Having Great Stuff Is Not Good Enough

Having Great Stuff Is Not Good Enough Yesterday at the National Resume Writers Association conference I heard a question like this: How do I get more people to read my blog?   And an answer like this: Make sure you write great content. Unfortunately, I disagree.   Having great stuff is not good enough. If you have a blog and want more readers, having great content is not good enough.   If you have a Twitter account and want more readers, having great content is not good enough. If you have a resume and want to attract hiring managers and recruiters, having great content is not good enough. If you have a story and want to inspire, motivate, persuade, influence, or touch someone, having a great story is not good enough. Having great content, even being interesting, is not good enough. You have to market.   Nike has to had to market.   Coca Cola has to had to market.   Job seekers have to market themselves.   Bloggers have to market their blogs if they want other people to find and read the blogs.  Twitter people have to let people know you have a twitter page, and show you have interesting thing to tweet.  If you have a resume you have to get it in front of the right people, and differentiate yourself from the hundreds of other resumes a hiring manager might see.  Storytellers (thats all of us) need to get an audience, because telling that story again and again in front of a mirror isnt inspiring anyone. Marketing, for you, includes having a brand and letting others know about it (i.e., know that you exist).  Marketing is not just limited to big (or small) companies.  Marketing is key to your career success.   Check out Conversation Agent Valeria Maltonis recent post on In a Tough Economy, Branding Matters.  She talks about how job seekers (and career managers) can use technologies for branding.  She is a branding thought leader, and its cool to see her take on what we can do for our own careers. If you listen to podcasts, you have to check out the Personal Branding Summit recordings hours and hours of recordings on personal branding from very different perspectives, at NO COST. If you have great stuff, move to the next phase and let people know about it!     This post is sponsored by Bonnie Kurka, CEO of Executive Career Suite. Bonnie offers resume, coaching and outplacement services, and specializes in helping executives make that next step in their career.  Bonnie has a terrific blog, and is a JibberJobber Career Expert Partner. Having Great Stuff Is Not Good Enough Yesterday at the National Resume Writers Association conference I heard a question like this: How do I get more people to read my blog?   And an answer like this: Make sure you write great content. Unfortunately, I disagree.   Having great stuff is not good enough. If you have a blog and want more readers, having great content is not good enough.   If you have a Twitter account and want more readers, having great content is not good enough. If you have a resume and want to attract hiring managers and recruiters, having great content is not good enough. If you have a story and want to inspire, motivate, persuade, influence, or touch someone, having a great story is not good enough. Having great content, even being interesting, is not good enough. You have to market.   Nike has to had to market.   Coca Cola has to had to market.   Job seekers have to market themselves.   Bloggers have to market their blogs if they want other people to find and read the blogs.  Twitter people have to let people know you have a twitter page, and show you have interesting thing to tweet.  If you have a resume you have to get it in front of the right people, and differentiate yourself from the hundreds of other resumes a hiring manager might see.  Storytellers (thats all of us) need to get an audience, because telling that story again and again in front of a mirror isnt inspiring anyone. Marketing, for you, includes having a brand and letting others know about it (i.e., know that you exist).  Marketing is not just limited to big (or small) companies.  Marketing is key to your career success.   Check out Conversation Agent Valeria Maltonis recent post on In a Tough Economy, Branding Matters.  She talks about how job seekers (and career managers) can use technologies for branding.  She is a branding thought leader, and its cool to see her take on what we can do for our own careers. If you listen to podcasts, you have to check out the Personal Branding Summit recordings hours and hours of recordings on personal branding from very different perspectives, at NO COST. If you have great stuff, move to the next phase and let people know about it!     This post is sponsored by Bonnie Kurka, CEO of Executive Career Suite. Bonnie offers resume, coaching and outplacement services, and specializes in helping executives make that next step in their career.  Bonnie has a terrific blog, and is a JibberJobber Career Expert Partner.

How to Present Your Resume

How to Present Your ResumeWhen a job applicant or employee gets a job interview, he may present the employer with a resume. The resume must look professional and up to date in order to impress the employer. As soon as you are on the job, a bookkeeper resume sample can help you make an impression on the interviewer. Here are the steps on how to do it.The first thing you need to do is to create an impressive bookkeeper resume sample. Many times when applying for jobs, it is a no-brainer for the interviewer to ask for examples of resumes. What you need to do is to compile a well-written resume from the tips provided by the bookkeeper resume sample. You may begin your work by doing the cover letter as well. Then work on the CV, which is the backbone of any CV.The next step would be to start getting a response for your resume. So, even if you are not getting many interview offers, continue to send out resumes till you get some positive responses. Once you have received some responses, you may now move on to the actual job interviews that you are sure to get.One of the basic rules of marketing is to give the reader something to think about. So, when talking about the bookkeeper resume sample, it is essential that you give them at least two reasons why you should be hired for the job.Start off with a simple story, which is telling them why you were given the job. For example, you may have been the bookkeeper who was so smart that even when the payroll clerk was having a night out, you did not miss a single day. You did everything perfectly. This story can tell them why you can easily keep track of the books and records of the company.You may also be able to tell them why you can easily handle the actual position. For example, you may know about the company's strategy of use of accounting information, inventory, and payroll. You may be an excellent writer, who has so much knowledge about how the entire organization is managed.On the other hand, you may be so organized that you can quickly find out what the actual job requirements are and handle the books and records of the company with ease. The bookkeeper resume sample must always include the reasons you should be hired and should be addressed on a first-name basis.If you are not sure how to properly write a resume, you can easily check out how other professionals can show you how to write one. A good bookkeeper resume sample will give you tips on how to write an excellent resume. By including these elements in the resume, you will be assured that you have a great chance of getting the job.

4 Questions to Help you Hire Workers for Travel

4 Questions to Help you Hire Workers for Travel If you love to travel for work, one of the most thrilling sounds in the world is your captain’s voice over the intercom when your plane makes its final descent to your destination. But not everyone has a soft spot for combining business and travel. While being a nomadic worker may seem alluring, employees aren’t always fulfilled by the lifestyle. In fact, an independent study by TSheets found, while most people who travel for work do so to improve their career and visit new places, 27 percent said they simply do it for the money. Among those findings, the survey also uncovered concerns about the impact travel has on an employee’s personal life and health: Employees admitted being away from their loved ones is the worst part of traveling for work. 23 percent of employees said they dont like that their job keeps them away from their family. 13 percent of employees said they’re bothered by sleep disruption. 11 percent of employees said their diet suffers when they travel. 5 percent of employees said they miss being able to work out regularly. 9 percent of employees dislike the long hours they have to put in when traveling for work. 9 percent of employees resent having to pay work-related expenses up front. Without a doubt, traveling for work can be downright taxing. Keeping your employees happy on the road is also, in itself, a challenge. But recruiters must be diligent in asking the right questions to candidates if they want to hire and retain the best employees for the job. Aside from questions about experience with work-related trips, try asking these four questions to candidates whose responsibilities will include travel. 1. “Why do you want to travel for work?” Every person takes a job with travel requirements for different reasons. So a potential employee’s answer to this question might make a difference in whether they’ll be a good fit for the role. If they want to do it because it is good for their career, like 36 percent of the employees surveyed, or they want to do it because they just love to travel (34 percent of respondents answered this way), the odds of them continuing to work and travel are better. Research indicates these groups are much more likely to do the same amount or more work-related travel in the future. If a candidate’s answer is related to pay, however, they may not be the best fit. This group, the 27 percent mentioned above, said they expect to do less work-related travel in the future. 2. “What is your plan to stay healthy on the road?” Health issues are a concern for many mobile workers. Thirteen percent of survey respondents said sleep disruption is a problem, while 11 percent said they don’t stick to a healthy diet while traveling. And 5 percent said they miss working out regularly due to travel. If employees are unhealthy, they won’t do their best work. And unhealthy habits on the road can even result in burnout. While you can â€" and should â€" set up your employees in hotels with fitness centers and healthy food options, if you don’t hire someone who has a plan for self-care, you risk losing them to a more grounded role. 3. “What are some of your stress-management techniques?” Even if 23 percent of employees who travel for work said missing their families is the hardest part about it, the long hours alone can be a major cause of stress. If your candidate lacks a solid foundation for stress management, they might not be suited for time away from their kids or late nights in a new time zone. Many businesses that have traveling employees are accustomed to offering a benefits package that factor stress management. If your company has such benefits, it would be useful to bring it up in the interview to gauge interest. The best candidates will either have a plan in place or be interested in exploring their options for managing job-related stress. 4. “Are you accustomed to using mobile apps to track time, locations, and projects on the road?” Keeping neat records while on a business trip isn’t a strong suit for American employees. Only 25 percent of survey respondents said they keep a record of the hours they work, and only 22 percent said they keep a record of the places they travel. This could be a liability for your company, as new legislation could require employees determine time spent in other states for tax purposes. Unless their employers use a system to track the times and locations for work performed, this information is left to the discretion of the employee. Don’t leave anything to guesswork. Help your employees have a better travel experience by offering them tools to help them take conference calls, track and enter job-related expenses, and track their hours worked in each location. Traveling for work is more enjoyable than not Despite challenges, 70 percent of employees still said they enjoy traveling for work. For recruiters, it’s important to find employees who are passionate about travel and their career, can maintain a good work-life balance and healthy habits on the road, and are open to adopting new technology. About the author:  Kim Harris is a copywriter and blogger based in Boise, Idaho, who has been putting her journalism background to good use telling stories and helping businesses grow since 2008. When she’s not writing at TSheets, you’ll find her freelancing, queuing up entertainment, and plotting her next escape.

Managing Generations in the Workplace

Managing Generations in the Workplace Thanks to Digital Third Coast and Professor Yorton Clark Jr, chair of the business administration department at MidAmerica Nazarene University for passing on this guide to the three most active generations in the workforce (millennials, gen x, baby boomers.) Great data on how each age group views themselves as well as how they view the other age groups, tips for increasing production with each group and actionable advice on to bridge the gap between  the generations in the workplace. Find the original article here.

How to Determine the Best Resume Writing Format

How to Determine the Best Resume Writing FormatOne of the many things you need to take into consideration when it comes to resume writing is the best resume format. There are a few things you need to think about when you're trying to decide how to write a resume for your new job. The best resume format will vary from person to person, but here are some common formats and some tips to make sure you get started right.First, you need to determine what your main purpose for writing a resume is. You will have to keep this in mind because not all resumes need to be just about the skills and accomplishments you have on your resume. People's resumes are meant to portray who they are and what they can do for the company you're applying for. So, if you want to make your resume stand out, you should always strive to have strong, but concise information.The first step in the process is to figure out what your top two to three sections are going to be: the accomplishments, education, and experien ce. These should all be the most important parts of your resume. For people who have strong skills, but don't have any schooling or work experience, you should include any professional certifications they may have earned. This is often called professional experience, and is an important part of your resume.Also, there are many different resumes out there that do not follow this structure. When this happens, your resume will most likely look rushed, unprofessional, and poorly written. The best way to avoid this is to start off by deciding what your resume is supposed to be about. You may not even have to use a specific format or template to do this.If you're going to be writing your resume by hand, then you may want to use one of these ideas to help you get started. Many people think they know exactly what they want on their resume, but often they leave something out. When you're first setting up your resume, don't focus too much on writing your experiences or anything else that has nothing to do with your skill set. Focus more on what you have accomplished before a board or on a writing project you are working on. This will allow you to focus on what you have done already and not on other items.After you have focused on your accomplishments section, you should take a look at your education section. Even though it seems like a lot of time is spent on the educational accomplishments, the fact is that you have to put the learning in there somehow. Again, the more you spend time on your education section, the better your resume will be.Finally, you should consider your experience section. While the ability to work doesn't show as much experience, you want to still list this in the resume. You should list your occupation first, then go over the experience section. Remember, if you are only putting experience on your resume, then the experience section should be your last section.The best resume writing format isn't a real format. What you need to do is take a step back and think about what you need to include in your resume. Once you've decided, you should take a look at the best resume writing format to help you through your resume writing.

What companies could you work for

What companies could you work for Instead of searching for companies that have job postings, develop a list of potential employers.   These are companies that employ or could hire the  job you are seeking.   In  creating  your target list identify your previous employers competition what industries do you have knowledge of, list all the companies in this industry. Do not filter out anything yet. if you are changing  careers, ask what companies  have similar functions. also identify  the territory/geographic area you  COULD work in (this should be larger than a 10 mile  radius). There are some good on-line tools listed below.   You will also want to use your local librarian who has access to many other research tools. NYS DOL Potential Employers.  This is a database that will provide you with 75 companies that have been known to hire the profession/job you ask it to search by.   The information comes from InfoUSA. Hoovers(a DunBradstreet product)   has  great  company descriptions in plain English, not their self promoting jargon. You will also see  each companys top 3 competitors.   There are limitations to the information you can get. In order to see more, you need to subscribe (pay money).   Get what you can from here, but visit your local library. Every city probably has a Top 100 listing.   Check your  citys website, chamber of commerce or economic development agency.  This is Rochesters Top 100 listing. And dont forget about using LinkedIn to source target employers. Your next step is to find out about salaries in these jobs. Here are The Best Ways to Find Salary Information.

Doing the right thing

Doing the right thing I love my 96 1/2 year old grandfather in-law.   I always learn something from him. You just have to ask the right questions.   I have asked him the difference between staw and hay (dont remember the answer, but it made sense at the time), and how many ears of corn does a stalk produce-one. Great Ralph, as he is known, attended Cornells Agricultural school.   I asked him this weekend more about college.    He came from  a  4th generation  farming family.   I asked him  why he attended college and  he said everybody I knew was going, it was the thing to do.   So then I asked him why Cornell.   He told me that it was between Syracuse or Cornell.   I was thinking that those 2 schools were  close to his  home, but it was more than that.   Both Syracuse and  Cornell offered  close to  a free education  in their Agricultural schools.   (Syracuse eliminated theirs right after Ralph started Cornell). So,  imagine today, some of the  greatest colleges offer  in-state discounts (almost a free ride)  in the programs/degrees needed in  that state or our country (science and math)?   Sure, that sounds idealistic.   If we want to compete with the education in India, well have to do something more than  offer the  exclusive, cost-prohibative eduction we have today.    Why does it cost so much for college anyway? Why does higher education have to be a priveledge, rather than a right?   Shouldnt anyone with the desire to learn be able to attend a college to get that knowledge?   It is time for colleges to wake up and smell the coffee.