Three things Andy Murray winning Wimbledon can definitely teach you about your job search

Three things Andy Murray winning Wimbledon can definitely teach you about your job search by Michael Cheary Never underestimate the importance of persistence…After an going out to Roger Federer in last year’s semis, and an emotional loss in the Australian Open final to Novak Djokovic earlier this year, Andy Murray demonstrated remarkable bouncebackability (definitely a real word) on Sunday to become the first British man to win multiple Wimbledon titles.So what can we learn from this impressive display of determination? Here are our tops tips on how to add a healthy dose of resilience to your job search (warning: tenuous links* may follow):GameFor any jobseeker, suffering setbacks can be difficult to deal with.But how you deal with them can speak volumes about your character â€" not to mention give you some key learnings to help move your career forward.Andy Murray didn’t give up after last year’s Wimbledon final. In fact, of the 10 Grand Slam finals he’d appeared in before Sunday, the Scot had only actually won two of them.Not a fan of tennis (and/or po intless stats)? There are plenty of other inspirational career comeback stories that prove the theory.So, stay positive, and try your best not to let any past hiccups affect you. Just because your last few interviews didn’t go well, it doesn’t mean that the same thing will happen on your next one. And use any mistakes you made to help identify weaknesses you can build on in the future.Remember: You’ve got to be in the game to win it.SetLearning from your interview nightmares isn’t the only way to improve your approach. There are a few other key ways to set yourself up for success â€" you just need a little objectivity.In Murray’s case, after parting ways with coach Amélie Mauresmo earlier this year, and losing in the final of the Australian Open, he noticed weaknesses in his game and reached out to former coach Ivan Lendl to help lead him to Wimbledon glory.‘He says exactly what he thinks. I don’t always like hearing it, but I have to hear it’, he reflected after hi s victory.   And the same rings true when it comes to your job search.It may mean getting someone to proofread your CV, working on some potential questions to ask before an interview, or even asking a friend to grill you with questions of their own. But if you don’t put the effort in, you’re only setting yourself up for failure.Remember: You can learn a lot from your mistakes, as long as you’re not too busy denying them.MatchOnce you’ve put any past failures (and in Andy Murray’s case, there are lot of them) behind you, and adapted your application approach accordingly, it’s time to find your perfect match.Unfortunately, jobseeking isn’t a one-size-fits all process. And adopting the ‘scattergun’ approach, and applying to every available vacancy you see, will only ever end badly.So make sure any role you apply for suits your skills, and current level of experience. If it does, tailor your CV and cover letter accordingly, to help effectively sell yourself to potentia l employers.And with the right amount of preparation, a great game plan for the interview, and the objectivity to learn from your mistakes and play to your strengths, success could be closer than you think.Remember: Finding your dream job won’t be easy. But it will be worth it.So whatever stage of your career you’re in, and whatever your ideal role is, never be tempted to give up trying. Because persistence does pay off.No racket required.*and terrible sport-based puns  Still searching for your perfect position?  View all of our current vacancies nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Features

Listing What Skills You Have In Writing A Resume

Listing What Skills You Have In Writing A ResumeIf you are writing a resume and looking for some tips, I have one for you. That is to list your writing skills, along with some experience. There are times when people want to know if they should list what skills they have, or if they should write what they have written.I think you should write what you have written, but I would also suggest that you list your writing skills, even if you don't feel like you have them. I know many people who have tried to list what they had written, and it simply doesn't matter. It all seems so self-centered and self-serving.We all love to hear that other people do things that we can do, and there is nothing wrong with being self-pitying. However, there is something to be said for doing things that you actually can do. You may not realize it, but writing a resume and listing what you can write is much better than listing what you can't.I think this goes for people who are already employed and see their j obs as a real chance to help people. For those people, putting some real time and effort into writing a resume that is going to shine is more important than being able to list what skills you have. Most employers want someone who has the actual ability to write and can relate to people in some way.I am not suggesting that the best writing resume is to list what skills you have. Of course you should list these things. However, if you put these skills on your resume, then you are essentially saying 'Here I am, this is who I am and here is what I am good at.' Then you have to take some time to prove it, and often times, this is not the case.Instead, try and list the things that you are good at, and then what you are good at is a great way to showcase what you are good at. Your resume should stand on its own, because your skills and accomplishments will help to show that you can write and what you can write about.Writing is probably the hardest thing to do. Most people think they are go od at it, but if you really want to improve your skills, you need to try to write every day, and see how far you can go. This will get you to the point where you start writing very well.If you don't feel you can do it on your own, then the best thing to do is to find someone to help you. You should see a lot of people before you find the right one.

Say YES and Get Ahead - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Say YES and Get Ahead - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career There is a fairly recent movie called “Yes Man” starring Jim Carrey. The premise was simple … say yes to everything! To most people saying yes is NOT the first thing that comes to mind when asked to do something. Think about the last time a friend asked you to drive them to the airport. Or to help them move. Or borrow money. Did you jump at the chance? Probably not. Well, in the movie Jim Carrey’s character was encouraged to say yes to everything. Of course, this was a comedy and it was written in such a way to maximize the humor of the situation. (Spoiler Alert  â€" At the end of the movie he uses this  â€œpower” to … surprise … do something unusual and funny). Saying Yes is a form of Giving Whether it’s giving of your time, your expertise, your contacts or whatever else someone asks of you. Most people think of time as their most valuable resource. Which in a sense it is. Everyone only has the same 24 hours in a day. However, would you agree to respond to emails from students or colleagues, make recommendations on LinkedIn, or introduce anyone to any contacts your have? If you were Adam Grant … you would! Last week in the New York Times there was an excellent article on Giving to Get Ahead. Where the aforementioned Adam Grant, Wharton professor and whom I’m calling the Ambassador of Giving, is interviewed where he shares his thoughts and research on Giving to Get Ahead. Take the time to read it. It’s worth it. In case you  have not heard of Adam Grant that’s OK. His brief bio is that he’s young … just 31. In fact, he is the youngest-tenured and highest-rated professor at Wharton. In the article, he discussed  how becoming more ProSocial can help you get more done. Think more thoughts. Share more ideas. And ultimately get even MORE done. It seems counterintuitive, but the research bears his ideas out. Giving is much more than a State of Mind It’s leadership, relationship building, career enhancing stuff. By giving your time, your expertise and sharing your contacts you are building your brand and building your community. A lot of people may be concerned that by giving up their contacts and their expertise and their time that they are being taken advantage of. And there is some truth to this. Adam Grant’s research shows that there are three categories for reciprocity: givers, matchers and takers. The article goes into some detail on how each balances out and how, in the end,  these three categories help you select which are that are deserving of your giving efforts. Giving allows you to grow  your career, your brand, and your community. While this may not be the goal of your Giving Efforts. These are benefits that make your giving that much more worthwhile. Is Giving the Secret to Getting Ahead? According to Adam Grant’s research the answer is YES! There is an old saying: “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” ~John Bunyan While John Bunyan’s point may seem to run counter to the concepts Adam Grant is espousing I think it’s in perfect alignment with the whole concept of Giving to Get Ahead. Giving  can help you get ahead.  Even if you aren’t expecting it. Things have an odd way of coming back to you. And when they do … Enjoy the Moment. And to think … it can all start because  you give someone your time, your expertise or your contacts. Just say YES! Author: Jeff   is a veteran in the Enterprise Content Management industry. Over the past 20 years he has worked with customers and partners to design, develop and deploy solutions around the world. Jeff is currently the Director of Strategic Alliances at Winshuttle. He has worked for Microsoft, FileNet (IBM), K2, Captaris, Open Text, Kofax and Kodak. He speaks and blogs about ECM and the Intersection between Social, Mobile and Cloud Computing.

Road to Me 2.0 The Books Introduction Revealed - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Road to Me 2.0 The Books Introduction Revealed - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career This is the complete introduction for my new book, Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success (Kaplan, April 7). Me 2.0 is already available for purchase and will hit book stores on March 31st, but my promotional plan is still targetting April 7th.   The book, as well as myself, was recently cited in a New York Times article called Putting Yourself Out There on a Shelf to Buy, and has also been mentioned in the Miami Herald, Dallas Morning News, ABCNews.com, MediaBistro, CIO.com, BusinessWeek, Entrepreneur, US News, The Wall Street Journal and MSNBC.com.   It has now been endorsed 35 times and has spiked as high as the #4 careers, #10 job hunting and #10 marketing book on Amazon!   I hope you enjoy the introduction to the book and feel free to leave your comments on this post.   Its going to be a crazy and exciting few weeks for me and I appreciate your support ?? . Me 2.0 Introduction The world of work has suddenly changed. Thanks to the meteoric rise of the Internet, traditional methods of communication and career development are evaporating. As a result, businesses of all sizes, from small firms to corporate enterprises, cannot survive based on legacy systems alone and will not recover from these changes without harnessing the power of online technology. In addition, the Internet itself is changingâ€"evolving into a tool that allows any user to command his or her future with the click of a mouse. It’s no longer just a place to research and discover information, or to purchase products and email your family, friends or business colleagues. You can connect with people from all over the world, regardless of age, race, gender, religion and social class, to meet, discuss ideas, and do business. Amidst all of these exciting changes, a new breed of worker is emergingâ€"one who feels energized and empowered by the exciting new world that the Internet has created and is eager to make a difference. Those with confidence, drive, and the ability to use the full potential of modern technologyâ€"including creating a powerful personal brand to define themselves and achieve their goalsâ€"will be at the forefront of this bold new world. This book is targeted at college students and young professionals who feel doubt, emotional stress, and fear of failure when approaching the current job market. I firmly believe that this book will help any individual who is determined, hard-working, and excited to realize his or her personal and professional goals. The strategies and plan of attack that I have developed and detailed in this book will help you be among these successful individuals. I provide you with all the tools necessary to define and achieve your goals. Me 2.0 describes the history of personal branding, how the Internet has revolutionized career development, and how individuals can leverage social media for personal empowerment, self-management, and networking. It includes a proven 4-step process for discovering, creating, communicating, and maintaining your personal brand, and shows the results of using this plan. It also takes the element of time into accountâ€"the sooner you develop your brand, the more prepared you will be for your successful future. It is divided into three main sections: the rise of personal branding how to command your career in 4 steps using your command for success. It also covers my personal branding success story, a framework you can use to achieve similar success, and expert quotes and research to provide you with an even broader perspective on the topic. You’ll also get insight into how to use blogs, podcasting, and social networks to put yourself in a position of recruiting powerâ€"so that employers will come after you for your passion and expertise. Bottom line: this is your handbook for surviving and thriving in the digital age, your guidebook for making your personal and career dreams a reality! I wrote this book for many reasons. It is mainly the result of my never-ending passion for personal branding, and my responsibility to teach others how to protect and promote their own brands. I also saw a real need for a book like this. One thing I’ve learned after giving lectures on personal branding to global corporations, organizations, and colleges is that most individuals don’t understand how to successfully manage their careers in this new Web 2.0 world, nor are they prepared to properly utilize emerging media to achieve their goals. With this book, it is my aim to help individuals unlock the secrets of personal branding, unleash their career potential, and make the world a better placeâ€"one brand at a time.

The Best Resume Writing For Chicago, Illinois

The Best Resume Writing For Chicago, IllinoisWhen it comes to making sure your resume is professional and is well prepared, you want to look into the many options available in the Chicago area for hiring professionals. The top business schools are located in the city. For example, the Kellogg School of Management has five campuses located throughout the Chicago area.If you are looking for a top notch business school but can't make it to Chicago, you can always find a great school online. There are many schools that have their very own websites. These sites can be a good way to start if you don't live in the Chicago area. This is especially true if you don't have time to travel and attend business school in person.One of the best and most top notch online schools is Boston University. They have a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program online. This program has many online courses and there are also traditional classes that can be taken online as well.The beauty of this is that not only can you receive an education that will benefit you for a career that you will be able to do well in, but you can also obtain a better paying job that will require you to have upper management positions. You can even work towards a Doctorate degree. This is not just for students though.Whether you are working full time or part time, you can still do well in business. For some people, there is no time to travel to school and attend classes and be away from their loved ones. By being able to take classes online, you can finish the degree within the month or two and be on your way to a rewarding career.One thing to keep in mind is that hiring managers are always looking for people who are flexible and are willing to work around the busy schedules of work, family and life. To be on top of your work schedule, make sure that you have a business card. These can be found at business schools and online and can be great tools for all job seekers.Remember to always come prepare d when you apply for a job. With more people applying for jobs, you need to write a resume that will show how you are qualified and have been trained. You don't want to leave anything out when you are writing a resume.The best resume writing for Chicago, Illinois is now easily accessible to all job seekers. No matter what your current situation is, you can find the right school to help you advance your career. Start now by searching online for a great Chicago, Illinois business school.

Brand New Year Time for A Brand New Executive Brand - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

Brand New Year â€" Time for A Brand New Executive Brand The start of any new year is a good time to look back at your achievements and contributions over the past year, and take a fresh look at your career moving forward. For healthy career management, it’s always wise to have your resume, bio, profile and other career marketing materials at-the-ready for a possible career transition. No job is permanent. Things can change at any time. Are you thinking of  transitioning to a different employer, different kind of job, different industry, or different job within your company? Or do you anticipate a possible layoff and know you don’t want the same kind of work in your next job? If you answered yes to any of the above â€" these days most people would â€" your current resume and online profiles may not work for you. Your next job may require different qualifications, skill sets and qualities than your current one. Your current career marketing approach may not position you as a best-fit candidate for your next employer. And when your target  changes, your executive brand may need a makeover. So, before reworking your resume and the rest, start with your brand. Determine whether it aligns your ROI value with your new targets needs and will resonate with them. Does  it  demonstrate that you are uniquely qualified to solve  the problems your  target employers are facing right now? Or do you need a re-brand or brand tweak? Work  through my 10-Step Executive Branding Worksheet. Answer the questions and do the exercises with your new target in mind. Do your answers show that your brand has changed? If so, make adjustments. If not, your brand is probably good as it is. Have you accomplished any of the following, or similar, over the past year? These kinds of things need to be updated on your resume and other career marketing, and could indicate the need for a brand makeover: Helped the company overcome significant challenges and positively impacted bottom line Suggested initiatives to make the company more sustainable and/or greener Negotiated a lucrative new contract Improved corporate culture Sourced a cost-saving new vendor Pioneered groundbreaking new initiatives, processes, procedures and/or technologies Introduced new best practices Became known as the go-to person for something new Mentored or coached a team member to a leadership role. Earned new certifications and/or awards Got a promotion Reached a career-changing milestone Landed profitable new business Became social media savvy Gained new relevant skills Worked on professional development â€" seminars, webinars, professional conferences Joined new professional associations and/or contributed to existing ones Published articles, white papers, blog posts Volunteered in a leadership role in your community Related posts: The Importance of Executive Branding in Job Search How to Write An Irresistible C-level Executive Brand Resume in 10 Steps Executive Brand Resume: Differentiate Your ROI Value Above the Fold 10 Keys to Amplify Your Executive Brand Online 00 0

Entrepreneurship as a Résumé Asset - Pathfinder Careers

Entrepreneurship as a Résumé Asset - Pathfinder Careers Entrepreneurship as a Résumé Asset Many people who have branched out to start their own business may find, in time, that they want to exit the world of being an entrepreneur and re-enter the workplace as an employee. These industrious people struggle with translating their experience working as their own boss into their résumé simply because they’ve convinced themselves that working on their own is an obstacle. “No one will hire me because they think I won’t do well working for someone else, since I’ve been my own boss for so long” is one of the most common refrains I hear from these clients. If you are one of those people, you need to stop thinking like this, and realize what a tremendous asset owning a business is to your career prospects. Having insight to how an organization works is an incredibly valuable tool. You need to realize that entepreneurship helps you see things in a different light than someone else who has only functioned as one facet of the inner workings of the company machine. Translate your entrepreneurial strengths towards a target company, and make sure to play these highlights up in your résumé: 1) Strategy strength: You can think holistically about how the pieces fit together and have a firm grasp of how internal collaboration can boost productivity and efficiency, simply because you’ve got first-hand experience on overall company operations and capacity. 2) Financial accountability: You see the big picture of how and where money is spent, and can rapidly analyze where cost-cutting measures might be appropriate. You also know what the bottom line means and base your work on keeping this in sight. 3) Sales strength: Your ability to go out on your own and build a company from scratch is a tremendous testimonial to sales ability. It’s one thing to step into an existing company and sell a known product/brand/service. It’s a completely different thing to try and introduce a new concept to a highly competitive marketplace. 4) Supervision: Many business owners to jump to the conclusion that they don’t have a supervisor, but the truth is that every CUSTOMER is your boss. If you don’t get it right, they will let you know… and they vote with their wallet. If you run across a prospective employer who has an objection about your ability to report to a supervisor, just remind them that as a business owner, you didn’t have one supervisor; you had as many bosses as your customer list was long. That’s a lot to juggle and try to please! 5) Collaboration: As a business owner, undoubtedly you’ve had to work closely with industry partners and develop other alliances. To be a successful owner, you’ve definitely had to ‘play well with others’ so being a team player is a natural part of being a business owner. In summary, an entrepreneur looking to join another organization offers the bench strength of having a high operational acumen, which is perceived as extremely valuable to prospective employers. You’ve got sales, marketing, operations, production, timelines, scheduling, resource allocation and accounting as feathers in your cap. Additionally, you ‘get’ what it takes to do the job right, more efficiently and at less cost in a way that anyone who hasn’t owned/operated their own business wouldn’t have a clue about. Use these strengths to your advantage, and don’t talk yourself out of a job by worrying needlessly about entrepreneurship on your résumé!

Is Craigslist A Good Place to Look for Jobs

Is Craigslist A Good Place to Look for Jobs My brother-in-law just bought a car for my nephew off of Craigslist. I know NOTHING about Craigslist. The little I do know had negative connotations attached to it, so I decided to do some research to find out more. While opinions differ, many believe that Craigslist can be a good place to look for jobs, as long as the job seeker takes the appropriate precautions. Craigslist can be thought of as the biggest electronic classified site in the world. Designed to be easily searchable and typically free, it is the perfect place to advertise everything from lost pets to open positions. The simple search functions which allow users to browse local listings through clearly marked categories, makes finding a job or other service or item easy. Understanding how to make Craigslist work for a job seeker is another matter entirely. First, realize that in most cases, potential employers can place ads for free. While there are some options that require a payment (ranging between $25.00 and $75.00), most options are free of charge. This means almost every company can advertise on Craigslist without breaking their budget. While this can be positive, it can also lead to potential scams. Understanding that not every post is legitimate and learning how to recognize a scam helps job seekers stays safe. The best way to protect yourself is to regularly review their posted information regarding scams and fraudulent advertisements and by using caution when posting a resume. It is equally important to protect your identity. Never post full contact information. Instead, rely on a simple cell phone number or an email address. This way, job seekers can carefully evaluate open positions and offers without risking identity theft. Next, users must understand how Craigslist works. It can be somewhat daunting to narrow down the massive database to jobs that are appealing, appropriate and located in the correct geographical area. Craigslist utilizes lists and drop down menu’s to help users drill down to the information they are looking for. By spending the time to review options and select appropriate choices, it is possible to find job postings that will work. Craigslist can be an excellent resource for job seekers. It can be especially helpful for those looking for employment in smaller companies. Understanding not only how Craigslist works but also how to protect your identity and information is all that is needed in order to be successful with this service. Be smart about it, research and know the service before you use it. A word of warning:   when using Craigslist, or any service, if the job sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Proceed with caution.