A few months ago, I filmed some new job search and career help videos for about.com with the help of my good friends at Geffner Productions.  A few of those are newly launched and I’d love to share them with you. Just in case a topic we covered is on your “need help with that” list. You can also go watch them on my YouTube channel – that way you can see my snazzy new intro video. But no matter where you see them, video can be a great and productive way to learn.  And while it’s not a replacement for someone being there with you, at least it gets you and I one step closer to being in the same room.  Working on your job search or career strategy.                       ... Read more

I’m not trying to be negative about Klout. I’m not a hater. In fact, I’ve largely been a supporter of Klout as a way to measure the effectiveness of a brand or person to engage others. As a life-long brand marketer, I appreciate ways to better understand effectiveness of a brand strategy. I like it when people tell me I have influence.  A little validation goes a long way. I’ve written about Peer Index and Empire Avenue as other ways to understand ... Read more

Transferable skills.  It is one of the biggest hangup areas for job seekers in a tight market. Lots of candidates. Few jobs. And a lack of urgency on the part of hiring companies to make a decision. A breeding ground for candidate frustration. And to make it worse, you finally found something that is a pretty good fit for you and it doesn’t work out.  Because pretty good isn’t good enough in a tight market. Your transferable skills aren’t transferable enough. In a more balanced market or in a market (soon, I hope!) where there are more jobs and fewer candidates competing, companies will operate differently.  They will begin marketing to the candidate and the skills you have will transfer much more easily.  Companies will go back to hiring “the best athlete” not just the most qualified.  

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On a brisk April morning this past week, I met a new friend.  We don’t know each other that well yet.  After all, we just met. But the way we met is the theme of this post.  So it matters.  We met on the way to my presentation in Newport Beach, CA.  A little informal networking.  It was either “park in the $18 lot” or park across the street.  And I took the road less traveled by.  I parked across the street and walked through the construction, across a busy road and got lost. Luckily I met Sanjay. He was lost too... ... Read more

I don’t eat alone very often.  But sometimes when on the road or during a brief gap in between meetings, I stop somewhere to grab a quick bite. And when I do, there is a disturbing trend that I’m seeing. Are you seeing it?  And hearing it? It is a colossal increase in people saying ... Read more

Do you smell something? Every once in a while I have an interaction on LinkedIn that I simply can’t explain.  I work back through how it all got started, tracing my steps, my comments and the way that I attempted to reach out to someone. I did it right.  I wanted to meet someone on LinkedIn to ask them a question about a new project I’m working on. Perhaps they could help? I used another connection to get introduced and wrote a short note to explain my interest and how it might benefit them. It was personable and asked only for a quick phone call to explain. This person does business development for his company.  I wanted to do business with them and he had no interest.  In fact, he pushed me away with a sarcastic comment about how he couldn’t think of a thing we could talk about.  And, instead, suggested (jokingly) that talking about the NCAA final four might be more worth our time. Jerk (too harsh?). Grumble. I did it right because I know how much I appreciate the little things like personal connection requests, well-written recommendations and people who strive to use LinkedIn the right way. In fact I write on LinkedIn tips often enough that I am acutely aware that I need to do it right myself.  Or at least try as hard as I can to be thoughtful as I grow or communicate with my network.  

 

       

 

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Depending on your experiences in life and in social networking circles, the title of this post will provoke a variety of reactions.  I heard this statement from a friend of mine who reacted this way when he learned what I was doing with Tim’s Strategy. He didn’t say it with a biting sarcasm or a pompous attitude.  He said it with a laugh that told me he had a few negative experiences.  But he wasn’t trying to be a jerk about it. ... ... Read more

It’s time for you to get a job.  Any job.  Ever heard this before? It may come from a concerned friend.  A distant family member who knows better. Or you may simply overhear words like these at a party or in the stands at your kid’s baseball game. And whether you are a man, a woman, the primary breadwinner, a secondary contributor, old, young, white or blue-collar you may hear these words and cringe... ... Read more

During a long career and especially during the job search, we are often left to wonder whether we are doing right by ourselves and our families. We toil long and hard week after week.  And are left with a sense of deep satisfaction. Or a sense of longing for something different, something better or something more fulfilling... ... Read more

For most people, “new” is intriguing.  It is full of wonder, possibility and opportunity.  And even if “new” is not any of those things in the end, it could have been and that makes us interested. So when we see that we have “(1) new message”, the optimist in us believes that this is it.  The big voice message, email or text that will lead to our next job.  And a path out of job search transition. Of course, you can become ... Read more