Notes from a grouchy networker

Notes from a grouchy networker I met a not-friend at a not-cool-but-not-cheesy restaurant. I was networking, because this is what you must do to further your career. Even if you hate it you have to do it. I did not wear work clothes, because even though networking is work, youre not supposed to look like youre on the job. I knew we werent really friends, because I wasnt wearing my really ratty overalls. We discussed segmented marketing, but in a cool, maybe-were-not-working kind of way. For example, we talked about who is using Napster now, and about which bands get downloaded most. We moved a little in the direction of which bands we each like, but my not-friend didnt share my musical tastes, so we danced away from the topic quickly. If I were really looking for a friend, I would have gone full-steam ahead into topics that may be controversial, but can weed out inappropriate people: politics, money, sex. These are make-or-break topics. But I could not afford a break on this occasion, because this person was one of my best connections in the advertising world. Early in my career, my boss was having trouble because someone who reported to her hit on her, and was upset that she said no. The story got out, and soon the whole office knew about it. She pulled me into her office one evening and said, What do people think of whats happened with ____? At the time, I was flattered that I was the one she pulled aside. Now I realize that I have to be extra careful to edit myself as I go. Complete honesty is not completely good: It alienates people specifically, me. The not-friend I went to dinner with asked me if I liked her yellow scarf. I thought it was gross, but I was afraid to tell her the truth. (In fact, Im not even telling you the real color of the scarf, in case she ends up reading this.) Maybe if I told her the scarf was awful, we would have immediately become good friends, and she would always love me for my honesty. But maybe not. It was the maybe-not part that kept me from telling her the truth because I would rather have a good network than a good friend. (I dont need a Rolodex full of friends; I do need a Rolodex full of contacts: people who will have dinner with me at innocuous locations and help me navigate my career.) Still, I wanted to tell my not-friend that I hated her scarf. I want to show people who I really am. I want to see if they would still like me. I want to distribute surveys (to be put on file later in my Rolodex) that ask people if they enjoyed my honesty, and if they would be willing to do favors for me now that they know the real me. Instead, I ordered a cosmopolitan because she ordered one even though I dont really drink. And I told her little things about me that she didnt already know, so she felt like she was getting to know me. I did not tell her that I find the networking so exhausting, my Rolodex is actually shrinking from atrophy. I decided that maybe a good step would be to buy her a new scarf a way to express my true feelings in a positive way. If I could only be more positive. I told her things that are so banal that they would annoy you. When we parted I pretended to take the train home and instead of going straight home I bought a milkshake at a diner and sat in a booth decompress. The most tiring part of networking is having to be clever and interested for so long. And the cruel truth of the work world is that people who love to network dont need to do it. People like me, who hate networking, need to be diligent. I tell myself I have to endure one of these nights each month. I remind myself that I might meet the perfect person to help me later, that networking is like money in the bank. So even if someone has terrible taste in music and scarves, I work hard when Im with her, because you never know when networking will pay off, but I really believe that it always does, even after all my complaining.

Networking Can Be A Waste of Time Unless...

Networking Can Be A Waste of Time Unless... Networking can work well for you, or it can be a complete waste of your time.It’s a potentially valuable tool for finding mentors, obtaining advice from seasoned professionals,securing career guidanceand advice on some business problem you may be experiencing.Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comThe value of a “good” network is measured not by how many connections you have, but by the number of people you “know” who are prepared to extend themselves to help you out.Ten high quality connections are far more important than five hundred contacts that offer little opportunity for you.evalNetworking to “press the flesh” and “work the room” is nothing more than an unprofessional “flogging” tactic. Trying to engage as many people as you can with your story with the hope that they will somehow like you and feel compelled to help you in some way generally is not effective at all.Networking is not a game of applying your charisma; it’s the discipline of “mining” a crowd to ma ximize the return on your investment of time and energy.Networking without strategic purpose is a waste of time.Rather than “touching” as many people as you can, networking with positive payback requires that you develop a meaningful relationship with someone in the few moments you may have with them.You can’t throw yourself into networking; you need a carefully thought out strategy.These three steps will pump up your networking effectiveness.eval1. The TargetIdentifywho you want to connect with. The individuals you believe have the potential to help you out. Do your research. Don’t just show up at an event and start rubbing shoulders. You have little time to invest; use it wisely.evalAnd choose the opportunity that attracts the people you want to connect with. Don’t be an “event-monger” who attends every event in hopes they will make a productive connection. This rarely happens. Select those events that attract the individuals you want a relationship with.2. The Engag ementBuilding a relationship with your target is your end goal in whatever time you have with them. Avoid pushing yourself at them and trying to impress them with your credentials and knowledge. “Coming on strong” will repel them not attract them.Magic engagement happens when you connect on a level that THEY are interested in.3. The MessageWhat you say has to be about THEM not you Make the moment enjoyable for them, and avoid giving the impression you only want to use them for your own personal gain. They need to feel you actually give a damn. It not about chatting them up and wasting their time.Targeted relationship building will contribute to your career success; use networking as a tool to help you.But don’t fall victim to traditional networking tactics.

Summary Sunday Prepare for a Better Job Search

Summary Sunday Prepare for a Better Job Search Dont job search like its 1999. Successful job seekers are launching their campaigns by carefully analyzing the job landscape and using pages from marketing playbooks. Sound difficult? It is.  Applying to posted jobs wont cut it. Get help by reading this collection of articles and if you like them, read more articles on that website. Here ya go! Job Search Why Your Experience and Education Wont Get You Hired by Jessica Simko | CAREEREALISM New grads should read this, in fact, everyone who will be looking for a job should read this to understand what YOU can do to shine as the best candidate for the job! How to Identify Exactly the Right Keywords for Your Job Search  by Susan Joyce | Job-Hunt.org Are you befuddled by keywords? What are they and how to find them? Please read this post which provides detailed How-To information! Assessment What Are Your Strengths and How To Find Them by Gary Vaynerchuk | Gary Vaynerchuk If you want to make a change, read this first! Before you can even think about looking for a new job, you want to make sure youll be pursuing the right type of opportunity. This isnt an quick and easy process, so begin today! If you are not familiar with Garys namegoogle him. Watch his videos and get ahold of one of his books. He makes you want to try harder and do better (at least I think so). LinkedIn 5 Templates Thatll Make Writing the Perfect LinkedIn Summary a Breeze by Aja Frost | The Daily Muse You may not have a summary, but you absolutely should! Lift, borrow, or adapt yours based on one of these 5 examples. Social Networks  Use Social Networking to Land That Dream Job by Anna Robaton | CNBC Social networks are more tools you can add to you arsenal. Everyone has access, a only a few use them for job search. Learn how. Like This Post? If you want to keep up with the trends impacting your job search and career, follow my social media accounts or sign up to get fast, fun and fresh updates! Follow @careersherpa// < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs'); // ]] Career Sherpa  |  Promote Your Page Too Visit Career Sherpas profile on Pinterest. Never miss the job search news you can use. Sign up now! Email Address

Understanding Resume Writing Undertakings

Understanding Resume Writing UndertakingsResume writing unfinished degree can be one of the most difficult aspects of writing a resume. People who are already very proficient in other parts of their job and the academic sphere have a hard time putting a thesis into words and focusing on what their skills are, when they should be concentrating on things like, first impressions, setting the tone, and the look and feel of their resume. This is because they are not familiar with any written word as a thesis.They have only a vague idea of how to write a resume. In order to impress potential employers, they need to be able to be well versed in academic writing, as well as academic wordings. In addition, their resume needs to be written in such a way that it grabs their attention from the very beginning. As they read through the resume, they need to remember how important this person is to their company, so even if the person has already left the company the resume will be remembered.The re sume writing unfinished degree is one of the most difficult aspects of the resume. In order to excel at this, the person needs to be able to be somewhat of an expert in these areas. It is going to take some time to achieve this, but by dedicating time to writing a resume of the person will be able to become a better academic writer.Another area of resume writing unfinished degree is the fact that not everyone can go back and revamp their earlier work for job interviews. This is also true with resumes. The person cannot rewrite their old work and apply their new knowledge to improve it.The person who is well versed in resume writing must choose their words carefully. They can't just pick any words they want to be able to include all the information that is relevant to their resume. In order to make sure that the resume is appealing and the resume writer is able to craft the perfect resume that the potential employer will love to read.The resume writing unfinished degree is not just a bout the job that the person is looking for. Instead, the resume writing unfinished degree is about their work history and what they have accomplished with their previous companies. If the resume writer can prove themselves at their previous job, then they can prove that they are capable of doing the job they are seeking. If the resume writer can't prove themselves, then they are just wasting the time of their future employer.The resume writer should dedicate the time necessary to writing a resume that will keep their reader's attention long enough to prove themselves. The resume writer should also consider the letter that they are going to send to the company, to ensure that it is indeed impressive. The resume writer should research what is written on the resume, especially if the job that the resume writer is applying for is not a high level position.By doing this, the resume writer will know exactly what the company wants to hear. They will also know exactly what the potential em ployer is looking for. They will also know that they are worth every penny of their potential employer's money. Then, they will know that they will be able to win the job.

Oregon Resume Writing and LinkedIn Profile Services For Financial Industry

Oregon Resume Writing and LinkedIn Profile Services For Financial IndustryAs the new recruitment season is slowly hitting the ground, resume writing and LinkedIn profile services for the financial industry are becoming a hot trend. These two services have become indispensable to help recruiters find the right candidates for their job openings.LinkedIn has become one of the best tools to use to enhance your online profile. It will help you in expanding your online networking community. It will also help you in connecting with the right job seekers. Therefore, it is only logical that you make use of these two services to help you out in your recruitment efforts.When you want to recruit for a job and become a successful businessperson, the first thing you need to do is develop a well-designed and unique job seeker profile online. You can create an ideal profile by using several free and easy-to-use options. This will help you in building your networking profile to target the right job s eekers for your company.LinkedIn has become the main source of job listings in the current job market. These listings are highly efficient in providing employers a good list of profiles that are potential candidates for their position openings. However, if you want to maintain a good relation with these employers, they will need to be invited to the site. Therefore, it is not surprising that they will request you to connect with them through the LinkedIn profile services.The best way to do this is to create a LinkedIn profile. While creating a profile, remember to select the skills that you intend to highlight in your career. Also, set the profile to public. You need to make this profile easy to reach and you also need to include all the information that you want to share with other recruiters.Finally, when you are creating a LinkedIn profile, do not forget to opt-in to the LinkedIn site. This will allow you to add a link to your profile on your Twitter or Facebook account. Do not f orget to add relevant information about your previous job experience, personal statement, etc. This will help you create a good-looking profile. It will also help you in getting included in the next round of LinkedIn jobs.These are just a few tips that you can use to help you get the best out of the LinkedIn profile services. Be creative while using the profile services.

Finding Executive Resume Writing Service Michigan Online

Finding Executive Resume Writing Service Michigan Online When the executive summary was written, it might be useful to get another person review it and offer any constructive criticism that could boost the resume. Once your resume is finished, I'll send you a totally free in-depth study on the best regions to send your resume to find the interviews you desire. The very first part of an executive resume should be simplified into three distinct sections. Executive CV writing service ought to be able to provide you with precise outcomes since they fail to fulfill the mark. What You Should Do to Find Out About Executive Resume Writing Service Michigan Before You're Left Behind There are lots of people around who are waiting to seek the services of excellent executives just like you. You should be aware that there are particular locations and qualifications an organization or a prospective employer will start looking for when you hand in your resume, and if your resume isn't good enough you won't even get through the door for an interview. However polished your writing skills are, occasionally it's much better to employ a professional who can frame your experiences in a manner that permits you to command the interest of the greatest companies in your industry. For the reason alone, it is exceedingly important to pick a professional resume service that has experience writing resumes in your individual industry. Executive Resume Writing Service Michigan - Is it a Scam? Focusing on true CV optimisation your private consultant will allow you to focus your CV writing to a particular business or role. Getting to the correct company that supplies Executive CV writing service isn't necessarily a troublesome undertaking. In addition, the sample customer service resume can assist you in explaining what section you need to concentrate on and how an ideal customer service resume should look like. The site is also very aesthetically appealing and simple to navig ate. Executive Resume Writing Service Michigan Help! You're strongly centered on the general growth, expansion, and financial well-being of the organization you serve. Resume Length Length of your application another major factor playing an important role your selection. 1 page is normal although it varies by major and degree of experience. Resume isn't just a simple write about someone to fulfill the first formalities to have a job. Resumes have to be spectacular enough to find the interest of the recruiters. They are the most important thing in an individual's career. Lengthy resumes won't ever get attention from hiring managers and won't be read and hence won't get you the desired job prospect.

9 Ways To Reinvent A Stale Career - Work It Daily

9 Ways To Reinvent A Stale Career - Work It Daily If work was beer, would your draft be bubbling and full of fizz or stale and bitter? Related: 5 Dynamic Ways To Reinvent Your Career Path Just because your career isn’t turning out the way you expected, it doesn’t mean you have to accept it. This article will explore ways in which you can transform your tedious day job into something that is full of purpose and drive. Here are nine ways to reinvent a stale career. 1. Practice Lifelong Learning One of the best pieces of advice someone can give you is to never stop learning. Ever. With all the materials, courses, and guides available online we really have no excuse to become stagnant and bored with our daily lives. We are able to access a variety of information that can cause growth, not only in our careers but also in our personal lives. Learn some extra skills every month. It doesn’t even need to be related to your current career; try something completely different and see how it makes you feel. They key is to make sure that whatever you learn makes you want to learn more and continue the growth process. 2. Decide On A Timeframe Although some of us are dreamers by heart - myself included - we tend to keep dreaming instead of waking up and taking action. When you are trying to spice up your career and escape the comfort zone you need to push yourself in doing so. Instead of procrastinating for the future, implement a plan for the present. Decide on certain goals you want to reach and establish a deadline for these goals. 3. Find Your Nemesis Many companies have those individuals that seem to have an unwritten rule of competition. Think of Harvey Spector and Louis Litt in Suits - I know, I know, it’s a pretty silly show, but bear with me. Even though Harvey isn’t directly competing with Louis, the idea of it inspires Louis to improve and grow within his own career. Find your ‘Harvey’ at your company and aspire to reach your full potential by working at their level. (My “Harvey” was a guy named Kenny and he is the inspiration behind www.kennygottheboot.com, since I eventually took his job.) 4. Throw Yourself In The Deep End Being bored at work can easily lead to feelings of depression and low self-worth. If you are not working on a task or project that you find inspiring you won’t be giving it your all. If you’ve been practicing the same career for quite some time, it might be time to push the envelope. Don’t settle for the mundane and be satisfied with doing the same thing day in and day out. Speak to your boss about growth opportunities and new developments within the company and enquire whether you can become involved. It might take some time to prove yourself in this regard. If you are still a junior at your company it would be the ideal time to show that you are willing to push yourself and improve during pressure situations. I used this exact strategy years ago to go from an unpaid intern to Vice President of a sports agency within a period of 12 months. I took the job of a guy named Kenny, who was just coasting along. He is the inspiration behind www.kennygottheboot.com, where I give away my career reinvention secrets. Check it out! 5. Interview Yourself One of the best ways to figure out who you truly want to be is by interviewing yourself, or asking a friend to do this for you. Imagine you are on a talk show (Kimmel or Fallon) in the future and think about how you would want to present yourself. Think of questions that will give you a clear idea of your purpose. Visualize your future self and answer the questions accordingly. Even though this might feel like an awkward exercise - it will give you a clear idea of the person you want to become and help you in planning the steps and methods to get there. Many times your career turns stale because you don’t have a future goal in mind, talk the small steps in becoming the person you ultimately want to be. 6. A Little Help From Your Friends We might think we have a clear idea of who we are - but that is only a one-sided perspective. Make use of your support system such as your (true) friends and family to help reinvent your career. They will be able to give the outsider view on your growth and accomplishments. You don’t necessarily have to - or want to - follow their advice, but you can take it into account when making important career decisions. Sometimes you might even have a friend going through the exact same thing, and this makes for a great accountability partner in reaching your respective career dreams. Think of this step as a “career intervention” that might lead to reinvention. 7. Find A Career Coach The first step is to admit you have a problem, right? Sometimes we know that something is wrong in our lives, but we don’t know exactly how to define it. Your chosen career plays a tremendous role in your well being. Just as a psychologist will help you with your psychological well being, a career coach can help you figure out your career goals, financial situation and how to find the work-life balance. Click here to learn more about how a coach can help. 8. Join The Right Networks Study other professionals - dead or alive - in order to find your own success. We now know that we don’t need to make all our mistakes ourselves in order to learn from failure. We can listen to what has worked for others and join industry specific discussions (see LinkedIn). In order to reinvent your stale career, talk to those in your industry and find out what they would do or what they have done in similar situations. 9. Take Time To Help Others Helping others can do wonders for your sense of self-worth. Even though your job might feel monotonous you might have skills that others want to learn. Take time to help those on lower levels and inspire them to become successful. Once you’ve started building these relationships with others, you might end up inspired to try growing within your own career as well. There you have it! Follow these steps to bring back the fizz into your career and you’re sure to come out on the other side feeling incredibly refreshed. This post was originally published at an earlier date. Related Posts 4 Secrets To Changing Careers In Your 40s Are You Second Guessing Your Career Choice? 5 Tips For Planning A Career Change About the author Alex Simon is a career reinvention coach and speaker. Often referred to as “a master at breaking into sexy and exciting careers”, he has promoted world title fights, managed Indy 500 race car drivers, worked for a Wall Street giant, and is the subject of Starsuckers, an award-winning documentary on the pursuit of fame. Check out his website, follow him on Twitter, find him on YouTube, or add him on LinkedIn! Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CAREEREALISM-approved expert. You can learn more about expert posts here. Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!