Crank Up Your Career

Top 10 Ways to Reconnect in Five Minutes a Day

Wendy Terwelp 1 Comment

By Wendy J. Terwelp, Career Coach, Personal Branding Strategist
Excerpted from “Rock Your Network® for Job Seekers.”

1. Schedule time to network; create a networking plan.

2. Create your own on-brand sound bite (Chapter 5)

3. Take 5 minutes to update your contact list to see who is currently in your network – and who should be. Think BIG.

4. Take 5 minutes and review your LinkedIn updates; send a quick email to those in your network who’ve shared news – like a new job.

5. Ask a friend how you can help him or her. You’ve got to fuel your network to fire it up! Those who give get.

6. Send an article or cool website link to someone in your network.

7. Take 5 minutes and introduce your friends to each other at the next networking event or gathering.

8. When you get business cards, jot down the date, name of the event, and at least one unique thing you learned about the person so you can follow up with them later.

9. Send a card on a weird holiday like Steve on page 65.

10. Take 5 minutes and thank a friend, family member, boss, colleague, college alumnus or coworker.

© 2009 • Wendy J. Terwelp • Opportunity Knocks™ • All Rights Reserved.

Wendy Terwelp has helped thousands of clients get hired faster and be rock stars at work since 1989. A recognized expert on networking, both online and off, Wendy has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Fast Company, The Business Journal, Careerbuilders.com, Monster.com, and more as well as numerous radio shows. She has published hundreds of articles on the web and in print. She literally wrote the book on networking, “Rock Your Network® for Job Seekers.” Learn more and get free tips to rock your career at www.knocks.com.

Want to order the book, “Rock Your Network® for Job Seekers?”
Call: 262.241.4655 or visit: www.knocks.com.

Top 10 Secrets No One Ever Told You About Getting the Most Out of Your Resume

Wendy Terwelp 5 Comments

1. Clearly define your career focus. “Candidates have to be focused,” said Laurie Driesen, Executive Recruiter. “The biggest complaint from employers over the years has been ‘We didn’t hire so-and-so because she or he didn’t know what they wanted.’”

2. Be specific when recounting your achievements. Qualify, quantify or “dollarize” them in some manner that demonstrates what you offer a prospective employer. Use the CAR method to help you recall your achievements: Challenge, Action, Result. Achievements are the most important part of the resume say recruiters and human resource professionals. “Past performance predicts future productivity,” said Lynn Kaup, Talent Acquisition Specialist.

3. Use action words and statements. “Responsible for”… is out, “Developed; Directed; Achieved; Coordinated, etc.” is in.

4. For people with 20 or more years of experience: “Do NOT write that into your resume,” said Carol Schneider, Founder/CEO of SEEK Careers / Staffing. “Put a BENEFIT STATEMENT into your resume – something that speaks of how you 1) made the company money, 2) saved the company money, or 3) streamlined procedures. Years of experience are immaterial and may indicate that you are just ‘old.’ Companies want to know what kind of a contribution you can make to their success – not how many years you’ve been working.

5. Differentiate yourself. When you review your current resume, can you simply put someone else’s name on it? Or does it clearly differentiate you from your competition and brand you as “the one” for the job?

6. Communicate your value and put key points “above the fold.” One recruiter on LinkedIn told me he reads 200 to 300 resumes a DAY, seven days a week. You have GOT to stand out! Address the unspoken question early on: “Why should I hire you?”

7. When responding to job postings, be sure you clearly read the requirements and assess your qualifications and experience. Is there a close match between the requirements they’re seeking and your qualifications? Companies don’t have time to meet with unqualified applicants. According to one finance recruiter, “Candidates must be an exact match before a company looks at them.”

8. Create a short value statement about yourself in nine words or less. This can become your brand statement to use on social media sites, when networking, and during interviews. Here’s mine: “I help professionals be rock stars at work.” This gets people to say, “Tell me more!” That’s your goal.

9. If you know someone at a company, give them a call. Networking is the No. 1 method used by candidates to get jobs. In Indeed’s Source of Hire Study, employee referrals (past and present were a key source for external hires at companies.

10. Think creatively about how you distribute your resume. Networking online (via social media) and offline (in-person) are still the key ways people land new gigs. Want more networking tips to help you feel confident and comfortable networking anytime, anywhere online or off? Get “Rock Your Network® for Job Seekers.”

© 2003 – 2024 • Wendy J. Terwelp • Opportunity Knocks™ • All Rights Reserved.

Wendy Terwelp has helped thousands of clients get hired faster and be rock stars at work since 1989. A recognized expert on networking, both online and off, Wendy has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Fast Company, The Business Journal, Careerbuilders.com, Monster.com, ABC, NBC, and Fox. She has published hundreds of articles on the web and in print. She literally wrote the book on networking, “Rock Your Network® for Job Seekers.” Get tips, tricks, and strategies to rock your career at www.knocks.com.

Job Action Day: Amelia Earhart & Your Career: Let Your Own Business Take Flight!

Wendy Terwelp 2 Comments

I’m excited to be participating in Quintessential Career’s annual Job Action Day – for its second year. To quote Katherine Hansen, PhD, Quintessential Careers, “While the economy is showing signs of recovery, indications that the recovery will continue to be ‘jobless’ casts a pall over hopes for a full bounce-back. Job Action Day … addresses the jobless recovery by spotlighting promising areas in which the unemployed and other job-seekers may find opportunities.”

As entrepreneur and daredevil pilot Amelia Earhart once said, “The woman who can create her own job is the woman who will win fame and fortune.” Think about the time period when this was said: the 1920’s. In fact, Earhart took her first flying lesson on January 3, 1921, and in six months managed to save enough money to buy her first plane. In 1929, the stock market crashed, which led the Great Depression. In 1932, three years into the depression, Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic and in 1935 she became the first person to fly solo across the Pacific from Honolulu to Oakland, California.

Despite an economic depression, Earhart took risks. You can too. Many of my clients are also taking risks and deciding to pursue entrepreneurship, rather than getting another “job.”

Thomasina Tafur, a former FedEx executive, is one such risk-taker. She told me, “When I got laid off, I heard that small voice telling me, if I really believed in my dreams, now would be the time to take that quantum leap. So I did, [and] I haven’t looked back once!” Tafur has always had a passion to help other women along their journey in life, professionally and personally, and had wanted to do so full time. While still at FedEx, Tafur coached many women along their career paths, including helping them break the glass ceiling. She also helped friends write their business plans for startups and mentored young women from her alumni, the University of Miami.

Like Tafur, Pat Shuler, Sales Trainer, Kickbuttsalestraining.com is passionate about her business. She said “Your business needs to be important to you. It’s a lot of work.”

Tafur agreed, “One surprise was how I’d feel about working so many hours alone. By nature I’m an introvert, but I never realized how much I would miss the constant human interaction. I now make a point of leaving the house at least once a day and participating in networking activities at least three times a week.”

Schuler added, “It’s a double-edged sword, the cool thing is, you get to do everything and be everything. The bad thing is, you get to do everything and be everything.”

But is it worth it in today’s economy? Tafur said, “Absolutely! I’m doing something I love and believe. …. [I] make a greater difference than before. Now that’s a purpose driven life!”

Schuler advises her clients starting out, “Be prepared to work hard, be flexible, and be resilient.” She said that many executives are used to having “minions” to do their administrative work. “You don’t get too many minions when you start your own business. You’ll need to put your capital where you can get the biggest bang, like sales and marketing.”

She said, “You have got to be somebody who can sell and market their business. Not having this skill kills your business.” Or, she recommends, hire a consultant who can advise you in these areas.

Tafur’s advice for start-ups, “Be sure to develop a good business plan, and if possible, keep your day job for as long as you can until you’re fully ready to launch. Hiring an outside person, like me or Wendy [Terwelp], can ensure your plans are objective and that every possible scenario has been considered and thought out thoroughly.”

Are you ready to create your own job and let your dream take wings? Share your lift-off story!

Resources:

http://www.jobactionday.com
http://www.knocks.com
http://www.thomasinatafur.com
http://www.kickbuttsalestraining.com
http://www.ameliaearhart.com

Update skills for your new career

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Time to update those skills for your next career move – and the government will help you fund it. Here’s the latest courtesy of Joel Dresang of JSOnline.com:

College Notebook: Education money for dislocated worker

By Joel Dresang of the Journal Sentinel

While workforce development agencies are trying to rustle up more retraining assistance for increased numbers of dislocated workers, the U.S. Department of Education has announced $11.25 million in grants to community colleges for unemployed workers and working adults.

Three Wisconsin technical colleges are among the participants:

  • Milwaukee Area Technical College is awarded $350,001.
  • Gateway Technical College, in Kenosha, receives $497,938.
  • Madison Area Technical College gets $453,509.

The grants to 29 projects in 20 states are meant to support innovations in postsecondary education that can be national models.

“These grants give community colleges an opportunity to tailor their activities and instruction to meet the unique needs of adult learners, many of whom must retrain to re-enter the 21st century workforce with newly honed skills,” Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in announcing the awards.

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More tips from Wendy Terwelp:

It’s mission critical to have updated skills when job hunting. Not knowing how to use email or basic word processing tools like Word can hinder your search, especially when recruiters and employers alike demand the basics – and often require resumes to be emailed rather than “snail mailed.” (Meaning sending a hard copy.) Tech schools like those listed above have solid programs in these areas and they are practical. Other tech school courses are often taught by practicing professionals who have day jobs in their areas of expertise. A great way to make new connections for your next gig – through the instructor. Of course, your fellow classmates can be great networking resources as well.

Suit up for job interview and get hired faster

Wendy Terwelp 2 Comments

In today’s JSOnline, Joel Dresang provides details on a special program to help “dress up unemployment.” Here’s the story:

A year ago, a national clothing retailer rounded up 125,000 men’s suits and other apparel to distribute to job seekers who couldn’t afford to dress for success at job interviews.

James Green, career development specialist at YWCA of Greater Milwaukee, recalls outfitting one man with a suit, overcoat, tie and shoes that helped lead the man to a $14-an-hour position after he hadn’t worked in more than two years.

“When a person comes in properly dressed, it goes a long way for them,” Green says.

Next month, the YW again will be a local partner with Men’s Wearhouse on the national clothing drive.

Starting next week through Sept. 30, you can drop off gently used suits, dress shirts, sport coats, slacks, ties, belts and shoes at any Men’s Wearhouse store. The company says it will throw in a tie for every suit donated and offer a discount coupon for each donor.

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Another resource, this one serving women, is Bottomless Closet Milwaukee. Founded in 1997, Bottomless Closet is an affiliate of The Women’s Alliance, a national organization of independent community-based members who provide professional attire and career skills to low-income women and families seeking self sufficiency. Since its inception, Bottomless Closet provided services to approximately 10,000 women. Annually, Bottomless Closet serves nearly 1,000 women at the offices located at 6040 W. Lisbon Ave., Milwaukee.