Is Google+ the Personal Branding Tool of the Future

Is Google+ the Personal Branding Tool of the Future Targeted messaging for personal branding in social media can be tricky. The types of messaging that are appropriate for Facebook may not be right for LinkedIn. A one size fits all approach to personal branding may not be the right tactic when you have multiple social media platforms which each have a different audience profile. You don’t want to use the same kind of messaging for casual acquaintance networking as you do for professional networking and job search networking. And to further muddy the networking waters, what do you do when you have a significant social media overlap? You may have professional contacts and former professors who are also Facebook friends. When you add casual acquaintances and family members into the mix, personal brand messaging can become unnecessarily complicated. It can become far too easy to lose track of the fact that you’ve got professional contacts included among Facebook friends. Breezy status updates which may be perfectly compatible with personal brand messaging for more intimate acquaintances may be entirely inappropriate for consumption by professional colleagues or academic peers. And LinkedIn status updates which should be focusing on a more serious manner of reflecting your personal brand should normally never be used in the casual relaxed way that can be entirely appropriate for much of your Facebook audience. Google+ may prove to be a personal branding tool that could avoid these mixed audience pitfalls. Instead of using multiple social media sites, Google+ offers the potential of using just one platform for crafting tailored messaging to distinctly different audiences. Google+ has a series of ingenious circles in which you can place contacts according to the type of relationship you have with each individual. All of your professional contacts can be placed in one circle making it easy to target specific messaging appropriate for professional networking. A more relaxed approach to personal branding through less formal messaging can be accomplished by addressing friends and acquaintances with the appropriate forms of communication based on the specific kinds of relationships you have with them. And the ability to build distinct circles based on relationship type is infinite. One possible advantage of a single social media platform approach is that none of your contacts will know which circle they’re in. If a Google+ contact has you in their acquaintance circle, but you’ve placed them in the less intimate professional networking circle, they have no way of knowing. Google+ also allows room for a lot more nuance in social media interactions. If managing your messaging is most easily accomplished by keeping individuals in one circle only, that’s fine. But if you want to incorporate a bit more nuance into the mix after noodling about on Google+ for a while, you can do that too. You may have situations where someone is a work colleague as well as a close personal friend. You can have them in your professional networking circle as well as in your friend circle. Many professional contacts may not be friends, but it may be entirely appropriate to include them in an acquaintance circle. Google+ certainly has the potential to be an extremely effective personal branding tool going forward. But whether its potential can be realized is uncertain. Google has a track record of producing excellent services which are sometimes not big hits with the public. Among some of the more memorable Google offerings which never lived up to their potential are Google Buzz and Wave. No matter how great the potential of Google+, if people don’t recognize how great the platform is and flock to it in great numbers, it could result in another well-conceived and brilliant product that never reaches its true potential. Author: Jesse Langley lives near Chicago. He divides his time among work, writing and family life. He writes on behalf of  coloradotech.edu  and has a keen interest in blogging and social media. He also writes for professionalintern.com.  

Resume Writing Positions - How to Find the Best Job and Keep it

Resume Writing Positions - How to Find the Best Job and Keep itIf you're looking for a job, resume writing positions can be difficult to find. Employers are looking for people with strong experience and qualifications in order to fill the most popular jobs and many positions will not go to applicants without at least some relevant experience.But don't get bogged down by the number of positions that are available to you. Take a more holistic approach and look at your own skills and abilities rather than focusing on a particular job. The best thing you can do to maximize your chances of landing a job is to tailor your resume to the job you're applying for.Resume writing positions are usually filled by those who have some relevant experience. So when a potential employer is asked to 'look at' a resume, they are looking for the best fit for the job rather than looking for someone with the right qualifications.When you're searching for a suitable job, take time to review your own qualific ations. Look at your best qualifications, including your experience. This can be the only basis on which you're able to determine whether or not you are well suited for the position.Look at areas where you may be lacking. For example, if you are an expert in marketing but have no skills in the field of business or sales, you'll be hard pressed to be hired as a salesperson or marketing specialist.Don't ignore your own qualifications. Use them to your advantage and include your achievements in your resume.It's also important to remember that when you're searching for a good candidate, you don't want to be too picky. A poor candidate will be able to point out your weaknesses and you can't afford to pass up on an excellent candidate just because you're more concerned about the number of vacancies available than the person's potential. Resume writing positions are often difficult to find, so take the time to make yourself stand out from the crowd. A little care and attention to detail wi ll go a long way towards making your resume stand out and increasing your chances of being hired.

How to Write an Honest Cover Letter to Avoid the Wrong Job

How to Write an Honest Cover Letter to Avoid the Wrong Job When theres an opening for your dream job but youre not qualified for it yet, what should you do? A lot of people will look at the qualifications specified for the job and think of ways to embellish their actual skills and experiences to make it seem like theyre a good fit. But wheres the line between embellishment and fraud and how do you know when youve gone too far? Embellishing the qualifications on resume: I know what youre thinking: “I will work so hard and be so enthusiastic and grow into the job so quickly that they wont even notice Im not qualified for it.” If you do manage to fool the hiring manager and actually get your foot in the door, whats more likely to happen is that instead of growing into the job, youll become overwhelmed with the daily demands that you dont have the ability to meet. Instead of catapulting yourself to the top, youll only manage to ruin your reputation and waste everyones time. You couldve spent that amount of time building your skill set and gaining the experience that would make you qualified for the dream job that has now turned into a nightmare. When crafting your cover letter, you should undoubtedly demonstrate your confidence and abilities. There are likely many milestones youve achieved throughout your career that you can be proud to display. But blatantly embellishing important skills required to fulfill a specific role is not only unprofessional, its unethical. Heres a list of some common required qualifications that job-seekers lie about: Foreign languages: If a job requires foreign language skills as many international business companies require these days and you dont have those, be aware that learning a new language is not something you can easily pick up on the side while performing your job. It takes months and even years of study and dedication to reach business level fluency. By attempting to fake this, youll put yourself in a very embarrassing position when the time comes for you to actually speak the Intermediate Japanese you claimed to know. Instead of lying, enroll in a class and let them know that youre currently studying Japanese in your cover letter. Also as the Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) market has boomed, many companies are looking for native speakers, usually from the UK, Canada or the US to fill their ranks. Trying to pass yourself off as a native English speaker when you arent just isnt realistic. Technological skills: The same goes for technological skills. If you arent tech-savvy and the job youre looking at requires you to know how to write code when youre barely able to operate the latest version of Microsoft Office, youre setting yourself up for failure. Not only that but your incompetence in this area will quickly become obvious. Acquire the skills before applying. Take some classes and get certified. Or enroll in a class and let the employer know in your cover letter that youre working on acquiring that skill. Maybe theyll hire you or at least keep your resume on file for future openings. Managerial/leadership skills: By: phase2it Many people embellish their job titles from previous jobs. But, theres a huge gap between being an employee and a manager. If youre applying for a job as a manager and have limited to no managing or leadership skills, be prepared for a lot of frustration. Managing people requires diplomacy, patience and often difficult decision-making skills. If youre not up to the task, you wont be able to earn the respect of your employees. Other lies that often show up on resumes and cover letters are education level, dates of employment, and salary. Today there are a number of services that perform professional background checks and your lies will likely be discovered. Best to tell the truth- at least then youll know the reason you didnt get the job was because you werent qualified rather than having been caught in a lie. The other side of the coin is making yourself sound too desperate in your cover letter. If youve been out of work for a while or were recently fired, you may be vulnerable to accepting any job out there, no matter what the conditions or pay. Do you really want your work week to include Saturdays? What about no medical insurance and unpaid vacations? Or a job that requires you to move to another state? Or a job that will start as an unpaid internship with the “possibility” of promotion to a paid position? Being flexible is a strength. But bending over backwards for a company that doesnt reward you adequately for your work is abuse. Display confidence in your skills in your cover letter and stick it out until the right job comes along rather than making yourself miserable in the wrong job. Cover letter dos and donts: Do  highlight skills and experiences that are relevant to the job youre applying for. Dont lie about skills you dont possess or responsibilities you didnt perform. Do enroll in classes to acquire the skills required for the job and communicate that in your cover letter.  Dont  say you already have a required level of skill that you dont. Do display confidence and positivity about career milestones and accomplishments.  Dont  inflate job titles, salaries, or education levels. Do indicate that you are flexible and interested in building a new career.  Dont  settle for a job that youre overqualified for or that doesnt offer what you need. Author: Cari Bennette is an experienced writer at custom writing service http://jetwriters.com/. Cari wants to share her tips on resume building and cover letter writing with those whore looking for some help.

Email is a Relationship and a Conversation - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Email is a Relationship and a Conversation - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career 3 Tips to Get Started As a small business owner, you are always on the lookout for affordable ways to spread the good word about your business to potential customers. More importantly, you want to connect and maintain healthy relationships with customers, as this is how you guarantee good business referrals and word of mouth. If you find social media confusing, you’re not alone. Lots of entrepreneurs haven’t figured it out yet, and it’s also time consuming if not properly monitored. Traditional advertising methods are effective, but are sometimes too costly for small business owners to engage consistently in. So, which avenue do you utilize that won’t stress your budget, and is “easy” enough to invest time in? Email marketing is your answer, and is a measurable and very effective way to keep in touch with current customers while attracting new ones. I asked Chris Brogan what he felt was his “main meal” in social media after he tweeted “Facebook is the potato chips of my social platform.”   His response was email.   Email marketing requires a small time investment of your resources, and allows you to send personalized messages. [tweet this] How do you get started? Know your audience Your email marketing campaign won’t make sense if you don’t know who your target audience is. Research on who your customers are (and who you want to attract) is very important, as it enables you to send targeted messages. Come up with a game plan that outlines who you want to target, the messages you want to send, and the goals you want to achieve. Once you have a plan figured out, it’s time to segment your audience. The introductory email you send to potential clients differs from the product updates you send to established clients. Segmenting your email list allows you to craft specific content for specific people, so that you increase the chances of recipients actually clicking and reading through your email. Your email campaign messages can take many forms, including newsletters, tips, posters, coupons, promotional material, and updates. Study success stories To find ways and ideas to make your email campaign much more successful, find the success stories of companies and entrepreneurs that have made email work for them. With such success stories, find out the frequency of their email messages, the type of templates they used, the time of day that they found recipients to be more receptive, and so on. Such information is gold for your campaign, and will help as you craft an email marketing game plan. Focus on quality content For most forms of online marketing, quality content is king. There really is no way to keep audiences interested other than by providing quality and informative content, period. A lot of email marketers make the mistake of focusing too much on the “salesy” stuff. Audiences will quickly tune off if they don’t see your content as valuable and helpful to them. Always aim to provide updates, tips, insights, and content that is of real value and helps audiences solve their problems. The 80/20 or 70/30 are good rules of thumb to follow when it comes to creating email content, with the higher number denoting the percentage of valuable information your email should contain, and the smaller number the percentage of “salesy” stuff. How email benefits you Email offers the highest returns to your investment when compared to other online marketing techniques such as social media and online ads. Constant Contact, an email marketing services provider, puts the return on investment (ROI) of email at about $40 for every $1 invested. That’s some good money. More to the ROI benefits, almost two-thirds of internet users check their email everyday, which means that if you come up with a great email, your (target) audience is likely to check out your information. Email is also easy to access, much less confusing, and its customization allows you to custom-craft messages that keep the relationship between you and clients stronger. When utilized effectively, email marketing can spur word of mouth marketing, brand awareness, customer loyalty, and referral for your business, all at low costs. You really have no reason not to implement an email marketing campaign now, not with all its benefits.

How to Find the Best Local Job

How to Find the Best Local JobWhile most people know that local resumes are a good place to search for job openings, they may not know what to look for when trying to find one. Are you looking for a local job as a copywriter or a librarian? Do you know what to write on your resume to get you the best local job openings? There are many helpful tips available for this, but the most important is to know what you are looking for and what types of jobs are the best for you.Local jobs are the best because they pay you very well and you can work from home from your own house, and you can get started right away. People usually hire people who they think will be able to help them right away with their project. For example, if you are a writer and you are someone who write on a daily basis, you might want to start looking for an online job. You could be writing for a company right now! If you have a knack for writing and are not afraid to put in the time to learn, you might want to start looki ng for a job in your town.Another thing to consider is what types of projects you are willing to work on. Do you prefer working for a large corporation or a small company? If you have a creative mind, then you might want to consider a different type of job. Most companies prefer people with a unique skillset, so if you have a talent for writing, you can definitely take advantage of this by applying for a local job.The next thing you want to do when creating a local resume is to make sure that you include your name, your contact information, and any references you have. This is important for a few reasons. First, it will help you get the best job openings. Second, you can look up those job openings and apply for them when you get a chance.The next step in local resume writing is to focus on what the job description is offering you. For example, when you are looking for a copywriter, your resume may include the phrase 'paper jam.' This is not a bad idea, but it is something that is ha rder to find. Instead, it is best to focus on the company, how your skills match the skills of the company, and the industry that the company specializes in.How can you tell the difference between a company that is local and a company that is nationwide? Usually, a company that is locally owned and operated will offer better prices than a national company. This is because they have less overhead, which means that they are able to offer competitive rates. This can translate into more money in your pocket! Once you get an idea of the types of jobs that are out there, then you can start doing some research and finding the best jobs possible.Do not feel as though you need to turn to a professional when looking for a local job. You can also write your own resume. Use what is available to you to create a unique and eye-catching resume. You should include skills such as your writing, proofreading, and editing abilities.With all of the resources available today, you should be able to find t he perfect local job that you are looking for. Remember, a great resume is more than just words, it is the first impression that people make about you.

4 Tips for Handling Your Compromise Agreement - CareerAlley

4 Tips for Handling Your Compromise Agreement - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Perhaps one of the most difficult things to deal with is losing your job. When you are made redundant by your employer, it can bring up all sorts of emotions, sometimes even leading to depression and lack of confidence. However, securing a good Compromise Agreement from your employer can help to solve some of the tensions associated with losing your job. What is a Compromise Agreement? When you are made redundant by your employer, they may want to offer you a Compromise Agreement. A Compromise Agreement is a legally binding agreement made between yourself and your employer, which outlines terms and conditions for a severance package to you. In most cases, the severance package will be offered to you on the condition that you do not pursue any further claims against your employer in court. Likewise, there will often be a confidentiality clause which prevents the employee from sharing any of the details of their termination or their Compromise Agreement. Can I Oversee an Agreement Myself? Unfortunately, being that a Compromise Agreement involves you waiving your rights in order to receive a severance package, they can only be recognised in law if a solicitor is present to carry out the necessary procedures. This is a good thing though. For in this situation, a Compromise Agreement solicitor will assist you in getting the best possible agreement from your employer. Similarly, they will be able to recognise any discrimination which has been made against you throughout your period of employment. Obviously if there has been any discrimination, your employer may not have legal grounds on which to terminate your employment. Alternatively, you may be well within your rights to seek a bigger severance package based on the misconduct demonstrated by your employer. How Will I Know if Im Getting a Fair Deal? Fortunately, this is where your Compromise Agreement solicitor comes in. He or she will look at the severance package or packages offered to you by your employer, explain them to you in detail and then advise you on whether they are suitable and fair, given your individual situation. If your Compromise Agreement solicitor feels that you are not being offered sufficient compensation in your severance package, they may encourage you to take your case to a Tribunal or Court in order to get fair compensation. If they do however feel that the package being offered to you is sufficient, they will advise you as such and, given your consent, will sign off the Compromise Agreement immediately, in order to ensure that you receive your settlement as quickly as possible. How Do I Choose the Right Compromise Agreement Solicitor? Being that your Compromise Agreement solicitor will be charged with obtaining the best possible Compromise Agreement for you, naturally youll want the best one available. There are obviously hundreds of firms to choose from. One of the most popular choices though, seems to be Redundancy Assist, who by reputation appear to consistently achieve the best settlements for their client base. More Negotiating Job Offers This is a Guest post. We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey what where job title, keywords or company city, state or zip jobs by

5 More Social Worker Interview Questions Answers

5 More Social Worker Interview Questions Answers In our last post, we took a look at 5 social worker interview questions and answers. Here, we’re going to look at 5 more social worker interview questions. Find out how you can answer them here!1. Describe a way in which you have resolved conflict in the social care workplace. â€" Social Worker Interview QuestionsThis question is looking for you to demonstrate that you are someone who is capable of dealing with the type of issues commonly seen within the social sector. You should structure your response here, to make it as clear and concise as possible. Explain the issue, how you took action to resolve the issue, and the (positive) outcome of your methods. Sample Response‘During my first year of university, I took a placement at a residential care home. I was required to support and assist the elderly residents with basic and personal tasks. On one occasion, I was sharing night shift duties with another junior assistant. I noticed that she was being abrasive and impatient whilst helping an elderly resident up the stairs. I took her to one side and explained how her behaviour was unacceptable, and needed to be improved. She accepted my criticism, apologised to the resident and following this made a conscious effort to change her approach. She is now employed full time at the care home, and is very popular with the residents.’ 2. With the benefit of hindsight, is there anything you would do differently with one of your cases? â€" Social Worker Interview QuestionsThis is another really interesting question, which requires you to acknowledge that you can always improve upon your performance. The worst answer here is, ‘no’, as this demonstrates a lack of awareness. As a social worker, you should constantly be looking for ways to improve. When answering this question, take the same approach as in the previous. Talk about the issue, the steps you took to resolve the issue, and what you think you could have done differently. Remember that this question is ref erring specifically to one of your cases, so make sure that your example relates to someone you have dealt with personally. Sample Response‘Whilst I was working at Ficshire Children’s home, an incident occurred with a misbehaving child. As the senior manager was busy at the time, I was required to deal with the child myself. The child in question was a young boy. He had been driving his electronic race car around the living room of the house. This was despite being told on several occasions that he was not allowed to do this. I confiscated the toy, and he got very upset. Although my initial response was correct, I failed to communicate effectively with the boy as to why I was confiscating the toy, and what was wrong with his behaviour. As a result, his behaviour got worse. As a social worker, I understand that mistakes will always be made. What is important is that we limit the damage of these mistakes. We must do our utmost to improve whenever we can.’ 3. Can you describe a time when your actions made someone feel better? â€" Social Worker Interview QuestionsThis is another situational based question, which requires you to draw on your past experience. As a social worker, it is imperative that you can reassure and support service users. If you have got to the point where you are being invited to interview for social work vacancies, then it is very likely you will have had experience of caring for or reassuring customers. Just as in the previous question, structure your response so that the interviewer gets a clear idea of what the issue was, how you acted to resolve the issue and what the outcome of your actions was.Sample Response‘During my time working at Ficshire children’s home, I was constantly in contact with vulnerable children. One such incident that I can remember, was when a little girl returned from a day trip with potential foster parents. Whilst the foster parents seemed happy enough, the girl was very upset; and did not say goodbye to them upon returning to the house. I went up to speak to her, and discovered that she felt the foster parents did not like her. I found the contact details for her foster parents and gave them a call, to inform them of the situation. They were extremely surprised and immediately returned to the house, where they re-assured the girl that they had enjoyed the trip and wanted to do the same thing again. The girl was extremely happy about this, and a few months later, was officially fostered by the family.’ 4. When communicating with people, often verbal and nonverbal gestures can provide information. Give an example of how you have used your interpretation of either verbal or non-verbal behaviour, to help a service user. â€" Social Worker Interview QuestionsThis is a difficult question, and one that requires you to display an advanced knowledge of body language and behavioural theory to answer. However, as with the previous question, if you have reached this point then it is unlikely that you will have an issue answering. Make sure you show the interviewer what the problem was, how you acted to resolve it and how the outcome was positive as a result of your actions. If you can bring in theoretical knowledge, then that will really improve your answer.Sample Response‘When I was working in the student service team at my local primary school, a boy was brought into the office who had been misbehaving. The boy in question was very well known to the service team, as he had a history of truanting and skipping lessons. I interviewed him on a one-to-one basis, to try and get to the bottom of his behaviour. Upon discussion of his home life, it became apparent that his father had recently re-married. While he would not openly discuss this issue, he was extremely negative whenever he referred to his new step-mother. While he did not directly admit it, I decided that it was an avenue worth pursuing. We rang the boy’s father, who came into the school and discussed the pr oblems with his son. Steps were taken to improve the relationship between the child and his step-mother, and since then he has been behaving much better at school.’ 5. Think of a client that you have disliked. How did you deal with this issue? â€" Social Worker Interview QuestionsIn this question, the asker wants you to demonstrate that you have the ability to provide the same service to all clients, regardless of how much you like them. This is really important. As a social worker, it would be impossible for you to get along with, or like every single person you meet. At some point you will inevitably come across people with whom you clash, or people who do not share the same values or morals as you. However, you must be able to put these feelings aside, and do what is right for the service user. Remember that you are there to help them, whether you like them or not. Sample Response‘When I was working on the paediatric ward at my local hospital, I had to deal with a mother and father that I particularly disliked. The reason I disliked them was because they were extremely rude to the hospital staff, including myself, and treated us badly. They were impatient, demanding and constantly brought in their child for unnecessary checks. Eventually, we decided to have a meeting with the parents to voice our concerns. I was part of a team of 3 people who were assigned to communicate the issue. It became apparent that the parents were only acting out of concern for their child. While they did not apologise for being rude, they did begin to visit with more reasonable frequency, and as such improved their relationship with the team. While I still did not particularly like them, because of their bad manners, I did my best to provide their child with the best possible treatment.’ There you have it, some questions and answers for the social worker interview. Looking for more? Check out our guide: How to Become a Social Worker. This entry was posted in Career Advice, 'H ow To' Help, Interviews. Bookmark the permalink. Jacob Senior UK Police Assessment Centre: What It Involves and How To PrepareUK Police Budget News: Government Launches Initiative To Tackle Knife Crime