Blogging is arguably one of the greatest social marketing methods to surface today. Corporate America has certainly recognized its power and is on the forefront of using this communication tool to gain momentum for new products or consumer lines of business. A recent article in Investor's Business Daily discusses the elements of blogging for business, and how useful a tool and it can be in the development of a brand or product.
Similarly, blogs can be helpful for individuals looking for a job because they aid in the creation and promotion of the brand most important to you - you! Employers are googling candidates more and more in the recruiting and hiring process so the more you promote your "brand," the more visible you will be to prospective companies. Starting your own blog is relatively easy and painless - in fact, blogs can be set up in less than an hour! Once you are a working member of the blogsphere, you can begin to market yourself as an employee. Personal blogs can illustrate your knowledge and expertise within a certain field. And don't forget about the all-important networking benefit.
Similar to popular networking sites like Linked-In, blogs allow you to build your network, communicate with potential employers, and reconnect with previous colleagues. The more you connect with others, the more likely one of them may point you in the right direction to finding a new employer.
I am curious to know how many Big Times readers have their own blog. What has been your experience, good and bad, with entering the blogsphere? Has anyone found a job through your own blog, or through blogging on other career or individuals' blogs?
Satisfied workers seem to be a dying breed these days. According to a report by the Conference Board mentioned in a recent Career Hub post, more than half of Americans are dissatisfied with their jobs. Why? The study's respondents cited company's policies, bonus plans and promotion policies as three of the main factors contributing to their dissatisfaction. Let's talk about promotion policies for a moment.
Generally speaking, most employees aren't considered for promotions until they have either been with their employer for a set amount of time, or have achieved or exceeded a set of goals set forth by their manager, or both. If you are looking to be promoted on a regular basis, you have to do your part in becoming a "promotable" worker.
A recent blog post by CEO Consultant.com offers some great advice about how your behavior at work can influence your promotion status. Some of their tips include mastering your current job skills, sticking to timelines and being a good listener. Here are a few more to think about:
Seek out projects that are above your skills level to show your ambition to do more.
Ask your manager about continuing education or training classes that might help you get to the next level.
Take your manager's lead. If you want to be considered as someone who is ready to go to the next level, you have to act the part. That means taking behavioral cues from your own manager so that he or she begin looking at you as more than a subordinate.
You'll be amazed how powerful simply sticking to the basics such as getting to work on time, dressing professionally and doing your job well is in making you a "promotable" worker in your employer's eyes.
We received a question on the blog this week that I thought was worth sharing because I suspect there may be many other folks out there in a similar situation. Below is the question and my answer. Look forward to hearing others' thoughts and/or advice.
QUESTION: I am nineteen years old, I am currently going to school to obtain my GED because I was homeschooled. I've been working for two years in retail. I would like to work in an office position, but am afraid I will not be hired, because I don't have my high school diploma. Do you think a temporary agency would hire me while I'm going for my GED?
ANSWER: First, congratulations on working towards your General Education Diploma (GED), this is the first step you need to take to make yourself more marketable to the business community. Given that you can study and take the exam in a fairly short time frame, you will know the results fairly quickly. While not having a High School diploma or the equivalent GED, you can still apply to temporary employment agencies, and yes you may even be hired for a variety of entry level jobs. Just recognize that you will be competing for those positions with folks that may have a little more experience or education than you do, so it may take a little longer than expected to get that first job. But, this shouldn't prevent you from finding a job.
Make sure your resume notes that you are currently pursuing your GED. Then once you have it, update your resume to reflect that you have a GED. In fact, it's always good practice to keep your resume up to date each time you add a significant skill set or experience level.
Once you find a job opportunity, understand that the basics will bring success. Meaning, dress professionally, be on time, seek out additional training and job development from your employer and keep a positive friendly attitude, especially if those around you do not. You will stand out as a "go to" person. Also be sure to inquire about paid training programs they may provide for various positions you may be qualified to fill. Apply yourself, and when training is offered, take advantage of it and learn new skills. Each time you add a skill, drop off an updated copy of your resume to your employer's HR department. It reminds them of your interest in continuing to expand your skills and interest in potential opportunities for promotion in the future.
Lastly, good luck, and don't let this be your final destination in regards to your educational goals. Next, look to your local community college or university, and see what types of educational programs and assistance they may provide. Meet with their admissions office and ask what the requirements are at their institution to be admitted as a full or part-time student. See if they offer free prep classes for the entrance exam, but even if they don't, study for and take that test. Go to college and get your degree, and even more professional opportunities will open up to you. And you don't have to stop there, it just takes a serious amount of dedication, hard work, and a cup of desire to make it.
I know some very successful people who started out at the very point you are starting from today. So go for it, and keep your focus on achieving what you want for yourself. It is up to you and no one else can do it, but you! Be the difference maker in your own life!
The days of staying with one company your entire career are all but over. Most workers stay with one employer for an average two to three years, and then move on. Some career experts say this practice is perfectly acceptable, particularly given that many of today's employers simply expect it. I ran across a recent Brazen Careerist post in which the blogger maintains that staying with one employer for a long time can be "career suicide," giving advice on how candidates can safely change jobs frequently.
I certainly agree with the notion that changing your career frequently is not a career mistake, especially if the move makes sense for you. For example, you find a job at another employer that will provide more opportunities to build your skills sets than your current employer, leading to better career opportunities in the future.
However, I'd argue that staying with one employer for a long period of time can also be the best non-move of your career. Let me qualify... if you have been working your same job for several years without advancement it is probably time to either speak up, or move on. But, if you receive steady increases in job title and salary, and have shaped your skills and developed a specialty, then there is no need to move on.
Through acquisitions and mergers, I have essentially worked for Spherion for more than 20 years, and I haven't looked back. I started out as an entry level recruiter at a small boutique recruiting firm and continued to take on new positions within that organization. Then, we were acquired by Spherion and new opportunities to expand my career presented themselves. Today, I am a Senior Vice President and Group Executive of Professional Services, creating new strategy for our recruitment efforts on behalf of some of largest clients. I have managed to gain the same experience, title changes and salary increases that I may have achieved through ten different companies. Yes, there were growing pains, but at the end of the day, I have achieved my career goals and still feel confident in my status as a viable part of the company.
I am curious to hear how others have handled their career paths, and what tips can you offer as either an employee with longevity, or someone who has job hopped. What's the longest you have ever stayed with an employer? Did it hurt or hinder your career?
We have all had that frustrating feeling at work. You come into the office day in and day out, working on the same projects and feeling, well, stuck. You just know that other executives are busily working on exciting projects that "mean" something to the company. However, there are ways to combat this feeling and project a more "executive image."
A recent
post on Simply Hired's corporate blog provides two important suggestions on how to rev up your career growth:
If you are feeling a blank spot in your current career, it is always possible to attempt finding new opportunities for growth within your current company or current position. Not only is this a resume builder for later, but it also shows your current boss initiative.
Begin to give a monetary value to what you do for your company. The blogger says to consider the amount of money you SAVE your company by the work that you do.
If you are feeling that you have mastered the tasks and responsibilities of you current job, then it is probably time for you to try something more challenging. Don't be afraid to discuss this feeling with your manager. Even if a higher position is not available at the time, your manager may be able to give you higher level projects to work on, helping to calm your restlessness and give you experience in another area of the company. And don't forget the added benefit of showing your loyalty to the company by asking for new work responsibilities instead of looking for a new job that may offer different challenges.
The second tip advising employees to attribute a monetary value to the work they currently perform on behalf of the company can be difficult to do at first. Try researching the resumes of people in similar jobs as your own, they may include some creative ways of attributing monetary value to your responsibilities. Also, think outside the box. For example, you may think the spreadsheet you created to help manage project timelines is a simple part of your job, but think about how it may have saved time (and therefore money) for the company.
What is demography you ask? Well, according to Websters, it is the statistical study of human populations especially with reference to size and density, distribution, and vital statistics. Why should you care?
If you are a leader of an organization and do not understand the dramatic changes brought about by demographic shifts, your organization will not meet your recruiting, development and retention needs. Leaders that think through the demographic data, come up with the right questions and develop a long-term strategy, that includes an action plan, will ride the wave of change tomorrow. Those who don’t will falter and spend more money and time on increasingly disappointing outcomes.
If you are a mature worker struggling to figure out your future-focused career and life choices, you will need to marry your demographic knowledge with a keen understanding of evolving technologies, global shifts and other aspects of work and life change. When you learn to do this you will re-write the rules of working in America. If you don’t, prepare to watch the world of work go by before you are ready to leave it behind.
Let’s look at a couple of age related demographics that affect America’s (and your) ability to compete.
Right now in America, two workers are leaving the workforce for every one entering. To add to this challenge, the next generation (Gen “X” – born after the baby boomers) is smaller in size (46 million) than the boomers (78 million). By working a few years longer, Boomers, and other mature workers, can bridge the gap until Gen “Y” (77+ million) matures.
The labor department projects that workers age 55 and older will grow at four times the rate of the labor force overall - the fastest growth rates of any age group.
“AGE SHIFT” is happening…and it is the most defining economic and social change in America.
In my last post, I talked about a few tools to help candidates research what they are worth before negotiating a salary or a raise. I just ran across an interesting post on Career Solvers that discusses negotiating total compensation packages – meaning not just salary but also the monetary value of any other perks such as health insurance, paid time off, and performance bonuses.
It had some great information in it, including a link to another post on Compensation Blog that references a Bureau of Labor Statistics report called “Survey of Employee Benefits in Private Industry” that all candidates should review before entering a salary negotiation.
As you prepare yourself to negotiate a total compensation packages, you obviously want to address things such as paid time-off and work-life balance options like telecommuting. These are now pretty common benefits that are negotiated as part of the total compensation. But what about perks such as equipment, a car, mileage, or relocation packages?
For example, most sales professionals are on the phone or in their cars for the majority of their work day. With the high price of gas, not to mention wear and tear on your car, it wouldn’t be uncommon to negotiate a company car or generous lease package from your employer.
Furthermore, if your employer has endorsed or even mandated that you telecommute, be sure to negotiate payment for an office home line, cell phone, Internet service, and additional equipment such as a fax machine. These are imperative to complete your job, but not necessarily added expenses for you to absorb.
Think about the responsibilities and/or tools needed of your job as you prepare to discuss a total compensation package.
According to a Spherion survey, nearly 20% of workers have taken office supplies for personal use in the past year, and 10% of those surveyed do not feel it is wrong. Have you ever taken office supplies for personal use?
Q: I'm a mature worker who is trying to re-enter the workforce after being away for awhile. How do I explain the gap in my employment? - Submitted by Madeline Chase, Beloit, WI
A: Dear Madeline,
Many workers of all ages have gaps in their employment. The good news is that these gaps do not need to be stumbling blocks when it comes to landing the job you want.
Gaps in employment history are something many workers, of all ages, will have to address during their job search. But be assured, gaps in work history are not deal breakers when it comes to landing a job opportunity. There are many ways to tackle this situation.
First, consider writing a resume that highlights key functions or skills versus a traditional chronological version. This gives you the opportunity to draw attention to your key accomplishments over the years and not the specifics (i.e. dates) of your previous positions. This works particularly well for mature workers who have a wealth of employment history and skills to convey in their resume. Even if you decide to go this route, prospective employers may still be interested in the types of companies you've worked for so you may want to simply list the employer names and industries at the end of your resume.
Second, be prepared to explain the gap in your career. There may be occasions where you are required to complete a job application which mandates specific dates of your previous employment. Or, your job history may not lend itself to a functional resume and you'd prefer to stick with a standard, chronological version. A verbal explanation should be short, simple and most importantly, not defensive in nature. In your case, an example may be "I made a decision to exit the workforce for a brief time to pursue personal interests and am now anxious to reapply the many skills I've acquired during my career."
If you choose to include the explanation on your resume, again keep it simple, such as: Dec. 2004 to Present: Left work to pursue personal interests and spend more time with family. Now eager to return to the workforce.
Lastly, make sure your employment gap doesn't get the best of you. You should feel confident and assured in marketing yourself. Focus on the wealth of expertise and experiences you bring to the table, and don't allow a small needle in a large haystack undermine your job search process.
There is a broad trend we're seeing develop based on a large number of our clients throughout the country. And that is, more and more employers are looking for candidates who possess a mix of both technical skills (i.e. accounting, IT) as well as a decent amount of business acumen. A recent post on Job Search Secrets, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, also point out that this is particularly true within some high growth job markets in 2007; computer systems design, systems administration, cyber security, and management consulting to name a few.
If you're an individual looking to break into the hot IT field, I found a great cyber tool to get you started. Check out the YouTube video below called 'An Introduction to a Career in Network Support.' This video is part of a series by TechAnvil that gives an excellent background to some jobs within the IT field. They will give you a taste of what to expect from these jobs which can help you determine if they are a good fit for you or not.
We all want to get along with our bosses, but what happens when your boss doesn't respect your personal boundaries?
BusinessWeekOnline features a weekly Q&A where readers can ask HR managers advice about job issues. A question recently addressed an issue regarding a boss that calls one of her employees at home after hours to discuss small issues and chat about things that could be discussed at work.
This could be a difficult situation for many employees. You're afraid to risk offending your boss by asking them to stop calling, but you don't want to sacrifice your own time by late night calls from your workaholic supervisor.
The BusinessWeek answer advised the employee to limit the phone call to ten minutes by stating at the beginning that you only have a short time to talk. This could work for a short time, and eventually your boss may get the hint, but without explaining your actions you could risk hurting their feelings. Another idea is to speak directly with your boss, and ask them to reconsider calling you at home. Make sure to explain that you are willing to be available in case of an emergency, but that you have a number of personal responsibilities that require your attention after work and the importance of dedicating your time to those instead of non-emergency business items.
This is a tough situation, and there may not be a right or wrong answer. I would like to know what others' opinions are, and if anyone has had a similar experience and how they handled it.
The nightmarish temp job ... we've all had them. Now you can relive every awkward, cringing moment with My Temporary Life, Spherion's original Web series based upon YOUR worst temping stories.
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