Personal Branding Blending In to Stand Out

Personal Branding Blending In to Stand Out On a trip to the mall, I saw two young ladies who obviously had coordinated their wardrobes that morning. That fact was rather apparent due to their blindingly white knee-high leather boots and matching white leather purses. They did make a bit of a statement there. It got me thinking about personal branding, job hunting, and the talk about “standing out from the crowd.” On his Facebook page, personal branding authority Dan Schawbel recently said, “Personal branding is a process by which you uncover what makes you special, relative to everyone else who is competing for the same opportunities, and then communicate that to the right audience.” I generally agree with this definition, but there’s one concern I have with it. For many people, I think the tendency is to assume this means that you have to be the lone person with a distinctive message to stand out. But if everyone is trying to promote their brand by emphasizing what makes them extraordinary, wouldn’t the efforts just get lost in a sea of uniqueness? As an observer, there would be so many different things attempting to catch your eye that it would become a blurry mess. It becomes nearly impossible to focus on any one thing when there’s too much that is different. What if a better tactic to stand out would be to draw attention to the features you have that you share with someone else? Say, for example, that you are applying for a position with a company you would love to work for, and you know someone with a well-established reputation who is employed there. Instead of making yourself completely different, work to craft a cover letter and résumé that would embody some traits that you share with the person you know. In an interview, highlight your experiences and results that are similar to him/her. In doing so, you become more of a known commodity, someone they can see as part of their team because they already have another person with those attributes in-house. Should you get so focused on emphasizing the characteristics you share with your acquaintance that you put your qualities on the back burner? Absolutely not. The goal here is not to become a clone of the other person, but to show shared strengths. Instead, mix in some of your aspects that complement the joint traits. This gives your interviewer a snapshot of how you could mesh with the team and enhance its activities with your unique talents. Another word of caution: make sure that the attributes you are promoting are truly ones that are a part of who you are. With the two girls I spoke of in the beginning of my post, I thought they were trying a bit too hard to match. It went beyond the accessories; the one mirrored the walk, mannerisms, etc. of the other so closely that it appeared contrived. Pretending to be like someone else simply to gain an advantage is not authentic and will backfire. With a job, interviewers are able to pick up on the deception much of the time and you won’t get past the initial screen. But if you do somehow manage to make it through the interview process and are hired, you then face the challenge of behaving in that manner all day, every day. And really, you can only keep up that façade for so long. A better option is to just avoid all of this by keeping it real. So when you apply for your next job, don’t just look for ways to completely differentiate yourself to get noticed. See how you can stand out by authentically blending in with the company’s crowd a little. Melissa Cooley is a career consultant at The Job Quest. She is a diligent blogger, very active on Twitter (@TheJobQuest) and always happy to hear from job seekers and career advancers anywhere in the world. Related:  How Personal Branding is Just Like Riding a Bike.

Salary Negotiations Can You Skip Hose at Work [CCG Podcast #2]

Salary Negotiations Can You Skip Hose at Work [CCG Podcast #2] Listen to the Podcast Click play above or right click here and save link as to download or subscribe on iTunes here on this link.   Subscribe  on  your favorite platform below: iTunes Google Play Music Stitcher Radio TuneIn iHeartRadio Sound Cloud SHOW TOPICS: Classy Career Girl reader networking success story Interview with Kimberly Palmer: How to negotiate your salary and manage your finances Reader Question: What are some clothing staples for work? Reader Question: Is it okay  to skip hose at work these days? Salary Negotiation, Clothing Staples, Can You Skip Hose? Podcast Transcript Welcome to Podcast 2 of Classy Career Girl podcast! Today as we start the podcast I would love to share a success story I received from a reader to encourage and motivate you to create your own successes as well in your life and career. I wanted to let you know of a successful networking step that I finally had the nerve to take. I am currently unemployed and looking for a new job. Ive already been tapping a few contacts in my Linkedin network for assistance but so far no luck. Yesterday I saw a position at a company that really interested me but I did not have any 1st level contacts in my profile working at that same company. I then noticed that a had a 1st level contact that knew someone at that company. I knew that I needed to ask my contact for an introduction via Linked in but was apprehensive to put myself out there in that way. Well, I reviewed the notes I took from your recent networking webinar and decided to put my big girl pants on and give it a shot. I carefully crafted an appropriate email and sent it off to my contact. Much to my delight, he agreed and immediately sent off the introduction. Last night I received a follow up note from my contact, including a note from my new contact at the company I am interested in. He is willing to help me out, asked for a copy of my resume and will even speak to a recruiter on my behalf !  I am keeping my fingers crossed that this may finally be my foot back in the door for a new position. It would not have been possible if not for your blog and webinar advice. If you have success stories, I would love to celebrate with you too so email them to me please!   Or I would love to interview you also about your success to feel free to email me as well.  Now we are going to listen to my networking challenge interview with Kimberly Palmer.   Kim gave us some great advice on salary negotiation and paying off those student loans so make sure to listen. Watch the video and read the transcript on managing your finances with Kimberly Palmer here. Reader Questions: Our first question comes from Nicholette: I came across your blog and I am glad I did. I have been trying to look classy at work but I just cant get it.   Monday to Thursday I want to look professional or formal. I believe that I should dress for success. Fridays we were casual attire.   I want to invest in classic and stylish office wear this year â€" do you have any ideas? This is such a common question that I get! I actually did a blog post on it a year ago that I will link to in the show notes. The thing that most people don’t realize is that you really don’t need much to have a great working wardrobe.   Just a few staples to  mix and match  and you are good to go!   I realized this after getting rid of half of my closet.   The best part about storing less in your closet  is  that it is so much quicker to get ready in the morning!! Here are the  8 staples that you need for a great working wardrobe. These staples you can mix and match for an entire month without looking like you are wearing the same thing over and over: Black Blouse White blouse Simple Tee Trouser Pant Black Blazer Tailored dress Cardigan Pencil skirt For casual days, I would add one more things â€" I would add some dark jeans that aren’t too tight and have no holes.   I would also add a blouse short sleeve that you can wear on casual days as well. If you want to see photo recommendations of the above items, make sure you check out this post on how to start a new work wardrobe. Another thing I would do is scope out your closet and see what you already have that could work.  Figure out what you really needs before you head to the mall.  That way, you will make sure you don’t buy things that you don’t need. Do you already have pants that you could use?  If so, I would find a suit jacket that matches your pants. The colors don’t have to match exactly. I honestly think one of the most important parts of a business outfit is the blouse or collared shirt that goes underneath the suit jacket.  For me, I could have a fabulous suit all ready to go, but if I don’t like or feel comfortable in the shirt underneath, then it comes off before I head out the door. You would think that the shirt underneath the jacket might be the easiest to find and you probably wouldn’t have to try it on with the jacket, but I urge you to definitely try on the whole outfit before the big interview day!  Keep in mind that it doesn’t have to be a collared shirt. Our next question in from Jane. My one burning question:    is it okay to skip the hose for work, while wearing a below the knee skirt and professional looking heels?     If not, what is a good alternative to stuffy pantyhose? This is a question I get a lot on my blog! No, you don’t have to wear pantyhose to work these days.   But if you feel more comfortable with pantyhose, they are perfectly acceptable, too. But, don’t feel. like you have to.   Also, remember that the majority of your potential employers and hiring managers may not be your age and pantyhose may be a part of their life so you may want to do your best to join the crowd and fit in the best way you can even if that involves pantyhose. When I entered the career world out of college, I thought that pantyhose were a must! I wore them to interviews and on the job.   I even wore knee-highs with pants because I thought I would look more professional and mature. I realized a few months in that not only were they terribly uncomfortable but most women (of all ages) I was working with were not wearing them. Today, I very rarely see anyone wearing pantyhose so I never wear them. I think times are changing and it isn’t looked down upon anymore to NOT wear pantyhose. If you are still looking for alternatives to pantyhose, you can definitely try leggings which are basically like pants but I find those tend to dress down an outfit. You could also try heavier tights, especially in the winter.   You can also try ankle socks if you are wearing flats or heels for the comfort and you don’t want to wear knee highs.   I know that they sell those socks at Payless Shoes because my mother just bought them there the other day and she loves to wear them with her flats. Announcements: Thanks for the questions! You can submit your questions on my contact page. Soon on the podcast, I am going to list all of the titles of the Classy Career girls who read my podcast and I am super excited to share with you the variety of amazing and smart and successful career women that we have reading this blog. I really love it. I will also be celebrating my 2 year anniversary soon of blogging so I also want to share on this podcast why I even started a blog in case you might be wondering how this all started or if you are thinking of starting one it might help you too. And I am getting ready for my Get Unstuck and Find the Right Career for you training course, which I am super excited about because I am pouring everything into it and making it absolutely wonderful for you if you don’t know if you are in the right career and are ready for a career change. Last week I got this comment from a reader: Anna your training course is exactly what i need- already signed up. April 9th can’t come soon enough. A common mistake people make who are unhappy in their jobs is to update their resumes and apply to jobs on the internet over and over. Dont do this and overlook the very important first step SELF-ASSESSMENT! So excited to do this with this reader and help her find meaning in her work!! I hope you have a great week and I will see you next week!

3 Ways to Effectively Manage a Team

3 Ways to Effectively Manage a Team In today’s world, particularly when climbing the career ladder, the need to effectively manage others is becoming an increasingly important skill.  Some people feel like leadership is a trait that is instinctive, as if you’re either born a leader or you’re not when in fact, leadership is a learnable skill that is accessible to everyone. Now, some people make better leaders than others, based on their personal approach, attitude, and personality but the core facets of being a leader are teachable traits that anyone can learn. KEEP LEARNING As stated above, leadership is a skill you can learn, and with the abundance of leadership training opportunities available today, there’s no excuse for standing in the background rather than stepping forward into the spotlight and shining as the great leader you have the potential to be. In life, as well as business, we all need to evolve and continuously grow rather than plateau once you’ve reached a particular position; and in order to grow you need to engage in continuous learning. See, the mistake many leaders make is they rest on their laurels once they have reached a particular level and feel now they’re at this point in their career they ‘know it all’ and don’t need to grow.  This is where arrogance can creep in.  The truth is unless you’re open to evolving yourself, and your knowledge, your approach might quickly become outdated and even obsolete. BE THE CAPTAIN Of course, there’s a fine line between being a leader and that of a dictator, but it’s important you take the reins and steer your team in the right direction with enough authority and confidence to ensure people listen. That said, it’s important to remember that as the leader your role is directional rather than dictatorial, as nobody likes being told what to do in the sense of having orders barked at them. It can be a difficult balancing act, as on the one hand you don’t want to be so strong that people lose motivation, yet it’s equally important people respect your authority and do as you ask. DON’T MICROMANAGE It’s important you allow people to “own their task” but for you to provide enough direction and structure that they follow the schedule of work set for them. The challenge, if you start micromanaging someone is that your team will quickly get fed up, not just because of the fact it’s annoying to be micromanaged but because the team will feel disempowered, as they won’t feel trusted to do a good job, respected in their ability, or valued as an individual. Indeed, micromanaging is possibly one of the quickest ways to lose the support and compliance of your team, long term. So, there we have three quick principles on how to effectively manage a team; and how not to handle a team.  In essence, as long as you keep learning and constantly improving in terms of your own development, assert authority as a respected leader (rather than a dictator) and allow people to get on with their task without micromanaging, you can’t go far wrong.

Friday smorgasbord 4 how-tos

Friday smorgasbord 4 how-tos I just want to tell you about these links. Each of them made me really happy to find. Maybe one, or all four, will make you happy: 1. How to ruin your image with your signature file. This is a great post about the stupid fonts people use in their signature file and what those fonts mean about the person. The bottom line: Dont use a special font. Express yourself through your ideas, not your font choice. http://lmnop.blogs.com/lauren/2006/10/americas_most_f.html 2. How to survive high school This would not be notable except that its part of Wikipedias how to section. First, I didnt know there was a how to section. (Okay. Update. Daniel, at Om Strategy, sets me straight on the wiki world. Wikihow is not Wikipedia.) But then I was charmed to see that this topic is listed. Although I am pretty sure that all the how-tos in the world would not have gotten me through high school unscarred http://www.wikihow.com/Survive-High-School 3. How to find a synonym, or just do something cool on your computer When I taught creative writing, I told my upstart students at Boston University that they should never use a thesaurus because you should write like you talk and if you cant come up with the word on your own, you can be pretty sure you dont use it when you talk. So, putting that advice aside, I went hunting for a synonym for spark. And I found this amazing site that doesnt just find synonyms. It literally makes language come alive. Words slide and gyrate and bump into place. I found myself looking for synonyms I didnt need just to watch what happens. http://www.visualthesaurus.com/ 4. How to force companies to be socially responsible with just one click via TechCrunch: DoTheRightThing is a Digg-like site where people submit stories about companies acting in ways that can be considered good or bad. Other users then vote on the goodness or badness of those actions and add comments. The site calculates an overall goodness score, ranging from severe on the negative end to pioneer on the positive end. Its interesting to read what companies are doing and see how they score. Also, its fun to harbor a fantasy that this site will get influential enough that companies will have to respond to accusations that get voted to the top.

How You Can Benefit From Outsource Resume Writing Services

How You Can Benefit From Outsource Resume Writing ServicesYou can hire resume writing services Northside Brisbane to write a customized resume for you. Many people outsource this part of their job search to avoid an uphill task. If you are asking how much does it cost you to outsource this task then the answer is very low. There are many companies that are willing to pay you by the hour or offer other benefits to get your business.Nowadays there are many such companies that are specialized in outsourcing as well as for local residents. This is because there are many people who prefer to live in Australia as compared to other parts of the world. It is also true that the cost of living is low in Australia compared to the other areas of the world.Resume writing services Northside Brisbane who specializes in write resumes for non-residents can deliver custom resumes with attention to detail. These are people who know exactly what they are doing and this is the reason why they are able to convince people to outsource this aspect of their job search. It is time consuming to send a resume to an Australian organization because you have to take time to look at the quality of the resume that you are sending and also time to make sure that it will be received properly.Outsourcing resume writing services is a competitive sector where you will find yourself competing with thousands of others just to get noticed on the first page of the website, so your resume has to be good enough to grab the attention of the online presence. If you need a resume that will not only grab the attention of those employers, but to those who do not even know about your company then you may have to wait for a while before it comes. But when you opt for such services, you can count on a couple of weeks.Such companies can also give you a unique material which is commonly used by small companies for seeking jobs. You can also benefit from the expertise of these companies as they are skilled in adapt ing a resume according to the needs of the client. Resume writing services Northside Brisbane will surely have this advantage.These resumes will also include what is necessary to provide a compelling cover letter to the employer. These are sometimes needed to establish the expertise of the applicant as well as communicate your expertise to the employer. You will find many companies who are offering these services in Australia as well as overseas.You can choose what kind of company's experience you would like to work with and accordingly decide what services you want to avail. You can either get a resume service on your own or get someone to do the job for you. The most important thing is that you must be able to tell them what you want.Outsourcing resume writing services Northside Brisbane will not only save you a lot of time, but will also make you get your dreams of landing a great job. A resume with the right amount of quality and style will help you get the job. With this resume , you can go through the interview process without being worried about anything.

Multi-tasking is Inefficient and Dangerous

Multi-tasking is Inefficient and Dangerous More and more you hear about the studies stating that multitaskers are actually inefficient.   Yet, more and more job postings state must be able to multitask, should that read, must be inefficient? There is also a recent study that states that texting while driving is dangerousduh!   This is multitasking at its finest.   There is really no way for you to simultaneously watch the road, create a message (requiring thought), and type it on an itty bitty keyboard. Certainly there isnt an easy solution to this dilemma when imposed by others, however, when self-imposed, we do have the ability to correct and find FOCUS. Focus can be short, clumps of time, when you work exclusively on one project, idea, campaign, target.   This prevents the need to switch back and forth between different and frequently unrelated thoughts. In speaking with one job seeker about her search activities she had identified 2 completely different paths, sales and direct service.   As she interviewed and tried to start up a direct service business, neither got the full attention they needed to be successful.   She couldnt give the activities the attention they required and  as a result, neither  turned out  the way she had hoped. Another example is a talented women who has developed a portfolio career around her talents as a writer and a marketing guru.   She struggles to give the various assignments the attention she feels they deserve.   Not only is this frustrating for her (a woman  with high standards), it also hasnt allowed her to FOCUS on one with enough due diligence to make it as financially successful as she would like. Again, no easy answers. Life is a balancing act.   It is moving incredibly fast.   Finding a FOCUS and making it work is the challenge we are all faced with.   Being all things to all people is similar to trying to teach a pig to sing.

Have a Strategy to Make Social Media Job Search for You - CareerEnlightenment.com

By using the four-part strategy summarized here, you will:Avoid feeling overwhelmed by the technology.Always have the tools you need to get a job.Never feel like you are wasting your time online.Be confident that you are proactively advancing your career.This four-part strategy was adapted from many years of working with job seekers and interviewing coaches. Social-media tools will help you accomplish any  of these four steps. Therefore, it hardly matters whether or not you’ve used Twitter to research people, LinkedIn to research issues, and Zoominfo to e-mail decision makers . . . or any combination.Research people:  Start by knowing what kinds of people you want to find, such as info-interview sources and hiring managers.Research issues:  From online sources, find out what these people care about, what issues concern them, what goals drive them, and what problem plague them.Interview for information:  Guessing from online sources can only take you so far. Reach out to low-stakes contacts to ask one-on-one questions and build new and targeted  relationships.Engage the decision maker:  By now, you have enough information to know what a decision maker cares about. Let her know you exist by reaching out in a professionally assertive  way, not assuming you’re the bread to her butter but still with the confidence of your research to back you up.