How a Password Can Change a Recruiters Life

How a Password Can Change a Recruiter’s Life The first computer password was created in 1961 (according to Mashable), however I bet the Germans (with their Enigma machine) would have something to say about that statement! Recruiters all over the world have countless systems, and countless more operations and IT staff begging them  to keep their passwords safe! Still, from time to time we respond to hacking emails asking us about our first pet and Grandmas name so we can find out our porn star name   What a scam! (Did you even realise that this was what these spammy emails initially were for?) And every month (if our systems are setup to do this) we are asked to come up with a new password.   I can see your “new password face” now â€" either frowning and starring top left / right etc… to visualise a new password.   Or better yet, trying to remember the  next number / character on our qwerty keyboard to add to our existing password  (do you do that?). Passwords should change your life! The vast majority of us  all want to change or be better at what we do, and its fair to say that: Most recruiters I know want to bill better, faster and with less mucking about with systems and social media. Most recruitment leaders I work with want the above, plus a profitable business and happy team (and an exit date!). Most Recruitment Marketers I work with want their recruiters to love them, convert the leads they generate for them and be allowed to really support the business with viable marketing strategies. Most of us want to lose / maintain weight, be 10 years (or more) longer, read more, run more, eat less (or at least wine and chocolate be calorie and guilt free!) But alas, some of what we want is often not within our power to get… or is it? How a password changed a recruiter’s life? Right, theres a really interest blog post by Mauricio Estrella published by  Huffington Post  entitled “How a password changed my life”.   It’s all about how one man  used his monthly password reminder to drive him to achieve his goals and ultimately be a better person.  Now, this isn’t an article written by a geek techie espousing that your password is secret and should be changed regularly; it’s about Mauricio, a man who decided to use the process of changing his password to help him achieve his goals.   Constantly getting  frustrated with the password change “bong!” you get each month is pointless.   Your IT team is  not out to pee you off, rather they’re there to secure your data and keep you “up” (uptime is critical in IT…) So, with all of the recruitment companies we work with, and the goals and KPIs we often see across various boards, my team and I thought wed come up with some password ideas to keep recruiters motivated, and help them achieve their goals. Passwords to help an agency recruiter hit targets! Without further ado, here’s what we came up with: G3t0nth3Ph0ne C5ll20NewClients Cl3anMyData H1tTarg3t Sm5shT5rget P1ckUpThePh0ne S1tUpStra1ght Sm1l3AndD1al Dr1nkW5ter pl4NmYd4y Go2th3gyM Cle4rema1lsd0wn G3tSh1tD0ne B00kClientM33tings SendS0meCVs G3tN1che Buy5Porsche D0ntSm0ke Il0vemyB055 F0ll0wUPEveryLe5d M5ke100Call5 And if you have achieved all of your goals, but need a little love… why not go for  URAmaz1ng? Thanks Mauricio â€" very inspiring! Now, of course without giving away your passwords, what could you create to keep you focussed and motivated as a recruiter?

7 Ways to Land Great Consulting Work While In Between Jobs - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

7 Ways to Land Great Consulting Work While In Between Jobs - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career It is no secret that I am currently funding my job search through consulting work. This has many career-management benefits, but today I’m going to write about the only one you probably care about â€" green stuff to make your rent and buy groceries. Here are 7 ways to get yourself started and turn your knowledge into real cash. Figure out what you’re good at It is a complete tragedy that so many people feel their skills aren’t valuable or marketable unless they have a full-time job. The truth about layoffs is that the work does not disappear, what disappears is the means to fund a full-time employee to do the work. So look, there is probably work somewhere in your area of expertise, and you probably could do it; it’s just that a company would rather have a variable cost (with no benefits to pay) than a fixed cost on its books. You will argue with me, but I honestly think it is impossible that you (yes, YOU!) do not have any transferable skills you could sell through consulting services. I take that back; the one exception is if you have been sitting in a closet with a box over your head for the last few years. And that doesn’t apply to you if you read this blog. So make a list of your achievements, review old versions of your resume, and ask your spouse, mentors, and friends what you are good at. Among those things, there will be a cross-functional set of skills that can be applied to any business. If you are still lost, consult a career coach, because you aren’t trying hard enough. Or crawl into a closet and put a box over your head â€" that works too! (Joking.) Have something to say The whole point of being a consultant is to… well, consult. That means you need the guts to think of innovative solutions. Have you ever started a sentence with, “If I were in charge, I would…” in reference to some idiotic decision your company was making? Well, look, now you are in charge. You control your schedule and the type of work you do. Hate your current line of work? Guess what, you can consult about whatever you want now, provided you are honest about your abilities and are willing to work hard to show measurable results. So the first step to having something to say is learning as much as you can about your craft, even if you’ve been doing it for a few years. Or if you’re already a bona-fide expert, practice telling people what they should be doing as if you were in charge. Not all of your ideas will be implemented, but you’ll be proud when some of them do. Use the lingo Sometimes, it’s not just what you say, but how you say it. Some might say this is faking it until you make it, but really it’s just managing semantics. Learn the right lingo and you will sound like a consultant in no time. Here are some primers: Master Consultant Speak Management Consulting Lingo Getting Drunk in First Class (Not safe for work, and possibly not relevant) People make fun of corporate speak but if you dont walk the talk you will never be convincing. Start a blog It will be no surprise to anyone who blogs when I say that I fell into consulting in part by accident because of an article I wrote about companies using social media. So many people emailed me about this piece that it did not take long to figure out I must know something others don’t. And, that’s when the dollar signs go off. To date, my blog has opened up so many opportunities to me that I’ve honestly lost count; but the best thing is the emails I get from readers that lead to real business opportunities. So start a blog. You don’t need a topic, you just need to write about everything you are learning, and then help everyone you can with what you’ve learned. Good karma is real, so be genuine and opportunities won’t be able to pass your house without ringing the doorbell. Start an umbrella company Some people will say, “I can’t be a consultant. I don’t even have a website, much less a business!” What I did was start an LLC back in Sept. because I knew I was leaving my job soon. I then threw every half-baked money-making project I had under my new company’s umbrella and started pursuing them full-time to make them more profitable. I also focused on whatever achievements I had from those projects â€" those went on my resume. Next, I looked at where I was missing skills I wanted, and started creating more achievements in those areas just from working on my own projects. That gave me something to talk about when trying to land new clients; those are the achievements I use to market myself every time I want more work. If you don’t have money-making projects already, just start one. It’s not hard if you’re willing to invest the time and a couple bucks. And if you can’t come up with a project, offer to do a project at someone elses company for free. Network network network This is the Holy Grail for everyone besides real estate agents. I recently met up with another blogger, Nisha Chittal, and she asked me how I was scoring all these gigs. The main reason is networking â€" while I meet some people who want help online, I also met an entrepreneur through my network at the University of Chicago (yes, MBA’s become entrepreneurs too). Everyone has a network, so don’t say you don’t know anyone. You probably know more people than you think. I saw this opportunity to work with this company that was trying to expand in Chicago but was headquartered in Atlanta. I checked out the CEO’s profile on LinkedIn and it turned out we had a mutual contact who put me in touch. There are also tons on free networking events that you are probably going to anyway because you are unemployed. Instead of telling everyone you’re looking for a job, tell them about a project you are working on (See the point above). You’d be surprised how many will reply, “Really? I know so and so who’s looking for someone to do that for his company!” I smile every time â€" this trick seriously works like a charm, and sounds so much more impressive than “I’m unemployed actually. And you?” Say no I mentioned I was actually doing the consulting thing to accomplish a larger goal â€" landing a full-time job. Well, this week I have two full-time job offers that I get to say “No” to. I know what you’re thinking â€" is this girl insane?! Doesn’t she realize we’re in a recession? I’m not worried though; on the contrary, the desire to reject these poorly conceived job offers is nearly insatiable, and the thought makes me giddy. Neither offer is a great option for me, and I have enough self-awareness to know exactly what I want. Saying “No” sends a powerful message â€" you are declaring “hey- I’m not desperate, and I’m not putting up with your crap just because the economy looks bad.” The ego-trip that results is so intoxicating that it’s too bad you can’t bottle and sell it â€" there would be so many more happy people in the world. You will not be a good consultant until you learn to say no. Your time does not magically expand to fit more clients â€" so choose your assignments wisely and take only the work that builds on your skills, lets you achieve results quickly, and makes your resume pop. And ironically, good consulting is what gives you the ability to say no, because if you’re getting gigs, you won’t need to take the first job offer that comes your way. Author: Monica O’Brien writes career advice for young professionals at her blog, Twenty Set. You can also follow her on Twitter (@monicaobrien).

Young Reckless An Interview with Chris Drama Pfaff - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Young Reckless An Interview with Chris Drama Pfaff - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career This was one of my favorite interviews. A couple of weeks ago, I got a chance to chat with Chris Drama Pfaff. At only 26 years old, Drama is a successful entrepreneur and the star of 3 hit MTV shows, including the new season of  Fantasy Factory which premiered this month. He also has a very well-known clothing brand called Young Reckless which has been worn by celebrities such as Lil Wayne, 50 Cent, Zac Effron, Blake Griffin, and Kevin Durant. We discussed how he used $2,000 of savings to leave Ohio and build a massive entertainment brand, what his clothing company means to him, and his advice to young people looking to build a career. How would you define your personal brand? I really pride myself on representing and spreading the message that anyone can make it. Or that anyone can make their dreams come true and create a better life for themselves. I come from Akron, Ohio, which obviously has about the least amount of opportunity as anywhere. I think a lot of people want to say that some of my success is attributed to handouts or being on the show, but what I want my message to be about is how hard it was to make the transition moving out to LA from Ohio. When I came here I didnt know anyone, I hardly knew Rob, hes actually is my second cousin. I moved out here on the $2,000 I had saved from graduation money. And I didnt know what I wanted to do, I just knew that there wasnt opportunity in Akron, and I had to leave. I feel like kids get stuck in this idea of Youre born in a small town or with no money so accept that nothing will change and you wont ever be anything. And thats a shame, I want to be able to change that mindset. So personally, thats kind of what my brand represents, and what I want it to represent. How were you able to take advantage of opportunities that others werent able to? For me, when I go back to Ohio, I was there for the holidays, and its a tough place. The recession hit very hard, and there is a lot of unemployment, some people have drug issues or are getting arrested. And these are all people who came from the place I did, they had the same opportunities I did. But people tend to ignore their opportunities because theyre afraid to take that initial leap. The biggest shame is that people just assume the cards are dealt to them when theyre born. And they accept, these are people I will see on TV or who are entrepreneurs, but Ill never be that. And its a shame. What do you enjoy about the entertainment industry? What I like about entertainment is kind of the freedom and the way that constantly new ideas, companies, and artists are popping up. In LA its  always new stuff, which can be dangerous because you can easily be replaced, but if you can stay in the flow, I absolutely love that every day you dont know what youre going to get into. Its inspiring. There are a lot of young people doing some incredible things and its fun to watch. One of the guys who got  Rob Big  originally produced went on to do  Zombieland  and  Gangster Squad and all of these massive movies. Really we watched him become a huge movie director, and little things like that are crazy to see. Its fun to see how these projects that impact the world actually go down. How did you build your fashion brand, Young Reckless? So really how that came about was that I always had an interest in clothing and fashion. When we started doing  Fantasy Factory which was our second MTV show, I realized that if I was ever going to do it I had to do it now. Because I had this great marketing vehicle, and MTV was asking what was next for Drama and my progression. So I realized there was no reason to put it off and so I jumped into it. My goal was, moving from Ohio to LA, I saw the difference in fashion. All of the brands that make it to the big stores have very watered down messaging, and in LA, I saw the street culture and the skating culture. These kids are really, really in tune with the brands that they wear. Many brands do limited releases of different styles and the owner of the clothing line will be there and there will be 500 kids lined up around the block for an exclusive T-shirt. That to me was really cool. So I wanted to create a brand that could be sold in malls or major stores but still held onto that fee ling and depth that the street-wear brands have. When these kids put on a shirt they feel empowered, and thats pretty awesome. How do you juggle all of your projects? Do you have to turn down opportunities because youre too busy? First and foremost, I do have to say honestly Ive grown to absolutely love working and making progress. Its where I get my joy from. So I dont do much partying or enough vacationing probably. But I do find happiness and purpose working, so if Im not busy for too long I start to lose my mind a little bit. I definitely do have to say no to good opportunities, and really you have to just hedge your bets and hope youre making the right decisions. Its gotten fortunately to the point where I can choose the things Im really passionate about or believe I can change or make better. I dont have to do things just for the money, which is great. And I just got to that point maybe six months ago, and its been nice. When people come to me now with ideas, I can see if it truly makes sense for the brand, and if not, I dont  need  to do it. What advice would you give to young people looking to start or advance their career? What I would say is, I guess its a little cliche, but my two biggest things are to figure out what you want to do, map out a realistic plan to get there, and then execute it. Sometimes its really that easy. People get discouraged, or decide they want something else, and that lack of focus is why people dont make it to where they want to be. The other thing is to not worry about critics or what people say. Obviously Ive faced a lot of that, when I was starting my clothing line. The reality TV thing is a blessing and a curse. Your message gets out there but not a lot of people trust it at first. So there were a lot of uphill battles, times when I thought Id be doing club appearances for the rest of my life. But you cant get down or tap out. You pick where you want to get to and do it by any means necessary. If you could have any celebrity wear your brand, who would it be and why? I think right now at this very moment it would be Rihanna. I know its pretty random, but obviously shes a super star so you get all of that publicity. But for whatever reason, whether its real or manufactured, shes doing a great job at balancing not caring what people think with remaining extremely successful, and thats something I respect about her. I think not only is she a superstar, and Im a fan of hers, but her lifestyle most blatantly reflects my message. It looks like shes a train wreck, but she is able to get in the studio and put out hit records. Thanks to Drama for taking the time to speak with me, and for continuing to build fun, entertaining, and inspiring brands. Check out his clothing line and watch the new season of  Fantasy Factory  on MTV!

Top 4 Things to Do After Your Cosmetic Surgery

Top 4 Things to Do After Your Cosmetic Surgery So far you’ve been a model patient. You made all the preparations recommended by your surgeon and even arranged for someone to take you home once the medical team processed the release. Now you are about to embark on the recovery period. Make sure you do these four things and the potential for complications will be kept to a minimum. Consume Nutritious Food You may be tired and some days the idea of consuming anything will hold no appeal. That’s natural after any type of procedure, including different forms of    plastic surgery. The thing to remember is that your body needs nutrition in order to heal properly. Even if you don’t feel like it, try to have something. Many people find that even if they have no appetite, having something does make them want to have a little more. Don’t worry about your lack of appetite in the days immediately following the procedure. It will return a little at a time. Within a week, it should be back to normal. Use Your Pain Medication According to Instructions Pain medication is not unusual after cosmetic surgery. Unfortunately, many patients will use this resource in a manner other than the one intended by the surgeon. Some people will do their best to avoid taking the medication. Perhaps there is a fear of becoming too dependent on it, or that it will make them unable to think. Others will rationalize taking more than the daily dose recommended by the medical professional. This is often the case with people who would rather not feel any discomfort at all. Unless you notice unpleasant side effects from using the medication, take it as directed. If there are some side effects you find distressing, call the surgeon’s office. There may be a different pain medication that would work better in your case. The Bandages Stay On It’s natural to want a look at what is happening under the bandages. Resist that urge. The only time the bandages need to be off is when they require changing or when the surgeon decides you no longer need them. In the meantime, those bandages are protecting your skin from possible infection. Don’t complicate things because of simple curiosity. Report Complications Immediately The surgeon will go over the basics of what to expect after the procedure. That includes some idea of how long the swelling will be present, what sort of discharge may be found on the bandages, and the type of discomfort that is normal with your type of surgery. Should anything develop that seems to be outside what you were told to expect, don’t hesitate to call and report the issue. Prior to the procedure, feel free to ask any questions that come to mind. Rest assured your plastic surgeon will be happy to answer them. Make sure you know what to expect in the days and weeks after the procedure is complete. Follow the surgeon’s instructions to the letter and report anything that seems out of the ordinary. Doing so will improve the odds for a speedy recovery.

Freelance Resume Writing Jobs - How Can I Find Them?

Freelance Resume Writing Jobs - How Can I Find Them?Freelance resume writing jobs are common to many Internet marketing positions. Freelance resume writing jobs are when you write, proofread your own resume. This is something that is hard work but also pays well. There are a few reasons why so many people seek out freelance resume writing jobs and they all have to do with the ability to make a good living online.First of all, many people don't realize how much flexibility is available in these online jobs. Many people simply don't have the time or the desire to spend hours on end working at a desk and typing a resume. That's not the case with these jobs.When you do get one of these jobs, you will normally be expected to work for a certain amount of time. In most cases you will get to choose the number of hours you want to work each week and the days of the week you want to work. This means that you can start your own business with the income coming in whenever you want.Another good t hing about freelance resume writing jobs is that they are very inexpensive. They can be done very quickly and with very little cost. One of the biggest drawbacks to this type of job is that you usually don't get the approval of any employers or do not have the credit that is often required to get a real job with one of these companies.However, if you are really looking for a job and are not sure where to look you might want to consider using a paid search for jobs that are offered by a company called Monster. Monster offers hundreds of freelancing jobs for both individuals and business owners. You just tell them what type of freelance writing job you are looking for and they will find you one of the best.Freelance writing jobs are great because they give you the chance to work at your own pace and in your own time. You don't have to be at the office all the time just sitting in front of a computer. There is also no scheduling involved, which is good because you may be running a very hectic life and have plenty of things to do.You can also benefit from these jobs because they are perfect for both people who need a little more money now and those who need a little less. These jobs are great for those who are just starting out and want to earn a little extra money on the side. You can easily earn a little extra each month if you use these types of jobs as an alternative to full time work.When you get freelance resume writing jobs you will get the flexibility that is so important to people these days. It is important that you use these types of jobs when you're just starting out to earn extra money but when you've earned enough you can leave them to work on them on your own time.

Assumptions Can Hurt Your Job Search

Assumptions Can Hurt Your Job Search Do you make assumptions?   I think we all do, at least once in awhile.   In a communication workshop I attended years ago I learned the phrase assume positive intent.  In job search, assuming positive intent can mean many things, but most importantly, it is a reminder to be polite and respectful. Here are some scenarios that pop up again and again and push job seekers to assume- sometimes the worst. I interviewed for a job last week and havent heard back. Ive networked with lots of people but never get additional contact names. I submitted my resume and they havent called me yet. I am a perfect fit for this job, why arent they calling me. I havent gotten a job yet because I am old. Or no one is hiring older workers. I dont have any experience to put on my resume or LinkedIn profile, I just graduated. Ive registered with agencies, but they havent called me. Ive interviewed multiple times at this company, why are they doing this to me? You Are Not Alone If you have ever thought any of these things, you probably arent alone.   It is easy to get discouraged and frustrated.   Never play the victim.   You are the owner and driver of your career and job search.  Gaining control means figuring out the real reason behind your question or concern.   Instead of assuming, ask the dreaded question either of yourself, the interviewer or people you trust. Understand This There are things you need to understand about companies and agencies. 1) Every company has their own method and process for hiring.   Their time clock is not the same as yours.   If you do not know their process, have you asked? 2) Placement agencies and recruiters do NOT work for  job seekers.   They get paid by the company for putting the right person in the right spot.   They do not have to work with everyone that walks through their doors or submits a resume. 3) No one has to read your full cover letter and both pages of your resume.   They may take time if it captures their attention or they may not.   If your phone isnt ringing, your written materials arent working. 4) Businesses want to make money.   They want the best hiring value for their investment.   They can offer less because the market is flooded with talent. A colleague shared with me an email she got from a frustrated candidate.   The employer wanted to interview more people.   That is within their rights. Unfortunately, the employer did not tell the candidate they wanted to interview more people (or maybe they did and the message fell on deaf ears.)  When the candidate found out, they wrote  an email message to their company contact that said:  I wish I would have known before the ad came out; what a slap in the face.   And by the way, this was written by someone who was supposedly a seasoned professional. Are you jumping to conclusions and letting your emotions get the best of you?   The end result could be detrimental.

5 Ways to Update Your Resume for the College Grad - CareerEnlightenment.com

will not get you hired.As a general rule, your email address should include your first and last name. Avoid using anything silly or suggestive. Only your peers will be impressed by that, not the hiring manager. Also, do not use numbers or underscores. The logic behind using your name in your email is that you want people in your professional network including the HR department, to easily find you.Make Your Resume ATS CompliantNowadays, recruiters automate most of the hiring process with the help of ATS. It filters out applicants based on their resume and if yours don’t make the cut, you have no way of bagging that interview.Make sure yours meets the ATS standards by making it simple and relevant. Look out for keywords used in the job posting and sprinkle those throughout your resume. Avoid repetitive language and get to the point. Do not use complicated fonts, colors, and graphics. But then you also have to make sure it’s readable and pleasing to the recruiter.It can be tricky to strike a balance of making it readable for both machine and human so you may need to use resume writing tools to ensure your meet both standards.Don’t Forget Your LinkedInUpdate your LinkedIn profile as well! This is very important because it acts as a social network that will connect you to thousands of recruiters. When updating your resume, make sure you put a link to your LinkedIn profile. This is your evergreen resume online that employers will look into in case they need more information about you. You can even customize your URL so it looks clean and professional on your resume.Which of these resume hacks have you tried already? Share your thoughts in the comments.