Posts Tagged ‘empowerment’

The holiday season is upon us-quite literally. Sometimes it can feel like a weight on the chest of an unemployed person.  Now is the time to breathe, and affirm that you are a super star, as the song goes, “that’s what you are.”  Sometimes we have to believe it before we see it.  We have to believe in ourselves, and others will believe in us too.  Are you empowering your career development, or destroying it?  Sometimes we spank our career growth without even knowing it.  It’s what I refer to as our blind spot.  People can see things about us that we can’t see in ourselves.  The fact is you are leaving an impression with everyone who interviews you.  During the holidays it is particularly important to affirm your worth.  Embrace what you do best, and learn to articulate your strong points.  As you do so, you are actually reprogramming your brain, and undoing habituated patterns of negative thinking which can lead to negative behavior.

Does positive thinking always bring about positive results? Not necessarily, but I guarantee you this: negative thinking will not ever reap the results you want.  Negative thinking is like a soul sucking vaccume that takes the wind out of your job search sails.  Here is an excellent model illustrated by our friends at CareerBuilder. It illustrates that if you do what you love, it is an affirmation of your strengths, and can put you on the path of career realization.

Your Career And You via Career Builder

So in the final analysis, I want to leave you with this thought: Act like you are a success.  Live your life as if you are succeeding.  Be really clear about what you do best.  Learn to articulate your value proposition, and if you need a reminder grab one of us in the HireFriday #HFChat community, and we’ll empower you, reassure you, and be your job search pal during your transition.  Some people might think I’m a little sappy pollyanna, but hey somebody has to wave the flay for the candidates who happen to be unemployed.  Somebody has to be an career advocate for those people who secretly hate their jobs but feel stuck because they are so afraid of losing their job during this recession we are in (and surviving) and somebody has to get behind both the employed, and unemployed that want to make a change, and care about moving their career forward.  The HireFriday Leadership Team does just that.  Get in touch with Cyndy Trivella, Tom Bolt, Steve Levy or me.  The easiest, and fastest way to reach me is on Twitter just Tweet to @HRMargo.  I reply to every tweet.  It’s hard to reach me by phone, or email, so just tweet me anytime of the day or night and I promise to get back to you.

One more thing.  On January 19, 2012 from 6-8 p.m. Central, 7 to 9 p.m. Eastern Time The Nashville Social Media Club, The Nashville Career Transitions Group, The #HFChat Community are sponsoring an event: Linked In Optimization, Your Job Search, and You.  Panelists include world renown experts Jennifer Way, Mathew LeBlance, Shannon VanCuren (and little ole’ me).  We are recruiting the best recruiters in the business to tweet live, career focused vendors to donate prizes (like resume packages, fun gifts, linkedIn profile reviews and optimizations, books and cool stuff you can really use in January).  Why are we doing this?  Because we happen to know for a cold-hard fact that January is the most depressing time of the year to job search.  Guess what?  We’re going to turn that around.  Why?  Because we care.  We want to remind you (all of you) that you are a super star.  That’s what you are. Will you please help us out and share this post with your social network pals? I’d sure appreciate it.

Your job search pal,

@HRMargo

Social Media Strategist

Founder of HireFriday, and HFChat

Are we LinkedIn?  No? Let’s remedy that today: http://linkedin.com/in/margorose

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Collaborative communities that work together, move mountains

Lend a hand. Encourage a heart, and watch the world around you change.   Each of you is a  transformational force of nature.  Each of you, regardless of your age, color, religion, race, sexual preference, or political leanings,  has a dynamic, unique organizational perspective that no one else can bring to the workplace.  Why?  Because, there’s only one you.   Years ago, William Bridges wrote a career development book entitled “You & Company.”   His message was crisp, and perspecatious.   In essence, he expressed that each of us has a brand, and a special gift.  Now the term product banding is in vogue.  In the past few years, we’ve seen people alluded to as “employee brands.”  Yes, as a job seeker, you are the brand.  It’s brand you.  No, you’re not necessarily a product, but if you brand your image, your unique selling points you can create a neat,  and slick package.

As a perspective employee, you can create such an attractive presentation, you will present yourself to recruiters, and hiring managers with aplomb.  As brand YOU, you can tease out all the skills, knowledge, and abilities you bring to a company.  Think about it. You can do something that no one else can do as well as you.  Ok, HRMargo, you might say, “I’m just a…or…”Yes but…”  Stop.  Stop it right now.    Just for today, I want you to eliminate the qualifying statements: yes but, and I’m just a…and I want you to park them in the closet.  Do it.  For the rest of the day, every time your mind says, I can’t…or yes but I can’t because…or…I’m just a fill in the blank…catch yourself mid sentence.   Replace those thoughts with, ” I can and I may need to do x-y-z, to get there.”

Unemployment is Hard, and I am CONVINCED HireFriday can help.  I am so convinced that I am dedicating the rest of my life to this endeavor.  I am a baby boomer.  I wear that title like a badge of honor because with my age comes experience, wisdom, and compassion.  With my maturity comes perspective, empowerment, and an ability to engage and reach across to other generations fearlessly.  With my age comes a certain grace and generosity.  And, finally with my age comes a quest for generativity.   I can never completely give back all that has been given to me over the past 50 years of my life.  What I can do is give in kind each day of my life to different people who cross my path.

Regardless of who you are, where you came from, what obstacles you may face...YOU can fill these shoes

Today, I joined the JobHuntChat group on linkedin.  I wrote an introductory post.  My message was clear.  It was simply this: as communities, let’s work collaboratively together to change the world for the better.  Each community has its place.  Each community cluster has its gift, and communities that succeed don’t compete, they work together.  It’s not HireFriday, or JobHuntChat.  It’s HireFriday, and JobHuntChat, and JobAngels.  We all work together.  This will stimulate the economy.  This will revolutionize the lives of others, and the way we do business.   Our respective, and individual communities will each do something unique, and will help people, and organizations in a way no other organization can.

That’s why I’m fearless, and passionate, and persistent in this quest.  Just like you as an individual, our community can do a job no one else can do the way we can do it, because no one else is us.

There’s only one Margo Rose, M.Ed., HRD.  There’s only one YOU.  There’s only one HireFriday 2.0.  We are a boot camp community.  We are a boots on the ground approach to finding  jobs online.  Don’t ever think I can’t.  If you think you can’t, you’re right.  Today, I’m going to give you a challenge.  Remove the word can’t out of your vocabulary when it comes to expressing your skills and abilities.  Your skills and abilities can.  You can.  If you don’t have the education, or experience, get it.

Let HireFriday support you.  We are here to lend a hand, and encourage a heart.  When the world says no, we say yes.  When doors slam in your face, we apply healing salve to your wounds, and provide caring attention to your pain.  When you feel rejected, we offer acceptance, encouragement and compassion.   When I say I will believe in you until you believe in yourself, I mean it from the bottom of my heart, in every fiber of my being.

Love yourself.  Believe in yourself.  Be good to yourself.

I leave you with a theme song to brighten your day. I give you Queen, the rock and roll group from MY generation. I grew up liking Queen, particularly in high school. Remember we are the champions of the world. I’d like to thank Youtube, and the rock and roll band for reminding us of this important fact. Champion your job search.

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What are the top 5 mistakes job seekers make when using Linkedin?

Mistakes, we all make them. What really counts is the correcting mistakes, and moving forward. As a job search strategist, and candidate advocate, it is my job to help job seekers put their best foot forward. Linkedin is one of the best places for job seekers to market themselves. Are you standing out as the go-to expert in your industry on linkedin? It’s Brand You. You are the brand, the human product of intellectual capital. You are the reason recruiters and hiring managers want to recruit you. The question becomes: How well are you managing your online brand. How well are you selling yourself? Are you on-message? Are you marketing yourself in a way that makes you stand out, or are you getting lost in the online clutter? What happens to your resume when it goes into a company’s applicant tracking system?

The problem is so many job seekers don’t know how to promote their brand on linkedin (and other online employment networks). Instead of “suggestions,” I’m prioritizing the top 5 mistakes job seekers make when using linkedin.

1. A picture says a thousand words.  If your picture is out of focus, or unprofessional, your profile won’t get a second look.
2. Job seekers leave out industry related key words. If your profile doesn’t include key words that recruiters and hiring managers are looking for, you will not be found.  Often, they use web crawlers, and search engines to do their bidding.  If your linkedin profiled is not search engine optimized, you will not be found.
3. Job seekers don’t participate in industry related groups. If you don’t ask and answer questions, you will not be acknowledged. The point is to position yourself as a thought leader, and an expert.  Participating in linkedin groups enable you to do just that.
4. Job seekers don’t personalize their linkedin contact invitations. Now, you must know that some people on linkedin think that’s downright unprofessional, or worse, creepy.  Always personalize your invitation to make contact.  Make sure you are polite, and show that person relevance, and the value of why you should share your network.
5. Job seekers don’t proof their profile.  It’s easy to get a friend, or colleague to review your profile.  If you haven’t done so, do it now.  If your profile isn’t well written that is a bad reflection on you, and your professionalism.  People want to hire people they like, and trust.  A flawless linkedin profile will either help you get an interview, or make you land in the circular file (trash can).  Don’t be a trash can statistic.  Polish your profile, and enlist  your friends to help you.

HireFriday is filled with people who want to help you. Tap into our resources, and remember tomorrow is HireFriday.  It’s your day to shine, because all of my volunteers will put you in the spot light.  I will personally RT your credentials to all of my contacts–but–if your profile is not credible, I won’t.  If you need help, feel free to email me, or dm one of our HireFriday community volunteers. Tomorrow from 12-1 p.m. est.Josh LeTourneau and I will lead another HireFriday Chat on twitter.  Just follow the stream, and ask your questions.

Your HireFriday Community Manager

HR Margo Rose

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HireFriday Boot Camp Workshops and Coaching Now Available by Margo Rose

Have you ever written a book? This is the first book I’ve written. I’m convinced it won’t be my last. One day, I want to write a book about my Father, Rolly Schwartz, the man who trained olympic champions. Rolly is in 7 halls of fame, has been honored, and met 2 American Presidents (Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter). Daddy was my hero. He was involved in Olympic Boxing for more than 50 years. He used to say, “A winner never quits, and a quitter never wins.” He trained Cassius Clay (when he was an amateur boxer). I’ll never forget when he’d come to our house to dinner (when he lived in Kentucky). I was just a child, but I thought I was looking up at superman. Dad trained the greatest boxers who’ve ever lived. Now I know where I get my spunk.

He inspired me to champion others. As the founder of HireFriday on twitter, facebook, and linkedin, that’s just what I do. Unemployment is hard. HireFriday can help. I created a job seeker stream, not a job stream which is what makes my community special. I take tremendous pride in extolling the virtues, talents, skill-sets, and strengths of the job seekers in the HireFriday community. I cut my eye teeth on outplacement back in the 90′s. I was a project career consultant for Right Management, an internationally recognized outplacement firm.

It was then I knew helping job seekers was, and is my path. When I tap into the deepest part of my soul, and ask myself, what do I care about professionally more than anything else? The answer is crystal clear. It is to help unemployed people accelerate their job search. This is the basis of my book. I have a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Development. The Career Development element of my educational training was the favorite part of my studies. I knew then there was a book inside me trying to get out.  I used to be a corporate trainer, and outplacement consultant.  I started working for Right Management, a nationally recognized outplacement firm while I was still in graduate school.  I took to the work like a duck to water. Working with job seekers brought me so much joy.  This book is my labor of love.

The book begins with my own journey of career transition from organization development, to owning The Paw Spa, and back into human resources. As a social media strategist, I knew it was important that I communicate the best practices I’ve learned to others. Life is meaningless unless there is a purpose, a purpose grounded in spiritual roots, and sound career development principles. I wanted to impart not just job search strategies, but also how to lift your spirits when the job search gets you down.

One of the most difficult parts of my own experience with career transition is the discouragement that comes with rejection, it’s so demotivating. I used to feel invisible, and forgotten. I never want the job seekers in the HireFriday community to experience the sense of despair and isolation that I experienced. I lifted myself up out of the rut of discouragement, but I didn’t do it alone. The recruiting, HR, and career and coaching community lifted me up, encouraged and empowered me, and most importantly I felt like I belonged to a community.

Follow Friday isn’t useless, people still find interesting people to follow through the stream on twitter. Whenever I saw a row of names without description, my eyes would glaze over. I grew bored and weary of #FF. I knew there had to be a better use of my time and energy. It started when I gave out the coveted HRMargo awards. I selected 1 or 2 people, and described what they do best, and why I thought they were super stars. Everybody loves awards. It got to a point that people started to dm me asking when their award was coming.

That’s when I got the idea for HireFriday. We were on the heels of an ugly recession, and I thought, “hey wouldn’t be a great idea if everyone who tweets #FollowFriday would tweet #HireFriday instead?” Think how many job seekers we can help. The idea became viral, and is now in Canada and the UK. My book shows job seekers how to leverage their social media connections to find their next job. I discuss boots on the ground strategies for how to figure out what you want to do next, how to do Internet research, how to create a social media friendly resume, how to determine the best online job search sources, and how to align all of these resources with you goals.

I’m excited beyond description to share my book with the world. I hope you will enjoy it too.

Before Friday, polish your resume and linkedin profile and get ready to post it to our twitter stream, and facebook and linkedin group.

Today, I selected a motivational theme song that’s funny, and joyful. I now give you, “Who Let The Dogs Out.” This is the dance remix. If this doesn’t get you jumping, I don’t know what will. Celebrate your beautiful life.

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