Blind Spots 10 Business Myths by Alexandra Levit

Blind Spots 10 Business Myths by Alexandra Levit One of my favorite career/business authors has done it again!  Alexandra Levit , who I met over dinner in Chicago, is releasing her newest book today: Blind Spots: 10 Business Myths You Cant Afford to Believe on Your New Path to Success I got a chance to interview Alexandra here are my questions and her responses: What is the premise of Blind Spots? The recent recession has toppled and transformed our ideas about just about everything. Massive change is afoot and many of us are still reeling from the work-force bloodletting that began three years ago and the downfall of companies we thought we all respected. If we take the time to examine the world that’s rising out of the ashes, we see that a major paradigm shift is occurring. We have realized that money and manipulation will only go so far, and we’ve come 180 degrees from the backbiting and dirty politics that characterized the dog-eat-dog 1980s. Inside the business world, organizations and individuals are looking inward and seeking a return to traditional human values like honesty, trust, moderation, open communication, and one-on-one relationship building. Those who wish to be gainfully employed for the foreseeable future must take this transformation seriously and adapt new ways of doing things. In this book, we explore the 10 biggest myths of business success that people believe to be true even though they dont work for 98 percent of all truly successful people. The time to debunk these myths is now because they are more dangerous and less viable than ever given this post-recessionary climate of ethical scrutiny and intense competition. If adhering to these myths didnt get you places before, it really wont today, when employers want to hire people with Puritan work ethics, people who want to do their jobs well without rocking the boat too much and who are strong representatives of the organization’s culture. If you want to get ahead in this values-driven environment, putting on blinders is not an option and you cant afford to waste time. You must throw away these myths, determine what will work in their place, and immediately put it to use. What makes Blind Spots different from other career books? I wrote Blind Spots because I was tired of reading silly theories and platitudes dispensed by business and career authors who sell their work by giving these myths credibility and by telling readers what they want to hear. Here is one thing you can count on: I will tell it like it is. I will be honest with you about what will render you successful in today’s business world, not yesterday’s. I refuse to give you overly provocative advice that hasn’t worked for anyone I know, like quitting your job tomorrow and starting your own business the next day, or marching into your boss’ office and announcing that he should appreciate your individuality. This advice is not trendy and its not hype its what actually works. What do you hope readers will take away from Blind Spots? Each chapter includes academic research, expert commentary, anecdotes from contemporary culture, and inspirational stories from people like you who either fell prey to a myth or had to rethink their approach, or who recognized the myth for what it was and consequently came out on top. Along the way, I’ll provide specific advice for course-correcting that readers can use immediately in their work lives. I hope that by the time they finish reading, they realize that a lot of what it takes to be successful is already a part of who they are, and that they absolutely have the power to cultivate the skills and attitude that will take them wherever they want to go. Whats your favorite myth and why? I have personally experienced most of the books myths myself, so they are all favorites in a way. But overnight success is the first myth I debunk in the book because it’s one of the most widely held beliefs. It’s also hugely misleading, and adopting this idea that you can easily become an overnight success could actually be quite damaging for your career and life. The truth is simple. There are very few â€" if any â€" genuine cases of overnight success. The majority of successful people have dedicated themselves to a goal and persevered for a long time, experiencing several setbacks before reaching a high level of achievement that is finally noticed and talked about by others. Sounds awesome, right?  I love Alexandras writing style and am anxious to see her new book Blind Spots 10 Business Myths by Alexandra Levit One of my favorite career/business authors has done it again!  Alexandra Levit , who I met over dinner in Chicago, is releasing her newest book today: Blind Spots: 10 Business Myths You Cant Afford to Believe on Your New Path to Success I got a chance to interview Alexandra here are my questions and her responses: What is the premise of Blind Spots? The recent recession has toppled and transformed our ideas about just about everything. Massive change is afoot and many of us are still reeling from the work-force bloodletting that began three years ago and the downfall of companies we thought we all respected. If we take the time to examine the world that’s rising out of the ashes, we see that a major paradigm shift is occurring. We have realized that money and manipulation will only go so far, and we’ve come 180 degrees from the backbiting and dirty politics that characterized the dog-eat-dog 1980s. Inside the business world, organizations and individuals are looking inward and seeking a return to traditional human values like honesty, trust, moderation, open communication, and one-on-one relationship building. Those who wish to be gainfully employed for the foreseeable future must take this transformation seriously and adapt new ways of doing things. In this book, we explore the 10 biggest myths of business success that people believe to be true even though they dont work for 98 percent of all truly successful people. The time to debunk these myths is now because they are more dangerous and less viable than ever given this post-recessionary climate of ethical scrutiny and intense competition. If adhering to these myths didnt get you places before, it really wont today, when employers want to hire people with Puritan work ethics, people who want to do their jobs well without rocking the boat too much and who are strong representatives of the organization’s culture. If you want to get ahead in this values-driven environment, putting on blinders is not an option and you cant afford to waste time. You must throw away these myths, determine what will work in their place, and immediately put it to use. What makes Blind Spots different from other career books? I wrote Blind Spots because I was tired of reading silly theories and platitudes dispensed by business and career authors who sell their work by giving these myths credibility and by telling readers what they want to hear. Here is one thing you can count on: I will tell it like it is. I will be honest with you about what will render you successful in today’s business world, not yesterday’s. I refuse to give you overly provocative advice that hasn’t worked for anyone I know, like quitting your job tomorrow and starting your own business the next day, or marching into your boss’ office and announcing that he should appreciate your individuality. This advice is not trendy and its not hype its what actually works. What do you hope readers will take away from Blind Spots? Each chapter includes academic research, expert commentary, anecdotes from contemporary culture, and inspirational stories from people like you who either fell prey to a myth or had to rethink their approach, or who recognized the myth for what it was and consequently came out on top. Along the way, I’ll provide specific advice for course-correcting that readers can use immediately in their work lives. I hope that by the time they finish reading, they realize that a lot of what it takes to be successful is already a part of who they are, and that they absolutely have the power to cultivate the skills and attitude that will take them wherever they want to go. Whats your favorite myth and why? I have personally experienced most of the books myths myself, so they are all favorites in a way. But overnight success is the first myth I debunk in the book because it’s one of the most widely held beliefs. It’s also hugely misleading, and adopting this idea that you can easily become an overnight success could actually be quite damaging for your career and life. The truth is simple. There are very few â€" if any â€" genuine cases of overnight success. The majority of successful people have dedicated themselves to a goal and persevered for a long time, experiencing several setbacks before reaching a high level of achievement that is finally noticed and talked about by others. Sounds awesome, right?  I love Alexandras writing style and am anxious to see her new book

5 Tips for Working with Executive Recruiters

5 Tips for Working with Executive Recruiters Executive recruiters are a great resource when making a career change. Yet, we all know recruiters are overwhelmed with applicants and open jobs. Most professional recruiters handle hundreds of calls, emails, and messages every day.When working with a senior recruiter you have to stand above the rest. How do you get your resume to the top of the list? How do you become the person a recruiter is excited to speak with?You have to be memorable.Stand out to executive recruiters by following these 5 tips below.1. Choose a Recruiter With Good ReviewsRead the reviews and comments when considering an independent recruiter or agency. Be picky. You want a good recruiter who takes the time to get to know you.Find someone who is responsive, professional, and well versed in your field. Someone with a strong network.Search recruiting agency reviews on Yelp, Glassdoor, and Facebook. You might also want to research executive recruiters on LinkedIn.Professional recruiters with positive recommendation s and endorsements can be trusted. Steer clear of recruiters with a lot of negative reviews.2. Here’s How to Go to the Interview PreparedMany people don’t realize a short meeting or phone call with a recruiter is actually an interview. If you are meeting in person, arrive in professional attire with your resume in hand.For a video interview, make sure your background is free of clutter and looks presentable.For a voice call interview, make sure there is limited background noise.On a call, always sit up tall and act as if you are in front of the recruiter. This will come through on the call. First impressions are key. They can make or break your chances of moving forward with the interview process.3. Be Prepared With a List of Potential Jobs or CompaniesIt’s important to be clear on the type of work you are looking for as well as your career goals. A senior recruiter can coach you on some of this, but they will need a place to start.Recruiters are swamped with applicants and op en jobs. Show your recruiter that you are the strongest candidate for the job.Be invested in their job search process.4. Respect the Recruiter’s ExpertiseIf your recruiter asks you to send your resume in a certain format, do so. Pay close attention to their resume suggestions and interview advice.Ask for feedback. Let them guide you and ask how you can improve your chances. Follow instructions when they send you on an interview.Ask them how to follow up after the interview. Don’t be surprised if your recruiter asks you to send out thank you letters/emails to the people you interviewed with.Follow their lead. Your executive recruiter has inside knowledge about the company you are applying to. Use that to your advantage.5. Build a Strong Relationship With Your RecruiterFollow up regularly but be respectful of their time. Weekly check-ins via email are an easy way to stay in touch.Be a resource by recommending others if you are not the perfect fit for a job. It’s ok to admit you are not the best fit.This will make you more memorable and your recruiter will appreciate your help.Closing ThoughtsThe job search is a frustrating and lengthy process. It doesn’t have to be miserable.Learn from each experience. Be accountable and expect the same from your recruiter.The perfect job is out there for you. Stay positive and keep moving forward.P.S. Did you know you can hire a recruiter to find your next job?

4 Ways to Find Passionate Talent

4 Ways to Find Passionate Talent In the movie  Serendipity, Dean says to Jonathan: “You know the Greeks didnt write obituaries. They only asked one question after a man dies: ‘Did he have passion?’” In my experience as a hiring manager, I look for individuals who possess passion for their work. This is crucial to help ensure a right match is not only made for the job but for the organization’s culture as well. Today, there are a number of avenues hiring managers can leverage to learn about and evaluate job seekers. When doing so, I look at four major areas for signs of passion: Resume History: I review the job candidate’s history to see what they’ve done and what they’re doing, looking for patterns of activity that indicate increasing roles and responsibilities. While these may not directly indicate passion, they reflect stability and a predictable career path. If the career path doesn’t look normal, I look for indications of why their occupation took a left turn. Activities: I look for activity outside of the office that support continuing education â€" specifically the pursuit of advanced degrees and certifications. Achievements: It’s important to look for awards and other achievements, indicating how they have excelled, specifically individual, leadership and industry-specific awards.   Social media Profile:  On social profiles that reflect an individual’s occupation, I look for indications of pride. For example, on LinkedIn I would look for awards, speaking engagements or promotions. Engagement: Passion can be seen in what they share about their vocation. Individuals who share information, articles and news that relate to their job stand out as potential experts in their field. Groups: Participating in  social media groups  affiliated with their field shows that theyre interested in learning and sharing knowledge with their peers. Online Activities: Blogging activities (whether they manage their own or participate in other occupational-related blogs) reflect a deeper connection to their chosen profession. The extra time spent by these individuals may demonstrate a dedication to their field. Interview Presentation: I look for a candidate who presents themselves in a  confident and energetic manner  â€" proud of their skills, experience and accomplishments. Involvement: Individuals who employ their skills outside of the office may reflect passion. Advancing their understanding through self-study, reading and hobbies, as well as utilizing their skills in volunteer or community activity may reflect that a job is more than just a paycheck. Reference checks Professional contacts: I listen to what former employers say about a candidate’s work product and work ethic for signs of passion and dedication. Personal contacts: Personal references can be valuable as they may offer a more candid look into a job candidate’s interests and background. Personal references have the ability to reveal a candidate’s passion from their everyday life outside of the office. While these areas are not absolute for finding passionate talent, they may narrow the field to those candidates who you should consider for the job. What do you look and listen for to judge a job seeker’s passion? Let us know in the comments below. Rich Weede  is responsible for Marketing at Kforce. Rich resides in Tampa, FL, where he enjoys all that the area has to offer, including rooting on the Bucs, Bolts and Rays. Connect with Rich on  LinkedIn.

Polish Your Brand for Increased Results This New Year - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Polish Your Brand for Increased Results This New Year - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Your personal brand is the true reflection of you at any given point in time while change is a continual process as we journey through life. How we change and the affect it has on our brand is something to always take into consideration. This allows for appropriate adjustments to be made in communicating the distinctions of our unique brand. Year-end is a great time to begin the practice.  Consider making this a committed habit for both business and career. Questions to contemplate are: How have your recent past experiences elevated where you are today? What are you trying to achieve next year?  One of the more difficult steps for newer entrepreneurs is to find a starting point to become their own cheerleader.  By factually and succinctly expressing your identity, it will ease the uncertainty of having to talk about yourself. When your soul searching produces answers, take time to craft new statements for accurately expressing your updated brand. Consider new venues for your branding activities that help deliver your message far and wide for attracting increased interest in your offerings. The more accurately you can pinpoint your brand, the easier will be your branding effort for becoming well-known. On a deeper level, have you ever fantasized about your career or business?   Have you ever expressed it out loud to anyone or is it a deep dark secret? The first step in making your visions come true is to state them out loud to those with whom you may comfortably confide.   By talking about your dream, it becomes more viable.  You soon begin to contemplate the initial steps to be taken.   A willingness to take baby steps in this direction helps to gather momentum in building a team of cheerleaders contributing to your branding and marketing effort. Your team comes in the form of collaborative partnerships and those willing to help promote you on the social media sites. Be the first to help others.  Establish a reciprocal arrangement so that everyone pitches in and feels as if they too are appreciated. As this practice is established, build communities on the social media sites. Welcome the newcomers into your inner circle so they too feel they are in a good environment and wish to contribute to the back and forth promotion or branding effort. By increasing the people involved and the venues utilized for marketing, you dramatically increase awareness of your brand. The quote, Dream it, do it, become it,” summarizes business development and heading toward making the sale, and achieving your once secretive desire. Every few months take note of where you are and where you are headed so that your cheerleading team will be on top of promoting your up-to-date brand.  More opportunities for getting to the right job or clientele will fall into your lap. Could you use a extra motivation to take bigger action early 2012?   Consider “Design Your Best Year Yet!” â€" a 14 day virtual conference donated by experts in their field as a gift for you. Register: http://www.motivationmarathon.com/?a_aid=2239 As your brand matures, you experience the Smooth Sale! Author: Elinor Stutz, CEO of Smooth Sale, LLC authored the International Best-Selling book, “Nice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results” and “HIRED! How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews”. She provides corporate consultation, training, coaching, and Inspirational keynotes. Elinor may be reached at Elinor@smoothsale.net or Call (800) 704-1499 today.

Strategies For Your LinkedIn Profile When You Are Unemployed

Strategies For Your LinkedIn Profile When You Are Unemployed You find yourself unemployed.What do you put on your LinkedIn Profile?evalDo you announce your availability or would doing so reduce your attractiveness as a candidate?Fortunately, you have several strategic options.As you consider the options that follow, the primary consideration is this: How would a HR recruiter or hiring executive react to the strategy you use for the level of position you are seeking? After we discuss the strategic options, we’ll discuss factors that could influence your decision on which strategic approach to take.End Date on your last EmploymentYour first option is to list an end date on your current employment. It’s honest and your profile is up-to-date. Viewers of your profile can draw the conclusion that you are currently unemployed in your chosen field.Announce your Unemployment in your HeadlineYour headline is the area immediately below your name. LinkedIn provides 120 character spaces, which is actually a lot of room. It is acceptable to use your hea dline as an advertisement of your availability: “Currently Seeking New Opportunities.”However, there is a more effective approach. When HR recruiters search LinkedIn for candidates, they use keywords to find qualified candidates. The headline area is one of the places that the LinkedIn programming and algorithms look for matching words.evalBy only announcing your availability, you lose your ability to put keywords in your headline which reduces your chances of being found by a HR recruiter.There is a way to get the best of both worlds. Remember, LinkedIn gives you 120 character spaces. So get your keywords in your headline plus “Seeking Opportunities.” For example, “Banking Professional Specializing in Commercial Lending, Seeking New Opportunities.” This strategy capitalizes on your keywords and announces your availability.Announce Your Availability as a Statement in Your Summary SectionAnother option is to include a statement of your availability early in your summary s ection. Your statement could be as simple as “Actively Seeking New Employment.”Your Summary section is also an area where the LinkedIn programming and algorithms look to match keywords. There is a strategic advantage of adding a sentence or two with keywords about position types, industries, types of companies that would interest you.evalFor example, “Actively seeking a new opportunity as an account manager in the employee benefits industry.” This can help tighten your search but be aware that it can also reduce potential opportunities. After you make this statement, continue with the rest of the summary in traditional fashion.List Your Availability as Your Current EmploymentThe consideration with this approach is the LinkedIn programing and algorithms look at position titles and position descriptions for matching keywords.So simply putting “Open to Opportunities” as your title does not take advantage of the programming.A better approach is stating an actual title or job function followed by “seeking opportunities.”For example, “Sales Operations Professional Specializing in Healthcare Seeking New Position.” You have 100 character spaces in the title area which is a lot room. You could re-word your headline and put it here as well.For the Company Name, you can put “Unemployed”. But, that sometimes can carry a negative stigma â€" though the weight of that stigma has faded in recent years. Instead, consider a more positive approach, such as putting “Exploring a Career Move” or “Seeking New Position” as your current employer.Your position description provides some unique opportunities. If you resigned from your previous employment, the first sentence of you description could read something like this:“Currently seeking a new position after voluntarily leaving [Past Employer] in good standing with recommendations.”evalOR“Actively looking for a new job in event planning after resigning my position at [Past Employer] with strong j ob performance evaluations.”If you were laid off, you could state the description something like this:“Was subject to a company-wide lay off affecting [x number employees, the entire marketing department, x number of departments]. Release was not performance related.”Create the messaging to put you in the best light. According to LinkedIn, there is now a 200 character minimum and a 1000 character maximum in the position description area.evalIf you were terminated for performance, it’s probably best to leave that unspoken and use the position description space for other strategies.The position description space is an area where the programing works to match keywords. So using your keywords here works to your advantage. So, what do you put in this space? You have a lot of latitude regarding the content. It is recommended that any messaging be reasonable short and to the point.The content of the position description could be a brief statement of your abilities, knowledge using keywords. It could function as an abbreviated cover letter. You could also re-work your elevator speech (if you have one) and put it here. The key consideration is to use the space wisely, not be lengthy, and consider how a HR recruiter would react to what you write. When put all together, it could look something like this:Title: Account Manager Seeking Opportunities in Employee BenefitsCompany: Exploring A Career MoveDescription: Was subject to a company-wide lay-off affecting over 100 employees at Insurance Company. Release was not performance related.Seeking an account management position to benefit an insurance organization with proven skills in client service, ACA compliance, implementation, renewals, and claim resolution.Do Nothing At AllThe final option is do nothing at all and if asked about your profile, go with “I forgot.” This is not ideal, but the option is available to you.Which Strategy would be Best for You? The correct strategy(ies) depends on your unique profess ional circumstances. You may choose a select combination of approaches.If you work in an industry where it is common to hire on a project basis, contractor-to-hire, or consulting basis, announcing your availability using these strategies makes good sense.The level of your position or positioning on the corporate organizational chart of the position you are pursuing also has a bearing. Speaking generally, these “announcement” strategies may be more acceptable to lower, mid-range, sales to management roles rather than true senior management, executive, or C-Level positions.Exercise your professional judgement as to whether or which strategy(ies) to use. Your strategy hinges on how you believe a HR recruiter or hiring executive for you desired position could respond.

March 31 2015 is International Quit Your Crappy Job Day - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

March 31 2015 is International Quit Your Crappy Job Day - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Too many people stay for too long in jobs they hate. An estimated 20-25% of employees hate their jobs and wish they could quit tomorrow. This is bad for you. Being unhappy at work can destroy your career, your health, your family and your private life. Quitting is an option and often it?s the best option. Thats why were declaring March 31 to be International Quit Your Crappy Job Day. Weve created a web site for it, where you can test yourself to see if its time to quit and get knowledge and inspiration to actually do it. Visit InternationalQuitYourCrappyJobDay.com. Know someone whos miserable at work? Share the site with them and maybe that can inspire them to move on to something better. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

How to Get the Best Resumes Ever - Secret Search Strategies to Find the Best Resumes Ever

How to Get the Best Resumes Ever - Secret Search Strategies to Find the Best Resumes EverThere are so many different ways to go about finding the best resumes ever. In this article, I am going to show you how to save money and get the job that you really want. This is something that most people never think about, because they are too busy looking for that perfect resume. It's amazing what you can find if you really put your mind to it.It can be a lot of different ways to go about doing your resume. You can get your resume in the mail, you can use the internet to look for jobs, or you can look in the classifieds in your local newspaper. There are so many different ways to search for jobs. Let's take a look at each one. First, you can use the internet to find jobs. The internet is a great way to look for jobs because there are literally thousands of jobs being posted on a daily basis. If you're looking for a job, this is the best way to do it.Second, you can use the classifieds in your local newspaper. This is a great way to use your time. You can use it to look for jobs in the classifieds section. This is something that works well for me because I get paid to look for jobs, so I have to do what I have to do.Last, but not least, the best way to look for jobs is to use the classifieds in your local newspaper. Many people in the newspaper have classified ads, which is one of the best ways to look for jobs. If you've been looking, you may have noticed that you have an ad in the classifieds section.Those are some of the best ways to find good jobs. It really is just a matter of putting in the time to look for the right thing. Once you get it, you will realize that it really is a no brainer.Keep in mind that you may have to sacrifice a few dollars in order to find the best jobs. Just try to pay attention to what you need. If you don't need to pay extra, then go with the next best option. Look for the jobs that fit what you need, and that is the best job for you.So now you know how to find the ideal resume, in the very best way possible. In the end, this is the best way to spend your time, because you get paid to look for jobs, so make the most of it.