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Rabu, 30 Juni 2010

Five Strategies for Leveraging Your Online Social Networks

by E. Chandlee Bryan

In less than five years, Facebook has emerged as a household name and now has more than 70 million active users, according to Facebook statistics. A recent ExecuNet newsletter reports that "60 percent of wealthy Americans with an average income of $287,000/year and net worth of $2.1 million participate in online social networks, compared to just 27 percent a year ago." These individuals belong to an average 2.8 networks.


While online social networks are useful in terms of helping you make connections, developing a great "brand" identity and maintaining a good online reputation is of critical importance. This article will provide five strategies for creating online social networking that will help you build your reputation and leverage your contacts


Five Strategies for Using Online Networking

  • Be Selective. It's not who you know, it is "who knows you back." Connect only with friends and colleagues who will speak favorably of you, and who you will recommend to others.
  • Be a Good Friend. One of the best ways to create loyalty, brand identity and a good online reputation is to share non-proprietary information that is of potential interest to your contacts. You can greatly increase the value of your network by sharing what you know. A great way to learn of potential topics of interest to your friends is to create Google News Alerts or feeds that will send you automatic alerts with current information.
  • Be Polite and Cautious. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it all. Remember that adding comments to blogs and uploading pictures can leave a permanent trail and written record. Posting information online is like sending a postcard -- anyone can see it, and it could get in the hand of the wrong person.
  • Be Vigilant. Many employers search the Web prior to making interview invitations or employment offers. Be careful how you share personal information. For example, never Twitter (see sidebar, To Twitter or Not to Twitter) about a job offer until you've accepted, or Tweet about a resignation. Negative comments can spread like a nasty pandemic. A general rule of thumb: if your mom would be embarrassed, publish under a pseudonym if you must. Set up a Google News Alert to monitor information about you that is available on the web -- and request removal of negative comments or inaccurate information.
  • Be Transparent. Share information about your career, your interests, and what's important to you. Update your info regularly with care. The more your contacts know of your interests, the more they can be of help to you.

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Boss, Apakah Tim Anda Tetap Mempertahankan Produktifitasnya Saat Anda Pergi?

Pernah mendengar peribahasa kucing pergi, tikus menari? Peribahasa ini menggambarkan betapa bahagianya anak buah saat atasan atau pemimpin mereka pergi meninggalkan kantor. Dilanda euphoria sesaat, seringkali tanpa disadari karyawan mengabaikan pekerjaan dan tanggung jawab. Terlebih jika pemimpin pergi cukup lama, perasaan bebas dari kekangan terasa seperti angin segar disela rutinitas kantor yang membosankan.

Ketika Anda alias si boss kembali ke kantor, Anda mendapati beberapa pekerjaan yang terbengkalai, muncul kelalaian menjalankan tanggung jawab sehingga produktifitas menurun. Hal ini pada akhirnya berdampak pada satu kenyataan: target tak terpenuhi. Setelah melakukan evaluasi, Anda tidak melihat adanya masalah yang berarti kecuali ketiadaan Anda sebagai pemimpin yang terbiasa mengawasi mereka.

Idealnya, tim Anda tidak kehilangan ritme kerja dan produktifitas walaupun pemimpinnya tidak mengawasi sepanjang hari. Tentu saja Anda ingin membangun tim yang bisa mempertahankan performa dan kinerjanya tanpa micro management dan campur tangan dalam setiap aspek pekerjaan. Siapapun mengimpikan anggota tim yang menjalankan pekerjaannya karena rasa tanggung jawab, bukan karena ada bos yang mengawasi di belakang mereka sepanjang waktu. Sebelum hal ini terlanjur terjadi atau terulang kembali, ada beberapa tips yang bisa membantu :

  1. Persiapkan dari awal.
    Ciptakan lingkungan yang mendorong mereka bekerja secara mandiri tanpa pengawasan Anda sepanjang waktu. Tunjukkan bahwa Anda percaya bahwa mereka akan menyelesaikan tugas dan mencapai target, terlebih lagi jika mereka telah lama ada di tim Anda. Tanamkan sense bahwa mereka bertanggung jawab atas setiap pekerjaan yang diberikan kepada mereka. Biarkan mereka bekerja dengan cara mereka sendiri selama hal tersebut tidak bertentangan dengan nilai yang dianut perusahaan. Jangan membuat perkembangan karakter dan keterampilan mereka mandek karena terbiasa ‘disuapi’ oleh pemimpinnya.

  2. Delegasikan.
    Jangan bertugas keluar sebelum menetapkan siapa yang sementara akan memegang tanggung jawab Anda. Pemegang kekuasaan temporary ini bisa wakil, anggota senior tim atau orang lain yang kompentensi dan pribadinya Anda percayai. Anda memang tidak bisa mengharapkan orang tersebut memberikan efek seperti layaknya seorang pemimpin terhadap anggota tim, namun yang perlu diciptakan adalah sense bahwa walaupun pemimpin absent sementara waktu, ada orang yang yang memegang tanggung jawab tersebut.

  3. Detailkan.
    Jelaskan kepada pengganti sementara hal rutin yang harus dikerjakan dan laporan yang harus diberikan pada Anda secara berkala. Pastikan bahwa pengganti tersebut memiliki kompetensi dan kemampuan untuk memegang tanggung jawab lebih sementara waktu. Rincikan hal yang bisa diputuskan oleh karyawan tersebut dan hal yang tetap harus melalui persetujuan Anda.

  4. Umumkan.
    Terutama jika Anda harus bertugas ke luar cukup lama, sampaikan secara resmi kepada anggota tim, termasuk informasi bahwa Anda telah menunjuk orang yang akan memegang posisi Anda sementara. Informasikan hal yang bisa diselesaikan melalui pengganti Anda atau tetap melalui Anda. Jangan lupa untuk menyampaikan bahwa Anda mengharapkan performa dan target tetap berjalan seperti biasa.

  5. Be accessible.
    Tugas di luar kota tidak membuat Anda serta merta kehilangan kontak dengan anggota tim. Terlebih dengan perkembangan tekhnologi, rasanya tidak ada hal yang tidak bisa dikomunikasikan hanya karena halangan jarak. Tetap jalin komunikasi dengan pengganti Anda dan anggota tim untuk menanyakan progress pekerjaan dan hal yang membutuhkan persetujuan Anda.

  6. Remember!
    Ciptakan suasana kerja yang akan mendukung berkembangnya rasa tanggung jawab karyawan Anda sejak awal


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Facebook's paternalistic attitudes aren't empowering

By danah boyd,


(CNN) -- Facebook's privacy problems have been in the news ... again.

Although complaints may have started deep in the blogosphere, even Time Magazine has made them its cover story.

In response, Facebook announced a new privacy model to address complaints that it's too darn hard to actually navigate privacy settings on Facebook. (Well, duh.)

It's not yet clear whether Facebook's changes will satiate the Facebook citizenry (let alone the rabid critics), but the conversations about privacy settings tend to emphasize only a fraction of the core concerns.

Facebook rightfully believes that it's important to give users control over their settings, to empower them to make decisions about what's accessible. But Facebook can also be condescending, suggesting that they know what's best for their users because they have so much data about them (which they do).

Unfortunately, Facebook's data tells them a lot about what people do but little about why they do it. They know that people aren't quitting Facebook, but that doesn't mean that users aren't frustrated or concerned (or would be if they understood what was happening).

Don't get me wrong -- the privacy settings are confounding even for the most experienced digerati and I'm very glad that they're addressing this fundamental issue.

But in doing so, I hope that they realize that the main reason for so much public outrage goes beyond privacy settings. The issue is fundamentally about trust and informed consent.

When people share information with Facebook, they become vulnerable to Facebook. They trust Facebook to respect their interests. Facebook has the power to expose people in ways that make their lives really miserable.

Because of that power, it's crucial that they stop telling users what's best for them and start engaging in a more meaningful dialogue.

Changing things and then forcing users to opt out is manipulative. Instead, they should be seeking informed consent -- actively working with users to help make sure that they understand what's at stake in their choices.

It is unacceptable for a company like Facebook to trick people into "consenting" to make their data more visible than they might think that it is.

People should be able to understand Facebook's changes and have choices available that allow them to make appropriate decisions. When Facebook changed its privacy settings in December, far too many people clicked on through without realizing that a few mouse clicks meant that they were exposing their status updates to the world.

Many people may know exactly how not-private their Facebook profile or updates are. But do they? I recommend using ReclaimPrivacy to scan your privacy settings.

Keep in mind that "Everybody" is more than the people searching for you on Facebook -- this includes every company or individual who wants to use your information for any purpose.

In many ways, it's more accessible than simply posting something on a public website and waiting for Google to find it. And keep in mind that "Friends-of-Friends" means more than the people that you'd invite to a birthday party.

I talked with a young woman who vowed that she'd never friend her mother; she didn't realize that if she friended her aunt and her aunt friended her mother than "Friends-of-Friends" included her mother. Do people really know who is included in their "Friends-of-Friends?"

Facebook doesn't just need to fix its privacy settings. It needs to fix its attitude and repair its relationship with its users. Facebook isn't just a space for users to share; it is built on the backs of people and profits off of the data people entrust to them. An abusive relationship is simply unacceptable.

Facebook must go beyond paternalism and start empowering users to help guide the future of the service. It starts with committing to an opt-in approach to changes and developing features that allow users to have complete transparency as to how their data is exposed to, and used by, third parties.

It then requires innovating ways to actively engage participants. Facebook built a platform for mass sharing, but if it wants to change the world, it must also develop mechanisms for informed participation.

With great power comes great responsibility.


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Nintendo 3DS, 'Rage' among Best of E3 nominees



By Larry Frum


(CNN) -- Nintendo's jump into 3-D gaming and "Rage," a game that combines racing with first-person shooting, topped the list of nominees in "The Best of E3 2010."

The list of Game Critics Award nominations, released Tuesday, features five mentions for "Rage" (id Software/Bethesda), a new game franchise, and 15 nominations for game publisher Electronic Arts.

The nominations are drawn from game and hardware presentations made at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, in Los Angeles, California, in early June. The judges represent 31 different gaming publications.

See complete coverage of the 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo.

In the "Best of Show" category, one new gaming console garnered a nomination along with four game titles. The Nintendo 3DS, a hand-held console that displays 3-D images without the use of special glasses, beat out new motion-controllers from Microsoft (Kinect) and Sony (Move).

Neither of those controllers, designed to compete against Nintendo's Wii console, were nominated in the top category.

The four games in the top category cross all platforms.

-- "Dance Central" (Harmonix/MTV Games) is a dance video game exclusive to the Kinect/Xbox 360.

-- "Disney's Epic Mickey" (JunctionPoint/Disney Interactive Studios) will be available on the Wii and features the classic Disney icon in a cartoon land gone wrong.

-- "Portal 2" (Valve) drew cheers at E3 when it was announced. It returns players to the labs of Apature Science and the company of the soft-spoken, but homicidal computer, GLaDOS.

-- "Rage" rounds out the group that received "Best of Show" nods.

Both "Portal 2" and "Rage" will be released for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. "Portal 2" will also be available for Mac.

Awards will be announced on July 6. A full list of all 2010 nominations can be found here.

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Making Your Home Office a Success

These days there is an ever-increasing trend of people working from their homes. And it is easy to see why; working at home is cheaper and more convenient than commuting to an office.

However, as can be expected with this thriftiness and convenience, working at home comes with a certain risk: that of distractions and temptations to laze around the house having fun or relaxing.

When it comes to working out of a home office, there are many things that can stand in the way of your productivity. This article will outline a few of them and recommend ways to avoid them and get the most out of the time you spend working at home.

Avoid Distraction at all Cost

The most important thing to avoid while working at home is distraction. This can come in many forms, but will always detract from your working abilities. The most common source of distractions, unsurprisingly, is you.

Since so many at-home jobs these days involve computers, it is easier than ever to spend a few minutes here and there surfing the net or listening to music. But a few minutes here and there can add up to more than expected.

It is important to keep your workplace free of entertaining distractions. For many people this means having two different personal computers: one for work and one for play. This will help you stay focused on the task at hand. You will be amazed at how much more work you get done when you spend the entire day working with no messing around!

Home Office Organization Techniques

Another way to ensure that you get the most out of the time you spend working at home is to make sure that your office is optimally organized. Simply having the most expensive desk, chair, and shelving available is not enough; your home office’s furnishings have to mesh with one another.

In other words, you should consider things like how much space they occupy before purchasing them. Doing so will help you come up with an office layout that is maximally efficient. In these days where people are either tight on money or tight on space, or both, something like the Techni Mobili Computer Desk is a popular choice.

What Room of the House to Use

Another factor that will contribute to the efficiency of the time you spend in your home office is its location. You should make sure the area you have set aside to do at-home work is not used for other purposes, if possible. It does not take any more than a person walking by to distract you from your work and require you to spend extra time refocusing your attention.

As far as time is concerned, every little bit adds up, and, as the saying goes, “time is money.” There are other factors associated with your home office’s location that you should also consider. For example, how much sunlight gets to your office during the time you work?

How many electrical outlets are available to you without using a surge protector? Do you have space to perform all the working actions you need to perform? And finally, do you feel comfortable working in the area you have chosen?

The All-Important Office Desk

The office desk you choose to use is one of the major factors determining how comfortable your working area will be. For this reason, it is important to put a large amount of planning into the purchase of your office desk. Available models vary according to available features, quality of materials used, storage space, etc.

It is important to know your needs before beginning to shop for a desk. For example, you should not buy a desk with four drawers intended to store paper files if your work does not involve keeping any kind of paper records. Office desks can be expensive, and picking one that suits rather than exceeds your needs is a great way to save some money.

Sit on It for a While
Women at a deskPicking the right office chair is another great way to save. It can be tempting to buy the most expensive, comfortable chair on the market, justifying it as a “business expense,” but ultimately you should consider how much time you plan on spending sitting in the chair each day.

If your back can handle sitting at a cheap chair for the few hours per day you spend working at home, you can save serious dollars by purchasing an inexpensive chair or using one you already have around the house. All things considered, the most important thing to consider when planning the layout of your home office is practicality; does your design allow you to complete the work you need to complete in a clutter- and stress-free environment?

If not, try to come up with a plan for reducing the elements involved with your home office that are cutting into your efficiency. And remember, your home office is yours; there is nobody to blame for things not getting done but yourself.

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9 Crucial Questions for your Boss

By : Rachel Zupek

There are certain things you probably shouldn't ask your boss:


"Are you an idiot?"

"Who actually pays you to do this?"

"How much did you spend on that bad toupee?"

But what about the things you should ask your boss? In today's turbulent job market especially, it's important to ask important questions and be on your boss's radar (and not because you asked him if he showers daily).

Some job seekers and employees mistakenly think asking questions shows lack of intelligence, says Caroline Ceniza-Levine, partner at SixFigureStart, a career coaching firm. On the contrary, it's worse to think of questions later and then have to go back and get them answered. It's even worse to not ask questions at all and find out you misunderstood or left something out.

"Thoughtful questions show professional maturity; clarification questions show that you are actively listening and thinking of the details," Ceniza-Levine says. "If you are just asking the boss to repeat herself, then you show you are not paying attention. If you ask a question that deepens and expands the discussion then you demonstrate that you are paying attention, reflecting on what is said and adding to this."

Here are nine questions to ask your boss that can help boost your career:

1. How will we gauge my success in three, six or 12 months?
It's important to know the metrics of how you and your boss will gauge your success, and to have a working timeframe, Ceniza-Levine says. You need to know that you are working on what matters and aiming for results that will be measured. The less subjective you can make your work, the better it will be for you come bonus or promotion time.

2. How do you prefer to communicate and how often?
It's important to talk to your boss formally for things like performance evaluations, but it's also imperative to know how to get feedback on an everyday basis, Ceniza-Levine says. Does the boss want you to check-in every day, every week or only when a specific project is happening? Do they want you to swing by unannounced, make an appointment, send an e-mail or call first?

"People have different expectations in terms of frequency and method of communication, so ask how your boss likes to communicate and adjust accordingly. If you need more or less feedback, this will be something you need to communicate," she says.

3. What does my career path look like at this company?
This is a tricky one. On one hand, asking this question shows that you are focused on making a long-term career at the company. On the other hand, you have to be careful not to appear as if you are constantly looking outside, Ceniza-Levine says. Ask this question after you know that your boss is happy with you in your current job and then you can decide what your next move is.

4. What areas do I need to develop to advance my career?
This shows your manager that you're being proactive in making something happen for yourself. You're trying to get explicit direction regarding advancement, and asking for specific feedback shows that you aren't assuming what your weaknesses are.

"You don't want to assume that you need more strategic planning or more analytical skills," Ceniza-Levine says. "Maybe they really value relationship building and the time you spend in front of the computer is time better spent meeting people in other departments."

5. What's our top priority?
Oftentimes, bosses assign employees more work than they realize. Asking him or her upfront what takes precedence makes your boss choose among the many projects you may have been assigned, Ceniza-Levine says. This is important so you know how to budget your time. You want to know the top priorities and save your best work for these.

6. Let me see if I understand this correctly ... am I missing anything?
After your boss has explained something to you, it's beneficial to summarize what you've heard so that the boss knows what information you retained and can fill in the details where you may have missed something, Ceniza-Levine says. Repeat what your boss says so that you are on the same page about next steps, otherwise you're in for a rude awakening when the due date comes around.

7. What are my strengths?
You want to know your strengths so you can build on these to advance your career down the line.

"Sometimes people value things that you don't realize; it might be so natural to you that it is unnoticeable," Ceniza-Levine says. "Now that you know your boss notices and likes this strength, you can find a way to incorporate more of it into what you do."

8. What can I do to help you?
Asking how you can help is important because it shows you are willing to go above and beyond, Ceniza-Levine says. Make sure you've completed everything already asked of you, otherwise it might seem like you're angling for something other than your current job.

9. I'm working on projects X, Y and Z -- do you think I can handle this task?
As mentioned earlier, managers don't always know if you have too much on your plate. If you ask before committing to a new task, your boss's priorities will dictate your choices -- not your personal preference, Ceniza-Levine says. By listing what you already have going on but offering to do more, you come across as willing to go the distance.

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Selasa, 29 Juni 2010

Goals and Happiness

What makes you happier than anything else you do? Where does real contentment come from?

If you understand and apply the following definition of happiness, you also open the door to unlimited success for yourself, your family and your group.

"Happiness could be defined as the emotion of progress toward desirable goals. There is an instant of contemplation of the last goal in which one is content. But contentment becomes boredom immediately that new goals do not come to view. There is no more unhappy thing than a man who has accomplished all his ends in life." — L. Ron Hubbard

Examine how three facts, from this definition of happiness, make happiness come and go in your life.


1. "There is an instant of contemplation of the last goal in which one is content."

Think of goals you have reached in the past. Remember how you felt on your wedding day or when you graduated from school or a training course? In each case, you achieved a goal!. Remember those times when you were content with life? Maybe when you started a business or landed a great job? When you paid off your debts?

At every point in your life when you felt content or happy, you can probably find you were either making progress toward a goal or had reached a goal


2. "But contentment becomes boredom immediately that new goals do not come to view."

Without a new goal, you get bored. Boredom leads to stress and misery. For example, planning a vacation is exciting. But toward the end of a vacation many people are bored to tears as they no longer have a goal. Arguments during honeymoons are common if the newlyweds do not set goals for their marriage. Planning your retirement and the first day of retirement is a thrill. But the joy of freedom quickly turns to boredom and early death if you do not work on new goals.

"There is no more unhappy thing than a man who has accomplished all his ends in life."

Think of a time you were very bored. Had you completed a major goal without starting a new one? Look at other times you were bored. Examine your goals, or lack of goals, at those times.


3. "Happiness could be defined as the emotion of progress toward desirable goals."

We can use this definition to understand unhappiness as well. When were you last unhappy?

In each case, you probably 1) had no goal, 2) were trying to reach an undesirable goal, or 3) you were making no progress toward a goal. Using the definition of happiness makes happiness easy to achieve. Simply chose desirable goals and make progress toward them!


Exercises

The following steps will help you put this definition of happiness to use.


1. List goals you have not yet reached.
Small goals, large goals, old goals, failed goals and current goals. Make a very complete list.

2. Circle those goals that interest you the most.
Drop out the goals that do not excite you as you can’t reach a goal unless it interests you.

However, if an uninteresting goal is vital for you to reach, find ways to get excited about that goal. Examine the goal’s benefits. For example, maybe the goal to "Pay off all debts" does not thrill you until you examine the benefits: Save $5319 in interest this year, financial freedom, less anxiety.

If you cannot find any benefits of the goal, eliminate it.


3. Add new, desirable goals.
Push the envelope of your self limitations and set goals you really, really want. What are your greatest desires?

If you had unlimited time, money and support, what would your life be like? What would you do? What would you have?

If you knew you could accomplish ANYTHING, what would your goals be?

Add these goals to the list.


4. Line up your goals in a logical sequence.
The better your goals align with each other, the more likely you will reach them. For instance, if you have a goal to travel the world for six months this year and another goal to make more money this year than ever before, you might have problems.

However, if you line up your goals, your odds of success are better because your focus is constant. Example of aligned goals: "Finish my training program so I can double my productivity and income." "Help my husband lower our monthly debts so we can spend more time with the kids." "Delegate all of my sales activities to the sales manager so I can open a new office."


5. To complete the procedure and become happier, you now need to start making progress toward your goals.
Big steps or baby steps, any progress is progress.

Plan out next week. Plan out the month of January. Plan your best year ever.

Make a new habit of reviewing your goals each day to keep your attention and efforts aligned with your goals. At the start of each day, ask yourself: What can I do today to make progress toward my goals?

The more progress you make toward your most desired goals, the happier and more successful your new year will be!

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Getting Started on Twitter: 25 Tips For Job-Seekers to Take Advantage of the Web's Best-Kept Job Search Secret

by Susan Whitcomb


Twitter.

There's been lots of buzz about it. Perhaps you even visited the site, created an account, or dabbled with tweeting. Not love at first sight, right? If you're like most people, you're not alone in wondering, "What's the point? How can this cacophonous site -- crammed with apparently tangential, disconnected information -- possibly help my job search?"

Do keep an open mind! Although Twitter has a learning curve (as is the case with all good things), you can find value from Day One, whether just dabbling as a NOOB (Twitter shorthand for newbie) or committing to becoming a power user. Here are 25 tips to get you started:


  • Lurk First. Sit back and study what's happening on Twitter before jumping in with both feet. You can do this even before setting up your own Twitter account by going directly to Twitter user's streams (for example, you can see my Twitter stream at www.twitter.com/susanwhitcomb or my coauthors in The Twitter job Search Guide (JIST, 2010), www.twitter.com/chandlee and www.twitter.com/CEOCoach). You can also visit www.monitter.com and search keywords of interest to you.
  • Think Strategic When Setting Up Your Twitter Account. Many people vacillate between using their own personal name (such as JohnDoe) or profession (such as CFOintheKnow). There are advantages to both, but using your real name can add to your name recognition. If you have a common name that is already taken on Twitter and want to use your name, add a designation that matches your profession, such as JohnDoeCPA or JohnDoeSalesExec.
  • Write an Employer-Focused "160me" for Your Twitter Profile. Twitter allows you 160 characters max to describe who you are. Give them a taste of the return-on-investment they'll receive from hiring you. For example: "Go-to resource for publicity for nonprofits. Earned org's cover stories in regional mags; PR delivered 10s of thousands in contributions."
  • Point Employers to More Information. In your profile, include a link to a site where employers can get more information about you, such as your resume at VisualCV.com or your profile at LinkedIn.com.
  • Include a Professional Photo. Leaving off a photo is an invitation for people to dismiss you. Your photo should be as professional as you look when going to an interview -- your absolute best. A greater sense of connection seems to take place between followers and followees when each of you can see what the other really looks like. If you use an avatar, be on brand. Some people use avatars rather than a real photo -- these sites are great starting points for avatars: BigHugeLabs.com and SouthParkStudios.com.
  • Don't Rush to Follow at First. When you follow people on Twitter, it's likely they will consider following you back. If your history of tweets (your "tweet stream") isn't interesting or it's non-existent, you'll lose the opportunity to gain new followers. Instead, put out some interesting tweets first.
  • Tweet On-Brand. Tweet primarily about things that relate to your profession. Read news feeds, blogs, and other resources for relevant, fresh content.
  • Set Up Google Alerts for Tweet Content. Go to Google.com/alerts to set up alerts for industry trends, news on your target companies, and more sent directly to your email. You can then be the first to tweet about it.
  • Use a Third-Party Application (API). Twitter can appear disorganized and confusing. APIs such as TweetDeck.com, HootSuite.com, and Seesmic.com help organize tweets into columns of your choosing, such as those that reference your name, those that contain a relevant hashtag or keyword (such as #forensicaccounting), or a list of followers you are particularly interested in.
  • Follow People Who You Want To Know You. Follow companies on your list of target companies, employees in those companies, potential networking contacts, recruiters, industry leaders, and others who might help connect you to the people with the power to hire.
  • Explore Twitter's Advanced Search Feature. Search Twitter's advanced search function at www.search.twitter.com/advanced to search for opportunities (e.g., #jobs #portland #finance) or people.
  • Search Beyond Twitter. Use sites like TweepSearch.com, Twazzup.com, Tweetzi.com, or Tweefind.com to find people (e.g., recruiters, finance).
  • Use the 75-25 Rule When Tweeting. When in job-search mode, approximately 75 percent of your tweets should be professional, while 25 percent can be more of a personal nature (e.g., "Looking forward to my 25-mile ride through the Blossom Trail this weekend."). Use discretion with your personal tweets!
  • Tweet, Tweet, Tweet, But Don't Get Sucked In. Be careful that your time on Twitter is focused and productive. Consider a 15-minute-a-day model where you spend five minutes in the morning, noon, and afternoon. During that time, you might tweet about an interesting industry trend, retweet someone's tweet that would be interesting to your followers, and send an "at" (@) message to someone based on an intereting comment in their tweet stream.
  • Retweet -- The Highest Form of Flattery. Retweet (RT) interesting tweets from your networking contacts. Imagine how impressed a prospective employer might be when he/she sees you retweeting information that will promote the company.
  • Turn Your Twitter Conversations into Phone and Face-to-Face Conversations. You'll eventually want to shift the conversation from Twitter to a voice conversation or live meeting. Watch for opportunities, and act immediately when they present themselves.
  • Time Your Thank You's. As you engage people on Twitter, people will recommend you, retweet you, and compliment you. Consider thanking these people at off-times (late in the evening, early in the morning) so they don't clog your tweet stream.
  • Schedule Your Tweets. In some cases, you'll want to schedule your tweets in advance if you know you'll be unable to tweet. SocialOomph.com is a free service that will allow you to do that. HootSuite.com is another.
  • Go Mobile. Set up mobile alerts so you can stay in touch with Twitter friends while on the road. Tweetie is a favorite iPhone app. Android users can check out twidroid.com.
  • Sign up for TweetMyJobs Alerts. Every job seeker, whether a Twitter user or not, should visit www.TweetMyJobs.com to sign up for mobile-phone alerts of jobs relevant to their profession and geographic area. It's simple and free to jobseekers, and a lot less expensive for employers than some of the traditional job sites such as Monster and CareerBuilder.
  • Use Hashtags. Hashtags, represented by the # sign in front of a word (e.g., #accounting, #finance, #programming, #healthcare), are used on Twitter to help users find all the tweets with that hashtag. Use them religiously! You can find a hashtag directory at hashtags.org. Or, simply watch for the hashtags used by your favorite tweeps to get an idea of the latest hashtag lingo.
  • Let Your Followers Know You're Looking. One savvy jobseeker posted this hashtag-heavy tweet to gain the attention of employers and recruiters: "Looking to leverage my awesome #transportation #trucking #logistics & #supplychain tweeps to find #employment in #Charlotte NC. Suggestions?" Consider tweeting this type of information weekly.
  • Get Career Advice on Twitter. Follow savvy career coaches and job-search strategists for great career tips (such as this list) or search for hashtags such as #careercoach #resumes #jobsearch #twitterjobsearch.
  • Use Lists to Find People.Check out Listorious.com to find lists of people of interest in your target companies or profession. Similarly, check out the lists that other Twitter users have created.
  • Give, Give, Give Before You Go Asking for Help. As in all networking, look for ways to be of help to others before asking them for help. If you start off on Twitter with a tweet that says: "Lost my job. Anybody know of job openings?" You'll not likely get much help.

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Getting Started on Twitter: 25 Tips For Job-Seekers to Take Advantage of the Web's Best-Kept Job Search Secret

by Susan Whitcomb


Twitter.

There's been lots of buzz about it. Perhaps you even visited the site, created an account, or dabbled with tweeting. Not love at first sight, right? If you're like most people, you're not alone in wondering, "What's the point? How can this cacophonous site -- crammed with apparently tangential, disconnected information -- possibly help my job search?"

Do keep an open mind! Although Twitter has a learning curve (as is the case with all good things), you can find value from Day One, whether just dabbling as a NOOB (Twitter shorthand for newbie) or committing to becoming a power user. Here are 25 tips to get you started:


  • Lurk First. Sit back and study what's happening on Twitter before jumping in with both feet. You can do this even before setting up your own Twitter account by going directly to Twitter user's streams (for example, you can see my Twitter stream at www.twitter.com/susanwhitcomb or my coauthors in The Twitter job Search Guide (JIST, 2010), www.twitter.com/chandlee and www.twitter.com/CEOCoach). You can also visit www.monitter.com and search keywords of interest to you.
  • Think Strategic When Setting Up Your Twitter Account. Many people vacillate between using their own personal name (such as JohnDoe) or profession (such as CFOintheKnow). There are advantages to both, but using your real name can add to your name recognition. If you have a common name that is already taken on Twitter and want to use your name, add a designation that matches your profession, such as JohnDoeCPA or JohnDoeSalesExec.
  • Write an Employer-Focused "160me" for Your Twitter Profile. Twitter allows you 160 characters max to describe who you are. Give them a taste of the return-on-investment they'll receive from hiring you. For example: "Go-to resource for publicity for nonprofits. Earned org's cover stories in regional mags; PR delivered 10s of thousands in contributions."
  • Point Employers to More Information. In your profile, include a link to a site where employers can get more information about you, such as your resume at VisualCV.com or your profile at LinkedIn.com.
  • Include a Professional Photo. Leaving off a photo is an invitation for people to dismiss you. Your photo should be as professional as you look when going to an interview -- your absolute best. A greater sense of connection seems to take place between followers and followees when each of you can see what the other really looks like. If you use an avatar, be on brand. Some people use avatars rather than a real photo -- these sites are great starting points for avatars: BigHugeLabs.com and SouthParkStudios.com.
  • Don't Rush to Follow at First. When you follow people on Twitter, it's likely they will consider following you back. If your history of tweets (your "tweet stream") isn't interesting or it's non-existent, you'll lose the opportunity to gain new followers. Instead, put out some interesting tweets first.
  • Tweet On-Brand. Tweet primarily about things that relate to your profession. Read news feeds, blogs, and other resources for relevant, fresh content.
  • Set Up Google Alerts for Tweet Content. Go to Google.com/alerts to set up alerts for industry trends, news on your target companies, and more sent directly to your email. You can then be the first to tweet about it.
  • Use a Third-Party Application (API). Twitter can appear disorganized and confusing. APIs such as TweetDeck.com, HootSuite.com, and Seesmic.com help organize tweets into columns of your choosing, such as those that reference your name, those that contain a relevant hashtag or keyword (such as #forensicaccounting), or a list of followers you are particularly interested in.
  • Follow People Who You Want To Know You. Follow companies on your list of target companies, employees in those companies, potential networking contacts, recruiters, industry leaders, and others who might help connect you to the people with the power to hire.
  • Explore Twitter's Advanced Search Feature. Search Twitter's advanced search function at www.search.twitter.com/advanced to search for opportunities (e.g., #jobs #portland #finance) or people.
  • Search Beyond Twitter. Use sites like TweepSearch.com, Twazzup.com, Tweetzi.com, or Tweefind.com to find people (e.g., recruiters, finance).
  • Use the 75-25 Rule When Tweeting. When in job-search mode, approximately 75 percent of your tweets should be professional, while 25 percent can be more of a personal nature (e.g., "Looking forward to my 25-mile ride through the Blossom Trail this weekend."). Use discretion with your personal tweets!
  • Tweet, Tweet, Tweet, But Don't Get Sucked In. Be careful that your time on Twitter is focused and productive. Consider a 15-minute-a-day model where you spend five minutes in the morning, noon, and afternoon. During that time, you might tweet about an interesting industry trend, retweet someone's tweet that would be interesting to your followers, and send an "at" (@) message to someone based on an intereting comment in their tweet stream.
  • Retweet -- The Highest Form of Flattery. Retweet (RT) interesting tweets from your networking contacts. Imagine how impressed a prospective employer might be when he/she sees you retweeting information that will promote the company.
  • Turn Your Twitter Conversations into Phone and Face-to-Face Conversations. You'll eventually want to shift the conversation from Twitter to a voice conversation or live meeting. Watch for opportunities, and act immediately when they present themselves.
  • Time Your Thank You's. As you engage people on Twitter, people will recommend you, retweet you, and compliment you. Consider thanking these people at off-times (late in the evening, early in the morning) so they don't clog your tweet stream.
  • Schedule Your Tweets. In some cases, you'll want to schedule your tweets in advance if you know you'll be unable to tweet. SocialOomph.com is a free service that will allow you to do that. HootSuite.com is another.
  • Go Mobile. Set up mobile alerts so you can stay in touch with Twitter friends while on the road. Tweetie is a favorite iPhone app. Android users can check out twidroid.com.
  • Sign up for TweetMyJobs Alerts. Every job seeker, whether a Twitter user or not, should visit www.TweetMyJobs.com to sign up for mobile-phone alerts of jobs relevant to their profession and geographic area. It's simple and free to jobseekers, and a lot less expensive for employers than some of the traditional job sites such as Monster and CareerBuilder.
  • Use Hashtags. Hashtags, represented by the # sign in front of a word (e.g., #accounting, #finance, #programming, #healthcare), are used on Twitter to help users find all the tweets with that hashtag. Use them religiously! You can find a hashtag directory at hashtags.org. Or, simply watch for the hashtags used by your favorite tweeps to get an idea of the latest hashtag lingo.
  • Let Your Followers Know You're Looking. One savvy jobseeker posted this hashtag-heavy tweet to gain the attention of employers and recruiters: "Looking to leverage my awesome #transportation #trucking #logistics & #supplychain tweeps to find #employment in #Charlotte NC. Suggestions?" Consider tweeting this type of information weekly.
  • Get Career Advice on Twitter. Follow savvy career coaches and job-search strategists for great career tips (such as this list) or search for hashtags such as #careercoach #resumes #jobsearch #twitterjobsearch.
  • Use Lists to Find People.Check out Listorious.com to find lists of people of interest in your target companies or profession. Similarly, check out the lists that other Twitter users have created.
  • Give, Give, Give Before You Go Asking for Help. As in all networking, look for ways to be of help to others before asking them for help. If you start off on Twitter with a tweet that says: "Lost my job. Anybody know of job openings?" You'll not likely get much help.

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Business Ethics To Practice

There is a lot of tension that business managers have to learn to deal with in today's business environment. Shareholders want higher profits, but the workforce wants higher wages. Consumer want lower prices, but suppliers want to charge more for parts and supplies. In the midst of all that, companies need to keep a close eye on business ethics issues.

Ethics in business has been a concern for businesses for a while now, but events of the past years has mad it even more of a focus. It seem like it should be such an easy thing; do what is right and you won't get into trouble, but deciding what is right seems to depend on who you talk to.

Business schools teach managers have a responsibility to grow the business and get the best return for the stakeholders, but some times the stakeholders have conflicting concerns. How do business ethics apply to that type of situation?

3 Important Business Ethics

While there are often times that the answer is not clear cut, there are a few standards that will help you avoid major missteps.

Honesty

One business ethics rule you should never violate is to tell the truth. Regardless of what problem you might face, you will never go wrong by being honest. If you need to make a decision that is not popular, or may even harm one group or another, be honest with the people involved.

Most of the major business ethics scandals over the past years have come as a result of business leaders that were dishonest. Knowing right from wrong, they chose wrong, and then lied about what they had done. Those in the organization that were not involved in the original problem ended up getting in trouble when they participated in the cover up.

Perhaps the most basic tenet of business ethics is maintaining honesty. Those you deal with may not agree with you, but they will respect the fact that they know that you are telling them the truth. That goes a long way with people.

Integrity

Business WomenThere are times in business when people do something that may be honest, and it may be the right decision for the company, but they go about it all wrong. You have heard stories of companies that announce layoffs the week before Christmas.

Many times these companies new about the decision weeks or even months before it was announced, but in order to avoid problems, they put off the announcement until the last minute. Integrity in business ethics would say that you tell your people what is coming so they have the opportunity to prepare for the layoff.

The same is true with price increases for your clients. If you need to increase prices you need to be honest and up front about the increases, not try to slip an increase in unnoticed. This type of behavior usually backfires, and the reputation of your business is harmed in the process.

Security

One area that has improved over the years is the issue of security of information about your clients and customers. There have been too many examples in past where a company has sold customer contact information to a third party for marketing purposes. You customers end up on a junk-mail list because the company owner saw an opportunity for a quick pay-day.

You need to apply business ethics by making sure that any information you collect about your customers is kept completely private. If your customers do not feel safe with your business they will quickly go to your competitors, and you will have a hard time trying to win them back.

Code of Business Ethics

One way to make sure the people in your organization abide by your business ethics is to write a Code of Ethics for your organization. This sends a message to your employees and your customers that you practice good business ethics.

Be prepared to spend some time getting this right. It isn't something you can typically knock out over lunch one day. You need to make sure it truly captures your view of business ethics for your organization. If you do this half-heartedly, your customers and employees will see through it, and they will probably doubt that you truly hold to the business ethics that you claim are important.

Points To Keep In Mind…

  • Many problems can be avoided by being honest with the people involved.
  • Sometimes businesses do what is right, but they go about doing it all wrong.
  • A Code of Business Ethics lets your customers and employees know what is important to you.
  • Once you lose the trust of the people you deal with it is very hard to get it back.
  • Your Code of Ethics needs to truly reflect what you believe and not just something you threw together.


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Five Common Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make and you Should Avoid

One thing that all entrepreneurs have in common is that they all make mistakes. Unfortunately, time and again we see the same mistakes repeated by many entrepreneurs.
Mistakes.


Entrepreneurs Make #1 – Unclear Goals

Not having clear goals and a clear mission is like trying to drive through a foreign city without a map. he easiest way to avoid making this mistake is to write down your goals and strategies. Too often people can be thrown off course by innocently misinterpreting the goals and strategies. To assume that everyone involved with the business has a clear understanding of its mission can cause many more errors down the road.

In addition to writing down the goals of the business, be sure to write down measurements for success! Set your goals with timelines or milestones in mind and keep focused on meeting those objectives.


Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make #2 – Trying to prove you are Smart

The quickest way to make enemies is to try and prove you are the smartest one out of all the people you work with. Trying to prove you are smart is self-serving and has everything to do with ego; you will end up looking foolish for not listening to the advice of others in business.

No one has all the answers. Where you become smarter is when you realize that there are many other talented people who you can learn from. If you are fortunate enough to be surrounded by such a group of people, learn to be gracious and acknowledge and give credit to them for helping you along the path of building your business successfully.


Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make #3 – Greed

This may sound like a silly question but: are you in business to simply make money? Or, have you become an entrepreneur in order to march to the beat of your own drummer?

Becoming a successful entrepreneur involves the creative efforts on not only your part, but also on the part of others who contribute time and money toward your business. They want to succeed with you and are more likely to stay with you as long as they are valued---by you.

This means that you cannot keep the whole pie to yourself. Just because you might feel that you work harder than others do, does not mean that you are entitled to all the business equity. Think of it this way: with the help of others' contributions of time and money, what might the value of your slice of the pie be worth down the road?


Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make #4 – Hiring the Wrong People

Your business is not being set up as a social gathering and filled with all the people whom you like. Your business needs to be comprised of knowledgeable and talented people who are good at what they do.

Successful entrepreneurs concentrate on hiring the people they need---not just people they like.

Part of writing your goals and strategies includes creating job positions for people to fill. Without a clear-cut job description and list of duties for those areas, how would you know the best people to hire?


Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make #5 – Not Knowing when to Let Go

Many business owners refer to their venture as their “baby” and, in many ways, building a business is just like rearing a child.

As an entrepreneur, you are starting with a seedling of life that you will nourish and grow and the “child” begins to mature. Over time, other people contribute their time, skills, and money into the business and, as the business grows, the relationships change.

Be prepared to hand over responsibilities to others so that you do not suffer from “burn out.”


Important Points to Remember to Avoid Making the 5 Biggest Mistakes:

Coffee Cup Nespaper and cell phone

  • * Develop and write down goals, strategies, and measures for success.
  • * Give credit to others who are smarter than you.
  • * Be fair with sharing the equity in the business.
  • * Hire the people you need---not just the people you like.
  • * Learn to give responsibility to others at the right time.

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Can You Disagree With Your Boss and Not Lose Your Job?


By : Kate Lorenz

People are losing their jobs left and right these days, and it’s not because of the economy. It’s because of what they say.

This week, President Obama relieved Gen. Stanley McChrystal of his job as commander of all U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan because of negative remarks he and his aides made about several officials in the Obama administration that were published in a Rolling Stone magazine article. The comments made were pretty clear that the general did not agree with many of the policies and decisions made about the war in Afghanistan.

McChrystal isn’t the first U.S. general to be sacked by a Commander-in-Chief. George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Harry Truman are among those who have done the same during wartime. In a statement, the president gave his reasons for the decision:

The conduct represented in the recently published article does not meet the standard that should be set by a commanding general. It undermines the civilian control of the military that is at the core of our democratic system. And it erodes the trust that’s necessary for our team to work together to achieve our objectives in Afghanistan.

While not everyone is going to be the subject of Rolling Stone feature, more and more people are airing grievances about their bosses to the public via FaceBook, Twitter and text … and getting in trouble for them. For every story you see in the newspaper about this issue, I bet there are many more that aren’t reported. Just this week, a friend told me she might have to let an employee go based on a FaceBook post.

So can you disagree with your boss without losing your job? Yes, but it’s how you do it that can make or break your employment.

Most importantly, you should address the issue directly with your boss in a respectful manner. Joseph Grenny, coauthor of “Crucial Confrontations,” gives some tips on how to do this.

1. Get your motives right. Sometimes we wait to bring up concerns until we’re irritated. This is ineffective because at that point our goal is no longer to be constructive, it’s to punish. Before opening your mouth, ask yourself, “What do I really want?”

2. Start with safety. Begin by clarifying your respect and your intent. Help your boss understand that your intent is to provide a different viewpoint you feel will help achieve your mutual goal.

3. Start with the facts. Once you’ve created safety, you start describing your concerns facts first. Don’t lead with your judgments or conclusions. Start by describing in non-judgmental and objective terms the behaviors that are creating problems.

4. Don’t pile on. As you lay out the facts, monitor safety. If your boss becomes defensive, pause for a moment and check in. Reassure them of your positive intentions and allow them to express any concerns they have.

5. Invite dialogue. Finally, having shared your concerns, encourage your boss to share their perspective. Invite dialogue. The result of your openness will be a greater openness on your boss’s part as well.

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He Said, She Said: Communicating between Genders at Work

eth Banks Cohn, Ph.D. and Roz Usheroff

If you think it's difficult to discern what your significant other is really trying to say to you, consider how complicated communication between genders gets when you throw office politics, power struggles, and work challenges into the mix.

At work, men and women use strategies in communicating with each other that the opposite sex may view negatively. Often, misunderstandings can be avoided when co-workers look beyond personalities and consider the different ways men and women communicate.

Let's look at a few examples from both sides.

Men's Behavior
Trash talk
Men use negative banter, joking, teasing and playful putdowns as a way to subtly keep themselves at the top of the power hierarchy. Such "trash talking" is a common component of male relating.

What women think: Making others feel small is decidedly not a female trait. Women tend to see putdowns as arrogant or hostile.

The middle ground: In general, trash talk is usually harmless, as long as both parties "play." When both parties engage in it, it can even be a way to bond around a problem, such as a trying work assignment or demanding sales quotas.

Prideful self-sufficiency
You've heard the jokes about men not asking for directions? In work settings, males sometimes ask few questions, fearing that doing so will communicate to others that they don't know something. Males tend to equate knowledge with power and don't want to diminish their image by showing they lack the necessary know-how.

What women think: Women see this behavior as childish and even arrogant. They also look at it as a giant waste of time, figuring it is more time-effective to ask a question, get the answer and move on.

The middle ground: Some workplace cultures discourage questions, and indeed make people feel self-conscious about asking too many. In meetings or other settings where everyone needs to be on the same page in order to develop the best strategy, both genders need to find ways to get and give clarification.

Not gving feedback
Because men don't solicit feedback, good or bad, they also don't give feedback in return. Males don't want to be criticized, feel that compliments make someone less effective, and think women who seek feedback are "needy" and "high maintenance."

What women think: Women think men don't value their contributions and are overly critical. They may even feel that men withhold positive feedback in order to avoid giving women promotions or good projects.

The middle ground: Constructive feedback should be built into the workplace culture. Both genders need to find a way to make it a tool for improving performance and productivity.

Women's behavior
Equality-minded
Women try to maintain an appearance of equality amongst everyone. They are concerned with the effect of the exchange on the other person and want to make sure everyone feels like a worthy contributor.

What men think: Men tend to see this as a sign that women lack confidence and competence as leaders. They feel it makes women look weak.

The middle ground: Females can wield an enormous amount of power by orchestrating collaboration and enlisting cooperation between many parties. Men can learn from this. Nevertheless, women in leadership positions need to maintain a clear boundary between their authority and that of others.

Outside-in negotiating
Females want to see the full picture and make sure everyone's on the same page with the same level of understanding before making a decision.

What men think: Since this is the exact opposite of what men typically do, men think this tactic means women don't have a clear position or aren't decisive enough.

The middle ground: In negotiations, it's imperative to know all the factors involved before making a decision. On the other hand, trying to make everyone happy is not how leaders make good decisions. A balanced blend of female thoroughness and male decisiveness is ideal.

Likely to downplay certainty
Women don't want to appear pushy or uncaring of others' positions or ideas.

What men think: Men think, therefore, that women aren't certain and need someone to take charge.

The middle ground: Moderate self-deprecation and humility are good qualities in leaders. But always deferring to others' opinions and perspectives will be perceived as a sign of weakness. Find a middle way.

When it comes to communicating between genders in the workplace, the cardinal rule is this: Don't judge. Instead, try to look carefully at your co-worker's behavior, consider that some of it may be gender based, and try to gain insight on how this behavior serves or does not serve his or her objectives. If you want to step in and give support, do it from a position of understanding.


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Strategies for Reducing Workaholism

www.quintcareers.com


The key is making time away from work -- totally away from work -- to get your life back in balance. It will take some effort on your part -- and perhaps the part of a friend or spouse -- to make the shift from a sole focus on work, but for your mental and physical well-being, you really should make the effort.
  • Block out "personal time" to spend with family and (non-work) friends.
  • When on the road for business, call home regularly to stayed connected.
  • Learn how to delegate work -- and learn to say no to new assignments (or at least learn not to be the first to volunteer to take the assignment).
  • Take time off, perhaps starting with a long weekend and gradually moving up to longer vacations -- and leave work behind.
  • Consider an exercise routine -- after clearing it with your doctor -- to get your body back to a healthy shape. And better, have a friend or significant other as your exercise buddy to make it more fun (and to keep your mind off work while working-out).
  • Consider volunteering -- to help others and to meet new people.
  • Convince yourself it is okay to sometimes just sit and relax and do nothing.
  • Find a hobby or two.
  • Fight the urge that everything you do must be perfect -- to your standards.
  • Accept that we all need a decent number of hours of sleep.
  • If you find yourself not able to do any of these suggestions, consider getting professional help to deal with what is basically an addiction. 



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5 Ways to Turn Off Employers


By : Anthony Balderrama

Job searches, much like first dates, are about giving the other party -- in this case the employer -- a once-over and presenting yourself in the best possible way. Also similar to first dates, job searches give you several opportunities to make a single mistake that is a real turnoff.

You're on your own when it comes to finding true love, but for staying in an employer's good graces, we've got you covered. So put on your best clothes, style your hair and make sure you don't make one of these job interview gaffes that are certain to turn off an employer:

Turnoff No. 1: Arriving too early for an interview

The reason: Interviews are scheduled at specific times for a reason. Hiring managers have other meetings and responsibilities to deal with throughout the day, so they can't interrupt their schedule just to meet with you. Also, interviews often have multiple components. If you're scheduled to meet the hiring manager first, then have a conversation with some potential colleagues, followed by a tour of the company and finally a drug test, an early (or late) arrival disrupts everyone's schedule.

The solution: By all means, arriving early is better than arriving late. However, from an interviewer's perspective, arriving 45 minutes early and letting the receptionist know you've arrived is just as bothersome as showing up 45 minutes late. If you get to the interview location too early, go to a nearby coffee shop, take a walk around the block or sit in your car to pass the time. Checking in with the front desk five or even 15 minutes early is acceptable and shows the employer you're punctual.

Turnoff No. 2: Letting your desperation show

The reason: Although you have been looking for a job for several months or even longer, don't let your frustration become the interviewer's problem. A negative attitude that causes you to vent about the hardships of being unemployed can leave you reeking of bitterness and repel employers.

The solution: Don't get us wrong -- being unemployed can be one of the worst experiences a person goes through, and anyone who has been there understands that eventually you reach a point where you want to scream. Nevertheless, do your screaming before you get to the interview.

When you're preparing for the interview, think like an employer. Do you want to hire the person with amazing qualification, a great personality and the potential to grow with the company? Or do you want to hire the person whose primary concern is getting a paycheck, who sounds angry and who might quit the moment a better job comes along? Enthusiasm impresses an employer; desperation does not.

Turnoff No. 3: Being too aggressive with your follow-up

The reason: Employers want to see enthusiasm from job seekers, but they don't want to be inconvenienced by said enthusiasm. Two e-mails, a handwritten note, a few phone calls and a quick visit to the office just to see how things are going will not impress a hiring manager. That approach will scare them.

The solution: Again, enthusiasm wins over desperation every time. You need to send a thank-you note, and you can send both an e-mail and a postal letter to cover your bases. Pestering employers doesn't just make you look desperate, it also annoys them. They don't have time for so many distractions and eventually the first thing they'll think of when they see your name is, "Oh, that's the one who wouldn't leave me alone." Prove you have common sense, which includes knowing when to stop.

Turnoff No. 4: Talking trash about anyone

The reason: You probably have plenty to say about your incompetent former boss and inept co-workers, but you know better than to say it. You've been told that employers hear you talk negatively about a past boss and think, "One day you'll be talking that way about me." You might forget that the same thoughts run through their mind when you talk about other organizations, too. If you're interviewing with the No. 2 company in a specific industry, you shouldn't take cheap shots at the No. 1 company every chance you get. Employers know you're job hunting and that you've probably been just as unkind about them in other interviews.

The solution: Stay positive. Explain why you want to work for the company. Point out how your experience has prepared you for this move. You don't need to pretend that your former employer is a personal hero, but you should demonstrate that you are bringing something from the company other than your 401(k). Rather than belittle the competition, promote this company. Say, "I know your competitor is doing this, and they've had some success, but you have the ability to do this and that to beat them." The focus remains on this company and also on your ideas.

Turnoff No. 5: Lacking direction

The reason: Whether or not they are micromanagers, employers like to have some trust in their employees. If your résumé, cover letter or interview suggests that you have no goals, you are not an attractive candidate. If you don't even know where you want your career to go, how can you know this job is for you? A cover letter looking for a job instead of this job implies that you're floating from gig to gig until you get bored.

The solution: If you're not positive what your future looks like, at least create a narrative that satisfies you. This job might not be your ideal one, but do you see yourself learning from it and putting you on a path to something better? What could you do after you spend some time working here? Figure out what that path is so you can show an employer you know where you're going. You don't need to promise that you'll stay at this position forever, but you can suggest that you are eager to learn and want to move forward. Employers like ambition because these workers tend to care about their jobs and ultimately improve the business in some capacity.

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6 Job Search Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make


By : Dr. Paul Powers

in any economic climate, job hunting is nobody's idea of fun. And with the growing number of folks hitting the bricks these days, it seems the task is getting even harder. But that's not precisely true, because the actual job-hunting strategies and techniques remain the same in any climate. What is bothersome, however, is that the process is likely to take longer. This leads to increased stress: financial stress, physical stress, emotional stress and family stress.

Most people do not perform at their best in stressful situations. They get tired more quickly, they get frustrated and run out of patience, and they make mistakes. Here are six job-hunting mistakes frequently made during a recession.

Mistake No. 1: Feeling entitled
In the new economy, your stellar background, great track record, prestigious degree and glowing references guarantee you nothing. The new employment paradigm is, "What have you done for me lately?" You must be constantly developing your skills and talents, broadening your interests and driving your career development. If you don't, you may well be left behind.

Mistake No. 2: Focusing on yourself, not the employer
Spend your time finding out which of a potential employer's needs are unmet instead of touting your brilliance. Saying, "I need a job" is irrelevant and depressing; that's your problem and has nothing to do with why this organization is hiring. Uncovering an employer's problem areas demonstrates your bona-fide interest, and offering your solutions demonstrates your critical thinking, creativity and approach to problem solving. This is how to get hired.

Mistake No. 3: Taking rejection personally
Face it; there are a lot of jobs you are not going to land. Use rejection as an opportunity to assess and build your job-hunting skills. Evaluate what you could have done better in your research or interview or with your follow-up. If you aren't getting rejected regularly, then you either aren't working hard enough to get your foot in the door or you're applying for jobs beneath your capabilities. No employer makes a decision not to hire you; they make a decision to hire someone else who did a better job of selling himself or herself into the position.

Mistake No. 4: Focusing on your age
It is human nature to focus more on one's perceived weaknesses as opposed to one's strengths. This is especially true for people in the job hunt. Younger folks worry about not having enough experience; older folks worry about looking overqualified. If you don't want a potential employer to focus on your age, make sure you focus on what strengths you bring to the party: energy, track record, endurance, patience, technology skills, people skills, creativity and work ethic. Sell yourself based on what you have.

Mistake No. 5: Looking for a silver bullet
Some job hunters swear by recruiters; others by online job postings. The latest buzz is that social networking sites are making all other job-hunting techniques obsolete. There is no one best way to job hunt. If you want to increase the effectiveness of your job search, you must spend more time on it and use every technique in the book. This means answering print ads, responding to online job postings, contacting recruiters, cold-contacting potential employers, networking your brains out and using social networking sites to pursue all of these strategies. Sorry, there are no silver bullets or genies in a bottle.

Mistake No. 6: Absorbing too much news
Yes, there's a recession. Yes, a lot of folks are out of work. And, yes, finding a job is a hard job in and of itself. But, no, the sky is not falling. And yes, if you work hard and long enough at it, you will land a good job. The media's motto is, "If it bleeds, it leads." Bad news is their stock in trade. You will never see a story about company hiring back 10 workers or a person who landed a great job after a rigorous job hunt. A regular diet of bad news will convince you that no one is hiring (untrue), that you should avoid employers that have had layoffs (bad strategy) or that maybe you should just move to China (bad idea unless you speak Mandarin). Get out, have some fun, work at keeping your energy and spirits up, and network with optimistic people.

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