What’s invisible to you may be most valuable to others…

Wendy Terwelp 2 Comments

Had to share this fantastic article with you today by Michel Neray, Essential Message. Want to find your inner rock star, check out the article:

You’ve got to be pretty special to make it to the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

According to the cover story, Amy Winehouse’s ‘stylized collection of R&B throwbacks that sound like a British hip-hop brat’s interpretation of Sixties Motown soul in the best possible way, gave Winehouse the highest-charting U.S. debut ever by a British female.’

It goes on to say; ‘Those who have only heard her voice express shock upon seeing the body that produces it: The sultry, crackly, world-weary howl that sounds like the ghost of Sarah Vaughn comes from a pint-size Jewish girl from North London, world-weary though she may be.

But what really caught my eye in the article was Amy’s own admission that she couldn’t believe it when a friend in the music business had seen one of her earliest perfomances in England and offered to hook her up with some studio time to record some demos.

“I didn’t believe he’d actually let me do it,” she says. “I was like, ‘What’s in it for you?” I just don’t get why he would be so willing to help me. Because I didn’t think it was special to be able to sing.”

Not anything special? That’s something I hear a lot from members of the Bull Pen — who all have their own special expertise, skill or way of doing things, but it comes so naturally, so effortlessly, it’s obvious to everyone but themselves.

Is it possible that you have your own special expertise, skill or way of doing things that comes so naturally and so effortlessly, it’s obvious to everyone but you?

Do you think it might be worth finding out what it is?

10 Worst Jobs

Wendy Terwelp 2 Comments

So, you think you got it bad? Check out this story:

Scientists get down and dirty on job
By Beth Sussman, USA TODAY

Tired of sitting in a cubicle punching numbers and pushing papers? Imagine searching for whale feces or diving into the waste lagoon at a pig farm.

Those are among the 10 worst jobs in science, says the July edition of Popular Science magazine, out Tuesday.

Jobs on the list range from studying garbage to diving for hazardous materials to gravity research subjects and Olympic drug testers.

“We realized that the best jobs in science are just kind of boring,” Popular Science editor Mark Jannot says.

“But bad jobs are bad in amazing and funny and gross ways.”

The staff of Popular Science votes on the rankings based on personal judgments.

Read on!

Have you got some “worst job” stories to top them? If so, I want to hear from you! Share your story on this blog or feel free to send me an email (consultant@knocks.com).

Summer Job Hunting: Is anyone there?

Wendy Terwelp 3 Comments

My pal Kim Issacs at Monster.com & ResumePower.com asked me a great question this week for an article she’s writing – What shoud job seekers do in the summer months when key contacts may be on vacation? (And of course people’s minds are not all business in states like mine – Wisconsin – during the summer. Can you say festivals? Yep, already planning my attendance and checking out the bands coming to Summerfest.)

Well, it was a terrific question and really got me thinking. Here are some quick tips for summer job hunting – no they do not include laying out – but some tips may surprise you:

  1. Summer is an awesome time to network – in person and online. Yes, I have actually landed new business at Summerfest. Really. Carry your cards with you at all times (job seekers, create networking cards) – and be on good behavior. Online – social networking is huge. LinkedIn is one of the top sites for professional networking – check out your profile. Is it the “you” you want to convey to employers? If not, update it.
  2. Pump up your personal brand! Yes, everyone has a brand whether they know it or not. How do people perceive you on the job — and off? Are you known for your sense of humor or savvy networking? How can you incorporate that into your next gig (or your current one)? Check out where your brand stands right here.
  3. Update your resume. How long has it been? Do you still have your age, “good health,” and marital status listed on your resume? If so, get over it and update it! Add new work history, including promotions, new achievements, continuing education or more. Or hire a professional resume writer to do it for you.

  4. Brush up on your skills. For example, if you’re a bit behind the times in computer skills, take a class or two. Not only would you improve your skills, but you’d have something new to add to your resumes, AND more importantly, have the opportunity to network and connect with others in the class.

  5. Giver’s gain. Help out someone with their job search. The more you help others get what they want, the more you’ll get what you want.

Enjoy the summer!

Note: As soon as Kim’s in-depth article comes out, you’ll see a link here. Be on the lookout!

Your Resume: To Video or Not to Video

Wendy Terwelp 1 Comment

To video or not to video – that is the question. Check out Gerry Crispin, SPHR and Mark Mehler’s post in CareerXroads (June 2007):

Video Resumes versus Video Screening

Video resumes have been a flash in the pan for 30 years and never gotten much traction (possibly because the notion of plodding through candidate videos – digital or otherwise – is about the most unappealing thing a recruiter can do). Now however, the video horizon has tilted with all the attention on v- blogs, YouTube and the like. Two efforts we’ve been reviewing, Hirevue and InterviewStudio , are interesting and potentially efficient alternative solutions for phone screens once the initial sourcing and database searches sort out the most likely applicants.Someday (but not today) we’ll also be able to search the actual video of applicants answers to questions posed in a job descriptions and tee up a paired comparison of the best responses to select the finalists. Interviews, whether live and in-person or, remotely and digitally taped, have much in common. In either case you would be hard pressed to prove that one is significantly more likely to lead to better selection decisions than another.

We’re seeking data from corporations that have adopted video screening processes and consistently employ them for a specific job or job family.

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To that end, check out the following student’s video that has Wall Street howling. Yes, Yale senior Aleksey Vayner, goes far beyond the usual in his resume video. How much is too much information? See for yourself.

Down But Not Out – forays in networking

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In Forbes May 2007 issue, author Barbara Ehrenreich writes about networking:

Why do people resist the idea of networking?

Most people encounter the notion of networking through the crisis of unemployment. Suddenly a layoff, downsizing or re-org leaves you without income, health insurance or a postbreakfast destination. What to do? “There are four ways to find a job,” an ExecuNet functionary told a group of white-collar job seekers I had joined in 2004 as an undercover journalist–“networking, networking, networking and networking.” My own career coach, whom I was paying $200 an hour to propel me into employment, advised networking with every single human I could buttonhole, even for a second: the person seated next to me on a plane, my doctor, my doctor’s receptionist.

It should be fun, right?  Read on!

While I enjoyed her excellent and well-researched article, I have to disagree that networking always stinks and is never fun. I do agree, however, her committment to “networking from the heart.” YES. Givers gain. Check out how marketing coach Ronnie Noize and I turn things around and keep ’em positive in our teleclass, Seven Secrets of Networking, Thursday, May 31.

And for more fun, yes I said fun, about networking, check out the MP3 of Rock Your Network (R).