Connectiquette is not a typo or a state in New England.  It refers to a process of thoughtful deliberation.

This age of the network and personal collaboration is bringing important benefits to people around the world.  Technology has brought us all closer together, afforded the ability to create like communities, given voice to all and particularly to those who previously had no voice and enabled countless good deeds and beneficiaries.  The proliferation of social collaboration platforms is making it easy to connect with long-lost friends and family, new  friends, business colleagues and other people who have similar interests, aspirations and goals.  And these same platforms have become crucial in job search and career management.  We now have the ability and liberty to identify hiring managers and influencers that play significant roles in the hiring process. … Read more

You are what you write. I recently did a search on resume tips on a popular search engine that starts with a “G” and to no surprise found more than 37 million pages dedicated to some form of tips for resumes.   Everyone has an opinion and I am no different.  As I coach though, I have seen literally hundreds of resumes and have come to consensus about their content.  Resumes that paint a picture of a personality and tell a story about accomplishments have a higher probability of attracting interest and actionable attention.  Moreover, if you are in the market for an advertising, communications or public relations role, a stellar resume demands that you take the time to succinctly but creatively portray your abilities in quick but compelling fashion.

So grab your keyboard or your favorite resume writer and get to work. … Read more

For certain we are enduring one of the worst job markets since the 1930s. Unemployment is still near double digits and we are now only seeing early buds of a recovery. Jobs are far and few between and those landing are bolstered by solid networks and a great ability to communicate their accomplishments to employers only too willing to hire the best, the brightest and the most economical.

With that as a backdrop you would logically think that landing any job under any circumstance would be the order of the day. Not likely! In We now operate in an era of “mutual employment trust,” whereby employee and employer are on equal footing with each having the right of first recusal. This means that both the job seeker and the employer have equal rights to find each other unfit or unqualified. Sure jobs and job offers are hard to come by. But jumping at the first job that comes along might well be fool hardy at best or a disaster of major proportions at worst.

So what is the litmus test to ascertain if an employer is unfit to have you grace its presence? Here are some flags to ponder. … Read more

There are a myriad of web tools that allow you to keep score on your personal brand whether it is your Web site, Linkedin page, Twitter account, Facebook site, blog or even your Google presence. And I have used them all for a variety of reasons including benchmarking and continuous improvement. But what these tools really help with is perspective and insight.

Recently I came across a unique assessment tool that evaluates virtually your entire digital footprint by examining a wide swath of your brand on platforms like Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter and even your footprint on Google. The tool is www.MyWebCareer.com. MyWebCareer is the first platform I have found that simultaneously looks at multiple platforms with the goal of helping you improve your personal brand.

The site not only provides a career score but it presents a variety of data sets that help you better understand your footprint.

Here is how the firm describes its product, which by the way in its basic form is free and provides a graphical UI that is intuitive and instructive.

“At MyWebCareer we have created a free online service that enables you to uncover and evaluate your digital footprint. Our objective is to provide consumers with insight into their Professional Online Brand and to offer tools to make this data accessible, manageable, and actionable. We use sophisticated link analysis, visualization, and semantics technologies to enable you to quickly evaluate and explore data that may relate to you. Our patent-pending Career Score allows you to easily assess your Professional Online Brand and stay on top of any changes to it with our monthly monitoring service.”

One of the reasons I think this is an interesting tool for insight is the how MyCareerWeb examines the connections, links, career strata and other factoids to present a picture of your digital footprint that is intuitive, easy to read and provides great insight to your career characteristics.

You could spend several days or weeks to do the analysis yourself to achieve a similar result. But the MyCareerWeb tool is lightening fast and cuts to the chase to give you insights into industries, themes, companies, people, locations and connections that can help you focus on where you have been from a career perspective and guide you to where you may want to point yourself if you are looking for new challenges.

MyCareerWeb is really a nifty and comprehensive tool to analyze your path and your connections. The data presented is simple to understand and includes variety of ways to digest and map your contacts and career network and the many relationships that you have with people, companies and industries. If you are in a transition or just want better personal career insight, MyCareerWeb is the consummate platform to employ.

As public relations experts we strive to successfully deliver the goods for our customers and clients. “Brand” for us is critical and a solid reputation is what is important at the end of the day. Words are the vital threads that we weave together in a cohesive statement that fully and succinctly describes the organization so that it strongly resonates with customers and other audiences. Yet who among us has taken the time to consider a statement that describes who and what we are and the value we bring to those with whom we work and interact.

Perhaps it is time to treat ourselves as clients and spend the intellectual capital required to effectively brand ourselves. So how best can you smartly craft a brand statement that will help you strongly resonate with customers, clients, friends and family? Here is a ten step approach that can help you encapsulate the essence of “you.” Bear in mind this exercise may take up to two weeks to two months depending on how responsive your friends and colleagues are and the amount of brain power you dedicate.

The basic framework for a smart brand statement is typically one sentence that succinctly captures your value in a way that is memorable and intuitive. The structure might be as follows but use your best judgment based on your own style:

“I am (your name) and (an/a) (descriptive attribute) (title/role noun) (descriptive verb of value) (object of value noun).“

For example, “I am John Doe and a versatile and experienced PR brand strategist focused on surfacing and promoting the vital attributes for organizations to strongly bond with their audiences.”

Statement Guidelines: As noted, the simpler the statement, the likelihood it will be more memorable. So keep these criteria in mind as you craft your brand description.

1. Keep it simple
2. A reminder of the beneficial effects of your talents/skills
3. Intuitive
4. Understandable
5. Easy to Remember
6. Paints a picture
7. Universally understood

Process: As you go through the ten step process, be thoughtful, penetrating, honest and brief.

1. For each session that you spend on this exercise, sit down in a comfortable place with your favorite instrument of composition and beverage of choice.

2. Compose a list of your six best characteristics as you view them. Be succinct but descriptive. For example, “versatile,” “strong writer,” “insightful strategist,” “intuitive thinker,” etc.

3. Ask five of your best friends to compose a similar list of your best six characteristics as they view them. 

4. Next ask five colleagues at your place of work/business to do the same assuming you are actively employed. If not, ask five colleagues in your support group.

5. With all characteristics in hand, create a 6 by 11 matrix so that you can assess, cross check and select the characteristics that are most common among you, your friends and work colleagues. Make sure that the most common characteristics or traits personally resonate with you.

6. With your characteristics narrowed down and in hand construct three sample statements based on the framework noted above that are authentic, fit your thinking and match your character.

7. With the three statements in hand, enlist the help of your colleagues and friends to provide to you their favorite two statements.

8. Go through the same exercise as step 5 and select the two most preferred statements. And sleep on it.

9. With fresh eyes and brain, select the one statement that most resonates with you and commit it to memory.

10. From here on in, use this statement religiously and consistently until you decide it is time for a new role for yourself. Feel free to use this statement for the introduction on your Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter profiles or any other social infrastructure platforms that you employ.

The recently published New York Times piece Unemployed, and Likely to Stay That Way highlights the unfortunate side effect of this multi-year recession that economists peg to 2007. The New York Times opening salvo hits it on the head, “The longer people stay out of work, the more trouble they have finding new work.”  The brutal fact is that thousands of highly experienced people are still out searching for their next gig after 12, 24, 36 and 48 months of unemployment.  Even more regrettable is that many search executives and corporate HR people have a built-in bias against the unemployed.   

Well, guess what, “wake up and smell the experience.”    Near as I can tell there is no valid research that indicates chances of a great hire are better with those that are currently engaged than not.  From where does this bias emanate and why do companies have a preference for only hiring the employed?  If anyone has the evidence, please shine some light on it.  Otherwise, let’s lose the bias and start helping everyone get back to work! 

Here are five things you can suggest to HR folks and executive search firms to consider or act on to address this growing and toxic bias: 

Prioritize the candidate field and first look at qualified “dis-employed” professionals who have been let go by “unemployers.”  Tel them to do their part to pay it forward.  Suggest they revise their policies to focus on qualified professionals regardless of age and who have stellar reputations and work histories.  And if they cannot identify any (which I doubt is true) then look at those currently gainfully employed.  Leaving underemployed or unemployed talent on the table is a waste of energy, intellect and resources, not to mention potential profit.

Educate your clients!  Many HR and search executives “pass the buck” saying that it is the clients that are demanding candidates who are currently employed.  Come on!!! The fact is unemployed pro’s have experience and then some.  Tell them to not try using the Soap Opera scenario.  During this recession many companies have decided to save money and hire “the Young and the Cheap” thus adding the savings to the bottom line.  Fact is that search firms and HR folks are being compensated to be real, authentic and honest.  They should help their client(s) understand why unemployed folks are just as talented as those who are gainfully employed.

Have a heart.  We know that the client is paying the bills but how difficult is it to take the time to listen to an honest query from an out of work professional?  Why not respond courteously to the job seeker?  Take the person’s call.  Be responsive.  Be honest.  Tell them “the life you save may be your own.” 

Take a chance. Sure the hiring and recruiting business is dog-eat-dog.  We know that search pros need to make the right pick of the right candidate with the right credentials.  Why not take a chance on folks that have the right pedigree and background but just lack a current gig.  They may just find that the best candidates are those with the greatest need. 

Be a leader.  Now that the economy is starting to recover, why not take the initiative to set a good example for fellow HR colleagues and recruiters.  Spread the word that unemployed professionals deserve a chance to compete on an even playing field.

I often have commented in blogs and guest posts why it is important today to speak to and about your accomplishments.  Fact is companies want to know what you have accomplished not just what jobs you have held. Your past accomplishments are an indicator of how you will perform in the future.  So in this hotly competitive job market, you must “stand out” and be “outstanding.” Yet it is well to be aware that the bar is rising.

The resume is no longer the primary means for getting considered for a job. The race to hire the best is stepping up.  Companies are no longer just relying on what you tell them through your resume and cover letters.  Companies and recruiters are heading straight to Google, Bing, Blekko and other search engines to see what you are truly up to and how large is your web footprint.

So you say, “how do I become visible and what can do insure a visible presence in cyberspace?”  Is the resume a relic of the past.  The short answer is no.  But the resume today is only one of several means of highlighting you as a brand.  Here are some other ideas:

1. Distinguish yourself. As the U.S. Army’s 1986 recruiting slogan said, “Be all you can be.”  If you have a job you love, do it well and exceed expectations.  People love a winner. And if you are a winner at what you do, people will talk!

2. Pay it forward and pay it back. If you have been helped by others, reciprocate.  There are countless non-profit organizations in the world who can benefit from the gray matter between your ears.  And in the process of helping them, you may just receive some recognition that ends up in cyberspace.

3. Create your own content, particularly if you have a point of view, “the gift of gab,” and/or can offer wisdom to the masses or at least those with an interest.

4. Develop and curate a blog that focuses on a topic about which you have a passion and are a thought leader.  People love stories.  So employ the art of storytelling in your blog as a way to make it interesting and compelling.  And keep in mind that the end game with blogging is to educate, enlighten, entertain or enrage.

5. Set up a “Topic-based Twitter” moniker. If your passion is deep sea diving, set up a twitter account like @deepdivedan and focus all of your tweets on everything someone would need to know to be a “deep diver,” including  the who, what, where, when and why of diving.  At some point folks will recognize your passion and expertise and wait for your next 140 characters to learn something new or be enlightened.  Furthermore, your tweets forever become part of the cyber stream and likely show up in a web search.

6. Answer the question. Take advantage of the Q&A platforms on social platforms like Facebook and Linkedin and answer questions in your area of expertise or sphere of influence.   Over time your connections and acquaintances will recognize your knowledge and come to respect your wisdom.  Your reputation is likely to precede you.

7. Take control of your content. There are many websites out there that trawl the internet, gathering, storing and then presenting information about as many people as possible.  No doubt you will have a profile somewhere onwww.zoominfo.com,www.spokeo.com,www.jigsaw.com, etc.  Many of these websites allow you to take control of your ‘contact card’ and choose what is displayed. Delete any errors and create a profile that is accurate and compliments your career.

8. Using social networks such as LinkedIn, Facebook or Xing is a key component to establishing your personal brand online. Each or these websites are highly ranked by search engines, so a profile created on these platforms will rise higher in search results than other lesser used information platforms.  It is also a great way to compete with others who may have your same name.  A noted of caution:  Take time to develop your online profiles; you cannot simply replicate your resume. You must concisely portray your key professional and personal accomplishments with an executive summary that immediately draws interest from industry leaders, hiring managers and executive recruiters.

9. Employ the best of Google! Google has a profiles option which is integrated with the rest of Google’s expansive list of programs such as Gmail or Google Reader (a must have RSS reader). Having a Google profile will help you get another link found by search engines, and beat that rival executive with the same name.  Visit www.google.com/profiles to create an online profile much like Linkedin or Facebook – because of the high visibility in Google’s own search engine, I would suggest keeping personal info out and making it a professional extension of your personal brand.

10. Create a portfolio or presentation about you employing the SlideShare Platform (www.slideshare.com.)  SlideShare is an online service used to host presentations online, and share with internet users worldwide. SlideShare is a great way to establish yourself as an industry leader by sharing presentations demonstrating your knowledge and helping readers to learn from your experience and see your content first hand.  Create a personal branding presentation similar to a C.V. or resume. Include links to company websites and other content that is relevant to your personal brand. Outline your professional history, include photos and videos to tell your story, and start with a clear executive summary. Lastly, publish it on your LinkedIn profile by visiting the LinkedIn home screen, scroll to the end of the right column and choose Slideshare presentation from the ‘add application’ button.

Think outside the resume! The bottom line is that a presence in cyberspace can be a “third party” validation of who you are, what you have done, who you have helped and the value you bring to your environment and those with whom you associate.  And increasingly the footprint or “cyberprint” you leave can be the trail to your next opportunity.

It is ethics month at the Public Relations Society of America in October.  There is also recent talk about ethics in Social Media and the number of charlatans that are coming on the scene ostensibly dishing out advice on the process of being “social.”  In celebration of ethics month and what it means to be a Social Media expert, I was motivated to pen some thoughts on the topic.  So as I attempted to get comfortable in seat 1A on my puddle hopper to parts west, my conversation with the flight attendant turned to life histories.

Garret H. tells me that at 55 he has been in his current job for five years following 30 years as an executive with an insurance firm. After being summarily “let go” he decided that life at the top was no longer a thrill ride.  Yes, the perquisites were okay but certainly not worth the endurance of petty politics, insecure executives and compromising personal integrity.

Listening to his story got me thinking about personal ethics. Members of PRSA agree to and are committed to uphold the code of ethics of the Society.  But beyond the principles to which all members subscribe, ethics at the end of the day are personal to each of us as individuals.  Whether we are part of a professional organization with a code of ethics or not, the way we live our lives really ought to be dictated by a personal code of behavior.  So here are my top ten rules for sustaining personal ethics:

1.  Listen to your mother, she is always right.

2.  Be true to who you are and what you believe. It’s called authenticity.

3. Take the long view and gain from the perspective.  Short-term gains are just that — short.   Go for the long ball if you want sustainability.

4. Don’t lie. It shows and is obvious. Even the small ones can grow like Pinocchio’s nose and seriously get in the way of progress or worse case derail you.  Speak the truth.

5.  Do what is right not expedient! It may take longer to get the result you want but in the end the result will be more rewarding and genuine.

6. If it doesn’t feel right, it’s probably wrong. The gut is inextricably connected to the heart and brain — go with it.

7. Give others a chance.  If you had your turn, move on and let someone else have their turn. You have made your point, let it sink in or out. People will listen and absorb if it has value.

8. Get over it. If you have been wronged or think you have, time wounds all heels. Revenge is not sweet, it is toxic.  Putting it behind you is the best medicine, and will allow you to heal faster. Don’t worry, the heel will get booted in time, likely on their own petard.

9.  Stay grounded. You do not live in an ivory tower nor should you.  We are all human.  Privilege is for those long gone, not for the living. A level head and clever mind are required to get through life and make the best of our existence treating everyone with due consideration and courtesy regardless of societal standing.

10. Be an example. Inherent in our obligation as an organization of professionals is to mentor, curate and support the next generation of public relations leaders. How we behave, practice and perform are in the spotlight for emulation. Do the right thing and people will follow.

As for Garrett H, he is happy with his decision and second career serving the public at 30,000 feet. He is in the public domain, travels, makes a livable wage and is appreciated by people like me for providing high-altitude and high-minded thinking.   Now sit back, relax and enjoy the flight.

Social media platforms continue to proliferate and evolve at a fast clip.  It was only a short six years ago that blogging and podcasting came into their own and only two years ago when Twitter and Facebook became the soup du jour .  All of these platforms serve to bring people and communities closer together and allow more people to have a voice in those communities and in society at large.  These platforms also have made job search and networking more efficient.  It is a good thing!

And change and evolution are good! Twitter is just rolling out the new and improved “Twitter.” And new platforms seem to appear once a month. But as much as technology helps society move forward to help people be more efficient and collaborative, what has not changed is the basics. Have you taken stock?

1. Get it write! Languages have not changed appreciably.  They have rules and conventions that are designed for clarity, logic and efficiency.  While we may be tempted to take short cuts, generally most languages and their guiding rules for sentence structure, tense and grammar (among other issues) have served humanity well for a very long time.   Do not mess with success. Write it right the first time.

2. Spelling is not just for bees. Spelling still has standards.  I know that new words come into the lexicon all of the time.  But we are communicating here.  And it makes sense to spell correctly so we all have the same basis and common understanding of words we use to communicate.
3. Keep it simple! People are people!  I know that is obvious.  But what it means is that people by nature prefer simplicity.  And simplicity can be elegant and effective.  So when you write, write like you speak.  Keep sentences simple so they have maximum comprehension.  This is particularly true when your communications is read by people not of your native language.  So if you want to be global, make short and sweet.
4. Courtesy is king! Everyone wants it and deserves it but not everyone gives it.  If you want courtesy give it.  Whether you are networking, writing a cover letter or interviewing, keep in mind that courtesy can often get you everywhere.

5. Say the magic word. No I am not referring to Groucho Marx.  He made the phrase famous but parents of toddlers and small children use it all the time.  If you want something, say “please.”  If you get it, say “thank you.”  This holds true whether you are writing to request an interview or asking for a job.  The magic word often works.