Executive Branding Personal vs Career Branding - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

Executive Branding Personal vs Career Branding Although often used interchangeably, there is a simple distinction between the two. Personal branding represents what is authentic about your personality and character, and reflects the perception of you held by the external world. Because its all about what kind of person you are,  your personal brand  generally does not change as you progress through your career, from job to job and employer to employer. Career branding takes the defining process a bit further. Your  differentiator in the business world, your career brand defines your unique promise of value in the marketplace  â€" delivering double-digit earnings and revenue growth, turning around floundering business, building top-performing record-breaking teams  â€" whatever specific value you offer your target employers. Because it meshes personal attributes with business attributes, career branding relies on first defining your personal brand  â€" the passions, strengths, values, and personal characteristics  that drive you. Career branding fuels your career. And make no mistake. Executive career branding in todays executive job search is required, not optional. Designed to resonate with your specific target audience, your career brand may change with each career move, to align with marketplace and employer needs and attract a new set of key hiring decision makers. Naturally then, you cant begin to build your career brand (and write your resume,  other career marketing communications,  online profiles, blog/website,  and other web pages) without first identifying who your target audience is, what their needs are, and which good-fit strengths and qualities of yours will help them solve their problems. Related posts: 10 Steps to an Authentic, Magnetic Personal Brand What Personal Branding is NOT How to Write An Irresistible C-level Executive Brand Resume in 10 Steps How to Write a C-level Executive Career Brand Biography 4 Executive Job Search First Steps, Before You Write Your Resume 00 0

What Does A Modern Resume Look Like

What Does A Modern Resume Look Like Writing a modern resume requires you create one that makes it through an applicant tracking system AND catches the attention of different readers (recruiter and hiring manager). How well do you understand how applicant tracking systems work and how recruiters review resumes? This overview of what a modern resume looks like helps you understand the most important aspects of writing a resume today. Submitting your resume online When you apply for a job online, youre asked to upload your resume and complete an online application. Every ATS is a little different in how they work but the information you supply determines your success. To learn more about how ATS work, read thisHow To Get Past The Applicant Tracking System (ATS) In order for your resume to get through the ATS, it has to show you have the qualifications, ie. you may need to tweak your resume to align with the role you are applying for. Tweaking your resume requires reviewing the job description and highlighting the skills, technology and systems (keywords) requested. Without lying, you want to use those words in your resume. Heres more help dissecting a job posting to uncover keywords Applying for a Job? Invest Time Reviewing the Job Posting. How long does a recruiter look at your resume? 7.4 seconds. The updated eye-tracking study by TheLadders found recruiters look at your resume almost 2 seconds longer than they did in 2012. TheLaddersfull analysis is here. The 7.4 seconds is only a first review of a resume to see if it looks worth further review. If the resume makes it to the next step, the recruiter will spend as much time as it takes to evaluate the qualifications shown in the resume. Furthermore, most of us dont read anything we skim. We look for headlines and things that catch our interest. Recruiters are no different. They dont have time to figure out what the resume is trying to say. It is your job to clearly convey how you meet the job requirements. Recruiter Eye-Tracking Findings As you look at the images below, you will see how the layout of a resume can impact where the reader spends more time. When you see red dots on the images below, it signifies that more time was spent looking at the section. Image from TheLadders Eye Tracking Study 2018 Image from TheLadders 2018 Eye Tracking Study Formatting Takeaways Titles, headings, job titles and most recent job content all tend to get more attention. We read left to right so structure important information to take advantage of this. Put the most relevant information first. Pay attention to the information you list in your most recent job as it receives the most attention. And dont overlook your contact information. As you can see, the city and state contact information are important. (You no longer need to include your street address.) Make Your Resume Skimmable Some of the key recommendations by TheLadders include: A simple, uncluttered layout Clear fonts (sans serif fonts are easier to read online.) An overview, branding statement, value proposition or summary at the top (do not use an objective statement such as to obtain a challenging, rewarding, full-time job.) Use job titles and clear sub-headings Address Each Reader In order for your resume to make it through the screening software, the eyes of a recruiter and get selected by the hiring manager, your resume has to take multiple readers into consideration. This is why you get different feedback from different people. Everyone has their own preferences. You need to find the balance between giving them what they want and at the same time, promoting your assets. Emphasize Current Job Your most recent job will get the most attention because it contains the freshest skills. Pay close attention to this space and help the reader understand how your work relates to the job you are applying for. Use accomplishments in your bullets, not job duties! 1 Page or 2-3 Pages A general rule of thumb is that five years of experience or less should usually fit on a single page. But if you have more than five years of experience, do not limit your resume to one page. Some senior-level job seekers may even have a three-page resume. Remember to use a readable font size, no smaller than 10 or 11 point. And be sure your margins are no smaller than a half-inch. Graphics Should you use fancy charts on your resume? Thats a personal choice. What you should know is that an ATS will not read the data contained in the chart. But, if you already have the accomplishment listed with the data, you dont need to worry that the ATS wont show the chart. And what about including a headshot? Thats still not something recruiters or hiring managers want to see on your resume in the United States. Instead, include the URL (link) to your LinkedIn profile. What we do know is that when documents include visual elements (charts, graphics, images), it tends to keep the reader on the page longer. Think about USA Todays early use of graphs and color and how that helped differentiate them and increased readership. Color Dont be afraid to use color. Adding subtle lines and shading is another way for your resume to stand out. Dont overdo it though. Use basic lines and styles. Several Modern Resume Samples These are just some of CDIs TORI award-winning resumes from this year. ATS Version You should always have a version of your resume stripped of formatting that will easily upload into an online applicant tracking system (ATS). Save your Word document as a .txt or .rtf file and fix any visual quirks or inconsistencies. I am not a resume writer There are professional resume writers who have been trained and specialize in all the current resume writing standards. That isnt me. You will want to carefully review the qualifications of any resume writer you hire- and a resume writer is no different. They often specialize in industries and cater to certain occupations. Heres help knowing what to look forDo You Need To Hire A Professional Resume Writer There are several talented resume writers Ive worked with and you can find my recommended professional resume writers here.

My First Ukelele Lesson ( the other lessons that came with it)

My First Ukelele Lesson ( the other lessons that came with it) There I was, 15 minutes from walking out the door to my very first ukelele lesson, and my brain started working overtime. Thoughts about giving yourself permission to do what you want just because its fun, investing in yourself, stopping the excuses, having a new hobby as a grown-upso, of course, I had to get it out and record it for you amazeballs kids. And even though I already showcased my amateur ukelele skills with an original song for Jess Swifts Kickstarter (she got fully funded! yaaaaaayyyyy!!!!), I decided to make an example of myself and recorded the song I learned at the lesson at the end of the video. Click below for Life Lessons, choked-up tears, and You Are My Sunshine.

Is Resume Writing Taught in High School?

Is Resume Writing Taught in High School?Is resume writing taught in high school? This is a question that has been asked by some students. At least, if they are looking for employment. The truth is that you can teach this particular skill at any level.Resume writing is just like writing a letter to a friend, but it involves several key concepts that are often ignored by many people. Many times you will hear them say that no one will read your resume and therefore you should not waste time. Well, this is not a good idea. You do not want to hire someone who does not care about you or the job. Your resume needs to be able to convey to your potential employer's interest.Resume writing should be an interesting experience. It is a chance to tell an employer who you are, who you want to work for, and why they should hire you. It is a conversation that can happen between you and the person who will be hiring you. If you want to have a chance to express yourself, go out and do so. In some case s, you might even make a few friends along the way. Resume writing is a great way to connect with a career.It is very important to know what makes resumes successful and failure, so that you can avoid making a mistake when writing one. If you know your market, it is easy to figure out what is missing in resumes from certain companies. It is also important to find out what potential employers are looking for when it comes to resumes.Have you ever considered teaching this important skill to your fellow high school students? This can be very beneficial for students who are struggling. In addition, it can be very helpful for people who are self-motivated and feel comfortable expressing themselves to an employer. It is important to keep it simple and easy to read. This can be taught through several ways and is a very popular form of education in school.Another important point is to put in words what you are really looking for. Is this a career that you would really like to pursue? If you have the passion and interest, this can be a very rewarding career. Do not just write something about what you think would appeal to an employer, but show them what you are really like.When it comes to resume writing, if you do not know how to express yourself or convey your need, it is important to find a good mentor. He or she can help you develop a good resume in a short period of time.

Productivity Tips Executives Advice for a Better Commute

Productivity Tips Executives' Advice for a Better Commute Are you still spending your commutes playing Candy Crush or listening to morning talk show drivel? If so, next question: Why? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average American commute is 26 minutes long â€" each way. That’s an hour of time each day that isn’t occupied by office or family life â€" and it’s an opportunity to set a productive tone to each day. MONEY reached out to eight people at the top of their game to ask them for their commuting strategies â€" and how they use that time in a productive fashion. Here’s what they had to say. Make Lists Broadcast Journalist honoree Soledad OBrien, CEO of Starfish Media Group Television, attends the Third Annual Multicultural Media Correspondents Dinner at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, May 24, 2018. Getty Images. I’m usually very busy, so being both efficient and strategic with my time on Amtrak is essential. I’m a list maker, so I always keep a revolving to do list going: short term, medium term, long term. Right now on my short-term list is the next three calls that I’m going to dial into while on Amtrak, plus a note to remind me to call in a prescription and a list of two people I need to check in with. I schedule my weekly workouts. After a knee injury earlier this year, it became clear to me that I needed to prioritize not just getting in shape, but building functional fitness and flexibility. That means hot yoga classes three times a week, acupuncture to help the chronic pain in my right knee and an obscene number of squats and planks with my CrossFit trainer, Dave. All of that is scheduled right into my calendar, and treated like a non-moveable meeting. I’ll throw in the gym times I need to hit when I’m in my hotel, too. And by mapping them out at a moment when I’m organized and not distracted, I’ve been able to workout at least five times a week, which is a first for me. â€" Soledad O’Brien, journalist, host of Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien, and owner of Starfish Media Group Take Inventory and Listen to Relaxing Music Jobi Manson I use my commute to take mental inventory and set goals for things I want to get done that day. During the drive to work, I think about the day ahead â€" and I always listen to classical music. I find classical music energizing and it opens my mind. I always keep a note pad next to me so that I can take notes on ideas I have. When I drive home each night, I always listen to jazz and reflect on what I accomplished that day and/or how to solve any problems that may have risen. â€" Paige Mycoskie, Founder Aviator Nation Go Two-Wheelin’ courtesy of the subject As a CEO, so much energy is spent on being accountable and focused. Getting to bike on the way to work gives me time, without distraction, to identify what is most important at work in a setting where my body feels energized and my mind is free to wander. At the end of the day, getting on my bike allows me to leave work behind, and focus on the dad/husband/friend that I want to be in my personal life. It’s not exactly a time machine, but for me it is my mindset machine. â€" Brendan Synnott, CEO of PACT clothing Stop Driving Ben Robertson I live south of San Francisco and commute north every morning to HotelTonight’s headquarters in the city. Bay Area rush hour traffic can be brutal, so I take an Uber most days and arrange my schedule around it â€" often getting in extra early and working out in the city before I start my day. At that hour, an Uber still costs less than paying for parking, and I can use the commute time productively. I catch up on email with the East Coast and international offices in earlier time zones, and carve out a few minutes to call my mother when I can. â€" Sam Shank, CEO of HotelTonight Talk to People Ben Arons Since I live in New York City, and don’t own a car, my favorite thing to do is walk from my apartment to the SiriusXM studios where I host my business talk radio show, Dot Complicated. It’s a 2.5-mile, 45-minute walk that I often take through Central Park. In addition to getting some great exercise in, I get to make phone calls, catch up with my family across the country, or listen to a podcast to prepare me on the topics I’ll be covering on the show that day. â€" Randi Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media and author of Pick Three: You Can Have It All (Just Not Every Day) Energize and Unplug courtesy of the subject For me, one of the most productive things I do is getting in a solid workout. A good sweat keeps you sharp for the day ahead. Then, I sit down with my family in the morning, enjoy breakfast, talk to each other â€" with no phones! Removing the emails, appointments, texts, any sort of notification in the morning actually puts me in the right mindset for when I’m ready to kill it in the office. â€" Joseph Caruso, CEO of Green Helix Read Up on Your Industry I’m a big fan of podcasts. Hearing other great leaders and innovators gets my juices flowing and inspires me to think bigger. Some of my favorites are Masters of Scale, NPR Politics, How I Built This, and Ted Radio Hour. Also, one of the first things I do every morning is scan through my Google Alert emails to stay up to date on the latest news in the industry. Staying on top of industry trends and news is important and great to read over morning coffee. â€" Amanda Bradford, CEO of The League dating app Go Black and White courtesy of the subject I drive through Venice to the RYOT campus every morning as the sun is coming; it’s a pretty drive first thing in the morning. That’s my reflective time to daydream and listen to music and clear my head. The moment I hit the office, the circus begins, so if I can clear my head during my drive I will be much more productive during the day. I’ve also recently switched my iPhone to black and white, which helps keep me off Instagram and Twitter so I can focus on work and my team. I turn the settings on my iPhone to switch it to the grayscale mode, which turns the display into only black and white. Then I assign that as a shortcut when I triple click the home button on the side. It makes your phone less attractive to scrolling social media or browsing the internet and turns the phone back into utility only.” â€" Bryn Mooser, found of virtual reality studio RYOT.

The 10 Key Components Of A Great Resume - Work It Daily

The 10 Key Components Of A Great Resume - Work It Daily A great resume is the first opportunity you have to make an impression on a hiring manager or a recruiter. And it’s important to make a great first impression. The average recruiter spends mere seconds scanning your resume so you need to make yourself stand out. We’ve compiled a list of some important factors to keep in mind when creating or updating your resume. Here's a list of the 10 key components of a great resume: 1. Organized Format Structure your resume in an organized manner; keep your font traditional, your lay-out appealing, and your spacing consistent. You want your resume to stand out, so don’t be afraid to experiment with colors and design. However, know your audience and be sure you are representing yourself professionally first and foremost. 2. Correct Spelling/Grammar Spell check everything at least twice and have someone else proofread it before you submit it. 3. Professional Attitude List a professional sounding e-mail addressâ€"not “partyanimal_687” or “2cool4u15.” Also, list a phone number that is attached to a professional voicemail greeting. Potential employers don’t need to hear reality TV, loud music, kids crying, or road noise in the background. If this means you have to re-record your voicemail greeting, so be it. 4. Objective Keywords Leave out subjective words like “reliable” and “hard-working.” A potential employer is not going to bring you in for an interview because you say you’re reliable. They are going to bring you in because they think you can solve a problem for them. 5. Keywords From The Job Description Incorporate words into your resume that are listed in the job description of the position you’re applying for. This will help a hiring manager quickly see that you’re a fit for the position and it will also help resume scanning software signal you out as a potential match. 6. Brief Explanations For Employment Gaps And Layoffs If you were let go from several positions due to downsizing, mention this. If you have a large gap in your employment history, explain what you were doing during that time and what you learned. 7. Relevant Job/Internship/Volunteer History If you’re a veteran in your industry, you don’t need to list the very first job you had decades ago. Keep your employment history to the past 10-15 years if you have a substantial amount of industry related experience. If you’re a recent graduate, listing the part-time job you had in college is fineâ€"but you also want to list any internships, volunteer work, coursework, or projects you had that are relevant to the job. Unpaid experience still counts. 8. Effective Use Of Space Treat each word on your resume like beach-front propertyâ€"space is so valuable. Make every word you use count. 9. Customized Cover Letter Your cover letter should contain content that is different from your resume and should match up very well with the job description. This means you will need to re-write it for each job you apply for. 10. Realistic Expectations Be optimistic, but realistic. If a job description lists a required task that you’re confident you can do, try to word your past experience to reflect it. But if a job description lists seven required skills or certifications and you only have three of them, then you don’t meet the qualifications and shouldn’t apply. With the start of a new year, it’s a great time to update your resume and reflect a bit on your strengths and job specific skills. Being able to effectively and succinctly summarize your skills, education, and experience is important for everyoneâ€"regardless of whether you intend to seek employment in the near future. These resume tips are intended to help you put forth the best possible impression of yourself on paper. You only get one chance to make a great impression, so make yours count! Related Posts Top 100 Most Powerful Resume Words How To Transform Your Resume From Vintage To Viral 4 Rules For Every Resume   Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!

Management Skills for the Workplace of the Future

Management Skills for the Workplace of the Future For years, business leaders and futurists have debated about what the workplace of the future will look like. The year is 2018. More and mora corporations are incorporating telecommuting, artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and augmented reality into their day to day operations. More people are telecommuting, working in virtual kollektivs, and incorporating AI think SIRI, Alexa and Google Home into their everyday lives. The future is here NOW.The Center for an Urban Future, a think tank dedicated to independent research about key policy issues facing New York and other cities, recently issued a report on how automation will transform jobs in New York City. They found that one in 10 jobs in New York City could be largely automated with technology that exists today. The reality is that regardless of yur occupation or what level you are at in your career, automation and machine learning will likely re-shape your industry. To set yourself up for career success, you will need to develop management skills to adapt to the new challenges and opportunities these new technologies will pose. Here are five management skills you will need to stay ahead of the robots 1. AdaptabilityTheres a great storyline in the movie Hidden Figures where one of the characters, Dorothy (played by Octavia Spencer), learns about the impending installation of an IBM computer that will replace human computers at her job. Dorothy is a woman of limited means, but she spends her free time at the public library teaching herself about computer programming. By the time the IBM computer is installed, Dorothy is prepared for the change and is promoted to lead a team to work with the computer. Dorothy read the writing on the wall and took the necessary steps to adapt to a changing work environment. As new technologies transform industries, we must adapt to those changes to ensure our long-term career success. Doing our work the same way we have a lways done it may result in us being perceived as resistant to change. In the worst-case scenario, we may be left behind, replaced, or eliminated. Adaptability, is therefore crucial in these changing times. Do some research about your industry and what the transformative trends are. How will those trends impact you? Your department? Your company? How can you begin to position yourself to succeed in a changing work environment? Can you take some ansprechbar courses to enhance your skillset? Do you need to go back to school to get an advanced degree? Do you need to get a technical certificate to learn how to work with the new technologies that are being incorporated into your workplace? Set some goals that are aligned with the future of your industry and begin to take on tasks that will prepare you for upcoming changes.2. Information ManagementAs we develop our leadership skills for the future, learning how to manage information and its flow is important. While technology has made inf ormation mora readily available and accessible, knowing how to prioritize and use that information presents challenges just look at your email inbox. We get flooded with email messages every day. Some of the information is important and some of it is spam some of it we need now, some of it we will need later. With every piece of information that flows across our desks and through our electronic devices, we must decide its importance and its utility. The ability to make quick judgement calls about how to process, catalogue, save, share and use information will give you an edge in the workplace of the future. 3. AccountabilityIn the workplace of the future, long gone will be the days of clocking in and out. Putting in your hours at the office as an accountability measure will be a thing of the past. Companies are moving away from where and how people work and are more focused on the results employees produce. That means employees will be much more autonomous, but they will also be 10 0 percent accountable for the results they produce.4.Critical ThinkingAs artificial intelligence and automation take over the routine ad repetitive functions of many jobs, more and more of our value at work will come from our ability to think through more complex issues and to develop creative solutions to those issues. Critical thinking requires the ability to analyze a situation, view it from different perspectives and consider the various approaches that can be applied to each. Critical thinking is a foundational management skill needed for strong decision-making and career success in the future.5. Emotional IntelligenceEmotional intelligence refers to your ability to perceive, control and evaluate emotions. This will be an in-demand skill in the workplace of the future. Managers who are able to sharpen this ability, can more effectively lead and work with employees and colleagues.In virtual and or mobile team settings, this skill becomes all the more important. In other words y ou can lead more effectively. You can begin to enhance your emotional intelligence by being more aware of yourself and being more aware of others you work with. Become better aware of how you respond to situations, what your triggers and hot buttons are and how you are perceived by others. Then go about learning the same factors about the people you work with. Dont just be passive in your interactions, particularly in a world where we primarily communicate by email. Utilize technology to be more in tune make a phone call instead of sending an instant message or a text. Set up a video conference with your team rather than a conference call. Keep your radar up for subtle queues that give you insight into others. When you have this information about yourself and about others, you are better positioned to flex your leadership style to more effectively influence and lead in a workplace driven by technology. Developing emotional intelligence can take time but it is an essential skill wo rth learning.Managing means having technical skills, conceptual skills,project management skills, technical skills, problem-solving skills, communication skills, decision-making skills, co-ordination skills, interpersonal skills, conflict management skills, people management skills and so many other basic management skills. Good managers know that this goes for managing any effective business, problem, teams,or tasks at hand.--Ellie Nieves, JD, MBA, develops webinars, seminars, and coaching programs to help high achieving women show up, speak up, and step up in their careers. She is also the host of the Leadership Strategies for Women Podcast where she shares success tips to help women achieve more both personally and professionally. To learn more, go to www.EllieNieves.com.