Why Your Bio Is More Important than Your Resume

Why Your Bio Is More Important than Your Resume Most job seekers understandably think that their resume is their most  important written job search tool.  Why?  Because most people associate  resumes with landing their next job.  Resumes are important, even critical,  to your ultimate goal of landing your next job.  However, resumes are best  used only when you are applying for a specific position.  After all, that’s  the purpose of a resume â€" to articulate your background, skills, abilities and  credentials â€" with the hopes of garnering an interview. However, any savvy job seeker in this current employment market knows that  blindly applying for jobs using your resume is a recipe for a long bout of  unemployment.  Generally accepted statistics demonstrate that only 20% of  all jobs are filled via job boards and newspaper ads. And of that 20% the  majority of the time the hiring manager knows who they want to hire before the  posting goes up. The other 80% of jobs are filled through networking with  friends, family, current or former co-workers, or through extended professional  networking through LinkedIn and  professional organizations. One page biography This is where the concept of a one page biography or bio, for short, comes  into play.  The bio is the document that you can most leverage during your  networking activities â€" and if networking is the key approach needed to land  one of the 80% of jobs that are not filled through traditional job posting  channels, and then doesn’t it stand to reason that a bio should be a more  important tool?  Remember, a resume is best utilized when you are applying  for a specific job.  A bio is best used to convey your background in a  crisp narrative format before, during or after your networking meetings. Benefits You may be thinking, “Why can’t I just use my resume during my networking  meetings?” Good question.  Probably the biggest reason is that a bio speaks  much more about your reputation, attributes, tone and makeup than a resume  does.  Written in the third person and without the rigid structure of a  resume, you bio is much more readable and conversational than a resume.  Another  reason is because your networking partner may equate seeing your resume with  applying for a job and they most likely will not have a job for you at the  present time.  When a networking partner feels like they can’t help you,  they may recoil and not provide you with the resources you were hoping to gain  from the conversation.  Another reason for not providing a resume during  networking sessions is because networking partners may get sidetracked wanting  to provide you with resume feedback. So, the bio gives you an opportunity to explain a bit about yourself in a  disarming, easy to read format.  Because of the way you’ll construct the  bio, it also allows you to convey more and different information about yourself  then you could ever do with a resume. OK, so now you agree that a bio is an important tool in your arsenal.  How  do you go about building one?  Keep in mind that you want to write this in  the third person and don’t be bashful! How to write one First, you’ll want to start with a summary which states your name, basic  profession and what your experience and expertise is. Second, you’ll want to  add career highlights and significant accomplishments.  Third, let people  know what you are known for.   Fourth, don’t forget your education and  other credentials and fifth, feel free to sprinkle in a few of your hobbies and  interests (as long as they are not polarizing hobbies!).  You’re welcomed  to review my bio as a sample. It can be downloaded here. Now that you have written your bio, you are ready to utilize it during your  networking discussions and you have document that you can also use for speaking  engagements, press releases and other related announcements. More reading at 8 Steps To Writing a Bio Like a Pro. Matthew Levy is a well-rounded HR  professional and Career Coach with fifteen years of broad experience in both  specialist (e.g., recruiting) and generalist (e.g., HR business partner) roles  at blue-chip companies, including Merck, Amgen and Johnson Johnson.  

Why Bother with a Thank-You Letter - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Why Bother with a Thank-You Letter - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Many years ago, in the pre-e-mail era, I snail-mailed my thank-you letter after an interview and was told later by the director of human resources that my thank-you letter was the decisive factor in the company’s offering me the job. As a career coach, I frequently guide people through such job seekers’ dilemmas. Many of my clients feel confused about the need to write a thank-you letterâ€"and sometimes even more so about its content. Let me take you back to that interview. At a point when the interviewer feels confident about his grasp on your candidacy for the position, he’ll look you in the eye and say, “Do you have any questions for me?” Don’t underestimate that question. It represents another test for you. The interviewer wants to see (1) whether you came prepared for the interview and (2) whether your questions are pertinent, intelligent, and supportive of your future role or whether they’re purely self-serving. Therefore, you are best served if you come prepared with three strategic questions. Yes, I know you probably have many detailed questions to ask, but does the interviewer have that much time? There are three questions I suggest my clients bring to an interview. All of them are strategic, meaning that they focus on advancing their own interest as a candidate. The first one should explore the candidate’s standing in the interviewer’s mind regarding the candidate’s application and whether anything further can be provided to keep the process moving on. If there are any remaining doubts, they should surface now. Howeverâ€"and this is very importantâ€"whatever the interviewer reveals, the candidate should jot it down quickly. This is not the time to rebut, argue, or even attempt a reply. Remember that when the interviewer has asked the last question, he does not wish to extend the interview much longer. The second question is about the personality traits the interviewer considers important for the position. This question is important because the information the candidate supplied via the résumé excludes such items, yet they are very important for the fit consideration. After all, the candidate is not a robot but a human being. And the last question to ask the interviewer is what he perceives as challenging for someone who is new to the job. Between each question, the candidate should take two or three seconds to write down the key concepts. The notes will be essential in terms of the thank-you letter. In the content of the letter, the candidate should address precisely what was learned based on the responses to the three questions. And now, the remaining issue involves how to transmit the thank-you letter. I suggest not via e-mail. After all, everybody else is sending a thank-you letter via e-mail. You want to stand out and be different. I suggest you print your letter on high-quality bond paper with a matching envelope and use FedEx or a similar courier service. This will assure you that you dealt with issues that were important to the interviewer; plus, you will stand out versus your competition. And now wait for the offer. Good luck in your new position.

Seth Godin on Salespeople

Seth Godin on Salespeople In a previous post, I wrote about Seth Godin’s theory of team contributions. One contributor is the Salesperson. Here’s how Godin describes the work: “Turning a maybe into a yes, enrolling prospects in the long-term journey of value creation.” Salespeople are arguably the most essential contributors, because they create the relationships that generate revenue. Nothing happens until somebody sells something. But for some reason, the sales function is perceived as a necessary evil; no one wants to have the reputation of a natural salesperson. In Daniel Pink’s book, To Sell is Human, he says that 9 out of 10 people have negative impressions of salespeople. In my experience, there are two kinds of salespeople: the ones driven by winning, and the True Believers. The ones driven by winning can sell almost anything; they have a natural talent for persuasion and they are students of human nature, able to quickly analyze what motivates potential buyers. All they need is a pretty good product and enough information on features and benefits; you can set them loose in the market and they will close with gratifying regularity. They love the challenge, and every close feels like a win. It’s fun for them, and they are often rewarded well for their skills (they’re also great negotiators.) They also move around a lot; they’re guns for hire who can walk into any company and demand top dollar. The true believers are more rare, but often more effective. And they don’t necessarily limit themselves to products. They can be found in nonprofits, universities, politics, and movements. They’re often founders of companies with a burning vision and the ability to bring you into that vision. Sales consultant and author Jeffrey Gitomer says: “As you’re preparing for a sale, your belief system is so powerful it will dominate your desire to get ready to win.” Gitomer says a true believer mindset consists of three core beliefs: You have to believe you work for the greatest company in the world. You have to believe your products and services are the greatest in the world. You have to believe in yourself. The challenge with True Believers as salespeople is that once they lose their belief, they lose their power to persuade. A discouraged True Believer cannot be effective, and can’t be motivated extrinsically. They don’t care about winning; they care about helping people or solving problems that matter. If you’re managing a True Believer sales force, you’ve got to keep a constant eye on quality, morale, and culture. If one of these is not where it should be, you’ll need to fix it before your sales team will be able to perform. If you’re in sales, are you driven by winning? Or are you a True Believer? Or are you a Contributor?

Productivity is about finding space

Productivity is about finding space I have often thought that we choose to marry someone who has something we dont have, but we wish we had. So it makes sense that now that I feel secure in my relationship with the farmer, I am going to tell you what he has that I want: Photos for my blog. Im so bad at taking photos of the farm, and he is great at it, so I stole one of the photos he took to document the mud. He says March is the mud month. I have tried a few times to take pictures of the farm. I am in love with the farmer, but also, I am in love with the farm. And the farmer will never let me put a picture of him on my blog, so I decided to show you how beautiful the farm is. But I am realizing that photos are like writing: You can only show a fresh perspective of something you know very well. I remember when I taught creative writing to freshmen at Boston University. The first month almost every student wrote about sex. I went to my advisor and asked him why I am getting twenty stories about having sex. He said, Are all the stories terrible? I said, Yes. He said, That happens every semester. When you love something, you want to write about it. But you never know enough about it to write it in an interesting way until you know it closely enough to hate it as well. The farm is too new to me. I take cliched pictures of cows like my students wrote cliched stories of passion. Fortunately, the farmer takes really good photos. I like this one because it shows how quiet and desolate the winter is. When I tell people Im moving to the farm, they say, What will you do in the winter? In fact, I love winter on the farm. I love that its dead quiet. I love that we get snowed in from time to time. I love that the fields are freezing but the house is warm and cozy. Mostly, though, I love the farm because theres so little going on. If you look closely, theres a lot, of course. The farmer once told me there are millions of different minerals in every handful of dirt; he can see infinite action on the farm. Compared to other places I have lived, the farm gives me space to think. My head is always swimming with ideas, Im always writing or reading. Even when Im sitting still, Im writing sentences in my head and battling with myself if they are good enough to get up and get a pencil before I forget what I wrote. Jason Fried is always talking about how get a clear head so you get more done. In a video I cant find, Jason explained that his business partner used to live in Holland. And Jason lived in Chicago. And his partner moved from Holland to Chicago so theyd get more done together. But they got less done. Because you need long stretches of uninterrupted time to get things done. Jason recent book, Rework, is about counter-intuitive ways to be more productive (here is a hilarious ad for the book). Rework full of stuff he learned as he grew his company, 37 Signals. I love the book because the advice is short and true like have a short to do list so that you can actually get it done. And make tiny decisions so that you can keep moving instead of doing nothing while you make a huge decision. The book is timely for me because Jason forces us to see that productivity is really about slowing down to focus on doing something real, instead of moving really fast but doing a lot of nothing. But Jason doesnt let you off the hook by telling you to do nothing; he gives you tips for continuing to move forward, but in a very smart way. I am doing that on the farm. Slowing down. Making space. Not letting myself do things that should never have been on my to do list anyway. But the tradeoff, when you slow down to get focus, is that slow is scary because you have to face what youre really doing. Making space to do something that matters is scary because something has to give, and I am figuring out what that means for me. In the process figuring out how to slow down enough to see but still move forward to reach my goals, its taken me so long to finish this post that the farm has changed, and it looks like this:

Could you be a Graphic Designer - CareerMetis.com

Could you be a Graphic Designer Source: fakecrow.comYou’re artistic and keen to become a graphic designer â€" but without a design qualification, is it even possible to find work?Yes, it is. Although qualifications might be helpful, you don’t need a degree in graphic design to kickstart your career.In fact, according to a recent survey, there are successful graphic designers working right now who have no qualifications at all â€" and many others who only have unrelated degrees.evalThe survey, conducted by Belfast-based Quinnstheprinters.com, asked a panel of 640 designers about their routes into graphic design â€" and the results were surprising.Do I need qualifications?evalIn short, no. Out of those surveyed, a surprising 17% have no third or post-school qualifications at all.There are a growing numberof reputable sites offering informal tuition in all design-related crafts, meaning those without the time to attend college can still get the basic training they need to find work.Thanks to free online web advert ising and the growth of the freelance market, those without formal qualifications can showcase samples of the work and let it speak for itself. They can build a portfolio based on raw talent alone.Still, it’s common for graphic designers to have additional qualifications…but do you need a university degree?Should I go to university?Out of the 83% surveyed:65% attended university;eval24% attended a technical college; and11% attended art college or obtained some other relevant qualification through an apprenticeship or placement.That’s a lot of designers who didn’t go to university! Nonetheless, there’s no point in denying that many recruiters do still value candidates who’ve obtained a graphic design degree.The degree offers the foundational skills you’re likely to needto stand out in a competitive market, and you get the opportunity to build up a portfolio much earlier â€" something which will come in handy when trying to impress recruiters.evalBut with the growth of o nline and flexible, informal learning opportunities as mentioned, there’s no reason you can’t be proactive in your own timeand work on your own portfolio.University isn’t going to be a good fit for everyone. There are countless reasons why you may not choose a university, and a degree doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be any better at the job than someone without the same qualification. So, don’t let a lack of university background put you off that job you’re looking for.Do I need to study graphic design?No. Out of those surveyed, 41% of them studied graphic design. However, that means there’s still a lot of designers out there without a specific graphic design qualification. In fact, a huge 23% of participants studied totally unrelated subjects, from marketing to journalism.Why is this?It’s no surprise that many graduates study degrees or qualifications which don’t suit them. It can take years to figure out what you want from your career, and many undergraduates simply don’t have the knowledge or the tools to make that decision yet.It’s also clear that a subject-specific qualification like graphic design will not necessarily give you the tools you need to work well. Many graduates feel ill-prepared by their degreefor the realities of that work environment â€" including the art and design world.What other skills will help me?Being a successful graphic designer is about more than just a qualification. The design market is cutting-edge, competitive, and ever-changing. Arguably, the style of teaching available at colleges and universities is not equipped to deal withthe rate of change.Creative talent, curiosity and an eye for detail are non-negotiable, but you don’t need to learn these skills in a classroom. You’ll need to be driven and keep yourself up-to-date with evolving client demands, and ensure your skills remain relevant and modern.You might have a degree, but if you don’t keep working on your own development, you’ll soon f all behind self-motivated designers.evalYou must have problem-solving skills. When an issue occurs, the client is paying you to find a crafty solution â€" you’re a designer, after all. You’ll need to look for answers and, like any successful professional, be great at listening to and communicating with your clients.Be prepared to explain all creative decisions carefully and clearly. You’ll be managing expectations while still maintaining a positive attitude â€" leadership skills are essential with this kind of responsibility. Does a graphic design degree guarantee you’ll develop all those other skills?No. You’re as likely to become a great leader by working up an unrelated career ladder, and you can learn responsibility and problem-solve in any discipline. Ultimately, consider a career in graphic design if your skills, personality, and interests align with those of other designers â€" that’s what mattersin this increasingly-versatile market.evalWhere can I get started?St ill interested in becoming a graphic designer? Great! Here are some tips for getting started on building that dream career:evalMake sure you’ve got a positive attitude and the talentto go with it â€" arguably the two most vital tools you’ll need to make a career in graphic design work.Try to find work as a junior designer, or other entry-level design opportunities. You can find these online, or by approaching more experienced designers for shadowing opportunities.Some may request that you have a degree, but this need is becoming more and more outdated. Finding entry-level work will let you see if this truly is a career you want.Consider the skills you already have, and how they’ll transfer into a career in design. You’ll likely find you have more relevant skills than you realize!Brush up on your tech skills. Not sure how to use Photoshop or similar programs? Get familiar with these before you start looking for work. Make sure you’ve got the basic foundations you’ll need to score work in this very competitive area.Become friends with, and network with, other designers. They can pass on useful hints and tips, help you avoid pitfalls, and offer support when things get difficult. You never know, they might even send placements or work experience your way.Begin working on a portfolio. This is a collection of the work you’re most proud of and gives clients a taste of what you have to offer. You should also have a website and a decent social media presence so you’re easily accessible.Remember, you don’t need a formal qualification to find the artistic career you want. You just need to be creative â€" which is all part of the job.

Was this the year you were going to make a career change

Was this the year you were going to make a career change Was this the year you were going to make a career change? Was this the year you were going to make a career change? August 12, 2012 by Career Coach Sherri Thomas Leave a Comment One year from now, do you want to be doing the exact same kind of work  youre doing  today? If not, then there are a few things you need to START doing, and a few things to STOP doing Stop going with the flow. Stop working on mundane projects you can do in your sleep. Part of the reason you’re feeling under-utilized and under-valued is because you’re under-challenged. We weren’t meant to take a job and then stay there forever. We’re meant to stretch, develop, grow, bounce. Look for ways to step up and flex your professional muscles. When you stop learning and growing, your career will stall. Stop taking setbacks personally. Everyone experiences career setbacks. Everyone! If you’ve been a victim of a layoff, a demotion, a project that failed or didn’t get accepted then get over it! Hanging on to feelings of rejection, embarrassment or anger isn’t helping you. You only think other people care about your setback, but seriously, they’ve moved on and you need to, too. It’s not the setback itself that is holding you back, but how you’re internalizing it. Stop being “small.” If you think that being humble and shy will help you be successful, think again. When somebody offers you a big juicy project or a spot on a high profile team â€" grab it! Saying things like, “Oh, I don’t know if I’d be the best choice for that,” or, “I don’t know if I have the right experience to do that” will keep you sitting on the bench. You’ve got to step up, be bold and put yourself out there (especially if the new opportunity scares you!) Yes, finding new opportunities means taking risks â€" big bold risks that you won’t be able to take if you’re playing it small. And here are a few things youll need to start doing  Start talking  about what you want to do. Start describing the types of responsibilities and the kinds of projects and teams you want to work on. If you don’t have a crystal clear vision, then at least start talking about the type of work you enjoy doing. By simply having these conversations with your manager, colleagues, and those in your network can lead to new career paths and opportunities. Start claiming your space. Put your expertise out there by showing others you have something to say through presentations, articles, coaching others and speaking up in meetings. Don’t be a shrinking violet, but instead, have confidence, be bold and voice your technical opinion. So what if someone may not agree with you â€" that just makes it a more interesting conversation. Successful executives and professionals constantly put themselves “out there” â€" that’s why they’re successful. Don’t shy away or back up, but instead step up, speak out and claim your space at the table. Start charting your course. Go find people working in different industries and job roles. Ask them about their responsibilities, education, training, challenges and career paths. Get connected to those who inspire you. Give yourself permission and time to explore all possibilities. That doesn’t mean that you have to accept every opportunity that comes your way, but you at least owe it to yourself to learn what else is out there so that you can get ready for your next career move. Successful professionals arent successful because they let things happen.   Instead, they make things happen in their career.   They figure out what they want, take some risks, stretch, grow, fall down, learn and bounce.   Dont let someone else take the wheel on your career path.   Step up and make things happen.   Its your career and your year! ?? â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"- Sherri Thomas is a Career Strategist, international speaker and best-selling author of two books including “Career Smart â€" 5 Steps to a Powerful Personal Brand  which is currently on AMAZONs TOP 10 LISTfor personal branding books, and The Bounce Back personal stories of bouncing back higher and faster from a  layoff,  re-org or career setback  also available on AMAZON and BARNES NOBLE.    Right now you can download three FREE CHAPTERS of “The Bounce Back”  at http://www.MyBounceBack.com ??   Successful executives and professionals constantly put themselves “out there” â€" that’s why they’re successful. Don’t shy away or back up, but instead step up, speak out and claim your space at the table. Start charting your course. Go find people working in different industries and job roles. Ask them about their responsibilities, education, training, challenges and career paths. Get connected to those who inspire you. Give yourself permission and time to explore all possibilities. That doesn’t mean that you have to accept every opportunity that comes your way, but you at least owe it to yourself to learn what else is out there so that you can get ready for your next career move. Successful professionals arent successful because they let things happen.   Instead, they make things happen in their career.   They figure out what they want, take some risks, stretch, grow, fall down, learn and bounce.   Dont let someone else take the wheel on your career path.   Step up and make things happen.   Its your career and your year! ?? Sherri Thomas is a Career Strategist. She teaches others how to think differently and more proactively in their career. Her book, ”The Bounce Back” is the 2013 winner of “Best Career Book” by Indie Book Awards for independent book authors. Her first book is on AMAZON’s TOP 10 LIST for personal branding books, “Career Smart â€" 5 Steps to a powerful personal brand.” As the Founder/President of Career Coaching 360.   Sherri specializes in providing one-on-one coaching to professionals and executives who want to change, reinvent or advance their career. For a limited time, you can download the three FREE chapters of “The Bounce Back” at http://www.MyBounceBack.com adobe reader software                           zp8497586rq

Job picture for college graduates a bit better - Hallie Crawford

Job picture for college graduates a bit better I found this article from Chron.com by Jeannie Kever. (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/7039961.html) This is good news for college grads, but I’m still finding many college grads who need more help and direction. I agree with Jeannie Kever about two things specifically: 1. Alumni Associations are a great place for college grads to go for help…a resource that is often overlooked. Alumni Associations vary but many offer help with resume, cover letters, and interview techniques. A lot of them have specific job boards, networking groups, and online resources and tools. Be sure to check out your Alumni Association during your career search! 2. I also liked how Jeannie Kever spoke about the importance of internships. This is a great way to get your foot in the door. Many companies turn around and hire their interns for full-time jobs. But if that isn’t the case, they are great for experience on resumes. Also it’s a great way to see if the environment and job description is ideal. This increases job satisfaction because an internship would help you know if this was the job for you or not. Career Coach