Should Personal Branding Take a Page from Celebrity Branding - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Should Personal Branding Take a Page from Celebrity Branding - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career I live and work in Los Angeles, the capital of “The Star System”. Yes, it’s true â€" the method of creating and promoting stars in Hollywood used to be known “The Star System”.   It started with the movie studios in the 1920s and 30s.   Studios would select talented actors and create roles for them, complete with new names and new backgrounds. The Star System had ‘rules’ for the behavior of stars (the women couldn’t go out without makeup; the male stars had to act like gentlemen…), and, in fact the Star System actually became quite controversial by the 1960s, when stars and celebrities wanted to take more control over their own celebrity brands. Brands of   The Star System Cary Grant (born Archie Leach), Joan Crawford (born Lucille Fay LeSueur), and Rock Hudson (born Roy Harold Scherer Jr.) and many others went through the   star system.   Todays stars like   Miley Cyrus or the Jonas Brothers may not go through a formal star system per se, but Hollywood is still number 1 at knowing how to create, market, and monetize a brand. At first blush, this doesn’t mesh with the authenticity of personal brand building of today. With the social web, 24-hour news cycle, etc., the idea of calculating and creating a Star (or brand) doesn’t feel right. And yet, is it that much different from personal or corporate branding today? Think about your own brand.   You have a Personal Branding marketing plan for you, your products and your company.   You have an action plan for when and where you brand appears, what the message is, the positioning, etc., correct? Heres something to think about with celebrity branding:   the public gets emotionally involved. This is not an accident. This doesnt just happen. The old Star System of yesterday and the Hollywood publicists and public relations folks work hard to get you emotionally involved for a reason. Savvy marketers know that when people have an emotional involvement in your brand they will be loyal, passionate, forgiving; they will advocate for your brand, they will champion your cause, they will put themselves on the line. Who doesn’t want an audience or customer base emotionally involved? Imagine the word of mouth marketing this audience generates for a brand it’s emotionally involved in! Celebrity brands live and die by this fact. Is it possible there are best practices from Hollywood marketing we should pay attention to as we develop our personal brands? I say YES. Start with this question, Is your audience emotionally involved with your brand? Star gaze your personal brand Spend the next week observing the celebrity PR machine as an object lesson and learn from Hollywood what you can apply to your own branding plan. It’s not as strange as it sounds. 1. Word-of-mouth marketing is extremely powerful. This is especially true as you build your personal brand today. Your marketing plan needs to keep your brand top of mind among your audience. When the buzz dies out, the brand fades, too. 2. Stay true to your brand message and image. This especially resonates today. You cannot afford to send mixed messages to your audience or they will turn their backs on you. 3. Bad press doesn’t have to destroy a brand. I talked about this last week with so many CEOs and others in crisis. A good personal branding campaign (otherwise known as the good ol’ PR spin machine in Hollywood) can wipe up just about any mess. Celebrities (and sometimes politicians) do this better than anyone. 4. Your audience is always watching. Just like the paparazzi is always following celebrities to feed consumers’ desires for more information about them, your audience is always watching you and your personal brand, too. Always put your best foot forward and make sure your messages support your overall brand. Especially because authenticity is so valued today, people want to feel comfortable that you are what your brand says you are. 5. The audience can be fickle. Your brand might be the most popular one day, but the next, your brand could be at the bottom of the barrel. Consumers are always looking for the next great thing. Think of this in terms of social media â€" where’s Friendstr today? Or MySpace? True, everyone loves a comeback, but it’s easier to keep your brand on top with   consistent and persistent messaging than to try to climb up again. After your observations for a week, be open to applying strategies and tactics that you think might work in your personal branding efforts.   Apply what you think works, and be on the lookout for what doesnt work. Theres certainly plenty to work with the antics of celebrities are seldom dull! Author: Beverly Macy is the Managing Partner of YM Partners and teaches a social media class at the UCLA Extension.   She also co-hosts Gravity Summit events.

25 Amazing Things That Happen When You Work Overseas

25 Amazing Things That Happen When You Work Overseas Globalisation is in full flight. Speaking of flights,  when was the last time you booked one? And by one I mean one-way. Lets straight up acknowledge that there isnt one universal  pathway for  a young person  to take into their early career. Some people will  focus on academia for longer than others, while many opt for on-the-job training instead.  Theres no right or wrong its what works for you. I know millennials cop a fair amount of flack for job-hopping and wanting the world, only without the work. While there might be elements of truth in there, its harsh conjecture really.  New technologies and social media have made it easier for global citizens to share information, painting vivid pictures of every corner of the earth. Our eyes have been  opened to  a world bigger and more exciting than ever,  and in some ways, smaller and  more attainable than ever. Its only natural to want to explore. While working abroad might not be realistic for many people, if you feel like  its within the realm of possibility,  why not give it a go? Heres 25 amazing things that can (and most likely will) happen to you when you move  overseas for work! (But be warned: even if its  only temporary, the travel bug you catch can stay with you for life). In no particular order 1. You become more independent Its amazing how self-sufficient you become when you only have yourself to lean on. 2. You learn patience and tolerance New customs and social norms render you able to accept and appreciate human difference. 3. You make life-long friends and they become your family. 4. You get a reality shock Seeing how other people live compared to you can burst your bubble in a great way. 5. You are  thrust out of your comfort zone Unfamiliar surroundings will coax new strengths out of you. 6. You swim because you dont want to sink Moving overseas is a huge investment. Naturally youre going to do everything to make it a success thats when great things happen. 7. You grow your professional network You  make yourself known in important circles  and new doors open. 8. You make yourself a better asset to companies Understanding international  markets is a huge value in business. 9. You can become bi-lingual Theres no better and easier way to learn a new language than actually living in the country and practicing. 10. You edge out your  competition You elevate yourself above candidates who have the same qualifications and experience. 11. You become humbled Feeling singled out  in a new place can make you  take a deep breath and get a fresh perspective. 12. You (might) meet the love of your life Not career-related, but happens! 13. You feel free and can reinvent yourself Being in an office full of people youve never met means you can bring your best self forward. 14. You can get some career clarity You will learn more about what you want to accomplish in your career. 15. You experience new things This one goes without saying, but working in a new country means you get to be a tourist outside of work hours! 16. You learn to appreciate what you have at home Its a great opportunity to reflect on your life back at home. 17. You miss your loved ones This isnt a positive in itself, because no one likes to miss people! But it does mean you cherish every second you have with them more than you ever have. 18. You pick up new fashion tips Shopping in foreign stores will give your style a new edge! 19. You grow as a person Your experiences and travel will make you feel richer and fulfilled! 20. You increase your cooking repertoire New cuisines will creep into your cooking book. 21. Your Cv looks great Adding international experience to your CV is really impressive to ambitious employers. 22. You  inspire others Colleagues, friends and family will likely follow in your footsteps, meaning you can open up doors for them too! 23. Family and friends come  visit Showing loved ones around your new home is really fun. 24. You educate people about your country While you absorb new cultures, you can also teach  elements of your nationality to the people you meet! 25. You catch the travel bug the best sickness in the world! The travel bug is often a lifelong condition, and one that, if treated properly with regular worldly trips, will make you happier and more confident than ever. Happy travels!

Using a Fantasy Character Resume Writing Tool to Inspire You

Using a Fantasy Character Resume Writing Tool to Inspire YouDo you know what the most powerful resume writing tool is? The answer is a very long and narrow one but it can make or break your resume. It's called passion and it's actually what makes you the person you are.I remember when I wanted to become a chef, it was something I was passionate about and I had great ambitions for myself. I knew if I wrote down all of my dreams and aspirations I would be able to work as hard as I could to achieve them.In the years that I've worked as a professional chef, I have met so many people and seen so many professionals grow so much just because they had that passion. Why?The reason I say this is because there are a lot of so-called heroes out there who work hard but don't actually care about the things that matter. That's why I was able to achieve so much as a chef because I really cared about what I was doing. I put so much into my career and I wasn't satisfied with being mediocre.Now I'm goi ng to talk to you about the true meaning of passion. Passion will turn you into the best person you can be because it makes you want to do the best you can do. It inspires you to do better and you are able to deal with more difficult problems in life.As a professional chef, you should always put as much effort into your craft as possible and be as professional as possible. Because when you take an attitude like this, your passion will shine through and you will attract clients to you instead of other chefs who try to be the best by being perfect.If you really want your dream job or career, you need to start with a passion. It doesn't matter if you have one or two hobbies or interests, these things will build your passion. Don't let someone else tell you that you can't be happy with one of these hobbies because you can.So think about how much you enjoy the things you do and then realize how much you can bring to the table if you have a professional, well thought out resume. The more you write about the things you love the more appealing they will be and the more passion you'll have to get the job done.

3 for Friday Social media edition - Sterling Career Concepts

3 for Friday Social media edition 3 for Friday: Social media edition A day late but worth waiting for asthis weeks collection ofposts discusses the relationship between social media and job searching today. Ill show you mine if you show me yours.QR code, that is.They are popping up everywhere in magazines, on products, in real estate materials, on the front or back of business cards, and now on resumes. Technically-advanced candidates or job seekers inhigh-tech, marketing, or Internet-related fields may want to consider adding a QR code to their resume or networking card to link the reader to more information, perhaps a blog, LinkedIn profile, or online profile of work samples. QR codes are a hot topic of late in the careers field. As they continue to take off in the US, their presence on job search materials will proliferate. Read more here: Standing out from the crowd with QR codes; 3 ways tospark your job search using QR codes; andWhat is a QR code and why do you need one? Resumes are not joining thedinosaurs. My esteemed colleague Jacqui Barrett-Pointdexter wrote a compelling andeloquentresponse to the topical debate of whether resumes are a dying entity. Read Jacquis post here:Is your resume disposable?andsee why Jacquiarguesthat your resume is the heartnot the predecessorof your online career profile. Jacqui explains thatexceptional resumes require introspection, well-thought-out story ideas, the fleshing out and parsing of career case studies mapped to your target audience’s need, and then crisp, yet brilliant, hearty, high-impact writing that markets your value in a way that entices the reader. Positions available. Companies are hiring nationwide. Take agander atMSNs list and see if your skill set isa match withthese companies hiring this month.

How to find (and land) a legitimate job that lets you work from home

How to find (and land) a legitimate job that lets you work from home How to find (and land) a legitimate job that lets you work from home Who wouldn’t like to work at home? Pajamas, the cat (or dog), the telephone, the computer, and you’re ready to roll. Ever tried to look for a job that will let you do that? The work-from-home job market is rife with scams and too-good-to-be-true jobs, including those “stuff envelopes at home” offers. So, how can you find legitimate telecommuting jobs? Real jobs where you can work from home successfully? The dream of working from home is becoming a reality for millions of people. Telecommuting participation has grown 103 percent in the last 10 years with 4.5 percent of Americans working from home full-time every day. Another 37 percent work from home regularly, at least a few days each month. And a recent survey by FlexJobs, a job-search service that specializes in telecommuting and flexible job listings, found that telecommuting full-time is the most popular type of flexible work, beating flexible scheduling, partial telecommuting, and freelance work options. I recently spoke with Brie Weiler Reynolds, director of online content at FlexJobs, to get her advice on how to search for â€" and land â€" telecommuting jobs, and what it takes to be a successful telecommuter. Here’s what she suggests: Focus Your Ideas Before You Start Searching There are a lot of variations and options when it comes to telecommuting, says Reynolds. Some jobs let you telecommute 100 percent of the time, always working from home. Others may require you to work from the office occasionally â€" or even regularly. And some have location requirements even though you’ll be working from home. In order to find the right telecommuting job for you, ask yourself these questions: Do I want to work-from-home all the time, or would I be okay with working from an office occasionally? How much travel, if any, do I want to do? Would my current employer be open to letting me telecommute? For that last question, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that you can telecommute in your current job. Reynolds recommends that you do some research to see if other people in your company work from home and ask them how they got into it. Then set up a meeting with your boss to discuss your options. Know the Most Common Telecommuting Industries and Jobs The most common fields for telecommuting jobs are, in order, medical and health, sales, customer service, administrative, computer and IT, education and training, accounting and finance, account management, data entry, and bilingual jobs. As far as location goes, these 10 states have the highest number of telecommuting residents: Montana, Vermont, Colorado, Oregon, Idaho, New Hampshire, Arizona, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington. While these career fields and states have the most telecommuting jobs, Reynolds notes that there are open telecommuting jobs in more than 50 career fields and in all 50 states, so don’t be discouraged. Your search may take a bit of extra effort, but there are telecommuting jobs in almost every industry and location. Use the Right Keywords In Your Job Search Reynolds recommends staying away from keywords and search terms like “work-from-home” and “work-at-home,” which are commonly associated with job scams. Both the FBI and the Better Business Bureau have issued warnings against those phrases. Instead, she recommends searching for remote work, virtual jobs, at-home jobs, distributed teams, and telecommuting jobs to find real listings. Showcase Your Best Telecommuting Skills Hiring managers like to see previous telecommuting experience, says Reynolds. If you’ve ever worked from home, even just during bad weather or when you were waiting for the cable guy, use that experience in your job applications. It shows them that you understand what it takes to be successful when working from home. Regardless of whether you’ve ever worked from home before, Reynolds says that these are the types of skills and attributes most sought-after by employers that offer remote jobs. Be sure to highlight whichever of these skills you possess in your job applications. Strong written and verbal communication skills The ability to manage your own time and attention Focusing and keeping yourself on task, even amid distraction A dedicated home-office space and high-speed Internet access Previous experience communicating through IM/chat, email, phone, web conferences, and video conferences Once You Land the Job, Focus On Communication and Results When it comes to being a successful telecommuter, Reynolds says communication is paramount. Observe (or ask about) how your new team communicates with one another, and quickly learn any new programs or communication tools as necessary. Discuss meetings and regular communication with your manager, and make a plan to keep him or her informed of your progress. When in doubt, always speak up and ask questions. Reynolds emphasizes that the most successful telecommuters are open communicators who actively grow and maintain connections with their coworkers and managers, even if they’re working thousands of miles apart.

Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Resume

Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a ResumeThe saying 'write a resume to land the job you want' seems as dated as the national holiday of Christmas, but it is true that resumes play an important role in the employment process. A resume is the first impression of the candidate in an employer's eyes, and when it isn't good enough, the employer will probably not bother to follow up with another interview.There are plenty of mistakes that can be made when writing a resume. Some of these include not knowing your purpose or not knowing how to present yourself. Both of these things can be problematic, so it is always a good idea to double check your resume before sending it out to employers. In this article, I will briefly discuss a few tips that you should consider when writing a resume.Your work history: It is very important to make sure that your past work experience and education match what you are applying for. If you didn't attend college or have a good work history, then this can make it very difficult for you to get hired.Skills: In addition to your work history, you should also consider the specific skills that you possess. Employers look for specific types of skills. For example, an IT specialist should have knowledge in operating a computer and programming, but not necessarily knowledge in mechanics, writing, or accounting.Experience: At some point, you will need to give a written description of your most recent position, and this should reflect what you will do at the job. You should also make sure that your educational background is up to date so that employers will see that you have made the necessary effort to pursue a degree.Format: When writing a resume, you should always have a list of references and a sample of your work. In addition, keep it short, and make sure that your personal information is accurate. Also, make sure that you include your phone number in case the employer needs you to call them.Your resume should be an honest reflection of your ski lls and experience, but you must also be wary of possible errors that could affect your chances of getting hired. Following these simple tips can go a long way towards helping you avoid such errors.

Reference Page Template and Tips (Examples Included) - ZipJob

Reference Page Template and Tips (Examples Included) Spread the loveWhen it comes to job hunting, the resume references page is one of the biggest areas of confusion. Should you include a references page? If you do, how should it look? How many references is too many? Who should you use as references?  Well show you  a good resume reference page template to follow as well as some awesome tips.  In another blog post, we discussed why you should NEVER voluntarily include references on your resume.BUT, what if your employer asks for references specifically? Of course, in that case, you’re going to need to provide them.Reminder: You should always have a references page ready to go. BUT, you should never provide it to anyone unless specifically asked.Should you include references on your resume?No, not unless you’re specifically asked to do so. Even in the case that you’re asked for references, they should never be included on your resume itself.You want to create a separate references page. We cannot stress this enough. This referenc es page should NOT be included with every resume submission.Build an awesome references page and keep it on hand. That way, when youre asked for references, you can provide them immediately and confidently without stumbling.How many references should you include on the page?Generally, you want to be able to provide three to four references. At the executive level, you want to provide a few more. Five to seven will do the trick at the highest level.It is important, however, to have more references available than those you will submit to the employer. That way, you’ll always be able to choose the most relevant references to the job you’re applying for.It is very unlikely the employer will reach out to all your references. For that reason, it’s incredibly important to list the strongest and most relevant references first.Who should you use as professional references?Your best references will be the people that know you best professionally. Including family or friends isn’t terr ible but just keep in mind that the employer will know that they tend to be biased.A former boss can be a great reference. However, many larger companies forbid them from acting as references. Remember that when putting together your reference page.The best references come from professional peers and those for which you provided service. That includes former coworkers, clients or even professors (if youre new to the workforce).How to attain professional referencesYour references aren’t just words on a reference page. They are real people. If you want to use a person as a reference, you must build some sort of relationship with them.This means reaching out and asking them if its OK to use them as a reference. It also means you should be thanking them and keeping them in tune with your job search.You want your  references to be ready for a call. If they are not expecting it, they may be caught off guard. Worse yet, they may just ignore the calls.Even after you’ve landed a job, kee p in touch with your references. Chances are you’re going to need them sometime in the future. After all, networking is the most important aspect of a successful job search.  Resume References Page TemplateGeneral InformationFirst, let’s go over what information you should include on your resume references page.Must include:EmployerJob TitleNameBusiness addressContact information In addition to these basic details, it is great to provide a short description of your relationship with the reference. For example, a short description of a project you worked on together or a skill set that you’ve worked together to improve.Reference Page  ExampleHere is a generic resume references page template. You can use this as a template. But remember, your references page should very closely resemble the style of your resume. Don’t forget to make any necessary style adjustments.Sarah Johnson New York, NY 10006 (212) 555-5555 rooaac ReferencesForrest Gump Manager, Pong Champ LLC. Anywhere, Mississippi 38600 (601) 555-5595 gpsipo Mr. Gump was my direct manager during my time at Pong Champ.George W. Bush Former President, USA Ranchland, Texas (214) 555-6655 Mr. Bush was my democratically elected leader for 8 years.Charles Kelly Custodial Artist, Various Pubs Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19116 (267) 555-5505 kldsc Mr. Kelly was a coworker during my early career.Yoda Jedi Master, Distant Galaxy (999) 555-5555 yodaforce.co Yoda was my professor and tutor for many years. StyleStylistically, your reference page should strongly resemble your resume. That means same font, same text-size, and same margins. It can also mean using bold or italic lettering in a similar fashion.Final WordsResume references are an important part of any job search. However, unlike a resume or cover letter, references should only be released upon request.So, build relationships and build up your references. But do not share them until someone asks you to. Bring a reference page to every interview. That way, if youre asked you will be prepared.For more awesome job hunting and resume tips, check out the rest of the ZipJob blog here.We also offer an awesome free resume review service. Get your resume checked by a professional resume writer!