Entries from December 2009

What Matters Now.

December 30, 2009 · 3 Comments

Inspired by Seth Godin’s recent e-book “What Matters Now”, I decided to give the topic some thought myself. What better time to ponder these questions than at the start of a new year, right?

If I had been invited to participate in Seth’s book (I wasn’t), I would have written about something that is curiously absent from an otherwise comprehensive list.

Leadership.

Leadership matters.

And let’s be honest, 2009 was not a time of great leadership. (Wall Street, anyone?) So as we turn the page on a new year, here are a few ways to build your own leadership muscle in 2010 and beyond:

1.)    Volunteer. Not only is it just the right thing to do, but volunteering gives you an opportunity to lead a team outside your office. It’s a great way to hone your skills in a safe environment, and the lessons you learn will certainly translate to the workforce.

2.)    Study. Make a resolution to read at least one business book per month in 2010. This will take some discipline, but the resulting education is guaranteed to sharpen your skills. (Tip: Buy a Moleskine journal and keep notes on items of interest. This will enable you to have all of your best business advice in one place.)

3.)    Control. By control, I mean really take charge of everything in your life and your career. Be intentional about how you present yourself in person and online, knowing what kind of impression you want to make in advance. For example, if your goal is to be promoted from associate to senior associate in the next 12 months, you’ll want to show that you have the makings of an up-and-coming executive right now. This means arriving on time every day, dressing for the job you want (not the one you have), offering to take the lead on new projects, and so on.

It’s never too early to start thinking about what kind of leader you want to become. And if you prove you have what it takes now, people will follow regardless of your age. That’s because leadership matters – and there simply isn’t enough of it out there these days.

Will 2010 be the year you go from rank-and-file employee to emerging leader?

Categories: Leadership · Professional Development
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Effectively Immediately: We’re on Facebook

December 19, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Effective Immediately

I’m consistently amazed at how “simple” it is to spread the word about products and services these days. From fan pages on Facebook (such as the one above I created in less than 10 minutes) to blog sites and Twitter, the power of the individual to be heard is unprecedented.

Recently I listened to a journalism professor from West Virginia University speak about how technology has completely flipped the PR industry upside down. She said that up until recently, the attitude towards the press was always, “We’ve got this cool _______ to pitch you. Please (pretty please) will you cover it?” Nowadays, however, the attitude is, “We’ve got this cool _______ going on right now. Please join us.”

It sounds subtle, but the difference is actually enormous. That’s because third-party sources no longer have control over what you read, when, and how. The web – and resulting social media applications – have made it easier than ever for unknowns with a little drive and hustle to make their causes well-known.

Of course, this also means that more and more people are vying for attention in an increasingly overcrowded space. To that you should say, “Bring it!” Personally, I’ll take the ease of modern communication over the inconvenience of added “white noise” any day.

Besides, the best ideas that are presented in unique, compelling, and relevant ways will always rise to the top. That’s where we’re going.

Please join us.

Categories: Publishing · Shameless Plugs
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Considering a Career Change in 2010?

December 15, 2009 · 1 Comment

We’re almost at the start of the New Year and you know what that means, right? New goals… new diet…  new exercise program…. new job?

If you’re unsatisfied in your current work situation, or even if you’re just wondering if there’s something better out there, pick up a copy of New Job, New You by Alexandra Levit. You may know Alexandra from her previous works They Don’t Teach Corporate in College or How’d You Score That Gig?

This time, Levit is tackling career change. New Job, New You is designed to help you discover what’s really driving your career choices, so you can channel those motivations into a more satisfying job and, ultimately, a more satisfying life.

The book gets to the heart of what makes people switch careers, using some of the more common reasons as a framework for the discussion. In Levit’s words, these are:

Family: When true work/life balance becomes a necessity

Independence: When you’ve been bitten by the entrepreneurial bug

Learning: When your bookish, curious side takes over

Money: When an increase in earning potential is on the horizon

Passion: When you yearn to do what you love

Setback: When one door closes, another one opens

Talent: When you’re too good at something not to give it a shot

If any of these strike a chord, New Job, New You could serve as the inspiration for your own career change in 2010 or beyond. But the book does more than help you identify why you may want to move in a new direction, it provides guidance on how that is specific to each section. Levit does a nice job of helping you think through options – listing steps to get your financial house in order before making the leap as an entrepreneur for example – so you can make informed choices as a result.  

If – like me – you find that New Job, New You helps you identify what you want out of your career – or even if it leads you to search for greener pastures, you will find plenty of inspiration from others who came before. Since the moment when you take a deep breath and decide to start a new career can be terrifying (yet incredibly liberating), each section features interviews with others who have successfully transitioned from one job to another.

There’s also a forward by Stephen Covey (Hey Alexandra, how’d you score THAT gig?!) that rightly points out this is no longer the age of a hierarchical career model where organizations have all the control. We – as talented employees – have real choices in how, where, and when we work….sometimes we just need a little encouragement to make it happen. Consider this book your paperback “kick in the pants” to get moving.

New Job, New You will be released December 29th and is available for pre-order now on Amazon.

Categories: Book Reviews · Job Search
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Create Your Own Luck at Work

December 13, 2009 · Leave a Comment

By Nicole Crimaldi

Consider those who have made it to the top of their fields. They didn’t get there by accident.

Promotions, great job titles and management roles are not given away for free.  At the same time, they aren’t always given to the person you might expect.  Have you seen this happen in your workplace?

For example, compare Employee A and Employee B:

Both employees are very talented at the work they do.  Employee A gets to know her co-workers, she volunteers to take on things she hasn’t done before, she actively participates in office events, she picks the brain of those in positions she wants to be in, she asks for what she wants and listens to advice on how to get there.

Employee B is quite possibly more talented than Employee A, but she doesn’t have time for office chat and lunches.  She’s way too busy getting her work done and re-checking it’s accuracy to make time for these “distractions.”  She doesn’t bother stopping in management’s office to ask for advice, say hello or start a career conversation because she sees a huge divide between her and “them.”  She believes accuracy and focus will get her promoted.  She feels she works harder than Employee A, so she will definitely get promoted first.

Who is going to get “lucky” when it comes to promotion time?

Not Employee B.

Why? Because management looks at Employee B as a great “worker bee,” someone whose talents are best used for accuracy and getting large quantities of work done.  She is viewed as someone who would prefer not to be caught up in “people issues,” innovating change or the big-picture view of the organization.   

Do you agree or disagree?  Who would you promote?

And we all know what happens next: Employee B is angry, confused and says “Well, Employee A just got lucky.”

Folks! The truth is, many times we create our own luck at work.  Too fluffy for you?

Well, here are some ways you can create YOUR own luck at work:

Constantly expand your circle within your organization.This can be done through saying hello at the coffee pot in the morning, volunteering on a committee, organizing a fundraiser, giving suggestions, or reaching out to others in different departments.

Get comfortable being uncomfortable. You’re not always going to know what you’re doing.  If you don’t get out of your comfort zone how are you going to learn something new, meet new people, or have new opportunities?

Know that EVERYONE needs to seek out support and resources to get to the next level. Start seeking. Now.

If someone suggests that you meet someone, make sure you do. Even if it is for an awkward 30 seconds.  Down the road you will likely see them again and have more opportunities to build the relationship.

We’ve all heard it before: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” In this example, preparation consists cultivating relationships, meeting new people, demonstrating your career goals and commitment to your organization, working hard, and getting out of your comfort zone.

How else do you think people can create their own luck at work?

Nicole Crimaldi is the founder of mscareergirl.com, a personal and professional development blog for ambitious young professional women.  Nicole works in Finance in Chicago.

Categories: Guest Posts · Networking · Professional Development · Professionalism
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College Students: Are You LinkedIn?

December 1, 2009 · Leave a Comment

What’s that?

You’re not?

If that’s the case, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity – one that might even cost you a job.

In fact, recent studies claim that up to 80% of businesses are checking out potential hires on LinkedIn before extending an offer.

For example, let’s say you had a killer interview with a company you really want to work for. You’ve been meaning to set up your LinkedIn page, but haven’t quite got around to it yet.

That shouldn’t matter, right? After all, you ACED the interview and are feeling good about your chances for a call-back.

Now, let’s say the company truly was (very) impressed with your resume and interview.

Actually, they’ve narrowed the search down to you and one other candidate. Good news! However, as a form of due diligence, they decide to Google you and that other loser to see what comes up.

Under your name, a lot of white noise about high school basketball stats.

Under the other guy, a LinkedIn page that features more than 100 connections (some of which the interviewer knows personally), recommendations from former professors, as well as an in-depth narrative on specialties and real-world experience gained from a summer internship.

Suddenly, all of those fond memories of your “killer” interview evaporate and candidate #2 gets the job.

Now who’s the loser?

To avoid this very real scenario in your own job search, here’s what you do:

1.) Sign up for a LinkedIn account. If you don’t know where to start, visit http://grads.linkedin.com and take the tour. LinkedIn is free and, like most social media sites, once you get the hang of it – it’s really not that intimidating.

2.) Make sure your profile is 100% complete. Not only does this demonstrate that you are detail oriented, but complete profiles show up higher in search engine rankings. Also, bonus points if you have a professional headshot made (even if you just go to the mall) rather than posting a pixilated and poorly-cropped snapshot.

3.) Ask for recommendations. Don’t be shy about this. Assuming you’ve been a good student, most professors and former bosses are more than happy to say a few kind words about your work and employability. Note: Only those who actually have LinkedIn accounts can provide endorsements.

4.) Stay engaged. As with everything in life, you get out of LinkedIn what you put in to it. So be sure to jump on every once in a while and fill out the status update, find a cool new application to download (Amazon reading list, Slideshare, etc.), a great group to join, or just research jobs and businesses that interest you.

In other words, there are a million ways to use LinkedIn to put your best professional foot forward. So don’t trip up because you’re not in the game.

Categories: Job Search · Networking · Social Media
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