Sanity Check This Is True [dot] com

Sanity Check This Is True [dot] com I have been a subscriber to Randy Cassinghams This is True newsletter for years.   A couple of years ago I did the premium upgrade for about $22 a year so I could get more stories each week.   But the free version is plenty fine. I have thought about recommending it for a while, but every once in a while there is something that is offensive to some group of people.   Randy basically finds crazy stories from the news, writes a small paragraph about them, and ends with his own tagline.   Nothing he has written has been offensive to me (yet) but the reality of how funny/crazy/weird our world is just keeps me coming back each week. Its been part of my sanity check. In a recent edition he included a note someone wrote to him, which I wanted to share here: [name] in South Carolina upgraded this weekend too, and attached a note to me: Randy, I just got laid off yesterday (Friday the 13th!) and couldnt think of a better way to make a clean break than to finally become a paid subscriber. Ive been a free subscriber for years and benefitted from the laughs and groans each story brings. This is an investment in my own faith in things working out for good for reasonable people since you so frequently show the results of unreasonable (and unreasoning) people. Thanks for providing this service for all these years. Youre most welcome, [name] , and best of luck finding a new and *better* position soon. My last day of work was a Friday the 13th also :p If you are interested, you can get the free email newsletter by signing up at ThisIsTrue.com. Sanity Check This Is True [dot] com I have been a subscriber to Randy Cassinghams This is True newsletter for years.   A couple of years ago I did the premium upgrade for about $22 a year so I could get more stories each week.   But the free version is plenty fine. I have thought about recommending it for a while, but every once in a while there is something that is offensive to some group of people.   Randy basically finds crazy stories from the news, writes a small paragraph about them, and ends with his own tagline.   Nothing he has written has been offensive to me (yet) but the reality of how funny/crazy/weird our world is just keeps me coming back each week. Its been part of my sanity check. In a recent edition he included a note someone wrote to him, which I wanted to share here: [name] in South Carolina upgraded this weekend too, and attached a note to me: Randy, I just got laid off yesterday (Friday the 13th!) and couldnt think of a better way to make a clean break than to finally become a paid subscriber. Ive been a free subscriber for years and benefitted from the laughs and groans each story brings. This is an investment in my own faith in things working out for good for reasonable people since you so frequently show the results of unreasonable (and unreasoning) people. Thanks for providing this service for all these years. Youre most welcome, [name] , and best of luck finding a new and *better* position soon. My last day of work was a Friday the 13th also :p If you are interested, you can get the free email newsletter by signing up at ThisIsTrue.com.

What Social Media Tool Reveals the Transparent Brand You - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

What Social Media Tool Reveals the Transparent Brand You - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career You might think this is a trick question, but for now, its not. Im the most transparent on Twitter. After Twitter, I reveal more of my personal brand on this blog and then on Facebook. Im known for different things on different services and manage my brand slightly different right now because the audiences vary. I think its important that you know what audience you have on each of these social networks by recognizing commenters, wall posters, etc. The more you can identify and send messages to the right audiences, the more success youll have. Its also imperative that you dont send inappropriate messages to audiences that may include your parents or hiring managers. How do you brand yourself on each website? Regardless of which website Im on, my main brand message is extremely consistent. I brand myself as the leading personal branding expert for Gen-Y and have been for over a year. Every single website you see me on has the same picture (avatar), my name (Dan Schawbel, not Daniel or Danny) and my personal brand statement. What I mean here is the language and type of content I post to each of these websites is slightly different. My blog: On my blog, I brand myself as a thought leader, personal branding activist and expert, as well as a commentator. I also promote a lot of people constantly, so Ive been branded as a giver. I use my blog to flush out my ideas, get feedback, start conversations and as a marketing tool. Twitter: On Twitter, I get real intimate with my audience, even though I have thousands of Twitter followers. Its easier to showcase more for your transparent brand when you are limited to the amount of words you can use. Twitter makes it easier to share quick thoughts or feelings. For instance, Ive been tweeting about how my grandfather has been really sick, yet I wouldnt really share this on Facebook or this blog (I just did, but you get the point). Im also branded as the quick fact or stat guy on Twitter because I share interesting research I find everyday. I do a lot of Twitter polls as well. Facebook: I dont use Facebook much anymore, especially after graduating college a few years ago. The reason is simple: I have a clash in audiences on Facebook. Im friends with my high school and college friends, summer camp friends, old teachers, family, coworkers, my manager and business contacts. If I were to be completely transparent, such as syndicating my tweets on Facebook, I would be messaging some people who either didnt care or that would think differently of me or possibly fire me? Facebook has become a global neighborhood for your brand, from birth to death, and it forces you to remain completely transparent to all audiences. Are you ready for that? LinkedIn: I hardly ever use LinkedIn, except to add new contacts and update my profile to ensure accuracy. Since LinkedIn is strickly for my professional brand, I leave it that way. I dont share anything outside of my professional life. I have a hunch that this professional network will expand and become more sociable in the future. When this happens, I think we will have a problem much greater than Facebook, which is having employers reject us immediately based on a first impression.   Should be interesting! YouTube: First, YouTubes audience enjoys humor or viral videos. My videos arent supposed to be funny or viral. Instead, their main purpose is to communicate something emotionally, like I couldnt do with words on this blog (or through pictures). To me, my YouTube audience is my blog audience because thats where its promoted. People dont really search for my material on YouTube. Mashable: I just started as a feature writing for Mashable, which is an excellent source for all of your social networking needs (plug!). Im a little less revealing when I post on Mashable because their audience demands big ideas and strategies. Its also important to note that that audience is much larger, and as humans, we will be more careful when we are performing to a larger audience. Our future is hyper-transparent In the future, transparency will be commonplace and there will be no hiding. People, like you, will be viewed by the internet paparazzi on a reoccurring basis without your permission. Some of you will welcome it, while others of you will feel threatened by it, but there will be no escape. We will all be forced to live on the web, losing the comfort and privacy of having our brand stay secluded in reality. If we want to be discovered, and reach a mass audience, then the web is the cheapest and most efficient way of doing this. There is an opportunity cost associated with not having your brand rest online. All these social tools will be mixed, mashed, filtered and spread out, so any move you make will be seen by each website your brand lives on. In the end, you must be the real you because everyone else is taken and replicas dont sell for as much. If you ever question anything you do, always revert to being yourself and your transparency will shine through.

10 Crucial Things You Need to Research Before Sending in Your Job Application

10 Crucial Things You Need to Research Before Sending in Your Job Application Building the perfect job application can be very tricky. It’s the first form of contact between you and your possible employer. This is why you really need to put your best foot forward. But, apart from finding a creative and full-proof way of showcasing your skills as well as the reasons why you’re best for that position, you also need to do some research. A very good job application stems from you knowing everything there is about the company you’re applying for and how to best fit their needs. Here are ten crucial things you need to research before sending in your job application. 1. The company’s mission and vision When deciding to apply for a job, every applicant goes through the same routine. And that routine starts with him or her researching the company they  want to apply to. However, when you do that, it’s very important to go beyond what the company does, how many employees it has or where it’s located. Try to find out about its mission and vision as well. Why does it do what it does? What is it trying to achieve? What are its values? This will allow you to better advocate your role in the company and adjust your job application accordingly. 2. What sets the company apart from its competitors Every successful company is like that because it has at least one unique trait or product they have offered to the world. One smart thing to do, from a strategic point of view, is to find out what that specific trait is and use it to your advantage. Maybe it’s a vision you share, a characteristic you have as well, as an individual or an ability that you too possess. It will make the employer believe you really do belong in his company. 3. What the news and social media say about the company It’s a good idea to research this particular aspect about the company for your own safety. Often enough, a company may seem like pure heaven from the outside, but the reality might be very different. Via your research, try to find people that are working there or, better yet, that have worked there. Those that are no longer linked to the company will feel more relaxed about telling you the truth. You can scan their social network profiles or simply send them a short email asking them about their experience working for company X. 4. What job openings they have and how they are written One simple way of doing this is by going to a specialized website and looking at all the openings that company has, even if you’re not interested in them. The point is to read them thoroughly and see how they are written. It can tell you a lot about the company itself. For example, if they’re written in a casual, friendly style, with fun fonts and lots of colors, try to write your application and resume in the same way. Here is a good example of the Cheesecake Factory. They actually use in their job description the fact that their restaurant peaked when it was mentioned in the hit TV comedy series The Big Bang Theory. 5. Research the details Think about all the questions you would like to ask your interviewer and research them anyway. You might find out details that bother you or that don’t fit into your desired work life. Knowing them beforehand will save you some time. For example, research things like: Working hours â€" and see if they are alright with your lifestyle; What is the company’s stance on overtime; What is the dress code; Will you be required to work on weekends or on holidays; Is their office in good working conditions. Believe it or not, all these small things can make or break a deal. 6. What is the level of knowledge required Another important thing you should probably know before you even send in the application is what level of knowledge and job proficiency they are looking for. This might seem redundant, because job descriptions usually state if the company is looking for juniors or seniors, but there’s another side to this. If they say they’re looking for juniors, will they provide you with the necessary training? And if so, what type of training will it be â€" specialized training or learn-as-you-go? Find out what they can provide and see if you fit the course of action they have in mind. 7. Will they be submitting you to any tests? Research about tests is very important. Job openings can either state this stage of the hiring process or not. Independently of that, you still need to research it. If they don’t state it, then you will be one step ahead of the game and offer the interviewer and, by extension, your employer, a nice surprise. If they do state it, find out what exactly it’s about. In this way, you can be prepared and do your best. If it’s a theoretical test, brush up on your knowledge of the matter. If it’s a practical one, rehearse as much as you can at home. 8. Research for clever answers to common questions We all know there are a set of common questions most companies ask during every single interview. Because of that, they usually hear the same answers all the time. For example: ‘where do you see yourself in 5 years?’ the most common answer â€" ‘doing your job’. Apart from the fact that that joke is so outdated, it’s also, probably, mistaken. Most of the times you’re talking to an HR person. So, unless you’re going for the HR job, you shouldn’t be giving that answer. Instead, try to find clever answers to these particular questions. If you can’t come up with them on your own, research is your best friend and ally. 9. The job itself This might sound redundant at first, but it’s actually not. You need to thoroughly research every single aspect of the job. Try to go beyond the specifications you see in the job description, as they are usually vague. Search for people in similar positions in other companies, in the same company, and even people that have held this position before you in that office. It’s a terrific way of finding out what the job actually entails. What you are looking for are day-to-day details. What does a day in the life of employer X look like? What exactly it is you have to do, from sending emails to meetings and pitching projects. You will not only get a clear insight into your daily activities, but you can prepare for them as well and impress your interviewer. 10. Research yourself This means to simply google yourself. Because this is the first thing the HR people will do. When you google yourself, you will see that the first entries are your LinkedIn profile, followed by Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and academic profiles you might have had on your college’s website. While all this is alright per se, comb through them nonetheless. It’s best to sweep away pictures of you that might be considered inappropriate, as well as any tweets, posts or comments that might take a politically incorrect stance or have double entendre. You need to be aware of the fact that the social climate we currently live in is extremely keen on equality and justice. The world has never seen so many court cases based on racial slurs, allegations of being mistreated in the workplace, sexual harassment accusations and women’s right violations. Employers will go to any lengths to avoid them. Therefore, make sure your online persona is completely politically correct. When at the interview, show them that you actually did all this research and don’t keep it to yourself. You can even downright say you did it prior to coming there. Remember companies don’t want to hire people who want to work. They want to hire people who want to work for them.

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Are Your Customers Devoted to You

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Are Your Customers Devoted to You Do you like Gatorade? Sure, maybe you like to drink Gatorade after a big workout, or you give Gatorade to your daughter after shes finished soccer practice. But do you like Gatorade so much that you buy not only the drinks, but the chews and protein bars? Are you so devoted to the brand that you believe consuming it will make you perform better and improve your time in your next marathon? Do you feel so strongly about the brand that you are willing to continue using the product even if the prices go up? If so, you might be what Eddie Yoon refers to as a superconsumer. Such consumers are much more than fans of a product. They dont just buy the product because they love how it tastes they are so emotionally connected to the product that they buy a lot of it, all the time. They love talking about it, writing about it and encouraging others to use it. They are dependable consumers of the product, and keep coming back for more. Yoon, author of Superconsumers: A Simple, Speedy and Sustainable Path to Superior Growth, says that superconsumers although only about 10% of consumers can drive 30% to 70% of sales. Thats important to consider when looking at how the number of products is making consumer loyalty even more challenging. For example, data shows the U.S. population grew 1.1% per year from 1975 to 2008, while consumer spending grew 3.6% per year during that time. But the total number of items in grocery stores soared 5.2% per year for that same time period. While superconsumers can help companies continue to sell during in an increasingly competitive marketplace, these consumers also continue to provide benefits far beyond that, Yoon says. Specifically, these consumers are sodevoted to a productthat they are a willing test audience, providing feedback and insight that takes much of the risk out of innovation and allow businesses to experiment more and take more chances, says Yoon, a principal with The Cambridge Group, a growth-strategy firm that is part of Nielsen. Reaching diverse customers Thanks to Nielsens vast trove of data, Yoon says he and his colleagues were able to pin(read more here)

Resume Writing Service - Using Professional Resume and CV Writing Services

Resume Writing Service - Using Professional Resume and CV Writing ServicesWhen you have a list of positions to fill, it is easy to forget about the importance of a resume. This is why creating a resume that has the right look and feel is so important to success.People who are looking for employment are always looking for the best resume and CV available. The way a resume looks and feels is a reflection of how well you can communicate your thoughts and values to the employer. A poorly designed resume will either come across as if it was written by someone with little or no ability to write, or it will come across as awkward, poorly written and not very professional.Employers are becoming more aware of how resumes and CV's are an important aspect of how they screen out candidates. A good CV makes it easier for a potential employee to have their qualifications identified and placed where they belong: in front of the right employer. A resume should be able to demonstrate that a candidate has good communication skills, the ability to apply what they know and be motivated to learn more, and the confidence to think and act for themselves.It is important that your resume and CV is designed to have all of these qualities. To do this, you want to make sure that the resumes look clean and crisp, and that they look professional. Remember, employers are looking for applicants who are professional in their appearance. With this in mind, take some time to create a business professional looking resume.To create a great looking resume, use the services of a resume writing service. They will review your resume and create a customized one for you. These professionals are used to handling resumes that include a variety of different language and career skills. You want to be able to place these resumes in front of an employer and tell them how you can help them meet their specific goals. Your resume should also show your confidence and versatility in the work field.Your resume shou ld be clear and concise, but should also include detailed information on the career goals that you have set for yourself. Provide information that will help the employer to reach their goals, but do not overwhelm them with information that is not directly related to the job description. An interview with an employer can determine if you are qualified for the position you are applying for, so it is important that your resume presents you in the best light possible.It is important that your resume and CV is professionally created. No matter how hard you may want to make your resume perfect, it is still a tool. Employers know this and use this tool as part of their hiring process. If you have hired a resume writing service, your resume will be professionally written and meet your needs for an effective marketing tool.It is important that your resume and CV is designed to provide you with the information and skills that you need to reach your professional goals. A professionally designe d resume will help you meet your job goals quickly and efficiently.

Following up on networking leads

Following up on networking leads Clients often struggle with the notion of following up with networking contacts. Many are concerned that they will be perceived as a nuisance if they follow up with a contact too aggressively. The key to a successful follow up campaign is to be persistent without the other party knowing it. If you call a networking contact and leave a message, your follow up strategy should be to call every day at different times without leaving additional messages. You might call and leave a message on Monday, then follow up at 10am on Tuesday morning, noon on Wednesday, 3pm on Thursday, and 4:30 on Friday. If you get the contacts voicemail, dont leave additional messages. If you vary the timing of the calls you increase the liklihood of getting the contact in person. If you get a secretary or other type of gatekeeper, be polite and try to develop a rapport with that person. If they ask if you would like to leave a message a good response is No, thats alrightwhen would be the best time to reach this person? This strategy allows you to maintain control over the interaction. If after several attempts you are still unable to connect with your networking contact, consider discussing the situation with the original person who gave you the contact. Perhaps the contact is swamped with a time-sensitive project or out of town on vacation and you need to delay your follow up strategy until they return. While you wont be able to build a relationship with every potential contact, you can improve your chances of connecting with people in a timely fashion by following these suggestions. Following Up on Networking Leads Clients often struggle with the notion of following up with networking contacts. Many are concerned that they will be perceived as a nuisance if they follow up with a contact too aggressively. The key to a successful follow up campaign is to be persistent without the other party knowing it.If you call a networking contact and leave a message, your follow up strategy should be to call every day at different times without leaving additional messages. You might call and leave a message on Monday, then follow up at 10am on Tuesday morning, noon on Wednesday, 3pm on Thursday, and 4:30 on Friday. If you get the contacts voice mail, dont leave additional messages. If you vary the timing of the calls you increase the likelihood of getting the contact in person. If you get a secretary or other type of gatekeeper, be polite and try to develop a rapport with that person. If they ask if you would like to leave a message a good response is No, thats alrightwhen would be the best time to reach thi s person? This strategy allows you to maintain control over the interaction.If after several attempts you are still unable to connect with your networking contact, consider discussing the situation with the original person who gave you the contact. Perhaps the contact is swamped with a time-sensitive project or out of town on vacation and you need to delay your follow up strategy until they return. While you wont be able to build a relationship with every potential contact, you can improve your chances of connecting with people in a timely fashion by following these suggestions.

Passion at work - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Passion at work - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog I just got an email from Brett Farmiloe, the founder of Pursue the Passion, who are up to something tremendously cool. This Summer, Brett and two recent college grads are doing a 14,000 mile, 3 month journey around the US to interview 200 people about the passion that propels them in their profession. I really look forward to seeing what comes out of this! You can see their travel schedule, read the blog and if you know anyone whos passionate about work (or if you yourself are) you should definitely tell Brett about it. I value passion very highly at work myself. Heres how it works for me: I could never work on something Im not passionate about. If a task or a project leaves me cold, no amount of money, coercion or feeling of duty can make me work on it. Whats more, I dont work well with people who are not passionate. If a person is not enthusiastic and passionate about a project, I find it hard to trust them, because I dont know what makes them tick. In my experience, passionate people get more work done. Waaaaaay more. Its not even close. Passionate people are much more fun to work with. Compared to people who treat work as just a job, passionate people are a blast! What about you? Are you passionate about your work? Are the people you work with? Does passion matter to you? Write a comment, Id really like to know :o) Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related