides on-site corporate training, and frequently speaks at conferences and association meetings. MTI also provides a variety of consulting services, including IT Training, certification testing, HR consulting, custom database development and website solutions. For career and business development tips, see MTI's blogs, http://www.dailycareerconnection.com Career Connection and http://www.dailybizsolutions.com/ Biz Solutions article courtesy of the http://www.recruitingblogswap.com Blogswap a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for http://www.collegerecruiter.com/pages/internship-job-postings.php students looking for internships and http://www.collegerecruiter.com/jobs/ graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

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01/01/1970 01:00 AM Job Interviews by Skype The traditional job interview takes place in a face-to-face setting, normally in a quiet location, with just yourself and the interviewer/s present. Imagine now that you are interview where you are not in the same room as the interviewer. In fact you are not in the same city. Or the same country, even. Imagine no more. Skype interviews have become increasingly common lately, and they offer both advantages and disadvantages to the traditional format.
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08/01/2009 11:26 PM Best Way to Make Money Online- Work From Home
http://www.candacesaunders.ws Best Way to Make Money Online-Work From Home My name is Candace and in this video tutorial I am going to show you ...

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08/01/2009 01:51 PM My friend was laid off, what do I say?

It is unfortunate, but becoming more frequent. More and more workers are being downsized or laid off from their jobs. It can be devastating when it happens to someone you know and is close to. What do you say?

First of all, don't avoid the issue. It will probably alter how you spend time together because of their need to job search and save money. So lend a shoulder to cry on, or just be there to provide a pick me up.

You should also be careful about not inviting your friends to do something because they may not be spending as much money on going out. You may think that you are being considerate, but ceasing to make plans with that person is a painful reminder that they are not currently working. So maybe cook dinner at home and rent movies for a change.

Also, don't hesitate to offer to help with their job search. Losing a job can be overwhelming, and some workers have a hard time focusing and deciding where to start. So offer to help your friend become organized and suggest Web sites, organizations or other possible job opportunities.

Lastly, if you are a member of a networking organization, extend an invitation to your friend. Even if you don't have experience in the same industry, networking anywhere could lead to a new opportunity. You can help break the ice by introducing your friend to other members, and they may know someone who can help your friend find a new job.

Layoffs are tough, but the bottom line when it comes to a friend losing their job is to just be a friend back.

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08/01/2009 01:20 PM Search Engine Optimization Resolutions for 2009 Search engine optimization is a process, one that must always be revisited and adapted as search algorithms are changed by the search engines. Because SEO is a constant process, it is often pushed to the bottom of the "to do list" of marketers. Be that as it may, resolve not to ignore search engine optimization as it cycles its way through your task list. Give search engine optimization the attention that it deserves.

Search Engine Optimization Resolutions for 2009
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05/01/2009 08:16 PM Top 5 Tips: How to Boost Your Career in 2009 "New Year, new start." You hear this phrase again and again when it's approaching the end of the year and there are many articles on the Internet offering advice on how to get a new job in the New Year. This article, however, focuses on what you need to do in 2009 to advance your career in the long term. Having reviewed our resources on our Career Development section, we have now developed the following top 5 tips which can help you boost and manage your career in the year ahead, be it a new job or your current job.
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05/01/2009 08:11 PM New Year - Don't forget your work resolutions

Each year, everyone makes the same New Year's resolutions: lose weight, exercise, clean the house more often. The list can go on and on.

If you are tired of making the same old tried and true resolutions, take a new approach this year and try to make your resolutions apply to work. Here are my top New Year's resolutions for the workplace:

- Be more organized. Start small and then grow into a well-organized machine. Maybe now is the time to create folders for old emails, or develop a filing system.
- Conduct better meetings. Find one pet peeve that makes meetings inefficient, and work on correcting it.
- Be a better colleague. This is an easy one that everyone could use some room for improvement.
- Take your vacation. It's becoming harder and harder, but this year plan ahead and make time for yourself away from the office.
- Turn off the cell phone, blackberry and lap top. This one goes hand and hand with vacation. Technology is great, but you have to shut down so you don't burn out.

Happy New Year!

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01/01/1970 01:00 AM America's Happiest Workers

During this time of economic and job uncertainty, workers are not necessarily feeling confident in their personal situations. But today, I came across a rare article about workers who are genuinely happy with their careers, even during rough times.

So which professions do these content employees work for? The article I found mentioned a top 10 list of the following:

1. Clergy members
2. Firefighters
3. Travel agents
4. Architects
5. Special education teachers
6. Actors/directors
7. Science technicians
8. Mechanical/repair occupations
9. Industrial engineers
10. Pilots/navigators

Talk about running the gamut of industries! But what I find most interesting is the that a couple of the professions listed may be perceived as difficult (special ed teacher) or dangerous (firefighters). With this article, however, is proof that these careers are not only viable options, but the reality is that those who work in these fields are satisfied with their job choices.

I am curious to know how our Big Time readers feel about their career field (not necessarily employer....there's a big difference), but their career field. Let us know if your industry isn't listed above, and whether you consider yourself happy. And, for those considering a new career, check out some of the suggestions above, you might just find your calling, and find contentment at the same time.

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01/01/1970 01:00 AM Career Change Challenges

Q:   Dear Seymour, After 14 years at a company, as a tailor, my department was downsized. I decided to change careers and got Microsoft Office Training. I would like to work as an administrative assistant but having no previous experience plus not being a fast typist, combined with competition from the growing volume of unemployed candidates I am losing all confidence that I am hirable. I practice typing daily and search the online job listings. Also, I have contacted a few job placement agencies. Because of my lack of experience they have turned me away. Should I keep trying other agencies? Have you got any suggestions as to what I could do next?

- Submitted by Roxann

A: Dear Roxann,

You are probably tired of hearing, "if at first you don't succeed, try again". So I am not going to tell you that, although it is very true when you are searching for a job. You have a unique situation as a career changer, so here is my advice.

First and foremost, your initiative to take Office training is commendable and on the right track, but as someone who is entering into a new field after 14 years, it seems to not be enough to be hired. So, check out a local community college or trade school that offers classes in administrative assistants. You may not be in the position to pursue a full degree, but showing that you are pursuing some kind of formal training will elevate your status with future employers.

If you are having a difficult time financing classes at a trade school or college, contact your local workforce assistance office. Often times, you may find classes for low cost or no cost if you are willing to dedicate your free time and weekends to attending.

Experience is key to proving you are ready for a new job, so you may also consider volunteering your time to work in the front office of a church, non-profit organization or local school. Although you would be volunteering, you cannot expect a paycheck, but it may give you that valuable "real life" experience that you need to get your foot in the door.

Once you have some formal training and experience under your belt, you'll probably find it easier for staffing agencies to take the chance on placing you, and employers who are looking for someone hungry to jump into a new career.

Best of luck!

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01/01/1970 01:00 AM Delegating in the Workplace

As a manager, one of the first tasks I had to learn was how to delegate assignments to other team members. This wasn't always easy for me. I tend to be a "take charge, I'll just do it myself" type of employee. But as my role continued to expand, I realized that I had no other choice but to delegate some responsibilities to others.

I came across this article that provides ten tips for delegating. These are all helpful and certainly should be taken into account when assigning duties, but here are a couple of my own that I have picked up along the way.

First, don't delegate tasks to just anyone. Some employees will be more astute and responsible than others. Whether it's attention to detail, or negotiation skills that are needed, choose the right employee for the right task.

Delegate the most important assignments to employees who are ready to "level" up. This will put them in the position of thinking at a higher level and give them the experience they need to get to the next skills set.

Don't delegate and then assume the assignment was taken care of. Yes, you want to trust that your employees have fulfilled their work responsibilities, but ultimately you are still accountable for the project's completion. So follow up, not as a micromanager, but just to ensure they didn't have any questions, or needed any additional instructions.

Finally, be sure to spread the wealth around. It will be natural to have one or two employees who you continuously rely upon to get things done, and get them done right. But you don't want them to feel that you are taking advantage them, or have other team members feel that you favor them over the others.

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03/12/2008 03:06 PM Tackling an exit interview - the ins and outs

When employees quit a job, they are typically ready to finish their last day and get out. After all, there are reasons why workers quit and when the time comes many just want to leave the experience behind.

But if the company requests you provide an exit interview, I encourage workers to participate. Exit interviews provide HR departments the important feedback needed to address management or process issues that may be the cause of hostility for other employees as well.

The following article offers a couple of tips to help guide workers through the exit interview process. But the most important tip I can offer is to remember to be constructive when providing feedback.

If workers are angry, they will not be giving constructive feedback on their work experience. But what employees do not realize is that the exit interview is their opportunity to have the last world.

Exit interviews are the time for workers to purge themselves of the positive and negative experiences of their work environment. Whether it's a management style or department structure, letting HR know why you are leaving without bad-mouthing anyone or anything will make workers part of the solutions instead of adding to the problems.

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01/01/1970 01:00 AM More Of My Deep, Dark Secrets At CarrieandDanielle.com

So, I had the wonderful fortune to be interviewed by the folks over at CarrieandDanielle.com and they came up with some pretty interesting questions, ones that revealed answers I don’t normally share.

Here’s a snippet:

How do you get things done?

Set what Collins called "Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals" in Built To Last, then don't stop until you make them happen. Shoot for the ultimate end, but focus on the task at hand. Do NOT multitask, it's a myth. You lose a huge of time in the process of fluttering between tasks and having to ramp up. One exception, if you're a mom or parent of young kid, you've got no other option.

Go check out the rest now…

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01/01/1970 01:00 AM LinkedIn: Tips to Manage Employer Risk We are using LinkedIn more and more. For executives, managers, and senior professionals it is a personal marketing tool that should not be missed. However, a few recent clients have expressed...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit MyWebsite.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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01/01/1970 01:00 AM What Hiring Managers Look for in a Resume

A colleague suggested I chat with a more junior person about his job search. I’m trying, but I’m having trouble understanding what this guy does. His resume is too long and doesn’t have what I need in it. I don’t think he’s alone, so here’s what hiring managers look for on a resume.

1. Your address. Yes, the hiring manager wants to know if you’re local. An email address is not enough. You need a street address and phone number also.
2. Where have you worked? I want to see the companies, and under the companies, the projects that you’ve worked on. Don’t overwhelm me with the number of projects you’ve worked on.
3. What value have you added to the project? What did you accomplish? Don’t tell me you reviewed documents or code so that you could understand the requirements. Everyone does that. What unique value did you add?
4. Do not list every single language you ever studied in school, every operating system, every database, every variant of every operating system unless that is somehow material to the job. Honestly, do you really want me to test you on the C++ or the Smalltalk or the Lisp or Forth or the Algol (does anyone learn that anymore?) or PL/1 or Fortran you once learned. Don’t tempt me. I will.
5. You have two pages to catch my attention. If you have a resume longer than 2 pages, I might not throw it out, but a bunch of my colleagues will. Especially if you have less than 20 years of experience. That means that #3, describing the value you’ve added to a project is critical.
6. Ask someone to review your English (or whatever language you are writing in) if you are not a native speaker of the language.

When I see a resume of more than 2 pages from a person with fewer than 15 years of experience, I generally put it in the No pile. That’s because the candidate is not attempting to show me good judgement about their accomplishments.

You have maybe 30 seconds to catch a hiring manager’s attention. Don’t waste the hiring manager’s time. That means you need to spend the time writing a great resume. You spend the time so the hiring manager will spend theirs.

If you think you need more guidance, read Louise Fletcher’s blog. She helps people write resumes for a living.

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01/01/1970 01:00 AM Are You Living A Significant Life?

George Bernard Shaw said:

To be used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one…I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live.

I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brithly as possible before handing it on to future generations.

I keep coming back to this…the notion of service and significance

Big picture and little picture. Global impact, local impact. I cannot rally to every cause, nor am I drawn to. One person’s all-consuming mission is not necessarily mine. But, for those that have meaning to me, be it growing a happy, loving, connected family or helping people grow businesses and careers that allow for greater self-determination…

It’s always been about impact.

And, I wonder, am I making a difference on some level? If so, how will I know? What’s my metric?

So, I made a short list that I now look at each day, just as a way of reminding myself of the value I place on significant actions. It doesn’t stop me from wasting time, that still happens more than I’d like. Instead it serves as a reminder, something I can regularly refer back to as a vehicle to refocus on what matters most.

Here it is:

1. Have I served my community today, be it local or global?
2. Have I given without expectation of receiving today?
3. Have I done something to take care of my mind?
4. Have I done something to take care of my body?
5. Have I done something to take care of my spirit?
6. Have I mentored, taught, helped or coached someone?
7. Have I created something that will impact someone else?
8. Have I been present and involved with my family?
9. Have I been there for my friends and colleagues?
10. Have I led with compassion?
11. Am I leaving a footprint I am proud of?
12. Have I given anonymously?

Do I always tick off every item on the list every day? Not a chance.

Some days, I hit all 12 (it’s the rare day), most days I hit about half, other days, none. Regardless, it serves as a powerful “significance feedback loop,” a tool to keep me aspiring in the right direction and to hold me accountable to taking significant acts on a daily basis.

So, I am curious…

How do you define significance?

What’s your metric?

What else can you add to the list?

How would you customize it for yourself?

Let’s discuss…

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06/10/2008 02:02 PM A Hired Blogger Is Not A Hired Gun

I recently made the mistake of explaining to the client that they were getting a top notch blogger that is seasoned and savvy and could take on whatever project they needed. Not that this was not the case mind you but it left a different impression with the company that was getting the professional blogger. The client after hearing this took on the blogger and subsequently threw them into the street to face the other side’s hired gun. It could have been a bloody battle (a bloggy battle?) but thankfully it was a draw.

Often I sit down and have a strategy session with the blogger and with the client for that initial get to know you period, and a goal setting session, and talk about what the strategies are for the company, and how the blogger fits into that campaign. In this particular instance I made some assumptions.

I got lazy. I had what I thought were more important things to get done. All of it merely an excuse for doing it wrong. The things that I did well before and the process I had stuck to was for a reason. The client and the blogger have just met and they are not a party to what I know about the blogger or perhaps the weeks of discussions and campaign strategies I have had with the client. It all rattles around in my head a little and somewhere gets filed away in my database but the client and the blogger have no key to unlock that space (Nor would they want to be inside that nightmare. I’ve locked it up for a reason.)

As a professional blogger and if you are hiring a blogger for the first time, make sure you have a meeting up front after you have chosen your candidate. Talk about the things that needs to be discussed:

• What is the company mission and message?
• What are the goals of the company and how can the blogger help accomplish those goals?
• How does the blogger want to move forward?
• When would be a good time to review and revisit the goals?
• What happens in a crisis?
• Who is the contact and that person’s back up contact?
• Where is the company going?
• Does the blogger understand their role in the mission and message.
• Do they have the proper bullets to stand in your street at high noon?

Okay the last one is to help with the metaphor, but you get the picture. These are merely a few of the questions that should come to mind when you have been hired and when you have actually hired your blogger to perform for you. If you bring them in and they show you their shiny gun, make sure they are on your side and are willing to stand in the street with your best interest at heart.

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06/10/2008 02:02 PM Hiring Bloggers is More Than Hiring Content - It's Hiring Community Outreach

I have been getting a number of calls and emails recently from a large number of companies that are wanting to hire a blogger to get that needed content on their website, but a few savvy companies are also asking about community outreach. Community outreach is a part of the professional blogger’s repertoire. Bloggers for many years have known that when you are a blogger part of your job is to build your readers, to increase the subscribers to your site, and to provide a way to grow your community. You must go out and seek out new people to know you are there and to come and join your discussion.

This is the mistake that many bloggers make when they come to me and tell me that they want to be a professional blogger. They are great at copy and great at the written word, but that is where the skills end. One of the things I like to see in my bloggers is not just that they can generate quality content and provide those needed words on the page, but I like to see how they interact with their readers. I also like to see how they interact within their communities or in their niche. Are they commenting on other sites, joining in threads in forums, microblogging on the sites like Twitter or otherwise doing more than their standard blog post? These are the important questions I like to have answers for when I respond to potential clients about their inquiries about the bloggers networking abilities and their skills.

If the potential customer or client has not asked those important questions themselves, I also like to educate them on these realities. Bloggers are more than just writers. You are not paying for their prose alone or the fact that they understand grammar and spelling, but you are also paying for that special skill known only to the most prolific bloggers and those that have influence–they participate.

[Photo courtesy of Andyrob}

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06/10/2008 01:52 PM How to Raise Your Financial Vibration

In this article I’ll share some practical tips for raising your financial vibration and expanding your financial comfort zone.

If you dislike the term vibration, don’t worry about it — it’s arbitrary anyway. Feel free to substitute other words like acuity, prowess, intelligence, or even results.

Over time we tend to fall into financial patterns that generate a fairly narrow range of results. We become comfortable with certain financial experiences; even if we don’t like those experiences, they’re familiar to us, so we gravitate back to them.

In order to raise your financial vibration (and improve your results), you have to shift your comfort zone. This normally requires pushing yourself through a period of discomfort. You must release the familiar to experience the unfamiliar.

Here are the basic steps to follow:

1. Assess your current financial comfort zone.

Answer the following questions as honestly as you can:

1. What level (or range) of income feels comfortable and normal to you, neither being stressfully scarce or excitedly abundant? What’s the income level where you’d start to worry if you fell below it? What’s the income level where you’d start to get excited if you rose above it?
2. What amount (or range) of cash feels comfortable and normal to you, neither being stressfully scarce or excitedly abundant? What’s the cash amount where you’d start to worry if you fell below it? What’s the cash amount where you’d start to get excited if you rose above it?

For example, you might define your income comfort zone as $30,000 to $50,000 per year. And perhaps your cash comfort zone is $2,000 to $8,000. Your own figures may vary wildly from these amounts. The only correct answer is whatever feels right to you.

Don’t worry about being super-precise here. Obviously there’s some guesstimation involved, but try to come up with specific figures to answer these questions. Your goal is simply to get a clearer picture of your current financial equilibrium.

You could have negative numbers here too if being in debt or experiencing a negative cash flow falls within your current comfort zone.

Your answers define your present financial equilibrium. You’ll tend to gravitate to this range whenever you step outside it. When you fall below each range, you’ll be driven to work harder to get back up again. If you start reaching the high end, you’ll be hitting the edge of your comfort zone and will tend to slide back down again (often via self-sabotage or slacking off).

2. Define your new financial comfort zone.

Review your answers to the questions in the previous section. Now realize that these figures are totally arbitrary. You probably fell into these patterns based on what you learned from other people. If you had wealthy mentors, your figures are probably higher than most people. If you surround yourself with people who are broke or in debt, your figures are probably on the low side.

Ultimately these amounts are under your control. You can change them if you want. You can choose to stop reinforcing the old comfort zone and push beyond it.

Now define a new equilibrium you’d like to reach. There’s no right or wrong answer, but I recommend doubling every number as a good step. When I want to reach a new level, I usually aim for a 3-5x increase because I like to push myself. If it takes me a few years to get there, I’m okay with that. It’s a fun challenge to tackle.

3. Clarify and accept the consequences of your new financial vibration.

Imagine what it would be like to be at your new levels, not in fantasy but in actual reality. How would this affect your lifestyle? What consequences and side effects can you imagine? Can you accept those consequences?

For example, will you need to start making new friends because you can see that some people will hold you back or react negatively if you starting doing better financially?

Erin and I lost a few friends as our finances improved. Some people started acting really weird around us, and it became obvious that they had major limiting beliefs about money, so we let them go. Then we attracted new friends who weren’t so blocked in this area. This isn’t a bad thing per se; it’s just a shift you’ll need to deal with.

It’s very important to spend some time visualizing what your lifestyle will be like after you shift your financial equilibrium. Imagine going through your daily routine in your new reality. You might be excited at first, but there are always trade-offs. Can you accept all the natural consequences? For example, can you handle paying a lot more taxes? If you double your income, your taxes may more than double. Do you anticipate any problems in your social network? Do you expect that a career change would be necessary, and can you handle that?

If you can’t accept the consequences and side effects of your new financial equilibrium, it’s extremely likely that you’ll make no progress in this area. The gravitational pull of your current comfort zone will be too strong.

For more on this topic, read the article Fear of Success: What Will Happen if You Succeed?

4. Break your old comfort zone, and build scaffolding to support your new equilibrium.

Now we’re getting into the action phase to initiate the shift.

A very effective way to escape your old comfort zone is to change the scaffolding of your life. This requires only a temporary burst of self-discipline instead of having to push yourself every day. If you have to push yourself hard every day, you’ll probably fail to complete the shift. A better approach is to make changes to your environment that break your old patterns and begin conditioning new ones.

If you detect that any parts of your reality would conflict with greater financial abundance, you must break them, drop them, or leave them behind. If you want to orbit a new financial planet, you must escape the gravity of your current planet. You can’t keep one foot on each planet.

You don’t have to get every detail perfect. You just have to achieve a tipping point where you stop resonating with the old levels and start resonating with the new ones.

This is where you start saying, “I quit” to anything that isn’t consistent with your new levels. If you’re in a dead-end job that can’t possibly help you reach your new equilibrium, set a deadline for quitting. If it’s clear that your job will only reinforce your old equilibrium, there’s no point in pretending you can stay. You don’t have to quit right away, but you do need to accept that you’ll eventually have to quit.

You don’t have to stress yourself over the big changes right away. Start with the easy changes first, especially those that are low-risk. Don’t spend money you don’t have, but do be creative in altering your environment, especially your home and your social network. Start reinforcing the new equilibrium more than the old one.

This is a good time to clean house. Dump all the old junk that’s inconsistent with your new equilibrium.

Review your social network, and start unplugging yourself from relationships that you know will be unsupportive after your shift. Then start building bridges with people you expect will help support you after your shift. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to make wealthier friends. It just means you need to weaken the bonds with people who would resist your financial growth and strengthen the bonds with people who will support you.

Make a list of other changes you’ll implement as more money begins to flow into your life, such as upgrading your computer, overhauling your wardrobe, taking a nice vacation, or buying more organic produce. Imagine that those things are becoming part of your daily routine. Implement those changes when you can afford to.

As you make small shifts one by one, you’ll build momentum. The support structure for your old comfort zone will eventually crumble, and you’ll gradually create a scaffolding for your new comfort zone.

If you find it too difficult to implement real changes because of too little time or money, then make the changes symbolically. For example, you can draw or cut out pictures that represent your new equilibrium, and then post them on your walls. One time when I wanted to increase my income, I put a small fountain in my office and said to the universe, “This is my wealth fountain. It represents the flow of more money into my life in exchange for the flow of information and ideas I’m giving to others.” Then I put other objects around the fountain that represented abundance and growth to me, such as a couple of plants. My income shot up rapidly during that time. I encouraged Erin to try putting a wealth fountain in her office too. She did that and got excellent results as well.

By the time you’ve completed this step, you should feel that you’ve burned the ships behind you and that there’s no turning back. This doesn’t mean burning the food and supplies too! It simply means that you’re clearly committed to moving forward. There should definitely be some pain if you try to slink back to your old comfort zone. For example, you may endure some humiliation for begging your old friends to take you back after telling them you have to let them go.

5. Take inspired action.

As you continue to work on #4, your old comfort zone will begin to feel less and less comfortable. You’ll start feeling more congruent with your new equilibrium, even though you may not see any evidence of it in your reality yet. You might be making $50,000 per year, and even though you’ve been comfortable near that level for years, now it feels uncomfortably low to you. You start feeling a pressure to make more money. $100,000 per year seems like it would be a lot more comfortable to you.

When I experience this positive pressure, it feels similar to sexual arousal. It’s like I have this pent-up energy inside that needs to be released. It’s actually a good feeling, more like eustress than stress. The release of this energy is the eventual manifestation of my desires.

When the energy is strong enough, there’s a sense of inevitability about it. You can just feel you’re going to get there. It’s as if the manifestation is out of your hands now because the universe is working on it behind the scenes.

For example, I have this sense of inevitability that my book will be released on October 15th. It hasn’t happened yet, but I can trust that it can and will happen. I feel the presence of a lot of pressure that needs to be released. When my book finally comes out, I’ll probably feel relieved. The pent-up energy will finally flow into physical form.

This is how it feels right before you transition to a new financial equilibrium. There’s this build-up of pressure, and you sense it needs to be released. If you aren’t at this point, keep working on step 4 until you get there. You simply haven’t created enough arousal yet.

At this point you’re ready to take some inspired action. Generally the way this happens is that you’ll start noticing new opportunities that are consistent with your new equilibrium. Your new energy level will attract them into your life. You’ll notice new ways to earn more money.

You don’t have to take major risks. Just start acting on the opportunities that present themselves. Your intentions will manifest in the form of opportunities, but you need to actively seize those opportunities.

When it finally comes, your final shift can occur pretty rapidly. One week you’re feeling the positive pressure, and the next week the pressure has been released, and your equilibrium has already shifted.

Focus on the opportunities that allow you to create more value for others. Realize that making more money isn’t selfish. It’s actually incredibly generous, assuming that you earn income by contributing equal or greater value (as opposed to stealing or mooching off others).

If you double your income, it means you’re contributing twice as much value to others. The money you earn is an IOU from society. If you have a million dollars in the bank, it means you’ve given at least a million dollars more value than you received — that’s very generous. If you’re in debt, it means you’re taking more than you’re giving. The more value you contribute, the more society owes you in return. If you allow your income to stagnate, it means you’re holding back on the contribution side. That’s lazy and selfish. Focus on expanding your contribution, and you’ll find that society gives you a lot more IOUs.

6. Enjoy the results.

When you successfully alter your financial equilibrium, allow yourself to feel grateful for the shift. Embrace the new possibilities and lifestyle changes you can create. Genuine gratitude will help you lock in the changes and prevent you from backsliding.

It may take a while to become comfortable with your new financial position. Don’t panic! Just relax and enjoy the ride.

Growth tends to occur in quantum leaps. It’s unusual to experience steady linear growth for an extended period of time. What seems like linear growth is often just a form of stagnation. For example, you may get an annual raise that barely compensates for inflation, tax increases, and other expenses, but your lifestyle remains relatively fixed because you didn’t increase your contribution. If you want to experience a new level, you must be the one to initiate and sustain the shift.

The point of hitting different financial tiers is to experience them fully and to learn and grow from your experiences. Once you’ve absorbed the key lessons of a certain level, you’re ready to progress to a new level. You’re in charge of the pacing.

A personal example

For me the major growth lessons haven’t been on the side of attracting and spending more money — or even embracing more abundance — they’ve been on the side of finding my true voice and learning to create and share more value. While I agree you can create shifts by focusing on the lifestyle gains, most of my personal breakthroughs have been on the side of creative self-expression. I had to tear down my old comfort zone of being at a certain level of contribution and pass through the uncomfortable zone of stepping up to a new level.

For example, I’m currently going through the shift from blogger to published author. I can’t really say how this will impact my income (it obviously can’t hurt), but the biggest part of this shift occurred in my sense of creative self-expression. I had to go through the steps above to create a sense of positive pressure to write a book. I didn’t have to do that. I could have stuck to my old comfort zone as a blogger.

For example, my comfort zone of writing was articles in the range of 1,000 to 8,000 words. My book is longer than 10x my longest article. But I also wanted to write a book that was more than a compilation of articles. I wanted to create something unified and coherent. I needed an idea that would fit the long form of a book. This was a big shift that took me well beyond my comfort zone. So that was steps 1 and 2.

For step 3 I had to ask myself, Do I really want to be an author? It was reasonable to assume that my book would get a lot of attention because of my blog. Did I really want that? How would my friends react if I became a published author? Would that bother anyone (such as people who talk about writing their book someday but never follow through on it)? Did I really want more email, more interview requests, and more scrutiny? It took me a while to reach the place where I was willing to accept the natural consequences of this shift.

For step 4 I made a number of small changes to shift my comfort zone. I gave myself permission to blog less often, so I could have more time for my book. I created a chapter outline on my office wall from about 200 colored sticky notes, so whenever I sat at my desk, I couldn’t help but notice the rainbow-colored wall in front of me, a constant reminder to work on my book. I told my friends I was writing a book, so they’d always ask me about it. I blogged about it too. That created more accountability and helped burn the bridge behind me. It would have been more uncomfortable not to write the book.

As I created this positive pressure to write my book, opportunities began coming to me. Eventually I got an offer from Hay House and negotiated a publishing deal with them. It all went pretty smoothly because I’d shifted my equilibrium. By the time they approached me, I was ready to become an author. The opportunities came to me, but I still had to act on them. That took a lot of work, but by this point there was no turning back. That was step 5.

Step 6 is still pending. The result that excites me the most is learning how people apply the book’s ideas to solve problems and make improvements in their lives. I’m not worried about whether or not everyone likes it; I accept that I can’t please everyone. But I can anticipate that these ideas will generate positive results for many people because that’s the effect I’ve experienced. Not a day goes by where I don’t consciously and deliberately apply the principles in the book.

So when you seek to raise your financial vibration, realize that it isn’t just about attracting more money and experiencing more abundance. Pay special attention to the contribution side as well. If you want to double your income, think about doubling your value output.

How can you increase your contribution? The simple answer is that you either need to serve more people, or you need to deliver more value to each person you serve — or both. Can you go deeper? Can you go broader?

For example, writing a book allows me to go deeper and broader. It goes much deeper than any article or series of articles I’ve written. There’s nothing on this site that compares to what I was able to convey in the book. Secondly, by expanding into an offline medium, I can get these ideas into the hands of a lot more people than I can reach with my blog. People who’ve never heard of my blog will be able to find the book in their local bookstores, including non-English translations in various countries.

You can create these kinds of shifts even if you work at a regular corporate job. You just have to think about putting yourself in a position where you can contribute more value to the people you serve (deeper), or where you have the leverage to positively impact more people (broader). This may be done by shifting to a more leveraged position within your current company, or it may require switching companies. You might even start your own business. You have many options, but you must be the one to initiate the shift beyond your current comfort zone.

The word comfort might sound… well… comforting. But too much comfort for too long is not a good thing. I encourage you to view comfort not as an accomplishment but rather as a state of decline. If you are too comfortable, you’re coasting downhill. You’re slowly dying on the inside, while something inside you longs to experience passion and excitement once again.

Instead of long-term comfort, aim for growth. Focus on increasing and expanding your contribution, and your rewards will naturally follow. When considered in isolation, a major financial gain isn’t a reward that’s worthy of you. It’s a hollow victory that can comfort your body, but it cannot stir your soul. The soul-stirring reward is looking back on your life with deep gratitude for all the growth experiences you enjoyed (as well as those you endured) and feeling lovingly connected to all the people whose lives were made a little bit better by your presence.

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06/10/2008 01:49 PM Beating Unemployment And Job Loss Strategies To Beat Unemployment And Job Loss And Get A New Job Quickly
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06/10/2008 01:46 PM LinkedIn: Tips to Manage Employer Risk We are using LinkedIn more and more. For executives, managers, and senior professionals it is a personal marketing tool that should not be missed. However, a few recent clients have expressed...

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06/10/2008 01:26 PM Focus on Your Experience

I wa just reading recent grad frustrated by job search, and want to highlight something many candidates, even experienced candidates, forget:

Remember, a hiring manager is going to spend maybe a minute (or less) on the initial scan of your resume. What do you want her to see in that minute — a list of college courses you took, or work experience directly relevant to what she’s hiring for?

That means that no matter who you are, focus on your experience in your resume. If you can attach any value to the work you did, say that too: “developed microcode for blah-blah project, saving the company $50,000 in NRE.” (NRE is non-recurring engineering costs.)

Whether you’re a new grad or an experienced knowledge worker, use your resume to highlight your experience and the value it provided to your organization.

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06/10/2008 01:26 PM Hiring Managers Phone Screen

I had a lovely email conversation with someone who wanted to hire a firm to perform phone screens. That just makes no sense to me. Here’s what happens when a hiring manager performs the phone screens:

1. When a hiring manager creates a phone screen script, the manager refines the essentials of the job.
2. Based on the conversation with candidates, the hiring manager refines the job analysis and job description, realizing what is essential as technical and non-technical skills.
3. The hiring manager can take the conversation in a variety of places, learning more about the candidate. The hiring manager can learn a lot about the candidate, in a very collegial way.
4. The hiring manager starts building rapport, which if you end up hiring the candidate, is important.

It’s ok if the hiring manager asks a technical lead to handle the phone screens. If the hiring manager works closely with HR and trains someone in HR, maybe that person can help with phone screens (I’ve never seen this work).

But if you really want a technical phone screen, you don’t outsource it. You do it yourself.

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