Conquer Online Networking -

Conquer Online Networking - Photo by Kmevans I had the opportunity to attend a presentation by Ellen Sautter and Diane Crompton, co-authors of the book, Seven Days to Online Networking being released by JIST publishers next month. Ellen and Diane spoke about the importance of using the internet to help promote and define your personal brand they referred to your electronic footprint. This seems to be my week to write about the importance of keeping up appearances online and using your social networks for job searching. Regular readers know how much I love referencing other authorities who agree with me! This presentation was a great reminder of the importance of creating and maintaining your online identity. I thought Id share some insights from the presentation for job seekers and everyone else hoping to take advantage of cyber-connecting. Ellen and Diane note (and I agree) that online networking does not replace face-to-face contact. Combine the two for the most impact. Have a strong profile or bio to use online. Keppie Careers will be happy to help you write, revise or proof your profile to make sure that you are presenting the most professional image possible. Nothing screams careless more than a typo or grammatical error on a standard bio. Email: results@keppiecareers.com for more information. Ellen and Diane point out that its important to have networking goals. They suggest keeping a networking tool kit that includes: Frequently used links URLs of all of your profiles and sites where you are a member Links to your articles and press Email signatures Photos/headshots Various versions of your bio Profile information (what you offer and what you seek) Accomplishment statements, elevator pitch, etc. Remember to Google yourself. (In fact, set a google alert to alert you when your name or business is indexed. This is a great way to know if other people are mentioning you on their websites or blogs.) Ellen and Diane suggest checking up on your online identity on a regular basis, even weekly. Enhance and maintain your profiles. A tip from Ellen and Diane: Review other linkedin profiles from people in your industry to get ideas of keywords and buzz words. Incorporate language that makes sense for your profile. Keep an eye on this blog for ongoing tips and tricks for improving your online and in-person networking efforts! Keppie Careers will teach you how to network! Keppie Careers A Head Above the Rest: Encouraging, Enlightening and Empowering Job Seekers for Success!

How to Avoid Writing Your Resume in a Graduate Essay

How to Avoid Writing Your Resume in a Graduate EssayMany students wonder how to avoid writing their resume in a graduate essay. The first thing to understand is that the only reason you are applying for jobs in this field is that you have already received one or more undergraduate degrees. Therefore, it is not necessary for you to go through and revise your undergraduate work so that you can apply for graduate programs.For most people who have taken a lot of courses but have found it very difficult to get jobs because they have a large number of credits, a resume in a graduate essay can really help. Remember that getting a job is not easy, and every applicant has to do his or her best to pass the first step, an interview. However, a resume in a graduate essay does not mean that you are applying for graduate school.Of course, one of the most important thing to consider is that if you have already obtained an undergraduate degree, it makes sense to use that as the basis for your resume . For example, if you were a carpenter, it would be helpful to include your undergraduate degree, as would be true for any other graduate degree. If you were a college professor, perhaps a personal statement is the right option. The key is to remember that every graduate degree is different from every other one, and sometimes you will need to explain the exact circumstances that led you to get that degree.Furthermore, how to avoid writing your resume in a graduate essay depends on whether you want to apply for any graduate programs with specific credentials. If you have a number of qualifications that reflect academic achievement, it is easier to write your resume in a graduate essay because you do not have to 'paint' a picture of yourself. The recruiter will probably not have specific requirements that you should meet, although it is helpful to think about what he or she may want to see.One important detail that you should avoid saying is that you majored in a certain subject. It i s rare for a company to actually look for a candidate with only a bachelor's degree, but this does not mean that you cannot express your learning background. However, it is very important to emphasize that you only have one bachelor's degree, because that is the only degree that can legally count as a Bachelor's Degree, no matter how long ago it was earned. You can mention your advanced degrees and your job experience, but do not exaggerate to say that you have the Master's of Science in Nursing degree.Finally, another excellent option for how to avoid writing your resume in a graduate essay is to take advantage of the ability of many employers to use their online resume database. Not all employers have their own resume databases, however, and some will use the information that you provide to determine whether you will be an asset to their company. This can result in you being put in the same position as someone who did not apply for a job because he or she did not think that the em ployer required him or her to have a graduate degree.It is also important to remember that many companies have graduate applicants who are actually just fresh out of college, so some of your statements can be slightly off. As with any job, the companies are looking for somebody who has knowledge and is likely to be successful, and a degree can certainly help you in this process.

3 U.S. Olympians Share Their Totally Unathletic First Jobs

3 U.S. Olympians Share Their Totally Unathletic First Jobs There are some pretty exclusive clubs in the world, but perhaps none more so than Olympic gold medalists. Only the world’s best athletes reach that pinnacle, and only once every four years. But contrary to what you might expect, they do not spend their entire lives running, jumping or swimming. Just like the rest of us, they also work at regular gigs. For the latest in Reuters’ First Jobs series, we talked to a few elite American athletes about their humble jobs, before â€" or sometimes after â€" they reached the top of the medal podium. Close Modal DialogThis is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Shannon Miller Two golds in balance beam and team gymnastics, 1996 First job: Commercial actress “My first job was a commercial with a gymnastics sponsor. I was only 13 years old, so it was a huge decision for me and my parents. As a gymnast, I could not accept payment without giving up an opportunity for an NCAA scholarship. “At the time, I was only a year out from making my first World Championship team and hoping to try for the Olympic team in 1992. With the expenses of training, it made the most sense to go professional to help offset some of those bills. Read: We Just Tried to Book Last-Minute Travel to the Olympics. Here’s What Happened “The payment was minimal, but we were thankful for the opportunity. I bought a pair of grips (the hand guards we wear on uneven bars) for $100 with the payment. Those were the grips I wore at my first Olympic Games! “The actual commercial was probably the easiest thing I did that year. It was the 6-7 hours of daily training that helped make it possible. It was gymnastics that taught me the most important life lessons: Learning to set long-term and short-term goals, the importance of teamwork, why a positive attitude is crucial, and making every moment count, especially the moments when the cameras aren’t on you.” Carmelita Jeter Gold in 4x100m relay, 2012 First job: Chuck E. Cheese “I was 16 years old, and I remember it because it was the best job ever. It was at the Redondo Beach, California, location, and our uniform was navy blue shorts, white shoes, a gray Chuck E. Cheese polo shirt and a red visor. I was a runner, which meant I was the one running food to the tables. I was also a birthday host. “The part I loved the most was that during the birthday song, all the hosts had to get up there with Chuck E. Cheese and sing and do dance moves. I swear I still know the routine. “It was so much fun, because we were all from around ages 16-21, and it was like going to Disneyland every day. At closing time we would put on music and just dance. Read: 5 Ways Parents Can Raise World-Class Athletes “I made $6 an hour, but as a birthday host you would get tipped, so on a good weekend I could come out of there with $300-$400 … I could put gas in my ’88 Volkswagen Jetta and get my hair done. “At that time I wasn’t thinking about becoming one of the fastest women in the world. I was only thinking about things like prom and homecoming. “The only thing I didn’t like about that job? Cleaning the bathroom. That was tragedy.” Dominique Moceanu Gold in team gymnastics, 1996 First job: Jewelry designer “My first non-gymnastics job was designing jewelry. I always admired my mom’s jewelry growing up â€" she had some really beautiful pieces, even though she was very thrifty and didn’t have a lot of money. Eventually I developed my own style. “I wanted to put my business degree to use, so I partnered with another ‘gym mother’ who had experience in jewelry, and within six months, we had a company up and running (www.creationsbycandc.com). We use computerized designs to make things like pendants of poses from my greatest routines. “I still get on the mat on weekends, or whenever I have time, but it is definitely nice to have a life outside of gymnastics. It has allowed me to expand my creativity and to discover my passions outside of the sport. “I did learn a lot from gymnastics that I apply in my business every single day. Things like determination, and goal-setting, and perseverance. As a business owner you have some really challenging days â€" and you just have to find a way to get things done.”