How To Create a Brilliant Personal Brand on LinkedIn

How To Create a Brilliant Personal Brand on LinkedIn Whether we are walking through town late at night, catching a train or queuing at the supermarket checkout, we make assumptions about people we don’t know: sometimes positive, sometimes negative. When delivering my employability seminars, I often show a number of images of me. I ask the audience to shout out words they would associate with each picture. I never have to wait longer than a few seconds before people start throwing all kinds of descriptions at me. A few years ago I presented a TV show that had a business element to it. The professional photos I had taken were black and white; I wore a power suit and was asked to look directly into the camera (without even a hint of a smile). Well, they were professional shots, so I thought little about it and just used them on my LinkedIn profile. A few months later, a fantastic company was looking to recruit. The hiring manager asked around for recommendations and a lovely lady, who had worked with me previously, very kindly recommend he contact me. He searched me on LinkedIn, saw my image and felt like I was the last person he wanted to work with. He thought I looked hard nosed, arrogant and a little scary. It was only when our mutual contact persuaded him that I was none of those things that he eventually called. We have since become good friends and luckily he told me how my LinkedIn image made him feel. After we had a giggle, I obviously changed it straight away. I was extremely grateful for his feedback, but saddened to think about how many other people may not have contacted me because they felt the way he did. I don’t believe those words define my personal brand; it was just a poorly chosen photograph. I had failed to recognise the way the photographer wanted to portray me, was not actually who I was. You may not like me, but you definitely won’t think I’m ‘scary’. The reason I want to expose my mistake so publicly is to encourage people to think about their own LinkedIn image. I would advise you do the following: Choose three words you want your personal brand to be. Describe the way you want employers and potential business partners to perceive you. Choose a few images that you feel are suitable. Choose three people who you believe will tell you the truth and place the images in front of them. Ask them to pretend they don’t know you and to list words that describe the person in the picture. If their description doesn’t match your words, then you may need to choose a new image. This may sound simple, but how many of us actually do this? What we think is suitable isn’t always the case. That picture of you leaning against a Ferrari may scream successful businessman to you, but is it screaming arrogant show-off to others? It may be, it may not, but how do we know if we don’t ask. You may not care what people think. You may have had a similar experience to me. You may have given some constructive feedback to a business contact yourself. As always I would love to hear your thoughts please leave them in the comments below. RELATED: Top 7 LinkedIn Profile Pictures You Should NOT Use.

Why Do People Hate Writing Resume?

Why Do People Hate Writing Resume?Does your new employer love you for the job you do? Does it show in your resume? For many people this may be a mystery to them. They wonder why they get a job and how their resume does.After you get hired it's time to realize that the type of person you are is the kind of person your new employer likes. Your resume will reflect that. In order to make yourself stand out, write your resume.Now that you understand that you need to give your resume more emphasis, you need to ask yourself how long should your resume be? Should it be at least one page? Should it be three pages? Do you have a certain industry where you know that your resume needs to be? Some industries require a shorter resume than others, but just do not want to read it all.One of the questions you need to ask yourself is whether or not you are going to use your resume as an aid in getting a job. It's the same with your friends. Do you send your friend a letter asking her to call you? Or d o you say, 'I am not looking for anything right now.' This is a way for you to remain relevant and keep up with what is going on in your career.So how do you create a resume that reflects who you are and what you want? With your hobbies and interests it will be easy to highlight them. For example, if you like to cook, make sure that you are sure to highlight it on your resume. And if you love to sing, be sure to include it as well.It's also important to write about your strengths and weaknesses. You want to write something that is somewhat personal and reflects who you are. Make sure that you use the words like 'the best at,' 'the best in,' or 'the smartest at.' You don't want to emphasize your weaknesses because that will make you seem unprofessional.It's also important to go over your resume more than once. By doing this you will be able to catch any errors and eliminate them. Don't be afraid to ask for help either. A friend of mine often asks me to edit her resume so she can get the points she wants to talk about on her. I have yet to refuse to help a friend.As you can see, it's important to remember that your resume is going to be a tool that your new employer uses in deciding whether or not to hire you. So take the time to really think about it and you will get a much better chance at getting the job.

Security Officer Job Description Sample - Algrim.co

Security Officer Job Description Sample - Algrim.co Security Officer Job Description Template Download our job description template in Word or PDF format. Instant download. No email required. Download Template Using Your Template Follow these instructions to use your new job description template Step one: Fill out all details in your job description template using the provided sample on this page. Step two: Customize your requirements or duties to anything special to your workplace. Be sure to speak with team members and managers to gauge what's required of the position. Step three: When the census of the team has agreed on the description of the work, add in a Equal Employment Opportunity statement to the bottom of your job description. Step four: Check with your legal department, management team, and other team members to ensure the job description looks correct before creating a job advertisement. Choose a job board that's specific to your needs. Related Hiring Resources Security Officer Cover Letter Sample

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Understanding the Boss Will Make Your Life Easier

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Understanding the Boss Will Make Your Life Easier I'm always surprised by the number of people who complain they absolutely cannot get along with a boss. While there are some toxic bosses out there who should be sent to Asshole Island (Bob Sutton gets to pick the spot), the truth is that many employees could find it easier going at work if they just put some thought and effort into the boss/employee relationship. The boss, like anyone else, has joys and sorrows, and the sooner you figure them out, the better your work life will be.One of the ways to do this is by putting yourself in the bosss shoes. What are the duties and situations that set your boss off? These are the trigger points that you try to head off before they reach the bosss desk. At the same time, what are the issues that the manager likes to get involved in? Those should also be your priorities. Because if the boss is happy, chances are the good times will roll for you, too.Some other strategies to keep you on the sunny side of the boss: Managers dont make mistakes. O r, rather, they make mistakes but dont want anyone to know about it. Keep such news to yourself, and try and fix any errors quietly and discreetly. Never say I dont know. Educate yourself about how your company functions, and who you can go to for answers on various subjects. If you dont know, you can say to the boss I know who to ask about that issue. Be a good listener. Take notes if you have to when the boss is giving you an assignment. Most bosses wont mind if you ask them to repeat something so that you clearly understand it. Be on top of key issues. Be aware of what is happening in your industry that will affect your bosss work. Read industry periodicals, and keep your ears open at industry events such as conferences and trade shows. Keep an eye on what the competition is doing. Speak up. If you know of a way to streamline a process or cut expenses, tell your boss. Your good ideas reflect well on him and help him see you as a problem-solver. Be a cheerleader. If the boss or yo ur department does good work, ask if you can send the information to an internal newsletter or an industry report. If its printed, make sure the bosss boss gets a copy. Be trustworthy. Never repeat anything your boss tells you, and be discreet if you overhear something. If trust is developed with a boss, you may get a chance to hear inside information that will help your career and keep you an important part of your managers world. Dont be a whiner. Most supervisors automatically shut out the sound of a whining voice. If you have a problem or issue, practice what you want to say so that it sounds logical, not lamebrained. Provide the boss with any date that supports your position. For example, if too many tasks are affecting the quality of your work, map out what happens for a few weeks so that you can present the evidence to the boss. This gives the supervisor hard facts when requesting more resources or personnel from her boss. Work on communicating. Much of the friction at work t hese days is caused by e-mail or voice mail overload, or reports or memos that dont make sense. Always decide what is the best form of communicating your thoughts, not the easiest or fastest. That way, what you say or write will have impact, not just add to the clutter in your bosss life. del.icio.us

How to Write a Resume in Past Tense - A Technique That You Can Use For Your Job Search

How to Write a Resume in Past Tense - A Technique That You Can Use For Your Job SearchYou may find yourself using the word 'how to write a resume in past tense' without thinking much about it, because you find it in a list of tips that you have received online or from another source. If you do not use this technique, you could be missing an opportunity to strengthen your resume and boost your job search.The benefit of writing your resume in past tense is that it will leave a better impression on the person viewing it. A resume is your first advertisement for yourself, so it should be professionally written, for a professional to read. This will help your resume to get your resume out there, even if you are trying to get a job for the first time.Not having proper grammar in your resume can cost you a good job. It can cost you a job if your resume is not up to par. Having a simple resume with grammatical errors, punctuation mistakes, and other errors in the writing of your resume can j eopardize your chances of getting a job in the first place. In addition, it will make it look as though you are not educated about the field of employment that you are applying for.The advantage of writing your resume in past tense is that it leaves the impression that you have knowledge about the job that you are applying for. When you include this information in the 'About Me' section, you are telling the hiring manager that you know about the job and how to do it. Even if you have been out of work for awhile, this type of resume is still the best way to get the information that you need out there.The next time you are looking at a resume or job posting, you can view it through the lens of past tense. You will be able to see that it is written for someone who has held that job before. This allows you to see the skills and experiences that you have developed over the yearsthat can apply to the position that you are applying for. Employers like it when you mention these experiences, because it helps them to hire you for the job based on your work experience and knowledge about the job that you are applying for.Not only will this allow you to tell the future employer about your work history, but it will also give them an idea of what the type of worker that they are going to hire. In addition, by mentioning that you are an experienced worker, you will be seen as someone who is responsible and reliable. This also is true if you were laid off and it was your fault. By including this information in your resume, you will appear as a person who knows how to take care of himself and his work.By leaving the impression that you have been employed by a company before, you will be seen as a reliable person by your current employer. They will want to hire you because they know that you can be trusted. This is something that a future employer will appreciate when they are interviewing you for a job.Even if you do not use this technique, it is always helpful to have a resum e that is well-written and professionally written. It shows that you have a good grasp of the English language and can express yourself in a clear and concise manner. You will be able to show your potential employer that you are someone who can put thought into what they are looking for, and then turn that thought into something that is easily understood by them.

5 Things You Can Do When Your Performance is Declining

5 Things You Can Do When Your Performance is Declining Are you worried that your performance may be tailing off? When you first get hired, your managers see some spark in you. With proper mentoring and investment, you start to grow and improve. Then, at some point you hit your stride and the danger begins. If you keep doing the same things in the same way you’ve always done them, you can become less effective over time. Maybe others come along and innovate, or the marketplace wants something different, or the support system around you has changed. Whatever the reason, it can be alarming when your results aren’t what you’d like them to be, whether that’s on an absolute basis or relative to rising expectations as you get more senior. The question is, what can you do? 5 things you can do when your performance is declining When you’re concerned that your performance is on a plateau or even declining, take a look at these lessons from J.D. Martinez, a Major League Baseball (MLB) player who struggled with his batting performance and did something constructive about it. Be open to the truth Start by taking a hard look at whether your performance has indeed stagnated or begun to slip, keeping in mind that the bar keeps getting higher each year. So, staying steady can mean falling behind relative to rising expectations. In J.D.’s case, there are statistics that measure a batter’s performance. And while his stats were still good, they were beginning to decline. Whether your performance is slipping on an absolute or relative basis, it’s time to face the truth. Only then can you take proper action to remedy it. Change your swing While it’s easy to conclude that you need to make a change, it’s not always obvious what kind of change you need to make. It’s even harder when you suspect the change needs to be something fundamental. Whether that’s learning new skills, taking on more challenging assignments or something that feels equally risky, these are decisions that you don’t want to take lightly. Here’s where observing the people who are successful can help. What do they do or have in common? And which of those things are you doing too? Armed with this knowledge, you can make a conscious choice on what actions to take. In J.D.’s case, he needed to change his swing. But he was reluctant to do so even as his stats drifted lower because his swing was what landed him in Major League Baseball in the first place, and he didn’t want to tinker with his main source of income. What finally propelled him to action was when an injury forced him to take time off, including watching baseball on ESPN during his rehab. He noticed that all of the most successful batters â€" including one of his teammates â€" had the same swing and that his was different. Whatever field you’re in, it feels less risky to “change your swing” when you know what you’re changing it to. And stepping back from the day-to-day grind is essential to gaining perspective on what’s really happening. Go to the experts Once you’ve identified what you need to do, don’t feel like you need to do it on your own. Instead, find people with the expertise and experience in the area you want to develop. Get their help, even if you have to pay for it yourself. When you learn from experts, you gain the benefit of their learning curve and it shortens the amount of time, effort and anxiety for you. J.D. asked his teammate how he developed the winning swing and enrolled himself in the same coaching program. Before long, he started seeing results. Demonstrate you’ve changed Just because you know you’ve changed doesn’t mean that others will see it. Most people are too busy with their own concerns to notice a change in you unless someone brings it to their attention. Even then, they may not believe it at first. Look for a variety of ways to show the new way you do things. For example, telling your manager what you’ve done, inviting someone senior to see you in action, or having a credible third party vouch for your progress. It’s the equivalent of having all arrows point to a conclusion, which makes it harder to miss. J.D. played in a Venezuelan league during the off-season â€" something most professional players don’t do â€" to prove to himself that his new swing worked, which it did. He then told his manager and asked for a chance to demonstrate his new swing in games. Use rejection as fuel for improvement Sometimes, your manager or clients won’t give you a fair chance to demonstrate how you’ve changed. After all, most people don’t make a significant change in the way they operate or perform once they’re past the initial stages of their careers. And if your performance has been going sideways for a while, they may find it hard to believe the “new you” is going to last. That’s what happened to J.D. His manager’s view was that it was highly unlikely that a seasoned batter could possibly transform their performance, and never gave him a real chance before cutting J.D. from the team. But J.D. landed at another team and used that rejection as fuel for continued improvement to become one of the league’s top hitters. So if you don’t get the audience or respect you deserve at first, don’t let it stop you. Keep going. Own your performance As J.D. Martinez’s example shows, any investment you make in yourself is never lost. He became one of the league’s top batters and helped his new team, the Boston Red Sox, to an offensive resurgence, even elevating his teammates to his level of play. His former team, the Houston Astros, clearly have had regrets for letting him go. And just as J.D. had some lessons to learn, so did the management team at the Astros. But that’s another story which we’ll cover next week. In the meantime, remember that it’s up to you to own your performance. From monitoring how you’re doing to making investments in your capabilities and demonstrating that you’ve improved, you are always a work in progress. Human potential is vast and growing, so don’t shortchange yourself by thinking you’re done. Now it’s your turn. What will you do if you feel underestimated or if your performance curve is flattening out? Leave a comment and let me know.

Write A Kicking Bio With Ease

Write A Kicking Bio With Ease Your bio appears many places today. Having one you are proud of and that adequately represents you can be a challenge- but not insurmountable!  You need to have a professional summary that speaks to who you are and what youve accomplished, so lets get going! One of the things I struggle with is writing my own bio. It feels yucky, like Im over-doing it. As I battled to update my bio this week, I enlisted the help of a valued colleague to help me refine it. She pointed out duplicate words and helped me pull something together which was better than I could have done on my own. The moral of the story is to ask for help! Have you noticed that bios are becoming less formal? When I read a bio in which someone talks about themselves in the third person, it turns me off because it sounds pompous, arrogant and impersonal. For example, Sarah is known for her talent in or worse, Mr. Jones possesses 30 years of experience Is this type of bio passe? What do you think? In this weeks On Careers post, I walk through the important things to consider before you start writing your bio and how to give it the right feel to match your style and industry. Check it out here. Here are the five sections of advice and tips I provide. I hope youll go take a look! Consider Your Audience Look to others for Inspiration Pull Out The Best Information The Long and Short Versions Taking Your Bio One Step Further