Monday, May 30, 2011

Do you have a Facebook account? Note your social-media "Footprint".

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The other day, I linked to an article touting the use of social media as a necessary component in a successful job hunt strategy. Like all things in life however, social media platforms like Facebook can have a downside, particularly for those either gainfully employed already or attempting to secure lucrative employment.

From the Sydney Morning Herald:

Your potential new boss may have already checked you out on Facebook.

A new survey by recruitment firm Robert half has found that more than a third of employers in accounting and finance admit to checking potential candidates' Facebook profiles before offering them a job.

"Given this reality, candidates need to be aware of their social media 'footprint' when applying for jobs," Robert half director Andrew Brushfield said, releasing the survey findings on Wednesday.

"As a general rule of thumb, if there is anything online that employees do not want their colleagues or bosses to see, they should remove it."

The survey also found 23 per cent of employers are using social media to recruit, while a third of employees say they are comfortable being "friends" with their boss on sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn.

Still, the survey found that 36 per cent of surveyed employees in the finance and accounting industry have seen the use of social networking sites damage other people's workplace relationships.

"While social media has helped foster a more interactive and sociable working environment, it is completely blurring the boundary between people's personal and professional lives," Mr. Brushfield said.

My advice? Exercise common sense. It might be advisable to create one profile with your given name to be kept strictly professional (meaning, you avoid posting intimate details about your personal life), and one profile using a nickname to be devoted exclusively to fun things like your latest adventures with the girls on a wild weekend cruise.

Girls (and guys) might want to have fun when away from the office, but if they're serious about their careers, they'll keep their private and professional lives separate on social media platforms.

View the original article here

Thursday, May 26, 2011

survival guide for Skype interview

Anne Fisher on CNN Money grabs a job interviews dilemma for the 21st century - how you a good impression to a potential employer during a Skype interview to make. Funny, only a few years ago such a phenomenon was non-existent in the business world, but as technology progresses, so also our ability to effectively customize must:

Bill Rosenthal says already Skype interviews are almost replace employer phone of screening, so candidates before the check-out, or even instead of, a personal sit down.

Rosenthal Chief Executive of Communispond, a 42-year-old coaching company, teaches communication skills to executives. His six tips to project the right persona in cyberspace:

1. Select a professional username. How to with an e-Mail address you use for company use a Skype account with a moniker like hotpants33 or partyanimal2011 a stupid idea.

2. Practice in the conversation with your computer. Meeting or interview, "Make sure that you are familiar with the technology," suggests a Skype before Rosenthal. "Practice using it." "Rehearse with a friend."

3. Arrange the right setting. Would you against a transparent background without distracting objects to see movement and sound. "It should not be light behind you, because your face is dark," says Rosenthal. "Monitor you have to move."

4. Block out interruptions. Turn your mobile phone, of course, but even if you are Skype-ing from home, banish you your family and pets for the duration. Like an old school phone interview, do howling dogs and importuning children no favours.

5. Back up A little. "Move not too close to the monitor." Show only your face does not want, "says Rosenthal."

6. Make (virtual) eye contact. Look at the computer screen instead of the camera while you speak you make seem shifty. But "not unblinkingly the camera fixed to" either, will make just who you look strange.

"Be sustainable as in a live aware meeting or interview, that the first impression you will make," Rosenthal notes. So, for a job interview, make sure you look the part: "Although the company has the reputation of being relaxed and casual, wear a suit." Some things never change.

View the original article here

Keys to improve your job skills

One of the issues in jobs skills improvement is to decide which skills set to improve. There is no point to horn up the skills that are of no benefit. The the thinking process to select the critical had to be structured and analysed.

There are many ways to improve your job skills. The first is to keep looking. Be dedicated and passionate about the work that you do and then slowly things are good to work and go on the right track. Basically you need to just get your hands dirty and start resting on something instead of growing waiting for the job. Get know what are your business goals and then proactive a role within the company to ensure that you get your tasks are made properly.

Intelligent research

To improve your job skills, you need more research on passion. If your job is on the sale of ice, by all means, go and do some research about what are people in these days that business impact your entire ice. You say more and more people are becoming less and less comfortable in the ice cream with the amount of sugar, that well implemented be time for you to this ground as a problem or a ground-breaking idea, then, perhaps set your superiors. Who knows, you could get promoted immediately and will apply to this new initiative! Few tasks are still harder than people with huge online resource from the Internet are equipped. Basically find online for free everything else everyone.

Seek counsel of professional communities

Another way to join a professional community is specialized in the areas of your job to do, instead of research. Social media helps such as Facebook or Twitter play with the same interests, under a joint network, where flow freely ideas, discussions and comments enable a role in the people. Their group of people to find and be an active member when booking queries or feedback for others. The where similar interests are joining this type of community and discuss issues and open learning shared about the latest events including the new guidelines, trends or business risks are up to date and relevant to your field.

Get your hands dirty

Next is the key step to ensure that you make on your way to great improvements which the hands are dirty on something on your job. Some actions rather than ask someone who do it for you. Learn you provide, as together you work things out for the first time progress. Not shy you try new things or ideas to experiment as you need it to grow in your career. After all, no pain, no gain and no risk drinker. So, not only because you sit and ask for help, try, do it yourself first before all else fails. Soon you will discover much more about the work and the role you play.

Professional choices

Professional decisions if required to do. As an example, if your customer new requirements change one asked, and you gave a noncommittal answer about not to know if would be allowed, certainly not in the position, would you be something anywhere. By the fact that you are not to your customers to offer positive statement of assurance and it goes further to show that you don't mind, or know not enough or have enough skills or knowledge to follow through. Still another example, if your boss asks for estimated duration for the completion of a task, and once again you know not answers, it would be plain show that you made never enough thought or all plans with the aim, step by step in your job.

Study your own mistakes

Last but, but not least, have one to always a self-service function check, to identify any errors on a job done and in the direction they no longer repeat destination. Other than that if it your own personal weaknesses, hard to break, make every effort to improve by any means available. Their way of life to improve, your health, to improve beat stress and etc. Develop an awareness of your environment against what you do, and she could help you to track, where the real problems are imperceptibly.

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Personal growth through essential job skills.