CM Access

Busy Busy CM Access–welcoming two new team members in our Philly office–YAY.

But they’re now able to see the joys of being at the other end of a job posting: misdirected applications, three page cover letters, and my personal favorites: “Dear To Whom it may concern” and “I’m a perfect accusation for your team.”

But I wanted to comment again on why spelling is so important when communicating with anyone who will be involved in your career development or job search. It’s culturally significant that e-mail and texting and instant messaging is such a big part of daily activities. But that means we need to be more aware of how we are perceived to the receiver.

Just like online dating. The online job search is just like online dating. (and in a broader sense, the whole process is: both situations should include a variety of tactics and approaches, not just e-mail or chat).

Maybe spelling isn’t a big deal for you. You don’t mind if someone has a typo, or if they use a word incorrectly. But there are people who do mind, and you’d never know it.

So err on the side of caution and have someone else read your resume, your e-mail cover letter, your dating profile. Nowadays, misspelling is hard to differentiate from typos, and both look like laziness.

Would you hire someone who’s lazy? Would you want to date someone who doesn’t take the time to put their best foot forward? If you’re not taking yourself seriously enough to take the time to spell-check, grammar-check, and get a second opinion, why should anyone else?

Technorati Tags: spelling, online dating, effort, second opinion

Just wanted to update my millions of readers that CM Access is increasingly busy! We’ve been adding to our team of dedicated and passionate career advocacy professionals, and we’re still keeping busy learning about how tactics and strategies are changing in this crazy world of ours.

Among others, the most important thing I’ve learned is that it’s no longer acceptable to admit defeat when it comes to using the Internet. “Oh that’s too complicated for me!” just won’t cut it. Your job search shouldn’t rely solely on internet job boards, but neither should it ignore that realm of limitless information altogether!

But the Internet changes so quickly, one could hardly keep a handle on the new vocabulary and the instantly popular pages that might just as quickly recess back into obscurity. Here’s where the blogosphere enters the conversation…”How?” you ask?

Join me at BlogPhiladelphia on July 12 and 13 at the Radisson in Rittenhouse to come out and see what’s going on in Philly and beyond in the world of the Inter-web-net. And if you can’t make it on such short notice, be sure to check out PodCamp Philly in September!

Be a part of the future!

Plus, I’m working on having a mini-CreativeCamp session so we can get the creative types together and talk about job searching, a self-marketing campaign strategy for more clients and more money, and whatever else you’re dying to talk about!

I’ve mentioned before that the job search should not be a periodic stress in your life, but instead, a lifelong process of career management. That goes hand-in-hand with what you as a brand represents, what you stand for, and how you’re marketing yourself to the outside world.

[sidenote: I also just found out, and am embarrassed to admit that I didn’t realize it before, who the originial “marketing me” idea came from. I knew it was too right to be my own original thought. But at least now I know who the genius is!]

Tom Peters calls it BrandYou. I call it “MarketingMe.” Either way, the idea is that without a conscious effort to know who you are and what you offer, not only will you have some trouble finding happiness, but you’ll have trouble finding a job you really like/want too!

Someone I was just speaking with today put it very well: People seem to be more concerned with where they’re going than where they are.

Sounds like a contradiction to what I just said, I know. But it’s not, because if you’re not sure where you are, you can’t quite figure out HOW to get where you are trying to go, right?

Here’s my little story to illustrate:
If you don’t realize you’re on an island (maybe in your organization, maybe in your perspective…) then you could keep driving cars right into the ocean, trying to get somewhere that no roads go to. But if you realize you’re on an island, you’ll build a boat to get off it it, or you’ll learn to embrace it make it the best possible island that exists in the ocean, until people build bridges to you. It relates back to Seth Godin’s The Dip, a little book with a lot of oomph. He says that the BEST is a spot only able to be occupied by one, but that anyone can get that designation if you are able to really identify what you are capable of being the best at…and work hard to get there.

the point? figure out where you are, who you are, and why you’re there, in order to make it worthwhile or move onto something that is.

Technorati Tags: Seth Godin, Tom Peters, The Dip, Brand YOU, MarketingMe, islands, self awareness

This guy, Bob Nelson, contributed a column to the business journal, and I guess he’s credible since he wrote “Management for Dummies” and “1001 Ways to Reward Employees”, and he is the president of Nelson Motivation Inc. out of San Diego (insert Anchorman quote here).

Let me share his ideas for what hiring managers should be looking for when hiring:
He says that you should hire candidates that are:

I just feel like this is such a crap response. Maybe it’s because I’m admittedly a very grey-area person, very subjective, and see that most situations are unique and deserve a perspective and context of their own. This goes for people and positions–they each deserve their own consideration. But Mr. Nelson’s suggestion to hire “smart, hard-working, and responsible” candidates seems to be nearly unattainable.

First, who decides what is smart and what isn’t? How to you quantify it and compare one candidate to another? IQ tests? For book smarts, which he says are less important than work smarts. I think a good interviewer should be able to get to the real heart of these matters.

It’s not about having someone say “hire someone responsible and with a good attitude.” Who in their right mind wouldn’t? It’s a matter of figuring out how to interview, to get to the real information about behavior and personality. That might have been a more helpful article, Mr. Nelson.

Technorati Tags: hiring, personality, character, management

This will probably sound like a rant, but if perhaps, just maybe, someone reads this and takes a couple of minutes to change something about their standard job search habits, then I’ll have done my job. We (my former self included) can get so stuck in our habits, and the easy way of doing things, we don’t see what could be a more effective way to get results.

I always ask how the job search is going, and what resources are being utilized for that process. The answer almost always includes “CraigsList.” And that’s fine. But it also includes the following comment: “but I don’t get many responses.” Here are a few of the possible reasons, directly from the horse’s mouth:

Suggestion: Do NOT send a resume attachment to a CraigsList posting without any information in the body of the e-mail. What makes a prospective employer interested in giving up 5 minutes of their time to open the resume, when you clearly didn’t spend 5 minutes of your time to write some more information about why you’re the right candidate?

Suggestion: Please proofread your resume and your cover letter, AND your email. If there is a misused word, or misspelled word, or grammatical error, you’re significantly lowering your chances of being called back.

Hope this sheds some light! I don’t intend for it to be harsh or mean, but maybe it will give you some motivation for ways to get a bit more response when you’re applying to the black hole that CraigsList can be!

Technorati Tags: CraigsList, job postings, resume submission, e-mail applications, job search habits

I learned from a friend, peer and mentor the term “over-communicator” and embraced it as a great way to describe myself. I would much rather be accused of saying way too much, to too many people, too many times, than always leave people saying “I wish I knew why/when/where/who/how…”

So when I saw this Note From Boss to Employees (I regret that I don’t remember where it was passed to me from…), I thought “brilliant!”

And while the excerpts below are a piece of what Michael Wade shows can help alleviate a lot of intra-office politics simply because they inform coworkers and subordinates, the thread that follows the post is also a very interesting read. Especially the “note to boss from employees”.

1. I am sometimes under enormous pressure from upper management; pressure that you seldom see. Anything that you can do to make my job easier will be greatly appreciated.”
…
4. If you are a former co-worker of mine, please recognize that supervising former peers is one of the toughest jobs any supervisor faces. The support that you give me is crucial.

5. I will make mistakes. Please give me the same understanding that you’d like me to give you when you blunder.

There’s more on the list, but I whole-heartedly believe it worth reading for anyone who’s had a supervisor. (Just like you have a whole new understanding of the job search process when you’ve been in the hiring seat yourself!)

Here’s a bit from the rebuttal:

“I was wrong.” “I’m sorry.” If you can say these two things when necessary, and mean them, you’ll gain more respect than you can imagine.

My review should not be filled with surprises and new information. If you want to know something, ask. If you want me to do something that I have not done before, ask. If you want me to stop doing something I have always done, ask.

We will occasionally have differences of opinion. In the end you make the decision and we own the outcome together. Please don’t take authority for the decision and disown responsibility for the outcome.

Just thought this was information worth passing on. I try to give my candidates and clients as much feedback and information about the process and status as possible, to avoid mis- or lack-of-communication.

Technorati Tags: leadership, Execupundit, Michael Wade, communication, over-communicators

Make sure it’s worth your time! We all know we should be attending events for the Marketing Association, for the Ad Club, for the Business Leaders Consortium, for the Sandwich Artist’s Union…[oh! Sorry, that was a former life…but you know what I mean!]

And from experience, I can tell you, I KNOW how awful they can be sometimes! Doesn’t this sound familiar?

…I’ve been there.

And before you get all “here comes another plug for her own projects” let me preface this with the absolute truth that I only promote things I strongly believe in. Honest. And I believe that the awards ceremonies that many creative professional associations hold in the springtime are some of the best networking events of the whole year! They recognize successful people and companies, typically a great turn out, and while more expensive-you get better quality!

These types of events typically draw a lot of local support from companies and agencies, too. Not only are great people recognized, but sponsors are in attendance to associate their company with those successful award winners! It’s a great way to meet the right people.

The Philly American Marketing Association is re-launching their recognition program for excellence in marketing with the Marketer of the Year. This year, the SVP of Comcast! Marvin Davis is the keynote speaker. That alone is enough reason to go, don’t you think? But even if you don’t get to talk to Mr. Davis, his colleagues and competition will be there, too!

And I could start another whole entry encouraging you to encourage your agency or department to consider submitting for any of these competitions. These are those things that make your resume stand a bit taller than the rest of the pile: “2007 Marketer of the Year recipient.” What do you have to lose, but a few minutes filling out the forms!? You’ve already done the work for your client, now get recognized by your peers!

::whew:: I can be long-winded, I know…but it’s true!

More info about the Marketer of the Year is at the PAMA website. (or through me!)

Technorati Tags: Philadelphia American Marketing Association, PAMA, Ad Club, awards, recognition, Comcast, Marvin Davis

I still believe there is no real secret strategy for guaranteed success in your job search, but there are a number of ways to enhance your comprehensive efforts. These inlcude: networking, relationship building, self-awareness (personally and professionally), and competitive advantage (what do YOU offer?).

But today I realized one of the easiest ways to get a leg up on 1-your competition, 2-networking conversation, 3-interview preparedness.

Read the local business journal. The Philadelphia Business Journal was recognized as the number one newspaper in Pennsylvania in 2006 and they are part of a network of 41 regional business journals. What does this mean for you, the job-seeker or proactive career manager? It means that they have accurate, timely and thorough coverage of business events and information throughout the region. Before this starts to sound like a “subscribe now!” pitch, let me reign it in.

I learned this morning directly from the publisher, at an eWomen Network breakfast, how to truly use the information in the Business Journal to my advantage. By reading sections like People on the Move, and The List, you can find out what’s going on in companies you’d like to work for (or their competition!), congratulate people who’ve recently been promoted (kissing butt is ALWAYS a good way to get a hiring manager’s attention!) or even just compile a list of relevant target companies you’d like to consider for your next career move.

Subscriptions to Business Journals also allow you to access the full content online, and sign up for email alerts. This is how you can stay current with news and events, and keep your contacts warm. Let them know you think of them and their business by sharing relevant articles and events.

Yes, it costs money. Yes, it takes time to read the articles and sort through to the “Good” stuff, but (absolutely, positively, without a doubt) YES, it’s worth it.

as always, thoughts, concerns or comments are encouraged!

Technorati Tags: Philadelphia Business Journals, networking, strategies, secrets

short answer: yes.

long answer: No doubt about it. The way you present yourself is inextricably linked with the way you manage your identity.

I’ve talked about why it’s necessary to maintain control over your online identity–your web presence needs to speak to your skills, personality and goals. This may be easier for designers who can showcase their samples, but we’ll continue to explore how marketers, copywriters, and even account managers need to harness Web 2.0 technology to create a branding YOU campaign for career management. It’s really no longer about the periodic job search. It’s about building a network, keeping your ear to the ground for growth opportunities, and always proactive about accomplishing career goals.

But more to today’s point: your physical identity and appearance are a big part of your career management. OK ok, so you always hear “dress nicely for your interview, make sure your handshake is effective…” blah blah blah. But many times this is hard to know unless you talk to the proper resources, right?

I recently met JoJami Tyler, who is a professional image consultant. Definitely the kind of person you want to have in your network! But if you’re not able find someone near you, check out her blog here, and her website, here. She can answer questions about your personal brand, how to dress for media engagments (definitely a plus for PR folks!) and even closet organization–which most of us could use!

Who wouldn’t take a few pointers about how to manage your professional image? You could even explore how to solidify visually that identity you’ve been working to build virtually! (and no, she doesn’t do Second Life image consultation!)

PS She is trying to make time to come to CreativeCamp 3–great opportunity to learn what she is all about! Be there to share!

Technorati Tags: JoJami Tyler, professional image, identity, career management, networking, organization, Cafe Glam, Mode Image, CreativeCamp

So according to Punxatawney Phil from Gobbler’s Knob PA, who didn’t see his shadow, we’re going to have an early spring season this year. Not sure I believe in all that, but I sure do enjoy when they play the “Pennsylvania Polka” as Phil crawls back into his cozy home for more sleeping.

It’s become quite a tradition for Pennsylvanians to gather in the freezing temperatures before dawn to wait for Phil’s famous yearly prediction. And while I’m not quite sure how to tie this into something career or marketing related, one can always find a connection for the life lesson in anything!

And in this case we’ll go with the movie, Groundhog Day (which I’ve not seen). As I understand it, Bill Murray is given a new chance each day to improve his life, through a more positive attitude, every time he wakes up in the morning.

I will refrain from repeating the general “Today is the first day of your life” mantra here. I will refrain from repeating that there are new tactics you can employ with little effort to add variety and diversity to your job search or career development. And I will refrain from being overly motivational about how you’re worth something better, something more enjoyable and how you’re in control of your own destiny (while all are entirely true).

For this post, all I’ll say is: SMILE. Take a deep breath and think, “At least it’s no longer January. We’re well into 2007 now. Time to buckle down.”

And remember, I’m here to help you through it–just ask!

Couple things to mention:
Great books–“The Quarterlife Crisis”: the unique challenges of life in your twenties
“How to Land your Dream Job: No Resume! And Other Secrets to Get You in the Door” [note: I can’t wait to expound on this little number in the very near future!]

Great ways to meet people:

Technorati Tags: eWomen Network, Punxatawney Phil, PAMA, Quarterlife Crisis, How to Land your Dream Job, SuperBowl Smackdown, CreativeCamp, Groundhog Day