CM Access

This link was shared with me by Mike Padilla, a guy who knows a TON about the usability and information architecture space of the web world.

He was designing and setting up an online portfolio for his brothers who are industrial design grads looking for employment. Their realization that a normal resume just wont cut it is the exact point I’ve been trying to make for creative industry job seekers–you’re not black and white, formulated with grids and lines and bullets! And while the resume format should remain close to what is expected (you need your name and contact info, an objective, etc), try to think of a new way to highlight your skillset, your personality, and your goals (insert new media gimmick here).

These guys have a site that is incredibly visually appealing: isn’t that the point for someone who designs for function and form?

Their site has a specific focus: they’re runners, they design shoes, and test them because they are the perfect subjects–they use their own products. (This is their unique selling proposition, what sets them apart from their competition).

Thanks in part to their big brother, their site is visually, audibly, and textually interesting, and it’d be hard not to be left with a great impression after spending a few moments learning about them from that page. And the clean and descriptive domain name is very helpful, too. Who wouldn’t be curious about “carbonrubber.com”?

Only suggestion I have is–if both brothers are seeking work, maybe a bit more differentiation would be helpful, since they are two unique individuals. While they share the same passions and goals, and very similar experiences, they could still benefit from a few more details about how they aren’t the same person.

A couple of pretty sweet things are happening around CM Access!

Firstly, we are setting up Creative Camp for February 24th, another Saturday afternoon of conversation and brainstorming and of course, cookies! (that’s for Alex)

Be sure to check out the CreativeCamp wiki to sign up to attend, find out where the awesome Germantown mansion is, and to offer your ideas, suggestions and topics for discussion! [ps. the password is Liberty]

___________________________________________________________________

Next, I’m proud to say I’ve been interviewed for my first-ever podcast! I was asked by Chris Penn of FinancialAidPodcast to offer tips, advice and insight for job seekers everywhere! I was of course, nervous, but ended up filling over 40 minutes with my fantastically inspirational and motivational career advice!

Check out the first of several episodes featuring ::moi:: at his blog and podcast site! And let me know what you think!

Technorati Tags: expert, advice, podcast, CreativeCamp, FYI

One of my vain, conceited, arrogant secret desires is for someone to say about me “There’s something about Mary…”

Don’t you want that same type of recognition for your personality, skill set, identity? I realized early on that one of the things I like about theater is that each person plays a particular role to create a dynamic cast. Without one person, the ensemble doesn’t work. It takes the right person, playing the right part, to communicate the whole message. And that fulfills not only our individual sense of being needed, but it also helps us feel appreciated for our uniqueness. Only we can play this part in that manner.

Seth Godin makes an excellent point (though I personally find them all to be quite relevant and intelligent) about remarkability being a main qualifier for making memories.

Real memories are created by surprises.
Real change is created by unexpected juxtapositions.
…
Most marketers, probably you, are busy putting your round pegs in the round holes that have been given to you. What if you did the opposite?

Maybe you don’t see the connection here: Imagine if you went to a play for a whole season, really got to know the characters through the tendencies of the actors who portrayed them, through the nuances that a particular person brought to a certain piece of the dialogue. And suddenly, one day, a red head is playing Rapunzel instead of a blond! Wouldn’t you remember that performance much more vividly than the 15 other times you’d seen the same show?

If you’re remarkable, cause someone to remember you for whatever reason (hopefully a good one!), and then you’re more likely to stand out in their mind.

In the job search, this is a lot easier than you think:

any other ideas?

Technorati Tags: remarkability, theatre, identity, uniqueness, job search tips

So that means it’s only going to get better! From Fox News:

Cliff Arnall, a Cardiff University psychologist, devised the depressing formula.

His equation takes into account six factors: weather, debt, time since Christmas, time since failing our New Year’s resolutions, low motivational levels and feeling a need to take action.

Taken together, they calculate to equal “Blue Monday.”

Here’s what I take from this: that cheesy cliche that “today is the first day of the rest of your life” is really quite intuitive. I suffer daily from my chronic Avoidance of the Gym Syndrome, and I also make bargains with myself like “if you work out today, then you can treat yourself to a piece of chocolate cake” knowing FULL WELL that this is NOT the way to achieve my goals.

Are you making the same chronic mistakes? Are you getting saddened and depressed because things aren’t changing? It might be a good time to evaluate what isn’t working, and explore new ways to make changes. You probably already know what you should be doing.

Instead of sending that resume through that job board site, or emailing “job@company.com”, try to find a new way to get in contact with that company’s HR or marketing department. THINK CREATIVELY.

And with the promise of your mood and success only getting better, why put off until tomorrow what you can do today!?

[this installment of the MaryHelen Motivates! series is brought to you by caffeine, a fleeting moment of absolute optimism, and the realization that you have to take small steps to travel long distances]

Technorati Tags: Resolutions, job search strategies, optimism, sadness

Peter Weddle writes an e-newsletter (and then some) about career development and job searching. This guy knows what he’s talking about. And this is just one example: More great insights on networking for your search activities.

There is no one sure way to find a new or better job. Over the years, however, networking has consistently yielded the best return (in terms of the quality and the quantity of opportunities it uncovers) from your investment of time and effort. Thanks to the Internet and the technique of electronic networking, you can enhance its benefit even more and, in the process, ensure that you are in charge of any change in your employment situation…rather than its victim.

First, electronic networking occurs via e-mail

[and you can find new email contacts everywhere: LinkedIn, MySpace, association websites, etc]

Second, the Golden Rule of Networking applies as much online as it does in the real world. Networking works because it’s based on people helping each other out. So, the Golden Rule is simple but very important: You have to give as good as you get.

Third, electronic networking is a contact sport. Traditional networking is based on “who you know.” If you know the right person, you can find your dream job. Electronic networking, on the other hand, is an exercise in “who knows you.”

[so develop your online presence through getting your name and information out there]

Fourth, networking is netWORK, not netRELAX.

[again, you will not succeed with apathy, and you have to put in some effort]

Technorati Tags: Peter Weddle, networking, resources

My family and friends will tell you that I am not content for things to be simple or easy. I can’t watch television passively. I tend to enjoy movies that have some sort of message, or discussion, even if I have to make it up (”But did you notice the buttons on all of the characters’ shirts? What was the costume designer trying to say with that detail??”).

And best of all–I LOVE to watch commercials.

My current faves are (of course) the Geico cavemen (the actor is the guy on the new TBS sitcom 10 Items or Less), those incomprehensible Skittles commercials, and pretty much any that make you say “whaaaaa?!”

This is one reason I’m very much looking forward to the Philly AMA’s Super Bowl Smackdown event on Feb 7th (yes, I’m plugging it). This is the best event of the year (except I really enjoyed 21st Century Marketing with Jeff Greene of Gold-Group) where marketers and advertisers gorge on Dave and Buster’s amazing mini-hamburgers and debate the success and entertainment value of the top commercials aired during the big game!

I saw this post at the Church of the Customer, and thought about how this facet of advertising might make it into the discussion. Jackie makes a great point about how, if the winning ideas are then turned over to ad agencies to produce the spot, then what’s the point? Free labor?

Technorati Tags: Superbowl, Smack Down, American Marketing Association, PAMA, commericials, Church of the Customer, consumer-generated

[mini-post: In my job, I read a lot of resumes. And I read a lot of job descriptions. And I will say it again and again: make yourself stand out! Be different. Aren’t you more likely to apply to a position whose description does a great job of selling the company and the opportunity? And your resume submission is more likely to get a response if you don’t sound like every other job seeker: “eager to learn, detail-oriented, hard-working, great communication skills”, etc. I found this quote very appropriate: “I am always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught.” ~Winston Churchill. Are you like that? How much of your resume characteristics are a true chronicle of what you really are?]

Working with staffing agencies like CM Access, or freelancing on your own, there are a number of terms that can often be confusing if you’ve never had to sit down and differentiate them.
Since I’m a firm believer that we are all learning every day, and I like to share information, here might your chance to learn something today!

AND it’s very important to learn the context of a job description, and the context of the terms used within it. Often, if the word “manager” appears, they are seeking someone who has helped supervise other people and teams in order to accomplish the organization’s goals. If you haven’t done so, you probably aren’t qualified. However, a project manager may not require people-managing experience, only prior work with keeping schedules straight and on-time, and monitoring budgets and work-flow. This is why having someone who decodes job descriptions, gets the scoop from the horse’s mouth, can be a really helpful tool during your job search (ahem–CM Access!)

Hope this helps!

Technorati Tags: staffing terms, contract, freelance, hiring, context, job descriptions, CM Access, staffing agencies, wisdom, Winston Churchill, learning, teaching

well, moving on.

Seth Godin posted this today, relating to a three year old post here when he contributed to FastCompany. And I was excited to see that what he’s saying is not all that far off from what I’ve said before: what’s easiest, most convenient, ‘fun’, is usually not what’s best in the long run.

Seth points out that there are things that are hard, and then there are things that are actually difficult. Taking a risk, trying something new, suggesting a change to the status quo–these are uncomfortable, difficult, with uncertain results. And these are what is causing a whole lot blah in our culture.

We are given all of these amazing ways to communicate with each other, but we’re finding that the true relating-the true conversations-are the more difficult ones. So what do we do? We hide behind these new, less direct ways to communicate.

We send an email to reject someone from consideration for a job, rather than calling to say, respectfully, that “it doesn’t seem to be the best fit, but how can I help you find something better for you?”

We always opt to do the more risky communicating by texting, emailing, IMing, anything except talking face-to-face. When did our expectations change? Why do we no longer hold ourselves, or others accountable?

We accept “it’s not my responsibility/but this is how we’ve always done it/I need proof/and my personal favorite: I just assumed…”

I’m just saying, once again, we need to put ourselves out there, ask the tough questions (like “why?”) and even though it hurts or is uncomfortable, the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Just like networking: going to one AMA or AIGA event may be awful, but after 3 or 4, you recognize people, you start to move away from the back row…

You should have great expectations of yourself. You deserve a great job. You deserve a face-to-face rejection, and to ask “Why?”

Technorati Tags: networking, expectations, Seth Godin, risks, challenges, communication, hard work, FastCompany

I will not comment on, or request insight about, or opinions regarding the latest product announcement from a certain technology company named after a fruit.

While it’s a fascinating study of blogger-hype and buzz, it is what my friend Robert called “expectation marketing” (see word of mouth marketing, including buzz and viral…) because by not giving any solid information about the product, what’s actually being advertised–and blogged the hell out of–is the expected product.

As Robert explains, with the product likely still being in early stages of development, this corporation, by leaking the idea to a very well-connected network, the world (well, blogosphere) soon becomes the focus group. Through this, the product itself can continually be adjusted as needed. (this is probably precisely what is blogged about elsewhere)

My point is: It will be uber-expensive until everyone has one and then, why would you want it anyway? Because soon after the price drops from $499 to $49.99, something better will be launched, probably by the same corporation, and with even more expectation of the way it will change how we communicate with one another on a global level…

[oh crap, I talked about it anyway!]

This was pointed out by Amitai Givertz of the Recruitomatic Blog.

Such an amazing way to present your experience. Rob Robinson has created the neatest, most professional, “evolved” resume that I’ve seen yet. I wish more of these found their way into my inbox!

And just so you don’t go thinking “oh, well he’s done a lot of stuff that makes his resume so impressive!”, let me tell you, you’ve done a lot of amazing things too! All of your experiences have helped lead you to where you are now, and that’s what Rob’s site does: it tells his story.

Imagine if you just sent the link to your story-page rather than the standard Word doc attached to the “I saw your posting on CraigsList and I’m extremely interested in the position…” email cover letter!

Technorati Tags: Amitai Givertz, Rob Robinson, evolution of the resume, unique profile