Unemployed in Des Moines

Perry Newman, CPC CSMS is a nationally recognized executive resume writer, career coach, AIPC certified recruiter and SMMU certified social media strategist known for his ability to help his clients get results. You can view his sample resumes at http://www.perrynewman.com/, and email him your resume at perry@perrynewman.com for FREE resume critique.

A lot of my people tell me that they hear and read a lot about the personal branding in a job search but don’t really understand what it means.

To me PERSONAL BRANDING is how you differentiate yourself from your competition and let people know how special you are.

So here are a few ways to establish a personal brand on your resume, online and in person.

1: Create a tag line that sums up who you are in one or two sentences.
For some it can be a very simple statement and for others something a little more innovative. Then place it at the top of your resume directly below your name and contact information separated by a double line. Here are 2 examples.

PPM \ PMO Manager
“Expertise developing process & methodology to manage a portfolio of 200 projects valued at $275M annually”

OR

Highly Skilled R&D Engineer
“Transforming your existing products and processes into ones your competition will envy”

2: Design a great business card that accentuates your brand
Depending on your field, you can be conservative, colorful or innovative. Whichever you choose, use both sides of the business card. Generally the front has your contact info and your brand, and on the back of the card place has an ad for what you have to offer.

There are several companies online who have professional templates to choose from, or will print your artwork for you at a reasonable cost. Zazzle and Vistaprint are two I know of. They can also print matching stationary, return labels, hats, tee shirts and other materials to help grow your brand.

3. Work on your public persona
Position yourself as an expert in your field by seeking public speaking engagements in front of target audiences. You can join civic and fraternal organizations which can help you solidify your bonifides and help you build your network.

4. Be a networking group leader
Join a group and become the most active member, or start your own live or online networking group in your field or community. Look at what interests similar groups and bring your name and expertise to the forefront by asking and answering relevant questions and exchanging job and networking leads with as many people as possible.

5. Create a public perception
Work on your social media profiles. Keep them current and relevant and make sure they show people more than just a boring “widget maker” looking for a job. Let your personality shine through. Set goals and a schedule of how many group responses you will reply to and how many tweets you will post each week.

6. Maintain your own blog
Blogging is a great way to establish your brand, show yourself as a subject matter expert and network to get other people to join and contribute.

7. Be open and available
Let people you know, as well as total strangers know that you are always available to help them by sharing your knowledge, your skills and your contacts with anyone who needs it. Get in the habit of Paying It Forward and you will see a lot of payback.

Rick Saia is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Content Writer for Pongo Resume, a premier, full-service online resource for job seekers. Pongo provides all the resume templates, tools, and support needed to write professional resumes and cover letters, ace tough interviews, and secure a great job. For more information, visit http://www.pongoresume.com or call.

Many job seekers write their resumes under the belief that they have to “come clean” on everything regarding their careers, from what they have achieved, to the reasons they left previous jobs, to what they want to do well into the future.

But a resume is not a tell-all autobiography of your career triumphs, tragedies, and non-essential trivia. It’s a marketing document that tries to position you as a prime candidate for whatever job you’re applying for. While your long-term goal is to get the job, the resume’s chief goal is short term: Showcase the stuff the employer needs to convince them to call you for an interview.

That’s why you should never include these three things on your resume:

Why you left a job. This doesn’t help when you’re trying to market yourself effectively. The objective of any marketing project is to convince someone to buy a product or service. Rather than saying something like “Position was one of 10 eliminated as part of company-wide cost-cutting measures,” focus only on what the employer is looking for: your skills and experience, and how they can benefit a new employer. You can explain the rest at your interview–if they even ask.

What’s in it for you…rather than what’s in it for the employer. If you open your resume with a statement that says something like “Seeking a position that can utilize my skills in accounting and help position me for an executive-level job in finance,” you’ve stated a clear career objective. There’s just one problem with that: Your next employer doesn’t really care about your aspirations or what you want to be doing in five years. They want someone who can do the job they have open today, and do it effectively. Start your resume instead with a summary of the qualifications that are most likely to grab their attention.

Your college GPA…if it’s been more than three years since you graduated. You may have heard the expression “experience is your best teacher.” Hiring managers want to see what you’ve done in the workplace, and that also goes for new college graduates. Even 10 years after you received your bachelor’s degree, you may still be proud of that 3.7 grade-point average. But that was a decade ago. What have you done since? If you’re a recent college graduate and your GPA was at least a 3.5, go ahead and include it. If it was less than 3.5 but the GPA in courses related to your major was at or above that mark, include it.

Before you send your resume, ask yourself these two questions: (1) Does this resume effectively communicate my skills and experience and how they match the job description? And (2) Does it effectively tell the employer the benefits they would get by hiring me? If you can truthfully answer “yes” to both questions, you’ve given yourself a strong chance at landing an interview.

Romelle Slaughter, member of Unemployed in Des Moines, wrote a great post summarizing the latest activity regarding the unemployment insurance benefit extension – check out his post here.

Harry Urschel has over 20 years experience as a technology recruiter in Minnesota. He currently operates as e-Executives, writes a blog for Job Seekers called The Wise Job Search, and can be found on Twitter as @eExecutives.

I was recently asked about the difference between a resume and an online career profile. Is there a difference? Should there be a difference? Are they considered in different ways? What should be included or avoided?

Good question… short answer… YES! They are different.

There are a number of things to consider when creating a professional profile online vs. creating a resume to email or present to a company, or when applying for a specific role.

Here are some thoughts that can help…

When creating a resume for a specific company or position you are pursuing, it’s critical that you tailor it for the specific recipient. Emphasize the experience you’ve had that would be most important to that particular company or position. Although your experience may be very broad, if they don’t very quickly see the direct related experience for the role, it’s unlikely you will be considered further. Using words from their job description, their terminology, and giving special attention to the skills you have that are directly applicable to their requirements is key. The extra effort involved in customizing your resume for each individual application will pay off in a greater chance at a response.

When creating an online profile, whether it be a LinkedIn profile, your personal professional website, a Visual CV, a job board, or any number of other venues online to post your information… it has to appeal to a broader audience. You won’t know who will see it, or what kind of role they have in mind when they’re looking.

Although you may be interested in a variety of opportunities when you are applying, the viewer generally only has one role they are looking to fill. Your online profile should help them understand all your experience and see the fit for multiple roles.

~ An online profile isn’t limited to two printed pages! While it’s usually not a good idea to create a submitted resume that’s more than 2 pages long, you don’t have that kind of restriction with an online profile. You can include much more information, more detail, more accomplishments, more strengths, and more keywords. Keywords are important, as that’s the most likely way they will find you. Include as many keywords as you can think of that someone might use to find someone with your background. With more detail, the likelihood of being found in a search rises, and it gives the viewer a greater chance of finding what they are looking for.

In an online profile, just as in a resume, it’s important that your information is written in short, substantive, sentences and/or bullet points. When someone is scanning your information, short lines will get read, paragraphs will not. It’s important that they grasp your experience quickly and easily, in order to gain their further interest.

~ An online profile can include testimonials! A submitted resume doesn’t generally have the space, and it’s not the best venue to include third party comments. However, an online profile can be a great place to include reference information and comments to “back up” the assertions you make about yourself in your profile. It’s great to express your strengths and accomplishments, it’s even better when someone else confirms them as well.

~ Consistency is key! It’s critically important that a resume you submit to a company, and your online profile agree with each other! Nothing will torpedo your chances for an opportunity than the appearance of an attempt to deceive. Although the resume you present may not give the entire picture of your full responsibilities in a particular position, it should never contradict the more detailed description. If your role was as an Office Manager of a small business, and your responsibilities included accounting, your resume should never make it appear as if your entire role was as an Accountant.

In today’s job market, and with easy access to search engines, it’s HIGHLY likely that somewhere in the hiring process someone at the organization you are pursuing will Google you and find your profile online. If the information you have posted there contradicts what they received from you directly, it’s unlikely they will proceed with you further. The resume and online profile can complement each other, but be consistent.

~ Links! When presenting a resume, it’s not usually easy, or necessarily appropriate to include links to websites online. An online profile is ideal for this though and can often enhance your presentation and credibility. You can include links to other professional sites where you have information posted. Link all of your relevant online presence together… LinkedIn, personal professional website, Visual CV, etc. You might also link to a professional blog you write, articles you’ve been published in, online recognition you’ve received, etc.

Be very conscious, and careful of your overall online presence. A racy Facebook or MySpace page can be harmful to your online reputation. Comments or less than professional pictures or articles attributed to you can damage your chances of being considered for a position further. Be sure everything you link to only shows you in the best and most professional light possible, and try to clean up anything else that may be found by Google that might hurt.

Working together, a resume and a professional online presence can be a powerful combination. However, manage them carefully!

Jessica Holbrook is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, speaker and President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast. She creates high-impact, best-in-class, resumes and cover letters that win interviews. For a free resume analysis visit http://www.greatresumesfast.com/ or for a free phone consultation call 1.800.991.5187.

If you use the phrases “responsible for, duties included, or worked with…” you are selling yourself, your experience and your resume short. These passive terms do absolutely nothing for communicating the value and benefits you offer an employer.

These phrases are boring and repetitive because most every job seeker uses them. Hiring managers need words that jump off the page and captivate them. Here are a few examples of my favorite action words:

Accelerated
Authored
Captivated
Captured
Championed

Consolidated
Critiqued
Directed
Diversified
Diverted
Doubled
Enforced
Enhanced
Exceeded
Pioneered
Forged
Formalized
Formulated
Generated
Influenced
Initiated
Integrated
Intensified
Leveraged
Masterminded
Maximized
Mentored
Optimized
Orchestrated
Re-engineered
Spearheaded
Structured
Proliferated
Recaptured
Rejuvenated

…And the list could go on. Don’t like these? Use the synonym feature in Microsoft Word or go to thesaurus.com. Be strategic in your action verb choice and choose strong words that convey ACTION and RESULTS to begin every sentence. These words are a key component in creating a powerful and captivating resume.

For more great resources and resume samples visit Great Resumes Fast or to request a free resume analysis send your resume via e-mail to info@greatresumesfast.com.

Chris Perry, MBA is a Gen Y brand and marketing “generator,” a career search and personal branding expert and the founder of Career Rocketeer and Launchpad.

When I joined LinkedIn during my job search, I did not yet have a large network of first-degree or second-degree contacts within my chosen industry and found it very challenging to reach any potential career stakeholders. I turned to open networking as sort of an experiment to see how it would serve me in my job search efforts by joining a couple LinkedIn groups for LIONs (a.k.a. LinkedIn Open Networkers).

As I gained more first-degree contacts, I gained more messaging access to them and their connections. As a result, I was able to set up a number of informational interviews, one of which led to an official interview and later the job offer for my current employment.

Therefore, I am very much a supporter of open networking; however, I realize that like all things, there are two sides which I believe should both be heard and considered.

To get the discussion going, I have reached out to several thought leaders to share their arguments for and against open networking.
FOR OPEN NETWORKING:

“As an ardent proponent of “Open Networking,” I encourage it constantly in my work with clients and companies. According to research by Mark Granovetter cited in Herminia Ibarra’s excellent book “Working Identity” (page 120), over 80% of job leads come from people outside of our key contact list (the numbers are 17% from strong ties, 55% from weak ties and 28% from weakest ties). By the use of Open Networking, the LinkedIn individual increases the opportunity for serendipity. I recently had a client who, through keeping his network open, made contact with a previously unknown individual in Washington State who was able to connect him with an employment opportunity he had discovered in Northeast Philadelphia. He had NO idea of who this person was, yet through LinkedIn was able to identify that this person had a strong connection to a position he had found here on the East Coast!” - Barry Davis

“I advise job seekers to become open networkers on LinkedIn because it increases their reach across the site. Without many connections, job seekers are limited to using InMail or group messages to contact other LinkedIn members in reference to their job searches. Open networking allows job hunters to reach out to recruiters and hiring managers to find out about openings or to follow up on posted positions. As a LinkedIn member, I had a person who was my first level connection ask me to forward a note to a hiring manager who was a connection of mine. I didn’t personally know the person who requested the favor, but I passed on the note without having to give a personal endorsement of the person. Most LinkedIn members are willing to help. As long as people reciprocate and are willing to help each other, being an open networker can benefit everyone.” - Cheryl Palmer

“I am an executive recruiter in Manhattan, and have been one for close to seven years. I have been using LinkedIn since July 2007. As of this moment, I have just shy of 10,000 contacts. I would guess that of those 10,000, I am personally acquainted with 100. The rest are perfect strangers. However, LinkedIn is my primary source for announcing job openings. It has never failed me. Period. End of discussion. I find candidates through LinkedIn. I have placed people who I have found through LinkedIn. There are, to the best of my knowledge, no downsides to using LinkedIn as an open networker. Some people have raised concerns. The first seems to be that as an open networker, you are associating yourself with strangers. My response is that everyone knows that the vast majority of contacts are strangers. You will not be held responsible for your contacts. That said, if a contact has a strange picture I will look at his or her profile and decide whether or not to keep them. I am looking for highly professional individuals. By definition, “highly professional individuals” do not post provocative photos or content on their profiles. So the people I delete are not the people who I would ever want as candidates.” - Bruce Hurwitz

AGAINST OPEN NETWORKING:

“Being a LinkedIn Open Networker is not a good idea. Why? Because who you publicly allow into your network reflects back on who you are. What does it say about you if you are linked to someone who posts inappropriate status updates? Who has conducted themselves in a “manner unbecoming” in the workplace? Who has been at the heart of a scandal of any sort? It does not say good things to a potential employer! In fact, I would think it would lead a recruiter to question your judgment. One of your top priorities during a job hunt should be to protect and put forth a positive, professional persona online and connecting with “just anyone” can easily throw that off-track. I’m not saying you need to have met, in person, everyone you connect with; however, you should have some knowledge of who they are, what they do, their reputation, etc.” - Robin Ferrier

“If every LinkedIn user connected indiscriminately, the system would completely stop working, and people would abandon the platform. Can you think of any positive reason that people would check into a system where millions of people “connected” to thousands of other people that they had no relationship with? (and “connect” in this fashion is not the same as a twitter connection – they are separate platforms)” - Steve Tylock

“The problem of being a Linkedin Open Networker is not the practice of encouraging connections that are unfamiliar. It is the unstructured nature of your resulting contacts and their lack of usefulness to your most important connections. The bell curve of members on LinkedIn is skewed toward service providers. As a LION, your connections will emulate that demographic and anyone who is connected to you will have their search results diluted by your unwieldy connections. This may result in your most important connections considering the removal of your profile as a direct connection. I am a proponent of being a LIHON, A Linkedin Handpicked Open Networker or a member that uses the ability to send messages for free to group members to handpick the most powerful connections, with or without a direct business experience. This will enhance the power of your profile and increase your credibility as a valuable Linkedin member.” - Brian Callahan

“Personally, the whole concept of “open networking” is something I oppose. Now don’t get me wrong, every once in a while I will make a LinkedIn connection with someone outside of my network, but usually that’s done with a specific purpose and within a relevant context for the person whom I’m reaching out to. The more people you add to your network – whether it’s LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter – the less attention you can focus on building relationships with each person in your network. I’m a believer that less is more. Rather than have thousands of meaningless connections, have a stronger, smaller network that knows you and will go to bat for you.” - Mario Schulzke

What are your thoughts? Are you for or against open networking? Why?

Has it hurt you or helped you?

Tell us your verdict!

Dorothy Tannahill-Moran is a Career Coach and expert on helping her clients achieve their goals. Her programs cover: Career growth and enhancement, Career Change, Retirement Alternatives and Job Search Strategy. Want to discover specific career change strategies that get results? Discover how by claiming your FREE gift, Career Makeover Toolkit at: http://CareerMakeoverToolKitShouldIstayorShouldIGo.com/

Many people, particularly as they accumulate years of work experience, find they have a growing desire to put passion into their life and career. My observation about why this takes place is that as we grow in life experiences a lot of the excitement or “newness” diminishes. We simply have been there and done that enough that our threshold for what will rock our world continues to go up. It’s increasingly harder to get that same level of excitement.

As we recognize that this element of excitement is missing, it can trigger us to go in search of something we can feel passionate about. We often look around us seeing others in careers that bring them incredible joy – something they are passionate about – and we want that same feeling for ourselves. We remember how it feels to have something in our lives that consumes our thoughts and makes the hours flow quickly. The biggest issue with going in search of your life and career passion is: HOW do you discover your passion?

All too many people think that your passion just comes to you like a thunderbolt from the heavens. In other words, we think for some people it just magically appears. This leaves the rest of us to feel unlucky because the magic hasn’t happened. Finding your passion is something we all have access to. It might seem magical, but it is simply a process, like most things in our lives, and requires turning off the TV and taking some actions.

Here are 5 simple steps that will lead you to your passion:

Start first with what you already know you’re interested in. Sit down and write out a list of all the things you have some interest in trying, but never have. Your whole process requires self honesty and it starts here. Don’t list anything just because of someone else’s interests. If you aren’t genuinely interested, don’t list it. It’s also important to create this master list as it will live on perhaps for the rest of your life. As you try things on the list, you may eliminate some and add others.

• You must realize that this is a discovery and experimentation process. You need to proceed with a certain playfulness and curiosity. You are going to try these things, probably for the first time, and you have no idea how they will turn out. In fact, you need to assume that while you may enjoy many of those activities, most of them will not turn into a passion.
• Because most of the activities you try will not turn into a true passion, you need to develop self-patience with no self-judgment. Have fun with the process. Be open to new discoveries. You will find your passion, just be patient and trust the process. Don’t criticize yourself if it doesn’t happen immediately.
• You do not need to limit your list to only things that seem related to a job. When you find a passion, you may well be able to turn it into an income opportunity, if you choose.

Make goals. You can’t just make a list. You have to take action. Like all great goals, they have the characteristics of 1) being specific 2) having a time for completion 3) and are actionable. A bad example: I will solve world hunger. This goal is missing all of the key characteristics. A good example: I will enroll and take glass blowing classes starting no later than Sept 2010. Setting goals for your drive to passion means you will hold yourself accountable for making something happen in your life.

Get curious and go in search. Your biggest asset on your quest to find passion is to get curious about your environment and what other people are doing. Ask questions. Let one thing create a thread to others that you continue to follow. There are an unlimited number of things out there that people are doing and others who are inventing more things to do. Surround yourself with people who are passionate about the work they are doing or with people on a quest like you. Having others in your life, who are excited about life, will drive your process forward. It’s great to have daily doses of inspiration.

Record your results. To get the most out of your exploration, you need to spend time in introspection. You need to think about each action you take and your reactions to them. This will help you understand what works for you and what doesn’t. What you learn about yourself as you move forward will help inform your next steps. Consider keeping a discovery journal. If you do best debriefing your actions by talking, consider asking a person who is also going through a quest for passion to help you. You can ask each other deep probing questions and deepen the learning.

Repeat. Don’t try something just once. Give any new endeavor a chance to capture your interest by getting past the new start up roughness. Continue to move through the steps exploring, experimenting and learning until you discover the passion you are looking for.

Discovering something you can feel passionate about will greatly enhance your life and career. It is not magical nor is it difficult, but it does take effort. As long as you stay open about the possibilities and continually entertain new things, you will find the passion you want in your life.

Jessica Holbrook is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, speaker and President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast. She creates high-impact, best-in-class, resumes and cover letters that win interviews. For a free resume analysis visit http://www.greatresumesfast.com/ or for a free phone consultation call 1.800.991.5187.

The main strategy behind a cover letter is that it should be a quick introduction—a prologue, as it were—to introduce yourself and your resume to a potential employer. It should concisely demonstrate that you are a great match for the opportunity for which you are applying and ultimately command the hiring manager’s attention so that he’ll read your resume.

Here are five ways to ensure your resume won’t be read.

1. Write your whole life story in the cover letter.

Don’t bother going overboard with details; keep it short. The hiring manager won’t be willing to invest a lot of time reading your cover letter. Keep it short and to the point.

2. Provide information that is not relevant to the position.

Do not waste time going on and on about experience you have that is NOT relevant to the position. Give the hiring manager specific information about the qualifications he seeks that you already possess. This will pique his interest—rather than lose it.

3. Exclude information they’ve specifically asked you to include.

If they ask for something specific in the job description make sure you include it. Following instructions and acknowledging everything the employer has asked you to address in the job ad not only saves the employer time but makes you look good. I can tell you this from years of experience as a hiring manager; nine out of 10 applicants will fail to address every requirement the employer has listed. (And sometimes, what may seem like an insignificant or unimportant request is actually a little test to see if you are attentive enough to completely follow instructions.)

4. Forget to tell them why you’re the best fit.

Scrutinize the requirements of the position and concisely address how your experience meets the need—or even exceeds it. Be applicable, relevant, and attention getting. But please don’t go overboard with details. The best cover letters will actually make the hiring manager want to read the corresponding resume.

5. Use a boring closing statement.

Feeling daring? Try closing your cover letter with something else besides “best regards” or “sincerely”. Everyone uses those closing statements. But you don’t want everyone to get the job; you want it. So don’t be afraid to try something new. Someone once sent me a cover letter that closed with, “Call today, don’t delay”. I applauded her boldness and just had to call her. The closing was confident, feisty, and it certainly grabbed my attention. Not to mention the entire cover letter addressed everything she brought to the table as a potential employee and how these elements were relevant to meeting our needs.

What I want you to see is that boring the hiring manager with details not relevant to the opening—or not making the most of the space and time you’re getting is really to your detriment. Instead, take the time to write something catchy, relevant, and targeted to the position for which you are applying. Sure, it may take a few extra minutes—but in the end, when you get the interview, won’t it be worth it?

If you’re wondering how your resume is holding up to today’s standards, send it to us for a free resume analysis. Send your resume via e-mail to info@greatresumesfast.com.

Every week I update the Networking page on this website with events that the Unemployed of Des Moines can attend to network to find jobs. Most events are free or only cost a nominal fee to attend.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership, Iowa WorkForce Development, Right Management and 2 the Top Career Advancement Strategies began co-sponsoring Net2Work last year at the Des Moines Botanical Center. Net2Work is a “local initiative aimed at helping unemployed professionals network, research and ultimately connect with their next job opportunity or career.” A few months ago, the organizers were dropping hints that the continuation of the program was not a sure thing.

There has been a noticeable decline in attendance at Net2Work over the past several months. It doesn’t mean that there are fewer unemployed – just means that they’re not able to find out about Net2Work. I did a little research to find out how the Partnership had been marketing the event over the past several months (the Partnership has always been the main marketing arm for the event).

The locations on-line where the Partnership has marketed Net2Work and no longer does:

The last time Net2Work was mentioned on the Partnership’s Facebook Fan Page was 29Apr2010 – Net2Work has had four meetings since then.

The last time the Net2Work event was marketed on the Partnership’s Twitter handle was 29Apr2010 – Again, Net2Work has had four meetings since then.

Net2Work has not been announced on the Partnership’s Group page, CarpeDM, in the last 5 months (that’s as far back as I can check). There is a “Net2Work, Des Moines, IA” LinkedIn Group, but Unemployed in Des Moines Networking has been the only activity…

The Partnership even stopped marketing the event on their own website’s calendar! The last time they mentioned Net2Work here was on 17May2010.

There used to be an announcement in the Business Record and the Des Moines Register, but I am unable to find any historical information or any Net2Work events posted for the future.

If my facts are off, someone, please correct me…I’m just trying to make sense of all this.

So……..the only way for the unemployed to know about Net2Work is if they’re already on the email list by having attended the event in the past. The week before Net2Work, Mary Bontrager of the Partnership sends out an email announcing the next meeting. How are the newly unemployed supposed to know about this resource if there is no marketing done?

I guess my question for the organizers of Net2Work is: Is this your way of telling us that Net2Work is being phased out? Are you trying to make it look like the jobless situation is improving by having a lower turnout at the event by not marketing it? What’s the deal? Curious minds would like to know…

As you regular readers may have noticed, we’ve been off-line for some time now. Welcome back and thanks for sticking with me.

While I get the rest of the site rebuilt, enjoy the networking opportunities located on the “Networking” tab.

I’m always open to guest-bloggers, so if you’re interested, just drop me a line.