NEXT WEEK: A Special Event, A LinkedIn PRIMER… 8:45 AM, Thursday, July 2nd at The Egg and I Restaurant in Addison

LINKED-IN – Who, What, Why, How?

What is Linked-In? Linked-In is a part of the vast social media available to us all, and is the preferred professional site. LinkedIn is about your personal BRANDING, as seen in a well-developed profile or it can be used as a business page; Where Facebook is about connecting and identity (connecting with family and friends and sharing ‘life’); and Twitter is about events (…and sharing ‘life’).

Who is on Linked-In? Over 288,000,000 members worldwide and that number grows DAILY!!  You can participate as an individual or as part of specific Groups.

Why should I use it? LinkedIn is the best way to connect with people and organizations who could potentially hire you. A recent survey indicated that over 75% of Linked-In users indicated it helped them learn about people & companies. This is useful before making contact with someone for an informational interview or in preparing for a job interview, since you want to know about the person interviewing you. It’s helpful for finding connection points on areas of common interest.  In a single word, it’s like your ROADMAP to efficient networking activity.

If I am not on Linked-IN, how do I become a member? Enter www.linkedin.com in your Internet browser and register as a new member. If you have already set up your basic “footprint” in LinkedIn, your TASK#1 is to make a simple decision… do you want to use LinkedIn…

  • To PUSH your story out to the marketplace?… PUSH Strategies can help you harness the power of direct marketing. Or
  • To PULL interested individuals and potential employers to you?… PULL Strategies will help you to optimize your SEO, using concentrated keywords to draw people to your Profile. Or
  • For BOTH Push and Pull strategies to get the best of both worlds of personal marketing and branding activity. Draw people to your Profile with focused used of keywords, but keeping it narrative and interesting enough to make your story more ‘reader-friendly.’

TASK#1

Your FIRST task is to set-up your basic profile information… note that in our twelve step process, this comes after developing your (initial) Market-Ready resume and validating it by ‘coaching’ your References.

For your first pass at a Profile, go to the top navigation bar and select Profile/ edit profile… all editable elements will have a pen icon that lights up when you move your cursor over…

  • Your Headline… THE Prime Real Estate that search engines look at first, and that follows you around everywhere you go in LinkedIn. Start by simply cutting and pasting from your resume’s contact information and Positioning Statement (including defining KEYWORDS)
  • Your Qualification SUMMARY… the place search engines look second (are they in the right neighborhood?) Again, start by simply cutting and pasting from your resume text.
  • Your Professional Experience… This is the ‘meat’ of your story and is easily centered on your KEYWORD strategies. Once again, start by simply cutting and pasting from your resume text.
  • Your formal Education and Training… Again, start by simply cutting and pasting from your resume text.

AS A START, Yes, your LinkedIn Profile is a direct reflection of your resume!

DEVELOP YOUR DIGITAL BRAND by making the PUSH/PULL decision mentioned above and adding to your basic communication strategy appropriately.

Stay tuned to this blog for TASK#2

THIS WEEK’s Workshop: Developing Your Personal Marketing Plan… Thursday, June 18th, 8:45 AM @ The Egg and I Restaurant in Addison

NETWORKING

Building a network is a vital part of today’s strategic career development. Each planned contact can lead to others if you ask the right questions and explore the possibilities.  Networking is a two-way street, sometimes with you, the information seeker, being able to provide information to the same person from whom you are seeking it, and at other times being a source of information to other people. In order to get information from others, we must be a good source of information. All it takes is being willing to share information, ideas and resources.  It’s the INTER-ACTIVE, front-end of relationship building.


On Thursday, June 18th, we will be taking a long look at developing an effective PLAN… Your Personal Marketing Plan.  Our focus is on effective time management to create focus and efficiency in job search efforts.


To put it another way, “What goes around, comes around.”  A network is not something you establish overnight. It requires work and time, but the rewards are incalculable. If you are in a job search mode and do not have a good network already in place, there are several ways you can begin to build one.

  1. Start with people you know from previous employment.    However, most jobs are not found at the first level of networking.  In fact, very few jobs are found simply by calling the people you know.
  2. Constantly build the layers of your network.  Even at the second level, the number of job openings you will find is still modest. Networking does not usually start to pay off until about the third level, and sometimes even beyond that.
  3. Attend professional association meetings and network.   Most of us probably work in a line of work that has a national professional association to which we could belong, and most of these associations have local chapters.Get the Most From Networking…

Remember TIME MANAGEMENT…

Allow for regular time in LinkedIn in order to direct and focus your networking activity.

Make networking calls in a block of time.  Each call is more comfortable than the one before. Do not call people and ask them if they have any openings at their company… This is almost always totally non-productive.

Be sure to ask the person if they have a minute to talk to you, and when finished talking thank them for their time.

Who Should Attend this value-packed Workshop?

  1. Anyone who wants to create a strategic plan for the rest of their working life… job changes will occur!
  2. Job seekers who find themselves in a rut…rapidly crashing into the black hole of depression
  3. Any job seeker looking to create focus within their search efforts
  4. Any professional to give substance to their next steps
  5. Newcomers to DFWCareerpilot… including tire-kickers

Please SHARE this post with your friends.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

THIS Week’s Workshop: Embracing The OTHER Job Market ++… Thursday, May 28th @ 8:45 AM at The Egg and I Restaurant

This is a good place for new comers to start with DFWCAREERPILOT.   To optimize your understanding and use of the DFWCareerpilot message, Thursday, May 28th,  we’ll focus on defining the OTHER Job Market and learning a very different approach to job search activities.  ++ We have a special INTRO presentation by a guest speaker, Ms Kathleen Taylor-Gadsby.  This should give you a terrific way to ramp up your efforts in the summer ahead.

A thought to consider for Thursday:  If you wanted to fail at your career transition…what actual activities could you be doing?  Be prepared for a lively session this week.

We meet  at The Egg and I Restaurant in Addison, located 1 block east of the Dallas N Tollway. See Map on the right ==>

If an individual is under-employed, seeking a change, or actually unemployed, they must be visible to potential employers who are seeking their services.  Creating this visibility is strategic, personal market planning and execution—it can be marketability without rejection!  Remember…

 Personal Marketing is a contact sport.

The one thing you’ll need to know, and understand HOW to execute, for the rest of your career…

Never be a job-hunter again!!!  It’s OK to be an interested, available and highly marketable professional.  Always seek a good CAREER “FIT.” 

***

Please SHARE this Post with a friend or two that you think may benefit from the information and interaction…

Come prepared to practice your telephone presence.   YOUR “PRE-session HOMEWORK” is to increase your first level contact list on LinkedIn by TEN NEW individuals… and add ONE NEW GROUP to those you have already chosen.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

 

THIS Week’s Workshop: Interview TACTICS… Thursday, May 21st, 8:45 AM @ The Egg and I Restaurant in Addison

Thursday, May 21st we will ‘conduct’ and practice interview strategies in real time, drawing from actual experience of our participants.  Our focus is on effective approaches to turniung an interrogation into a conversation.  This event will be co-facilitated by Brian Allen and Clay Tarpley.

Who Should Attend?

  1. Anyone who wants to perform better in formal interviews!
  2. Job seekers who find themselves in a rut…rapidly crashing into the black hole of depression
  3. Any job seeker looking to create focus within their interview style
  4. Any professional to give substance to their next steps
  5. Newcomers to DFWCareerpilot… including tire-kickers

Please SHARE this post with your friends.

THIS Week’s Workshop: Turning OPPORTUNITIES Into INTERVIEWS… Thursday, May 7th @ 8:45 AM at The Egg and I Restaurant

This is a good place for new comers to start with DFWCAREERPILOT.  THIS is what most job seekers call ‘an active job search…’ and is why this is STEP TEN in our Process.  On Thursday, May 7th,  we’ll focus on telephone skills/ scripting, call reluctance, and appropriate follow-up… all wrapped around your ‘value proposition’ for a specific job and networking your way to the decision-maker.

We meet  at The Egg and I Restaurant in Addison, located 1 block east of the Dallas N Tollway. See Map on the right ==>

If an individual is under-employed, seeking a change, or actually unemployed, they must be visible to potential employers who are seeking their services.  Creating this visibility is strategic, personal market planning and execution—it can be marketability without rejection!  Remember…

 Personal Marketing is a contact sport.

The one thing you’ll need to know, and understand HOW to execute, for the rest of your career…

Never be a job-hunter again!!!  It’s OK to be an interested, available and highly marketable professional.  Always seek a good CAREER “FIT.” 

***

Please SHARE this Post with a friend or two that you think may benefit from the information and interaction…

Come prepared to practice your telephone presence.   YOUR “PRE-session HOMEWORK” is to increase your first level contact list on LinkedIn by TEN NEW individuals… and add ONE NEW GROUP to those you have already chosen.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

 

NEXT WEEK’s Workshop: Implementing Your Personal Marketing Plan… Thursday, April 30th, 8:45 AM @ The Egg and I Restaurant in Addison

Thursday, April 30th we will ‘conduct’ a job search in real time, drawing from actual experience of our participants.  This session provides an excellent OVERVIEW of our 12 step Process to regulars and new comers alike.  Our focus is on effective time management to create focus and efficiency in job search efforts.

In our April 23rd session we discussed the value of having an accountability partner, or actively participating on an accountability team. The current PARTICIPANT Directory is posted in the RESOURCES Tab… do YOU have an accountability partner yet?  Remember: accountability creates activity and leads to more efficient SUCCESS.

Who Should Attend?

  1. Anyone who wants to create a strategic plan for the rest of their working life… job changes will occur!
  2. Job seekers who find themselves in a rut…rapidly crashing into the black hole of depression
  3. Any job seeker looking to create focus within their search efforts
  4. Any professional to give substance to their next steps
  5. Newcomers to DFWCareerpilot… including tire-kickers

Please SHARE this post with your friends.

NEXT Week’s Workshop: Developing Your Personal Marketing Plan… Thursday, April 23rd, 8:45 AM @ The Egg and I Restaurant in Addison

On Thursday, April 23rd, we will be taking a long look at developing an effective PLAN… Your Personal Marketing Plan.  Our focus is on effective time management to create focus and efficiency in job search efforts.

NETWORKING

Building a network is a vital part of today’s strategic career development. Each planned contact can lead to others if you ask the right questions and explore the possibilities.  Networking is a two-way street, sometimes with you, the information seeker, being able to provide information to the same person from whom you are seeking it, and at other times being a source of information to other people. In order to get information from others, we must be a good source of information. All it takes is being willing to share information, ideas and resources.  It’s the INTER-ACTIVE, front-end of relationship building.

To put it another way, “What goes around, comes around.”  A network is not something you establish overnight. It requires work and time, but the rewards are incalculable. If you are in a job search mode and do not have a good network already in place, there are several ways you can begin to build one.

  1. Start with people you know from previous employment.    However, most jobs are not found at the first level of networking.  In fact, very few jobs are found simply by calling the people you know.
  2. Constantly build the layers of your network.  Even at the second level, the number of job openings you will find is still modest. Networking does not usually start to pay off until about the third level, and sometimes even beyond that.
  3. Attend professional association meetings and network.   Most of us probably work in a line of work that has a national professional association to which we could belong, and most of these associations have local chapters.Get the Most From Networking…

Remember TIME MANAGEMENT…

Allow for regular time in LinkedIn in order to direct and focus your networking activity.

Make networking calls in a block of time.  Each call is more comfortable than the one before. Do not call people and ask them if they have any openings at their company… This is almost always totally non-productive.

Be sure to ask the person if they have a minute to talk to you, and when finished talking thank them for their time.

Who Should Attend this value-packed Workshop?

  1. Anyone who wants to create a strategic plan for the rest of their working life… job changes will occur!
  2. Job seekers who find themselves in a rut…rapidly crashing into the black hole of depression
  3. Any job seeker looking to create focus within their search efforts
  4. Any professional to give substance to their next steps
  5. Newcomers to DFWCareerpilot… including tire-kickers

Please SHARE this post with your friends.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

This Week’s Workshop: Embracing The OTHER Job Market… Thursday, April 2nd, 8:45 AM @ The Egg and I Restaurant in Addison

This Thursday we will be taking a look at The OTHER Job Market strategies from a Career Consultant’s viewpoint.  What are those ‘coachable moments’ that a job seeker often encounters, that, once resolved, can lead to greater effectiveness in job search approaches?  Come and learn how:  1) developing an effective PLAN… Your Personal Marketing Plan, 2) having supportive marketing collateral materials, and 3) holding yourself accountable to proven strategies and tactics …can produce results!

Our shared focus is on effective time management to create efficiency in job search efforts.

(Steps 1-8) Are you fully prepared for the challenging waters of career transition?

(Steps 9-10) Are you executing your plan, with a sense of discipline and accountability, turning opportunities into interviews?

(Steps 11-12) Are you effective with interviewing strategies and tactics… getting to The Offer… closing the deal?

Building and sustaining a dynamic network is a vital part of today’s strategic career development. Each planned contact can lead to others if you ask the right questions and explore the possibilities.  Networking is a two-way street, sometimes with you, the information seeker, being able to provide information to the same person from whom you are seeking it, and at other times being a source of information to other people. In order to get information from others, we must be a good source of information. All it takes is being willing to share information, ideas and resources.  It’s the INTER-ACTIVE, front-end of relationship building.

Remember TIME MANAGEMENT and common courtesy…

Allow for regular time in LinkedIn in order to direct and focus your networking activity.

Make networking calls in a block of time.  Each call is more comfortable than the one before. Do not call people and ask them if they have any openings at their company… This is almost always totally non-productive.

Be sure to ask the person if they have a minute to talk to you, and when finished talking thank them for their time.

Who Should Attend this value-packed Workshop?

  1. Anyone who wants to create a strategic plan for the rest of their working life… job changes will occur!
  2. Job seekers who find themselves in a rut…rapidly crashing into the black hole of depression
  3. Any job seeker looking to create focus within their search efforts
  4. Any professional to give substance to their next steps
  5. Newcomers to DFWCareerpilot… including tire-kickers

Please SHARE this post with your friends.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

THIS Week’s Workshop: Turning OPPORTUNITIES Into INTERVIEWS… Thursday, March 12th @ 8:45 AM at The Egg and I Restaurant

This is a good place for new comers to start with DFWCAREERPILOT.  THIS is what most job seekers call ‘an active job search…’ and is why this is STEP TEN in our Process.  On Thursday, March 12th,  we’ll focus on telephone skills/ scripting, call reluctance, and appropriate follow-up… all wrapped around your ‘value proposition’ for a specific job and networking your way to the decision-maker.

We meet  at The Egg and I Restaurant in Addison, located 1 block east of the Dallas North Tollway. See Map on the right ==>

If an individual is under-employed, seeking a change, or actually unemployed, they must be visible to potential employers who are seeking their services.  Creating this visibility is strategic, personal market planning and execution—it can be marketability without rejection!  Remember…

 Personal Marketing is a contact sport.

The Evolution of a JOB…

NEED IDENTIFIED

 

Replacement jobs often redefined. No definition to a new need.

No competition

WORK ANTICIPATED

 

Discussion leads to decisions on JOB definition Often job parameters are set based on market feedback
JOB REQUISTION WRITTEN AND APPROVED

 

Job Requirements must be defined… expectations creep into the recruitment process Internal candidates often get priority in employment process
JOB is “open”

 

Job Requirements are often refined based on market feedback Internal and external job seekers compete for the same jobs
JOB is published

 

Job requirements and qualifications define the screening process

MAX competition!!

The one thing you’ll need to know, and understand HOW to execute, for the rest of your career…

Never be a job-hunter again!!!  It’s OK to be an interested, available and highly marketable professional.  Always seek a good CAREER “FIT.” 

***

Please SHARE this Post with a friend or two that you think may benefit from the information and interaction…

Come prepared to practice your telephone presence.   YOUR “PRE-session HOMEWORK” is to increase your first level contact list on LinkedIn by TEN NEW individuals… and add ONE NEW GROUP to those you have already chosen.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

 

THIS WEEK’s Workshop: Turning OPPORTUNITIES Into INTERVIEWS… Thursday, March 5th @ 8:45 AM at The Egg and I Restaurant

This is a good place for new comers to start with DFWCAREERPILOT.  THIS is what most job seekers call ‘an active job search…’ and is why this is STEP TEN in our Process.

**WEATHER LOOKS QUESTIONABLE FOR TOMORROW MORNING, Sooooooo call The Egg and I before you venture forth.  I will be there (or call in) by 8 AM to make the ‘weather decision.’

IF we are a GO for Thursday, March 5th,  we’ll focus on telephone skills/ scripting, call reluctance, and appropriate follow-up… all wrapped around your ‘value proposition’ for a specific job and networking your way to the decision-maker.

We meet  at The Egg and I Restaurant in Addison, located 1 block east of the Dallas North Tollway. See Map on the right ==>

 ***

Please SHARE this Post with a friend or two that you think may benefit from the information and interaction…

Come prepared to practice your telephone presence.   YOUR “PRE-session HOMEWORK” is to increase your first level contact list on LinkedIn by TEN NEW individuals… and add ONE NEW GROUP to those you have already chosen.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨