Where Is Your Headshot

Where Is Your Headshot Today Im in Santa Rosa, California. A photographer for US News World Report is coming up to meet me just a few hours before a presentation on personal branding to the SNCR (pronounced snicker) group. Hes coming up because my old picture (to the right, on the bottom) just doesnt work, and the new one (to the right, on the top, and on the US News article, here), isnt the right one for the magazine (how freaking cool is that? The article is apparently going to print!) and Im pretty excited. Although I admit Ive thought a lot about Penelope Trunks posts about looking/feeling inadequate, and glad that the photographer can use Photoshop to whiten my teeth instead of me having to get them bleached :p Ah, the silly things we think about when the opportunity arises. So, lets assume your opportunity has arisen where is your headshot? Trust me, its a whole lot better (easier, cheaper, quicker, less stressful) if you are proactive about this part of your personal brand. You, every professional, should have a professional headshot. What for? I dont know your blog. Or your website. Or a newspaper article, or . who knows?? I scrambled to get my first professional headshot when Peter Clayton did a podcast interview with me almost two years ago (!!) and he required a headshot. So let me point you to the best advice Ive seen on your headshot: Sue Brettells article titled Online Identity: Headshots That Make A Compelling First Impression. Sue Brettells article is a soup-to-nuts resource for ensuring you do it right. What to wear, how to find a professional who fits your budget, why to avoid alcohol and smoking before your photo shoot, stuff to take with you to the studio, and more, this is an excellent read to help you prepare and get what you need! Go check out Sue Brettells Online Identity: Headshots That Make A Compelling First Impression, and then shoot me an e-mail (or put a link in the comments) with your headshot! Where Is Your Headshot Today Im in Santa Rosa, California. A photographer for US News World Report is coming up to meet me just a few hours before a presentation on personal branding to the SNCR (pronounced snicker) group. Hes coming up because my old picture (to the right, on the bottom) just doesnt work, and the new one (to the right, on the top, and on the US News article, here), isnt the right one for the magazine (how freaking cool is that? The article is apparently going to print!) and Im pretty excited. Although I admit Ive thought a lot about Penelope Trunks posts about looking/feeling inadequate, and glad that the photographer can use Photoshop to whiten my teeth instead of me having to get them bleached :p Ah, the silly things we think about when the opportunity arises. So, lets assume your opportunity has arisen where is your headshot? Trust me, its a whole lot better (easier, cheaper, quicker, less stressful) if you are proactive about this part of your personal brand. You, every professional, should have a professional headshot. What for? I dont know your blog. Or your website. Or a newspaper article, or . who knows?? I scrambled to get my first professional headshot when Peter Clayton did a podcast interview with me almost two years ago (!!) and he required a headshot. So let me point you to the best advice Ive seen on your headshot: Sue Brettells article titled Online Identity: Headshots That Make A Compelling First Impression. Sue Brettells article is a soup-to-nuts resource for ensuring you do it right. What to wear, how to find a professional who fits your budget, why to avoid alcohol and smoking before your photo shoot, stuff to take with you to the studio, and more, this is an excellent read to help you prepare and get what you need! Go check out Sue Brettells Online Identity: Headshots That Make A Compelling First Impression, and then shoot me an e-mail (or put a link in the comments) with your headshot! Where Is Your Headshot Today Im in Santa Rosa, California. A photographer for US News World Report is coming up to meet me just a few hours before a presentation on personal branding to the SNCR (pronounced snicker) group. Hes coming up because my old picture (to the right, on the bottom) just doesnt work, and the new one (to the right, on the top, and on the US News article, here), isnt the right one for the magazine (how freaking cool is that? The article is apparently going to print!) and Im pretty excited. Although I admit Ive thought a lot about Penelope Trunks posts about looking/feeling inadequate, and glad that the photographer can use Photoshop to whiten my teeth instead of me having to get them bleached :p Ah, the silly things we think about when the opportunity arises. So, lets assume your opportunity has arisen where is your headshot? Trust me, its a whole lot better (easier, cheaper, quicker, less stressful) if you are proactive about this part of your personal brand. You, every professional, should have a professional headshot. What for? I dont know your blog. Or your website. Or a newspaper article, or . who knows?? I scrambled to get my first professional headshot when Peter Clayton did a podcast interview with me almost two years ago (!!) and he required a headshot. So let me point you to the best advice Ive seen on your headshot: Sue Brettells article titled Online Identity: Headshots That Make A Compelling First Impression. Sue Brettells article is a soup-to-nuts resource for ensuring you do it right. What to wear, how to find a professional who fits your budget, why to avoid alcohol and smoking before your photo shoot, stuff to take with you to the studio, and more, this is an excellent read to help you prepare and get what you need! Go check out Sue Brettells Online Identity: Headshots That Make A Compelling First Impression, and then shoot me an e-mail (or put a link in the comments) with your headshot!

Communication Skills for Resume Communications

Communication Skills for Resume CommunicationsAs a candidate for an interview, you'll need to demonstrate your communication skills. People who excel at this skill set are often the ones who get an interview, and thus can help get the job. Here are some examples of communication skills that you should be aware of when applying for jobs:Understanding the importance of public speaking: Many candidates that get interviews are not necessarily those that have outstanding writing or presentation skills. Most companies expect candidates to stand out in an interview by bringing a unique perspective to the situation. This is best achieved through strong communication skills. For example, if you need to give a presentation in front of a large audience, the last thing you want to do is get up on stage and embarrass yourself. If you can't communicate clearly about what you are going to discuss, then make sure you put together a strategy that you will be able to talk about and that your listeners will understand.Knowing how to emphasize one's points and not overdo it: One common way to lose people's attention is to offer too much information in a single conversation. It's common for candidates to want to deliver one speech after another, and this can lead to them becoming defensive and preoccupied with thoughts of whether or not they're doing a good job. By putting together a plan of action that they can work from on their own time, they will be able to stay focused on their task at hand. They can summarize their points in bullet points and use this to allow them to summarize what they want to talk about and leave out areas where they don't want to discuss.Knowing how to overcome one's self-doubt: One of the hardest things to overcome as a candidate is the fear of failure. Having a plan of action that they can follow to get over this fear is extremely important. The best way to accomplish this is to take a time out and write down how they will overcome whatever self-doubt t hey may have. After writing down these goals, they can implement them into their current situation to make themselves feel more confident about what they are doing.Excellent listening skills: When a person has a hard time getting someone to listen to them, they will not be the best at communicating their point of view. This is something that many applicants struggle with. This is why listening is often the most valuable skill an applicant can learn. By being able to understand the other person's point of view, they will be able to put their own in perspective and can therefore be better at communicating their own message.Being able to make the most of the time that is available: Time is always at a premium. Most candidates find themselves running out of time during the interview process. This is where good communication skills come in handy. Being able to listen and understand what the interviewer is saying is key to keeping the interview flowing well, which allows the other candida te to make their case and gives them the chance to put forth their best point of view.Good time management: Most candidates are easily overwhelmed with tasks that may need to be accomplished in a short amount of time. Candidates need to manage their time well, so that they can be sure that they are meeting the deadlines set by their employer. An excellent way to manage time is to take notes while working on one's job. By taking notes and organizing them into a notebook, they can make note of what's important and work around it to make time for other activities.Communicating with a resume is a very important skill to learn. Having an impressive resume is a great thing, but employers are looking for candidates that can really give them an edge over others when it comes to getting a job. A good resume should speak directly to the employer, convey your confidence in your skills, and showcase the specific details that make you the best fit for the position. Be prepared to go over the det ails of your resume, and practice what you learned.

What Should We Do

What Should We Do Last Friday, hearts across America and the whole world were heavy, as we learned of the events that had taken place in Newtown, Connecticut. Our thoughts and prayers were all most of us could offer. Almost a week later, many of us are still following the coverage and the heart-wrenching stories. But the reality is for many of us, life has gone on, and it is business as usual. But before we’re so quick to get back to business as usual, I urge that we confront ourselves and each other with the question, “What should we do?” This question was posed to me on Sunday mass; it was posed to the entire congregation and it was the main theme of the priest’s homily. It’s a legitimate question and empowering answers were offered, at least spiritually. And as I struggle to find meaning, and to write something meaningful about this horrible event, I find myself constantly returning to that question, “What should we do?” Having had the privilege of being an older sister (after being the youngest following three boys), I partook in my sister’s up-bringing who is now twelve years old. But she’ll always be my little sweet baby girl. Coupled with the fact that I’ve always been someone who has found the suffering of children hard to contemplate, like so many others I’m sure, this story hits close to home. The initial reaction of many was and is, hurt and anger and devastation and confusion, and many of us are not even directly affected. One can only wonder what the families and friends in Newtown must be going through. But as the families and friends continue to mourn and to heal, right before we get back to business, please ask yourself, “What should we do?” Here’s what I think: I think we should light a candle and say a prayer for a brief moment, each day during this season, for all those who passed and all the families who are forever affected by this tragedy. I think we should be grateful every day for the opportunity to live and to live like our lives matter and like we can make a difference. I think we should have some very tough conversations as a country about out politics, about our gun laws; conversations that are reasonable and fruitful and that serve the greater good. I think we should have a real discussion on the state of our health, especially our mental health, and make decisions that benefit those who are most in need, which will benefit all of us. I think we should ponder our culture and our future and what we want this culture to be, and what we need this nation to stand for, and not stand for. I think we should contemplate our freedoms and the responsibility that comes with exercising those freedoms. I think we should live like we owe each other respect and humanity and dare I say, even love. Because in the words of Mother Theresa, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten we belong to each other.” When it’s all said done, when we strip ourselves of our categories of race, nationality, creed, and all the rest, you and I are the same, and we owe it to those who came before us, and those who will come after us, and each other right now, to create a culture where these occurrences are truly scarce; a culture of life and love. We owe it to ourselves to no longer need to ask in this way, “What should we do?”

Eat a good breakfast. - Classy Career Girl

Eat a good breakfast. According to reports  from CBS News, if you work behind a desk and are gaining unwanted weight, your job could be the culprit! Surveys conducted by Careerbuilder concluded that out of 3,700 employees surveyed, more than 40% of them believed that their desk job was the reason they gained weight. Working behind the desk can put a lot of wear and tear on your body. Sitting for long periods of time decreases your muscles ability burn fat and slows blood circulation. While you can’t change the fact that your job requires you to be in one location for a long period of time, there are things you can do to switch up your routine that will help to keep your weight loss goals on track. 1) Eat a Good Breakfast Most people spring for the cup of coffee without fueling the rest of their bodies. Skipping out on breakfast is a big no, no, particularly when you’re going to be sitting at a desk all day. Your body needs fuel to get through each day, eating something as small as a bran muffin, a yogurt, or even a piece of fruit can help to jumpstart your day, and prevent you from wanting to binge on snack machine foods until lunch. 2) Bring Your Own Food Do you often find yourself eating out on the daily basis? Or maybe you find yourself scrounging for snacks from the vending machine in between breaks? Fast food and salty snacks are fine on occasion, but could also be the reason for your weight gain while in the workplace. Switch things up by bringing in your own lunch and snacks. Having healthy alternatives will prevent you from falling into the trap of ordering Chinese with your coworkers or eating those Doritos out of the snack machine. 3) Upgrade Your Office Furniture If you really want to kick your weight loss efforts in the workplace into full gear consider a furniture upgrade. Ergonomics requests such as a stand up desk can really work wonders. Such desks allow you to work while standing up. Of course no one expects you to stand all day, but  over time the  stand up desk benefits can greatly improve your health. You can adjust them to your height while standing and put them down when you wish to sit. 4) Take the Long Route Or The Stairs Instead of taking the short cut to the copy room or the cafeteria, take the long route  as much as possible. This may mean taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or walking around the perimeter of the office instead of going straight down the middle, but it can make a huge difference in your health. Your desk job doesn’t have to “weigh you down”. By being creative and switching up your daily routine, you are sure to see a big improvement in how you feel all around. Try out these ideas and with any luck, you’ll be one step closer to  achieving your weight loss goals  at home and in the workplace. Todays post was written by Kevin, an account director at for a boutique investment firm and has been working within finance, marketing and public relations for over 8 years. Featured Photo from Picjumbo.com

Ted Talk on Writing a Good Resume For The TV Show The Office

Ted Talk on Writing a Good Resume For The TV Show 'The Office'Ted Talk on Writing a Good Resume for the TV show of 'The Office' was just released and I must say that the message is very well taken up by us. If you are reading this article you must be at least a little bit familiar with the series. It's a television show about a bunch of office workers who get to do tasks to earn their living and if they succeed they win the prizes, if they fail they lose their jobs. This is an excellent example of how to use marketing to get ahead in your career, but it also teaches us what not to do.To set the stage a little bit, The Office opens with the presentation of an 'O' by Andy Bernard who claims that Andy Bernard's Success Tip will do everything. He starts with talking about how he was forced to quit his job at Starbucks when a union caused a strike. He then begins by talking about how his life went down the drain and that he thought he was going to die in the hospital due to a heart attack .After this he goes into writing a good resume. He first explains why a good resume is important, how to write one and where to get a great resume. His advice here is to actually write a great resume and not just have it printed out. However, he does recommend using a template, as it saves time and keeps the information straight.After describing his own story he describes how he found his dream job, what type of skills he needed to have in order to be successful and how he made up his mind to learn about business skills. He explains how he learned these skills, which include spending time with those people who are willing to help you succeed, and is actually amazed how he was able to learn these skills so quickly. He then shows us how to have the confidence that we need to find our success and how to avoid a lot of potential mistakes.After this Ted talks about having a lot of passion about your work and how this will be rewarded. He explains how a lot of people have said that they d on't like their jobs because they aren't good at them. He says that we need to love what we do and that you don't really have to be a rocket scientist to be successful.Ted talks about knowing how to ask for help and how to trust your decision making process. He also talks about making sure that you have a plan, and how important it is to write down what you are looking for and where you are looking to get it. He explains that when we first look we often think about what we don't have and want and this is why it is important to put things in writing and make them known.When Ted talks about making sure that you have a plan, he is actually talking about planning out your career. He says that it's important to think of your future and how you want to develop your career. Also, you don't have to become rich or famous to be successful.While I completely agree with all of the ideas in Ted's talk, it is definitely true that the job market is not as tough as it used to be. The best way to go about this is to find someone with the same goals and interests as you and go from there.

LinkedIn Updates App

LinkedIn Updates App Ill be honest, Ive never been a fan of the LinkedIn app. But this may change. LinkedIn announced changes to their app  recently. (They dont often let us know about updates/changes, so this is a pleasant surprise). What You Can Expect From LinkedIns Updated App Our New LinkedIn App is Here! Making it Easier than Ever to Stay In Touch with the People and Information you Need to be Successful from LinkedIn From LinkedIns announcement: Your Feed (Home)   is content from your network to help with your professional day. It’s based on what we determined is most relevant for your industry, function, and skills combined with what conversations and content you care about. Me represents your professional brand. This is where you can see all things about you â€" who’s viewed your profile, who is commenting on, or sharing your posts. It also offers the most intuitive way of updating your profile that we have ever had, so you can easily spruce up your professional profile to keep things fresh. My Network is a daily briefing of what’s happening in your professional network, so you can see in seconds people you may know, new posts from your network and suggestions to keep connected. For example, it will offer prompts to say congrats to a connection celebrating a new role or work anniversary, or send a message to someone in your network when they have written a post on LinkedIn. Using the mobile app has always been clunky. The desktop version was best for modifying your profile (this should be easier now) and sending personalized invites. To Customize Invitations: DO NOT USE the mobile app to connect with people! With the old app you used to be able to click on the three dots, however, that trick no longer works! (Until someone finds the secret work around!) To Receive Relevant  News Make sure you take a second or two to update your news feed interests. This will ensure Pulse pulls articles you will be interested in reading and sharing. Remember, sharing industry or occupation related news (along with a brief comment) pings your network, keeps you top of mind and shows you are staying current with issues! Take A Second And Stay Connected LinkedIns updated app makes it super easy to say congrats on a new job or milestone. Just go to the two head icon at the top. So what do you like best about the new app?

Favorite Job Search Posts of 2009

Favorite Job Search Posts of 2009 Ive blogged before about the fact that I kept a diary for many years. And at the close of each year I used to re-read my diary to reflect on what had happened over the course of the year to look at my successes and failures, beginnings and ends. I always spotted a few entries where I would think to myself What was I thinking and others that brought back a wonderful memory of an experience on a particular day.So I thought it made sense to look back on my posts from 2009 and pick out a few that hold the most meaning for me. These top 10 were not necessarily my most popular posts but they were all posts that connected me to some important part of my life, my past, or   family and   friends, so they have special meaning to me. And hopefully there is a nugget or two of job search advice that you can use as you forge ahead into 2010. Happy New Year!Do New Years Resolutions Have to Happen on New Years?How to Communicate Difficult Stories on Your ResumeThe Best Job I Ever HadWhat Your Grandp arents Can Teach You About InterviewingCareers and Relationships: Are You Really That Different Than David Letterman?Getting Hired When You Dont Have a College DegreeJob Seekers: Whos Got Your Back?Talking About Nothing is Part of a Job Search CampaignSometimes a Job Seeker Just Needs Someone to ListenFive Networking Lessons I Wish Id Learned in High School