Career Opportunities

Here is what I had to say during this week’s #careerchat. You can join in each Tuesday at 1pm EDT/10am PDT using your Twitter account.

• @bizMebizgal: TODAY Topic: What are the top mistakes that people make when job searching? Join us from 12-1 CST. See you soon! #careerchat
• Build the the Career You Deserve! It’s time for  #careerchat
• @bizMebizgal It has been the tagline for my podcast for years now. I truly believe it, too. Everyone deserves a great career! #careerchat
• Be open to opportunities outside your usual realm of work that present themselves. Don’t just ignore them. Could be new career!
• Also, don’t just take the first job offered. Make sure it takes your career in the direction you want to go.
• In job search, just like relationships, seeming too desperate can kill your chances.
• @Tiffany_Rainbow Yes, mis-addressed letters can easily happen when you are creating multiples. Must carefully proof.
• Re: misaddressed letter – Have a “process” to step through each letter individually so this doesn’t occur.
• @YouTern Networking also isn’t just about “what can you do for me?” Help other and you will get help.
• Don’t think that you have to/should have the exact same job at another company. Job search is the time to experiment and grow.
• @DaveYouTern Well, actually, I think job search is all about YOU. It is finding a job that fits your wants, needs and desires.
• @DaveYouTern Yes, you are trying to fit company’s needs, but also trying to find a great fit for you. Should be balance between
• For many years we have labored under the concept that “company over all”, but we need to break away from that.
• @bizMebizgal Important to internalize what you know so that it becomes a part of who you are. You should be able to share your..
• …knowledge and skills automatically. I can talk about new media extemporaneously because I have done it so often.
• Re: wide range of skills - @BethAnneEretto I think it makes you more employable as you simply have more options of possible jobs
• @bizMebizgal Yes, repetition sticks your career story in your mind and also make you think and discover what you truly want.
• As an exercise I sometimes list out everything I want out of a dream job, then try to find something that fits.
• Good exercise to do with my career consulting clients, too. You never know unless you think about it.
• Yep, it makes them think. Then, at least, you can aim in that general direction. I call it the Career Compass!
• I have a Kindle booklet coming out on the Career Compass as a tool to guide your career. I use the idea a lot.
• I don’t think you can convince someone who is biased against older workers. Need to find more willing people.
• I think a LinkedIn profile is just one more tool in the toolbox and costs you nothing to create. Could be useful so do it
• You may need to do some of that work for freelance clients to gain experience you can then show to others.

Part of Social Media Week 2011

Building the career you deserve means becoming both director and promoter of it–No one cares as much about your career as you do. This means taking the lead in ‘Telling people what you do and how you do it!” Social media provides the tools needed to develop the jobs and projects that make one’s career unique and fulfilling.

This panel will give practical information about how to use social media to build the career you desire. We’ll talk not only about the “why” of social media, but also about “how” it can, and should, be used, so that you are in control of all aspects of your career.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Panelist and Moderators

Visit Social Media and Your Career blog for complete bios and links

• Jennifer Oliver O’Connell
• Douglas E. Welch
• Susan M. Baker
• Marla Dennis
• Colton Stenke
• Denise L. Cook

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Part of Social Media Week 2011

Building the career you deserve means becoming both director and promoter of it–No one cares as much about your career as you do. This means taking the lead in ‘Telling people what you do and how you do it!” Social media provides the tools needed to develop the jobs and projects that make one’s career unique and fulfilling.

This panel will give practical information about how to use social media to build the career you desire. We’ll talk not only about the “why” of social media, but also about “how” it can, and should, be used, so that you are in control of all aspects of your career.

Watch “Social Media and Your Career Panel – Part 4 of 4″ – iPod Ready Video

Panelist and Moderators

Visit Social Media and Your Career blog for complete bios and links

• Jennifer Oliver O’Connell
• Douglas E. Welch
• Susan M. Baker
• Marla Dennis
• Colton Stenke
• Denise L. Cook

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Part of Social Media Week 2011

Building the career you deserve means becoming both director and promoter of it–No one cares as much about your career as you do. This means taking the lead in ‘Telling people what you do and how you do it!” Social media provides the tools needed to develop the jobs and projects that make one’s career unique and fulfilling.

This panel will give practical information about how to use social media to build the career you desire. We’ll talk not only about the “why” of social media, but also about “how” it can, and should, be used, so that you are in control of all aspects of your career.

Watch “Social Media and Your Career Panel – Part 3 of 4″ – iPod Ready Video

Panelist and Moderators

Visit Social Media and Your Career blog for complete bios and links

• Jennifer Oliver O’Connell
• Douglas E. Welch
• Susan M. Baker
• Marla Dennis
• Colton Stenke
• Denise L. Cook

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Part of Social Media Week 2011

Building the career you deserve means becoming both director and promoter of it–No one cares as much about your career as you do. This means taking the lead in ‘Telling people what you do and how you do it!” Social media provides the tools needed to develop the jobs and projects that make one’s career unique and fulfilling.

This panel will give practical information about how to use social media to build the career you desire. We’ll talk not only about the “why” of social media, but also about “how” it can, and should, be used, so that you are in control of all aspects of your career.

Watch “Social Media and Your Career Panel – Part 2 of 4″ – iPod Ready Video

Panelist and Moderators

Visit Social Media and Your Career blog for complete bios and links

• Jennifer Oliver O’Connell
• Douglas E. Welch
• Susan M. Baker
• Marla Dennis
• Colton Stenke
• Denise L. Cook

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Part of Social Media Week 2011

Building the career you deserve means becoming both director and promoter of it–No one cares as much about your career as you do. This means taking the lead in ‘Telling people what you do and how you do it!” Social media provides the tools needed to develop the jobs and projects that make one’s career unique and fulfilling.

This panel will give practical information about how to use social media to build the career you desire. We’ll talk not only about the “why” of social media, but also about “how” it can, and should, be used, so that you are in control of all aspects of your career.

Watch “Social Media and Your Career Panel – Part 1 of 4″ – iPod Ready Video

Panelist and Moderators

Visit Social Media and Your Career blog for complete bios and links

• Jennifer Oliver O’Connell
• Douglas E. Welch
• Susan M. Baker
• Marla Dennis
• Colton Stenke
• Denise L. Cook

#CareerChat is a Twitter-based chat that happens every Tuesday at 1pm EDT/10am PDT. I try to make it whenever I can.

Here is what I had to say on today’s #careerchat topic, “Managing Upwards.”

• Making things happen is always a great way of “managing” everyone around you. Show results.
• Being a team player is nice, but it never pays to be on a team that is headed nowhere. Sometimes you have to break out.
• Much like any goal, look for problems and find a way to solve them. Your boss (and others) will usually appreciate that.
• Pilot the project, under the radar, so you have info/ammo to take to boss
• “Managing Up” is also a great test of your manager’s quality and security. Agressive reaction to initiative is a red flag.
• If you current company isn’t receptive to your good ideas, Perhaps their competitors would be more receptive?
• I always feel it is better to be agressive and take initiative and be fired, rather than keep my head down and be laid off.
• You are the only one who really cares about your career, so it is up to you to do what needs to be done to make it great.
• Hopefully what you do takes the form of something the benefits both you and your company, but if not, find another company
• Their loss, your gain. Working for a company that doesn’t allow you to build your career us a slow, painful decline
• Doing everything to avoid being fired means doing nothing for your career and yourself
• As Admiral Akbar said, “It’s a trap!” (LAUGH)

#CareerChat is a Twitter-based chat that happens every Tuesday at 1pm EDT/10am PDT. I try to make it whenever I can. Here are some of my thoughts that came out in today’s chat.

You can follow me on Twitter at @careertips

We were discussing how to deal with gaps in your resume due to layoffs and downsizing.

• A1: It does help to have other, perhaps volunteer work to fill in the gap. Maybe even self-developed projects
• Consulting is another great idea
• That said, it seems odd we still worry about such things in today’s job market. Everyone has gaps, or so it would seem
  • We need to finds ways to make gaps less of a red flag.
  • Yet another one of those archaic issues that revolve around job search. Some people still living in the 60′s
• You can’t/shouldn’t have gaps. You need to be doing something all the time. Put projects in place before layoff
• I always have my CareerCamp work as on-going so there is always something happening. Develop your own projects and show them off
• Social media is very important way of showing people “What you do and how well you do it!”
• Common sense is always the most important and often least acknowledged.
• I push self-directed” education with everyone I talk with/speak to. Very important for overall life/career health
• RT @CareerBuilder: If you have a gap in your career, be prepared to answer, “What did you do?” from recruiter. Dont say “Nothing
  • Know your “story” before you walk in the door…and then tell it well. Always good advice.
• Sharing your knowledge and expertise using social media is a necessary and imp. part of your career. Can lead directly to work.
  • You always have something to share/say..or you need to. Capture ideas and thoughts, post to blog, etc
• Most people “throw away” great content and ideas because they don’t capture them immediately. Write it down.
  • You have more to say than you might think. Really! I believe that is true to everyone.
  • I carry a paper journal everywhere I go, even though I am a tech head with an iPhone. It facilitates easy idea capture anywhere
  • I find the conspicuous nature can help sometimes. People like to see that you are capturing info and ideas
  • My clients always notice when I am taking notes during a consulting call..always. Easy way to estab. credibility
  • Oh yes, ALWAYS take notes during and interview, even if you are only noting how ugly their tie is. (LAUGH)
  • Taking notes during an interview can give you an oppty to slow down and think about your answers before speaking.
  • I can’t imagine that it would (annoy the interviewer). It shows your interest and your attention to the interview, I think
    • You are being interviewed, not interrogated. At least, that is the way it should be
  • (Dealing with interview nerves) Well, note taking can help with that too. Gives you something to do with your hands.
• Self-directed education, outside/personal projects, anything that reminds you are good and builds/maintains confidence
  • People attending and organizing CareerCamp always tell me how much of a confidence builder it was. Taking active action helps
  • They are in control of everything for one day or week when everything else might feel out of their control. Gives them energy
• For me, action itself, any action, is always the most positive mode of operation. Do something, anything to get you moving
• We always underestimate the importance of our own knowledge and skills. We have much to share with others, every day. Do it!
• (Interview as performance) I always have believed my degree and experience in the theater has served me greatly in my career.

I want to collect your top career questions and then present them to my “team” of career advisors. In this way I hope do give you a variety of viewpoints on the most pressing issues of the day.

This post is an “Open Discussion” to both collect your questions and also allow you comment on the questions of others.

Got a question that is really concerning you? Add it as a comment to this post. Then, come back and chime in on the questions of others.