5 Good Excuses Youre NOT Blogging To Build Your Personal Brand (And How To Get Over Them)

5 Good Excuses You're NOT Blogging To Build Your Personal Brand (And How To Get Over Them) 4 If you're not yet blogging as a way to build your personal brand, do any of these excuses ring true? You're not a very technical person A blog is a website, and those are hard to set up, so the same must be true for blogging, right? Well, no. There are lots of websites or blog platforms like WordPress.com that let you create a blog so quickly, you'll probably spend more time deciding what to call the blog. In less than 5 minutes you can be up and writing your first blog post. No technical knowledge needed whatsoever.eval As you blog more and more, you will (hopefully!) get ideas for ways to improve your blog that may require someone who is a technical expert. Ask a friend, start a thread in relevant forums, or if you can afford it- pay a freelancer to implement what you need done. You don't like writing I used to hate writing, or so I thought.eval It took years of schooling before I realized that it wasn't so much the writing I hated, it was the part about being forced to write that I hated. I liked expressing myself and didn't mind responding to letters or email, but writing a book report about a book I didn't choose for a deadline? Feh. A funny thing happened when I originally started my career as a web developer. Being part of multinational teams set up in multiple locations around the world made clear, regular communication a necessity but that didn't mean we couldn't add in stories or jokes to personalize the otherwise dry documentation. Spend a little bit of time thinking about whether it's really the writing you don't like, or if it's actually something related to it instead. Then you'll be able to search for the most appropriate solution. At work over time I discovered which kinds of writing I was prepared to do, and that gave me the feeling that blogging might be worth a try. You don't write well What is ‘well' in this case? Not well enough for the brand you're growing? What is your judgment based on? No matter how well you write at the beginning, over time you will only get better at blogging, and that includes your writing skills. You'll get better because you'll improve your understanding of what specifically needs improving with your writing and how to go about improving it. When I look back on my first blog posts here on JobMob, it's tempting to delete them because they're so bad, but instead I've left them as a reminder both to myself and anyone else that's thinking of blogging their way to success. You're worried about going public Many people hesitate to start blogging because they're self-conscious. If you don't like being criticized in private, imagine what it's like in public, and cached online for a long, long time! Ultimately this is an issue of self-confidence that needs to be tackled head-on. The more you blog, the less you'll worry, especially after you realize that criticism is one of the quickest stimuli for growth. The notion of lack of control of the published content was something that bothered me initially until I realized that I'd been emailing for years, and the same lack of control was there all along. Similarly, if you're already active on social media, blogging is just one step away. Blogging takes too much time This is arguably the most common excuse people give me for not blogging, and I hear you. Even today after more than 3 years of steady blogging, I find that actual blog post writing takes me longer than I'd like sometimes. Like anything, there are good days and bad days. If you're concerned about typing speed, there are free lessons and exercises that will increase how many words per minute you pound out on the keyboard. If your typing speed is fine but it takes time to organize your thoughts, get into the habit of first outlining your blog posts and then filling in each section. Either way, you will get faster as you develop a blogging style and routine, but you will eventually plateau. If you're still not satisfied at that point, consider dictating your blog posts and hiring a freelance transcriber, or avoid text as much as possible by creating audio or video podcasts. Incidentally, these ideas are also useful for people who prefer speaking to writing, such as Gary Vaynerchuk. Finally, if the effort of having your own blog is what's bothering you and not just the writing aspect, one option to get a taste of the benefits of blogging is by guest posting i.e. submitting individual blog posts to existing, industry-leading blogs in your profession. I originally published a version of this article on the terrific Personal Branding Blog. What's stopping you from using blogging to build a successful personal brand? Tell us in the comments. If you liked this article, you'll also enjoy How To Use Blogging To Attract Job Offers and Other Benefits.

How to Become a DJ in Five (Almost) Easy Steps

How to Become a DJ in Five (Almost) Easy Steps The thought of becoming a professional DJ holds appeal that needs no explanation. Precisely why millions of music-lovers worldwide share the same dream. Still, there’s a big difference between wanting to become a DJ and actually committing to making it happen. Those in the latter bracket existing in much more compact numbers. From choosing DJ equipment to making music to scoring your first big gigs, you can’t realistically expect an easy ride. That said, there are really just five steps separating you from becoming a pro DJ and accessing the career of your dreams. …and here they are: Step 1: Take Inspiration from the Masters First up, there’s a lot you can learn from your idols. Not to mention, anyone who’s made a successful career of DJing and is willing to share a few tips. There’s a ton of helpful information, resources and video tutorials online to get you started. Rather than getting caught up in the glamour of what’s to come, focus on the basic skills and knowledge you’ll need to take those essential first steps. Step 2: Get Some Decent Gear The worst thing you can do as a DJ (professional or otherwise) is let your gear hold you back. Unless you set yourself up with some decent quality DJ equipment, you’ll remain confined to amateur hour indefinitely. Rather than selling yourself short or wasting time, it’s worth considering an affordable DJ finance  package from a reputable seller. This will help you get your hands on the gear you need sooner, rather than later. Step 3: Get Your Brand Off the Ground Working as a pro DJ, your music is your product and you as a musician are a brand. Like any other business venture, you need to market and promote yourself as heavily as possible to make your presence known. You’ll need a strong online presence, including active profiles on various social media channels. You’ll also need to attend as many gigs, events and DJ shows  as possible anywhere you might meet someone who can help you get started. On that note, networking is a big deal never pass up the opportunity to expand your contacts list. Step 4: Free Gigs and Guest Slots So what if you’ve got to travel 200 miles to play a 10-minute slot at a lousy hour? When your goal is to get things off in the ground in the first place, every gig and appearance is golden. Along with expanding your fanbase, you’ve no idea who might be in attendance at the time. Fellow musicians, promoters, head-hunters you really can’t afford to pass up these kinds of opportunities. Even if you’re playing for free and it’s costing you to perform, it could be worth your while. Step 5: Take the Next Step After which, it’s simply a case of persevering until you get where you want to be. It could be a while before you’re able to fund your lifestyle with music alone, so it’s best not to make any rash decisions i.e. telling your boss where to stick it. There’s a time and place for all this, but for now it’s a case of working hard, building a fanbase and making sure everyone knows your name. Hiring help for marketing, promotion and bookings etc. comes highly recommended, but it’s by no means mandatory.

Can A Career In Charity Lead To More Job Satisfaction

Can A Career In Charity Lead To More Job Satisfaction Why do people choose to work? Do people pick a career mainly for the monetary rewards? At the end of the day does that career bring a sense of job satisfaction?  Often the job satisfaction can outweigh perks of bigger profitable businesses. People choose to work for charitable organisations for numerous reasons. Relaxed Atmosphere Non-profits usually have a more relaxed working environment.   The relaxed environment shifts the pressure away from the employees to the work that must be completed. Dress codes are more casual which allows the employees to be comfortable while working. Flexible hours are allowed.   If a potential employee is looking for a work environment with part-time hours or negotiable days of employment, a non-profit may be able to accommodate the schedule. The employees at the non-profit are all working toward a specific or common goal creating a like-minded atmosphere.  When employees are all working toward a common goal, team work is vital. Being part of the team can make an employee feel wanted and inspired to do well within non-profit. No Daily Routine The work environment may not include a regular day-to-day routine.   Be prepared for a flexible work day with numerous changes. The employee may have direct work activities that change throughout the week while the needs of the organisation shift from one project to another. Employees may experience a “hands on” approach to the work day. A part of the ever changing daily routine is the changing in demands of the job.   An employee of the non-profit may be required to perform more than one job responsibility.   The job description may be vague or non-existent as employees assume different roles to help meet the demands of the day. Learning Atmosphere A non-profit can be a learning environment.   Employees who assume different roles will learn a variety of job skills. For example, an employee may be working on a new fundraising goal one week; the following week may be focused on event planning. Only to be followed by a week of direct work such as feeding the homeless or cleaning up trash along a stretch a road. An employee who can develop and work throughout all these different types of conditions will be able to gain more responsibilities within the non-profit including management or leadership roles. Depending on the size of the non-profit, an employee could move from one organisation to the next as a way to gain a higher authority. Perks Numerous people do not consider a career in a non-profit; the pay can be lower than other big companies or government agencies.  The perks can often make up for this difference in pay. Most non-profits offer a comprehensive health care plan which can expand to family coverage.   Having quality health insurance will balance the lower rate of pay. Retirement plans are offered. Flexible hours and vacation time may be easier to obtain.   Smaller agencies work well in getting the employees the time and days off needed for family trips or other commitments. The main perk of a non-profit is job satisfaction. Employees who go into an employment for a non-profit can often view positive outcomes for the work being done within a short period of time. An employee does not have to wait for an annual review or appraisal from management; the feedback is instant through the work.   Non-profits often work with recruiters to find new employees who are looking for a career that gives job satisfaction. Author Credit:  Flow Caritas is a recruiter which helps connect potential employees who are looking for more than a pay check. 7

New Year, New Career - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

New Year, New Career - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Each new year offers a time to reflect on the past year and set goals for the new one. And this year is no exception. With  the economy continuing  to improve, more people are likely to seek career improvement in 2015. As I reflected back on clients who were successful in making career improvements in 2014, a few specific ones come to mind. In January, 2014,  my post titled New Years Resolution: Quit My Job mentioned the President of a $300 million division.  Although  meeting 100% of his performance objectives and making over $400K,  he  felt that he  could never make his  boss happy. He  engaged me to assist with his  proactive search for a new job. Within a few weeks, he  negotiated an amicable  separation agreement that provided  several  months of severance. Ten weeks later, he  landed a comparable position in a new company and collected double pay  for quite a few months. This is a good example of what many high performers do. They take action early and typically  are rewarded for their proactive efforts. In a subsequent post titled LinkedIn: Improve Your Visibility, Credibility, and Connect-Ability, I provided several suggestions for leveraging this power online system. A little later in the year, I was asked to assist a VP of Sales for a Fortune100 company with strategic LinkedIn and resume improvements. Within three weeks of completion, the VP reported being approached more frequently by recruiters with jobs that were more satisfying. His actions multiplied his options through increasing his LinkedIn visibility and credibility. Later, my post titled What Good Networkers Do and Dont Do mentioned a former client whom I had supported in making a transition from being a bank loan officer to starting his own consulting company serving small business owners. I outlined six networking actions taken during our meeting together and contrasted it with the stereotypical actions that unemployed job seeker inflict on their networking prey. Because  my former  client worked hard to become an excellent networker, he was able to exceed  his corporate income quickly and build a sustainable business that was continuing to grow five years later. Still later, in Seven Reasons Your Employer is Hurting Your Career, I referenced two dissatisfied employees of an Atlanta Fortune500 company.  One of them chose to work with me to improve his career situation. We assessed organizational needs, defined a new role that would be a promotion, and developed his strategy for selling the concept of creating the  new position for him. Within a few short months, as noted in  How to Create Your Next Great Career Opportunity,  he had been promoted and received a notable pay increase. By taking  control  rather than sitting passively in a role that satisfied his employer but not him, he was able to avoid letting his employer limit his options and income. And later,  in Five Reasons Your Profession Is Hurting Your Career, I mentioned my own career enhancing professional changes, from engineering to HR to marketing to sales. When a client from several years ago called me last week to wish me a Happy New Year, it reminded me how he had likewise made positive professional changes  from VP of Sales of one company  to President of a similarly sized company. He resisted being typecast into a life in sales management and opened himself up to top leadership in additional companies. Wrapping up the year,  I challenged career seekers in New Years Resolution: Get a Coach? to consider  subscribing to the adage two heads are better than one. With client after client, I work with people who have little idea how to plan and execute their career changes. The benefits are obvious, such as was written in one of my LinkedIn recommendations who said: Having worked with Richard on many executive issues, I have come to deeply respect his insights. His strategy not only had a positive impact that helped land a new position but is something I use on a weekly if not daily basis. Can you relate to any of these typical career seekers? I hope so!  I encourage you to follow their examples and take positive steps to create the new career you want in the new year. Dont wait. Start taking action now to make it a truly happy new year!

Best Online Resume Writing Services

Best Online Resume Writing ServicesIf you are looking for the best online resume writing services, it is a wise idea to have an idea of what type of things you want to appear on your resume. Although there are a number of online companies who would provide you with a range of services, it is important to know which of these will help you make the most of your resume. In this article, we shall look at some of the best tips for choosing the best online services. We shall also examine how to check that these companies actually do exist in the first place.First of all, when you need to find a resume service, it is important to look for those who can offer you the best services at the lowest prices. A good service provider will be able to provide you with a CV that has been professionally written. It should not only be a quick way of providing you with the information you require, but should be one that provides you with the highest quality and make use of the most up-to-date methods of c reating a good job search.The second-best online services are those that will actually let you take your own time in the selection process. If you can access these companies from your home or work computer, you can spend a few hours looking through the different CV samples offered and choose the best CV for you. This will ensure that you do not waste time looking for a CV and end up with one that is not suitable for your job search.Another great thing about using online resume services is that they do not charge you a fortune for the resume services that they provide. In most cases, these services will charge you either by the hour or per CV. However, in the case of a CV sample, you will not be required to pay any fees.A good resume service will allow you to use it in conjunction with the many other tools available for potential employees to look at when looking for work. This will ensure that you get the greatest benefit possible from your resume.There are many online services, whi ch will also allow you to give them feedback on your work. This is another great feature of using these services.Finally, you should look for great web services that will allow you to take advantage of their services through the use of emails. Using these email services means that you will be able to submit your CV to as many employers as you like. This is very useful if you want to be as flexible as possible when it comes to looking for work.These are some of the best resume writing services available online. You should look for these if you are looking for the best online services to get the best CV for your job search.

Pics from my keynote at Umbraco CodeGarden - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Pics from my keynote at Umbraco CodeGarden - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Last week I had the pleasure of speaking at 5 very different events: For 200 bankers on Tuesday For 300 IT people at the Umbraco CodeGarden conference on Wednesday For 60 IT people from Saab in Karlskoga, Sweden For 120 people from the Danish Building Association on Friday For 320 people from Est?e Lauder at their Nordic Product Kick Off on Saturday in Copenhagn And to my great pride, 4 out of these 5 events ended with a standing ovation. That is not really any serious measure of success, but lemme tell ya it feels great :o) Douglas Robar from Percipient Studios just sent me some great pics that he took from the Umbraco event, where I went a little out of my comfort zone and spoke not about happiness at work (I gave that speech at the same conference last year) but about how to create a great conference and a happy community. My awesome co-worker Arlette also came on stage and did a little dancing with the crowd. Yes, she made 300 IT people dance. Shes THAT good :o) Check these pictures out: Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

How Important Is Studying Top-Performing Resumes When Trying to Come up with Your Own - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

How Important Is Studying Top-Performing Resumes When Trying to Come up with Your Own Coming up with an excellent resume is always challenging, especially when you are creating one for the first time. Many people usually overstate or understate their achievements as they struggle to find the right words to include in their resumes. It is always advisable to seek the assistance of professionals and study the top-performing resumes to get an idea of how you are to write your own. When you do that, you will be in a position to choose the right resume format, tweak your resume for every opportunity, focus on the key issues, and use your information to tell your story. Choose the Right Format The general appearance of your resume matters. Although there is no standard rule for resume formatting, you need to know that there are styles which appeal to the reader the moment they get to see your resume. By studying the top-performing resumes, you’ll get an idea of how the general appearance of your resume should be. The three common formatting styles include the Functional, Reverse-Chronological, and Combination.   A close look at these formats will reveal that each of them has its merit and demerit. You can learn about these formats and see which of them is mostly used by the top performers in your field or line of work. Tweak the Resume for Each Opportunity With the various specification given in almost every job opportunity you apply for, it would not be possible to get away with just one resume. You might have your basic resume which articulates your most important information, but you may still need to alter it for every opportunity that comes your way. Tweaking a resume may not be as simple as it sounds, and you may find yourself stuck between words and skills. However, when you study the resume of top-performers, you get an idea of how you can go about that process. In addition to that, resume templates from Hloom can also help you include the information you want in your resume because these templates guide you on what you need to include for different opportunities. You can also talk to people who have the experience in the kind of opportunity you are looking for to get an idea of words or experiences to highlight in your resume. You need to know that tweaking is not limited to words inclusions as you may also be required to omit items that are not relevant. Focus on Key Issues There are numerous data points from the ever-increasing number of sources. How then do you go about sifting through the metrics to come up with indicators crucial to your situation? Experienced professionals have the ability to focus on items that are relevant and this is the skill which most employers seek. In that regard, studying the top-performing resumes will equip you with this type of skill so you can include the information or data which employers are looking for. Final Words Creating an excellent resume can be a daunting task especially when you don’t have the knowledge or skills to create one. However, using professional templates and studying top-performing resumes will ensure you build a resume that is appealing for the opportunity you are looking for. You can also seek assistance from experienced individuals to help create desirable resumes.