What is your Primary Claim

What is your Primary Claim When I do LinkedIn Profile strategy sessions, I talk about your primary claim. What is the thing (or small collection of things) that you are promising to your future employer? Or, put another way, what is your value proposition? I like focusing on a primary claim because I think too many job seekers well, pretty much everyone, including marketing professionals for companies, dont narrow down to the main, primary thing. We are afraid of getting too specific, lest we leave something out of our marketing message.  What if we narrow our message down and exclude people who would otherwise hire us, or pay us money? Better to just give the entire list of our offerings, or claims, right? I challenge you, like I challenge the people I do a LinkedIn session with, to figure out what your PRIMARY claim is. If you had to narrow it down to one phrase, or tagline, what would it be? You can tell your story, and help people understand your breadth and depth, with what Ill call secondary claims (and some other techniques/tools), but make sure you understand and communicate your primary claim. Understanding your primary claim makes it easier for you to communicate what you need to in interviews, while networking, and on your marketing documents (resume, profiles, etc.). Communicating your primary claim well makes it easier  to know how to talk about you. This is a profound concept. If you can communicate your primary claim well, the people on the receiving in can know how to communicate about you. If you dont know what your primary (or secondary) claims are, how in the world are they going to talk about you the right way?  Dont rely on luck when it comes to your branding. What is your Primary Claim When I do LinkedIn Profile strategy sessions, I talk about your primary claim. What is the thing (or small collection of things) that you are promising to your future employer? Or, put another way, what is your value proposition? I like focusing on a primary claim because I think too many job seekers well, pretty much everyone, including marketing professionals for companies, dont narrow down to the main, primary thing. We are afraid of getting too specific, lest we leave something out of our marketing message.  What if we narrow our message down and exclude people who would otherwise hire us, or pay us money? Better to just give the entire list of our offerings, or claims, right? I challenge you, like I challenge the people I do a LinkedIn session with, to figure out what your PRIMARY claim is. If you had to narrow it down to one phrase, or tagline, what would it be? You can tell your story, and help people understand your breadth and depth, with what Ill call secondary claims (and some other techniques/tools), but make sure you understand and communicate your primary claim. Understanding your primary claim makes it easier for you to communicate what you need to in interviews, while networking, and on your marketing documents (resume, profiles, etc.). Communicating your primary claim well makes it easier  to know how to talk about you. This is a profound concept. If you can communicate your primary claim well, the people on the receiving in can know how to communicate about you. If you dont know what your primary (or secondary) claims are, how in the world are they going to talk about you the right way?  Dont rely on luck when it comes to your branding.

Writing Course Outcomes For Resume - Get Help With Your Resume

Writing Course Outcomes For Resume - Get Help With Your ResumeWriting course outcomes for resume should be analyzed before you begin. If it is just a summary, your resume will not grab the attention of the reader. It is important to be very clear about what you want to convey to the hiring manager.The words convey a message of who you are and what you have done in your career. They need to be written clearly and accurately to make the point that the person reading your resume wants to know.If you have taken a writing course outcomes for resume, you will be very familiar with the outline. In writing, it is important to clearly outline the points you want to communicate in your resume. You can do this by breaking down your experiences into different sections, such as volunteer work, internships and work experience. You may also choose to put some of your awards and honors.Once you have listed all the experiences you have, you can now create an overview of what your resume will be about . This is a snapshot of your life, a description of the types of jobs you have held and the skills you have. This part is often referred to as a bullet.Skills is where you should elaborate on some of the skills you have, such as project management, marketing, or project administration. The overall summary will depend on the size of your resume. Some people may write a one page resume while others may spend several pages to create a full-length resume.When you get to the bottom of your resume, don't bog it down with too much information. For example, when you first go into the summary, don't go into too much detail about your past employment. It is good to tell a little about yourself and what you did, but be sure you leave enough room for the hiring manager to add any new skills or accomplishments in the resume.After you have gone over the summary, you can start working on the bullet. At this point, you should carefully write the bullet and make sure that it relates to what you list ed in the summary. The best advice is to write a few sentences before the bullet and then give a general idea of what it is about. Then continue the bullet with a specific description of what you want to convey to the hiring manager.Be sure that your resume has all the information it needs to be viewed. You can follow writing course outcomes for resume by using a free template. These templates are easy to download and are available in Word and Microsoft Word formats.

4 Ways to Use LinkedIn to Land a Job When Your Boss is Snooping

4 Ways to Use LinkedIn to Land a Job When Your Boss is Snooping Sssssshhhh! You are about to make one of the most important LinkedIn updates of your career  and you know you must proceed with caution. Does this sound like something you would do? Are you looking for a new job and dont want the entire digital world to know? Are you afraid to highlight your work experience because your employer limits what you can disclose on social media? Dont worry. You dont need to have the most detailed LinkedIn profile to attract attention; all you need is bait and a few privacy settings that will help you to keep your job search confidential. For those of you who arent ready to use  LinkedIns Open Candidate  feature,  here are four other ways to secretly use LinkedIn to land a job. 1. Update Your Privacy and Settings Area Before you start updating LinkedIn with all of your recent accomplishments, new and improved photo, and catchy headline, you want to make sure that your connections arent notified. You would probably just cringe if your boss walked by your desk and says, You’ve been very active on LinkedIn lately. Are you in the market for a new job? You can avoid any awkward LinkedIn conversations with your boss and colleagues by updating your  Privacy Settings. You can find this section by moving your cursor over your photo in the top right corner of your homepage and by selecting Privacy Settings.  You can also type  https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/  into your browsers address bar to access the page.  Click on  Privacy  to update  your settings. You can also disable your updates by going to your  LinkedIn homepage.  If youre on your desktop, move your cursor over Profile at the top of your homepage and select Edit Profile. Then scroll down and find the Notify Your Network area (displayed below the Whos Viewed Your Profile stats). Change your toggle to read,  No, do not publish an update to my network about my profile changes. 2. Maintain an Active Profile One way to attract potential employers to your profile while keeping your job search private is to regularly update your status. Share interesting articles related to your industry and comment on relevant updates that  industry leaders share.  If you are a career changer, post articles and updates about  topics that reflect the industry that you want to transition into. Then, take advantage of LinkedIns publishing tool to show your credibility in your new area of interest. If you quote experts in your article, you will receive bonus points from potential employers. Tag those experts in your post updates when you share the articles across various social media platforms. Dont forget to sprinkle keywords throughout your profile and use those keywords when you share updates. Your goal is to find ways to increase your profile strength and attract eager recruiters to your LinkedIn page. You also want to make sure that recruiters are motivated to send you personal messages or emails. 3. Join LinkedIn  Groups Be careful when you start clicking on all the LinkedIn groups that catch your attention. All of those memberships will appear on your profile, and you know who is probably filling in as secret FBI to report all of your suspicious updates. Fortunately, you have the option to hide those new memberships by  changing the visibility of a group on your profile. Keep in mind that other members of each specific group will be able to see anything you post. So, the best way to take advantage of LinkedIn groups  while keeping your job search off the market is to reach out to fellow group members privately. If you have a question about a particular industry, post your question in the group. Maybe  you want to build relationships with other members by  commenting on posts and sharing their work. If you want to comment on a group discussion, you can click “Reply privately”. You can also  can send a private message to the person and reference the group discussion. Remember that there is a maximum of 50 groups per person so choose wisely. 4. Build Your Industry Network   First, make sure you have over 500 connections. If you have under 500, the exact number of connections will be visible at the top of your profile. Who wants to look like a LinkedIn rookie, or worse, a professional snob? Once you hit the magic 500 connection goal, your network quantity becomes your little secret. Keep in mind that you can have a maximum of 30,000 connections with a standard LinkedIn profile. If you click on “Network” at the top of your home page, you can view your total connections. Audit your list of connections to determine any gaps in your network. If you want to explore the world of marketing, at least 25% of your network should be in marketing. This will increase your chance of landing an opportunity in that area. Need help diversifying your LinkedIn connections? Attend professional networking events and industry related workshops and meetings. Dont just exchange business cards; share your LinkedIn account information too! LinkedIn allows you to learn more about the people you meet beyond a five-minute conversation. Your new connection may be the missing link between you and your dream career! . Image credits. Main.   Network.      Network.  

Small Business Owners How to Get Your Life Back - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Small Business Owners How to Get Your Life Back - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career The first post of this series, Big Challenges for Small Business Owners, examined the three biggest challenges  owners face: people, finances, and time. In the The Small Business People Puzzle:  Part 1 and Part 2, we looked deeper into the challenge of finding, selecting, attracting, orienting, training, motivating, and retaining the right people to ensure a small business  has the human resources to be  successful. Likewise, the last post addressed finances. Now it’s time to take a look at the last challenge which is time. Most small business owners I meet are working more hours than they desire and are not happy with their work/life balance. In my Big Challenges post I suggested some beginning actions to help business owners gain more control over their time. Now, let’s dig a little deeper. One of the most effective methods for small business owners to reduce their work hours is to increase the work they delegate to direct reports. All too often, owners fail to increase their delegation in proportion to the growth of their employee base. As noted in Why Can’t You Get Anything Done?, an article based upon a talk given by noted Vistage speaker Jim Alampi (www.alampi.com), “Unfortunately, there is often a learning curve involved in learning to delegate, and small-business owners don’t have the time or patience for that. Delegating involves empowering â€" and trusting â€" your employees.” This statement hits at the heart of the issue. Entrepreneurs frequently start out wearing many hats and out of necessity make all critical decisions in their company. As the company grows and the number of decisions to be made explodes, they tend to only let go of those decisions they see as non-critical. This forces their direct reports (and others) to continually bring issues and decisions to their boss’s door. Breaking this dynamic and gaining back hours means you, as a business owner, must change your behaviors and help your people understand that you are making permanent changes that empower them to make more and more decisions … even at the risk of making mistakes! Here are a few basic questions to consider in formulating a plan of action for delegating more and working less (hours): Which of your people do you trust to do the right thing? Are there things that are preventing you from trusting in them enough to delegate more, or do you just need to break an old habit? If you trust their ethics but feel they are not knowledgeable enough to make good decisions, what can you do to make them more knowledgeable and when will you do this? If you are in the majority and complain about long work hours while failing to delegate in a reasonable manner, guess who’s the problem? That’s right. YOU are the problem. Your people won’t step up unless you give them clear authority and assure them you don’t expect them to be perfect. So, what’s it going to be? Continue running yourself ragged and failing to develop your people, or make an honest effort at delegating more so you have the opportunity to get your life back? I hope you choose the latter and wish you the best!

What Can You Expect From an Advanced Resume Writing Workshop?

What Can You Expect From an Advanced Resume Writing Workshop?A good workshop for advanced resume writing can help you find out where you can get the most out of it and how to be better prepared for your own next meeting. Keep in mind that a workshop is just one way to go about preparing for a job interview, but it is a great way to give you some ideas on what can be done to make yourself stand out from all the other applicants.One reason why many people who attend an advanced resume writing workshop don't think that they have used it to its full extent is that they didn't realize that there was something that they could have done to make their presentation better. Don't give up on your job search just because you didn't do well at a particular job interview. Rather, look for ways to improve your chances of getting hired.Remember that anyone who comes in contact with your resume will be able to see your personal statement first. If you use this opportunity to craft a better personal s tatement, you stand a much better chance of landing that job.By using this pre-interview activity as a way to get rid of the parts of your resume that you don't like, you can focus more on the parts that appeal to employers. For example, if you have written your resume in the past tense, but would like to move it into the present tense, do it. You will find that employers are more likely to hire someone who has been able to find something new to say during an interview.You should also use your resume to bring the right keywords to the fore. Instead of putting all your strengths in the keywords section, include the traits and skills that employers value the most in you. Of course, you can always add other details at the end, but it is good to be consistent and honest about what you have to offer.Another aspect of a good workshopis to give you advice on finding information about how to prepare for a job interview. You will find that there are a number of books that contain helpful adv ice on how to prepare for any job interview, from a first-time applicant to someone who has been doing it for years. By paying attention to the tips in these books, you will be able to maximize your chances of winning that new job.Remember that you can add notes to your personal statements as well. Take the time to write down the steps that you took when going about writing your essay and what you did to ensure that you were able to successfully complete the task. It is always good to have some practice material that you can use at home, or to carry around in your wallet or purse.An advanced resume writing workshop can also teach you about creating cover letters. Cover letters, which are pieces of correspondence that show that you know the company that you are applying to and how you can serve them well, are an essential part of the whole process of getting a job.

Looking at a Career in Auditing Heres What You Need to Know CareerMetis.com

Looking at a Career in Auditing Here’s What You Need to Know â€" CareerMetis.com It’s an auditor’s job to forensically examine the finer workings of a company. You will be expected to go through reams of paperwork and dissect it all in great detail. Not everyone has what it takes to be an auditor, but it can be a lucrative and rewarding career choice for anyone with a head for figures and an eye for precision.All parts of a business are subject to audit. The company’s finances are the first place an auditor will start looking for problems and mistakes, but audits can be conducted on the supply chain, IT, employee performance and the HR department, environmental impact, and compliance.Job Description of an AuditorevalevalInternal auditors work for one company whereas external auditors are called in to review and analyse any number of businesses retrospectively.External auditors review a company’s accounts, financial transactions, and analyse how the money is being spent. Auditors work in the public and private sector, holding companies to account for taxpa yers and shareholders. You will be responsible for examining a company’s accounts, assessing financial systems, identifying problems, fraudulent or otherwise, and making recommendations for areas of improvement.Internal auditors work within a company, streamlining processes and financial procedures to make cost savings and streamline the business. Your job is to improve operating efficiency and you will often be required to report directly to the board of directors. You will need to monitor processes, be on the lookout for fraudulent activity and make regular reports on the efficacy of internal controls.It isn’t cost effective for smaller businesses to employ a full-time auditor, so this work is generally outsourced to an audit company.Skills Required to Be an AuditorTo be an auditor, you must have a strong sense of ethics. Part of your job is to identity problems and fraud. It’s easy to be swayed by conflicting responsibilities when you work as an internal auditor, but it is important to maintain a firm ethical framework.Problems and discrepancies must be reported in a timely fashion, even when they are likely to cause serious issues for individuals or the company.You must be a good communicator. You may be required to deal with people at all levels of the business hierarchy, including directors and board members. Auditors need strong interpersonal skills to persuade personnel to hand over necessary documentation and access to information.evalAuditors have to be team players, as you will be required to work as a team if you join a large audit, tax and consultancy firm such as RSM.You will also need strong numerical and analytical skills, particularly if you wish to work within finance and tax auditing.Educational RequirementsAuditors typically have a business and/or accounting background, with a degree in accounting, finance, or a business-related subject. To be an external auditor in the UK, you will need to be a chartered accountant with membership of ACCA, AIA, or ICAEW. In order to become a public-sector auditor, you will need to be a member of Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy If you wish to apply for a job as an internal auditor, you won’t need to be a chartered accountant, but some experience of accounting, finance and business will be a significant advantage. Some companies advertise for trainee auditors, where you will receive on-the-job training.Job ProspectsIncreased legislation and statutory compliance has led to a greater need for internal and external auditors, so employment prospects are high, with excellent earnings potential.This advice should enable you to get a head start on the competition to successfully embark on a career in the auditing industry and give you an idea of what you may face in the coming years.

9 Things You Need To Know About The Recruiting Process

9 Things You Need To Know About The Recruiting Process The recruiting process is an enigma for job seekers! Wouldnt you love to know what human resource professionals are really thinking as they review candidates? Now you can. Get the inside scoop on the 9 things that really matter to HR. Human resource professionals have a set of rules, written and unwritten, and the more you know about these rules, the better you can compete and land your next role. There’s a gap between a job seeker’s perception of the recruiting process and what human resource professionals look for. These gaps are clearly highlighted in the “Active Job Seeker Dilemma” survey, which polled 4,347 job seekers as well as 129 HR professionals. The survey was conducted by Future Workplace, a research firm and Beyond, The Career Network, a job portal for job seekers and employers. (This survey is now behind a membership wall) 9 Things You Need To Know About The Recruiting  Process Stop obsessing over your resume and focus on  these things you need to know about how employers think and what they are looking for during the hiring and recruiting process. Learn Showcase Technical Skills Job seekers self-reported that their top weakness was technical, computer or specialized skills. If this is your weak spot too, do something about it, because a quarter of employers rank these as top skills they are looking for. Take an online course to develop the skills you lack or need. More than 40% of job seekers have never invested in online training, but it is one way to improve your confidence and candidacy. New Grads: Show Internships, Not GPA If you are a recent graduate, you may agree with the job seekers in the survey who feel grades are the greatest indicator of your potential. But to employers, experience wins attention. So instead of focusing on your academic achievements, be sure to highlight your internships. Expect to Take A Test At some point during the interview process, you’ll likely be asked to complete an exercise, assessment or test of some sort. It is just another way to evaluate you. The study found that 57% of employers administer some exercise or challenge to job candidates, so don’t let this surprise you. Master the Phone Interview Your first interview will be a phone interview. It was the top method listed for conducting first interviews. But sadly, job seekers don’t feel as comfortable with phone interviews as they do with in-person interviews. Expect To Meet People During the Interview It is unlikely you’ll be hired based on one interview. Almost 60% of HR professionals said the interview process involves meeting two to three people, and some employers will have you meet with as many as five people during the interview process. Practice Patience During the Interview Process One to three weeks: That’s how long it is going to take you to go through the interview process and get an offer, according to more than half the surveyed HR professionals. And, in some companies, it could take five to nine weeks. Highlight These 3  Skills Communication, adaptability and results-driven are the top skills HR is looking for in candidates. Unfortunately, job seekers miss the mark. While job seekers did list communication skills as a top skillset, they missed the mark in the other top skills they reported, which were leadership and teamwork. Stand Out By Showing Your Work You’ve learned as much as you can about the company, but what else can you do to win over the employer? HR professionals say to bring a portfolio of your work. Yet only 19% of job seekers used this approach to stand out in their search. Find Someone to Refer You You are missing out on job opportunities by not identifying someone inside the company to refer you for a job. While job boards are the primary focus of your job search, 71% of HR professionals surveyed rated employee referrals as the best source for finding candidates. Yet only 7% of job seekers surveyed said  referrals were  their top source for finding a job. This post originally appeared on US News World Report

The Key to Career Change-Patience and Persistence - Hallie Crawford

The Key to Career Change-Patience and Persistence I was THIRLLED to receive this email from a former client recently. We worked together several years ago and her dream was to find a job in a study abroad office, preferably in Italy. To: Subject: Good news Hi Hallie, Happy New Year! I hope you had a great holiday. I wanted to send you a quick note to let you know that after almost resigning to the possibility that I would never get a job at IES Abroad (the study abroad organization through which I went to Rome) and almost deciding to never apply for a job there again I have landed a job there. Although it is a part-time, temporary admin job that does not pay all that well, I figured I would go ahead and apply for it since it might just be the ticket Im looking for while in graduate school, in order to get a feel for the place, in my field. Maybe it will be a foot in the door, too, who knows. Anyway, I probably mentioned IES during our coaching sessions back in 2007, and at that time its possible that, at least initially, I was putting all my eggs in one basket by applying there again and again. It may not end up being the place for me, but at least now I have the opportunity to find out. Thanks for that nudge you gave me to help me find my career path! ~ M This email reminded me of how important it is to remember that the key to career transition is patience and persistence. Its about the journey, just like everything else. We have to remember that it takes time, but it is well worth it to have a job you enjoy. I have found that when people rush their career transition, they make a move too quickly and sometimes end up in a job that actually isnt the right fit for them. This of course doesnt apply when you just need to get a job to pay your bills or get by. You have to get something to take care of yourself, of course. To really find the career that is a true fit for you takes time and effort. People hate hearing this from me because they are eager to know their career direction, and they want to know now. I understand this completely, I was once in the same postion. I now know that just like anything else, good things take time and effort. When youre talking about a career you can enjoy for a lifetime, the time spent up front is well worth it. So try to be patient, try to enjoy the journey and be persistent. You need to realize that although your career change can take some time, having a job you truly enjoy is priceless in the end. I would go through my four year transition all over again, even if it took twice as long, to be as happy as I am now in my job. Career Coach