How Do You Best Approach a Target Employer

How Do You Best Approach a Target Employer I received a question from a loyal reader named Ying the other day. Ying works in the PR world and has been thinking about moving jobs for while now, let’s hear what she has to say. Question: Im actively looking for a senior in-house PR/comms role in a large organization. Given the current competitive job market, is it more effective to go through recruitment agencies or to directly approach target companies? Answer: Ying already knows what role she is looking for and possibly what companies as well. This means there is little need for using job boards, this is a case of how to pitch yourself to the employer. The market is very tough indeed and the best route to a new job is to get introduced to the company by someone credible. By that I mean someone the company trusts and that is willing to put their reputation on the line for you. This someone can either work for the company already, they could be a client or supplier or even a competitor. In a perfect world, we would have great contacts at every company we want to work for. Whenever we felt like moving jobs, wed ring that particular contact up and they would introduce us to the right people. Some people have great networks and are actually close to this, but most of us dont and have to look at other options. Networking By getting to know people that work for your target company, you will get a way in. The best way to strike up these acquantancies would be to attend industry events, networking evenings and using social media online to get close to the right people. Networking will take time and a great deal of effort. Dont expect results to come in overnight and remember that being an effective networker is all about helping others and this way they will return the favor one day. Recruiters Using a recruiter basically means you are leveraging their network and contacts to get a new position. Some recruiters have great relationships with hiring managers and can smooth talk them into interviewing you, sometimes even when there is no position going. The recruiter route is quick and can be very effective, the downside is that it will cost the company money to hire you. By using a recuiter you are attaching a price tag to yourself, which for some companies can be an additional hurdle for you to get a job offer. Networking, recruiters which is better then? I would say use both. The networking should really be an integral part to anyones career management. The thing with networking is that you never know when a good opportunity comes up, typically when you least expect it. With recruiters its more straightforward, they will only look at smoking hot positions that need to filled pronto. What do you think? Please share your thoughts in the comments. Image: Shutterstock

Top 5 Ways To Earn Money From Home

Top 5 Ways To Earn Money From Home Just a few minutes  browsing the internet and youll come up with literally hundreds of possible ways to earn money from home.  While some are scams, some are legitimate opportunities.  You can do a lot of your own sorting out of the options, but here are the ones weve found to be most likely to create some additional income.  And with a little time and effort, they could turn into a full time business. Daycare For Pets Seems most everyone has a dog or a cat.  And lets face it, we love our critters!  Which means that lots of people have at least thought about having someone care for their cat or dog while theyre at work or on vacation.  While this probably isnt a good idea if youre living in an apartment, if youre an animal lover this could be a natural fit. Daycare For Kids So you want to work at home, and you happen to love kids even though you dont have any of your own.  Why not provide daycare to working parents?  Youll be helping the parents, caring for the kids, and at the same time get to be a part time parent yourself.  And earn money while youre doing it! Selling Stuff If youre going to sell stuff, obviously you have to buy it.  Are you one of those who loves to roam garage sales, flea markets, and estate sales? Why not turn your hobby into something profitable?   Pick up those items you know are under-priced and re-sell them on Craigslist or Ebay.  Believe it or not, there are Ebay sellers who are making over $100,000 annually. Freelance You have plenty of skills and talents.   In todays connected world, there are people and companies all over the world who want one-off jobs and projects done.  Search freelancing and youll find a number of websites that are specifically designed to hook up providers like you with those in need of your services. Virtual Assistants A step beyond freelance is the realm of virtual assistants.  These tend to be longer or even permanent work assignments.  You might find yourself working for an individual, a team, or a company.  Youll have the security of a continued work relationship, but the autonomy of working at home. And More As we said, there are an endless stream of opportunities to make money online from home.  From photography and modeling  to high end consulting, what was once done only at the end of a daily commute to work can now be done at home.  Just remember, no matter what you choose to pursue, do your due diligence. Check references and ratings.  And  soon youll be able to find one thats a perfect fit for you. Images: Main  Ken Teegardin  garage sale  John Beagle

Letting Your Imagination Go Crazy Or Outlining And Organizing

Letting Your Imagination Go Crazy Or Outlining And Organizing Number four in a series of twelve To outline, or not to outline, that is the question. The other question is: How many pieces of chocolate in one day is one piece too many? Five? Ten? But, alas, I digress. Let’s talk about outlining your book…or not. I don’t outline when I write my books. I write a general synopsis for my editor and agent, the two wise men, to look over. We go back and forth, editing and deleting ideas and characters, and I start writing as soon as I know the first sentence of my book. My mind then starts to open like an old, cranky, and creaky door. Here’s an example of the synopsis that I wrote for What I Remember Most: Grenadine Scotch Wild. Thirties. Auburn hair. Light green eyes. Wiry. Setting: Sisters, Oregon (town will be re-named).   Small town, western style buildings, surrounded by snowy mountain peaks. Grenadine has been in foster care since she was five years old. Her back story in foster care will be told through reports from CSD, teachers’ comments on report cards, police reports, and hospital/doctor charts. Grenadine cannot remember what happened to her parents the night they “disappeared.”   She remembers them as being kind and loving, her mother engaging her in art projects with paints, feathers, and beads, her father teaching her how to draw. As an adult, she realizes that her parents were very young, hippies, free living.   They lived in a tent, the back of a VW van, communes, a true vagabond lifestyle. She hears the words, “Run, Grenadine, run!” off and on, her whole life. She knows it’s her parents. She can hear their horror and panic. She cannot remember what happened before they insisted she run. Grenadine is dyslexic. She became a painter and collage artist You get the idea. The synopsis is about two pages long.  I describe how Grenadines life has collapsed (shes been arrested for a crime she didnt commit), how shes going to fix it, the struggles shell have, and the other characters shell come into contact with until we have our  resolutions. A synopsis is different than an outline. A synopsis is ideas and thoughts for a story. An outline is much more precise in terms of goals for each chapter. I can’t write, or stick to, an  outline. I can’t write a chapter by chapter summation as I dont know whats going to happen next until I get there. I cant chart sub plots and plot points and arcs because they are a mystery to me. Following an outline would feel like I was writing in a straight jacket.  It would feel too restrictive, as if I couldn’t take the story straight off a cliff if I wanted. It would make me feel weird, like this odd book person. My story will not reflect some, or much, of the initial synopsis when the book is done anyhow.  I might not include a character I initially included. The ending might be completely different. The personalities and issues change. The theme of the book comes to light. I add humor and tears I hadn’t planned on. I’m sure it drives my editor and agent crazy, but I can’t always stick to the plan. That about sums up my life: I can’t always stick to the plan. Many writers write like me. They have a vague idea, a character forming, problems and conflicts bubbling to the surface of their brains, an image, and they start writing away. They take their imaginations on a ride and fly off with them, writing each scene as it leaps into their heads, sometimes writing scenes far ahead in the book, then back tracking. But we women write differently, just like we wear different kinds of clothes. Some  writers like to have every chapter planned out, from who is in the chapter, what they say and do, and how it moves the book forward. Every character is fully described in a notebook from birth to death. They know the characters’ arcs, the sub plots, the minor characters, and the issues and themes BEFORE  they start writing the book. Its all mapped  out in detail, the information is applied to the outline, and they stick to that sucker, with some adjustments along the way. The story is organized and ready to go charging towards the climax and resolution. The advantages in using this strategy are blindingly easy to see. You simply head off a bucketful of problems in plot/characters/climax/etc. and your story line is clear from the beginning. I wish I could outline as I think it would save me a TON of time and hair pulling frustration. But ya gotta find what works for you, friends. Outlining a book, or not, is personality driven. Need more advice on whether or not to outline your book? Let’s hear from writers smarter than me. Catherine Ryan Hyde: I liken my process to a multi-day car trip. I have some idea where I’m going, and what roads lead there. Otherwise I risk ending up nowhere. But I also don’t want to make too detailed a plan (For example, I’ll drive X number of hours and then stop at this motel at this time.) because I risk blowing right by Carlsbad Caverns or the giant meteor crater because they’re not in my notes. So I leave a little more room in the middle, for opportunities I couldn’t possibly have seen coming when I left home. Barbara Claypole White: I’m an organic writer, with a brain that feeds on instinct and research. I love to meander and rewrite and excavate endlessly. However, writing to contract has taught me the value of a road map, and now I create story boards written to movie beats. I guess that means I’m a hybrid. Kristina McMorris: For all of my books, I create a board of mini-Post-its that each represent a chapter. I’ll simply jot down a few notes summarizing the purposes of the scenes, which helps me confirm that every one of them is essential to the story. Writing The Pieces We Keep, I used this particular plotting board and found the visual layout especially handy in juggling dual timelines interwoven with mystery elements. Plus, as a person who enjoys crossing tasks off my to-do lists, I always love being able to move the Post-its upward on the board as I complete each chapter, assuring me that I’m indeed nearing that ever-daunting finish line. Jo-Ann Mapson: Usually what comes to me first is an image. Like Margaret in Blue rodeo, who is first seen in the book wearing red underpants and a work shirt and trying to cup water in her hands to break up the dog who’s having sex with her dog while Owen, a sheepherder, is watching from his horse. I pretty much always start writing toward the image that seems to be emblematic of my story. I have an outline I made up that is more like a story problem. I write down the events, the hidden stories that made the character who she or he is, and in pencil, so I can move things around. Laura Drake: I have a character, with a flaw. I have a first scene, and a vague idea of where I’m going. Then I take a leap of faith and begin. I don’t think it’s the easiest way. My brain doesn’t care. Kimberly Belle: I start with a fairly detailed outline, though it’s fluid and I always end up surprising myself along the way. Characters pop up uninvited. The plot makes turns I wasn’t expecting. But I do like to know where I’m going and a pretty decent idea of how I’ll get there, otherwise I end up writing myself into corners. Marie Bostwick: The time I invest up front in outlining, and I do spend at least a couple of weeks doing so, saves me time and anxiety in the long run because I understand the arc of the story more completely as well as the personality and motivation of the characters. It makes the characters more real to me and, ultimately, to my readers. However, I never let myself become so tied to my outline that I don’t leave room for changes. I’ve never written a book that didn’t change, sometimes markedly, from outline to final draft. Kimberly Brock: My process starts like an excavation of a setting and time, because I’ve stumbled across something unusual that interests me. Especially, I like to discover something I know nothing about, but maybe should have known. Something obscure that fascinates me. That starts a story for me with setting, historical fact and metaphor. I fill a notebook with what some people call Mindmapping and those ideas deliver characters to me. From there, I write the first chapters and see where they start to take me and I always, always write my resolution before I go any further. THEN I sort of scaffold the framework of the story arc and finish a first draft.

Personal Branding Interview Rich Gorman - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Branding Interview Rich Gorman - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Today, I spoke to Rich Gorman, who is the owner of DirectResponse.net. Gorman is considered an industry expert in the field of Direct Response Marketing, with over 10 years of online marketing experience. In addition to consulting, Gorman maintains a blog at DirectResponse.net that has helped him to spread the word about a relatively new industry. He shared his insight on how he continues to build his brand, and where he hopes to go in the future. [Disclaimer: DirectResponse.net sponsored this interview post] How do you define the term “Direct Response Marketing?” Direct Response Marketing is marketing that is designed to elicit a direct response from a targeted audience.   This response is specific and quantifiable. For example we promote skin care products online.   Our goal is to elicit a direct response out of consumers by having them fill out the call to action form on our landing page  www.TryHydroxatone.com  and then submit their credit card information.   The response is specific and quantifiable. What originally led you down the career path of Direct Response Marketing? I started actively promoting products online in 2001 as an affiliate marketer.   My goal was simple: improve conversion rates. As an avid researcher, I have spent years peeling back the direct response onion.   I have tested thousands of different website styles, copy, and traffic channels.   Today I can finally say that I have online direct response marketing down to an exact science. My end goal of improving conversion rates is not fully accomplished â€" and for that matter never will be. The online world is constantly changing.   i.e. In the past 2 years we’ve started to add social media plugins to all of our campaigns.   These plugins add layers of credibility that were not available 5 years ago. What are the top 3 elements that define the “Rich Gorman” personal brand? I can sum it up in 1 short sentence: loved, hated, but never ignored. How do you continue to stay ahead of the market so that you are viewed as a thought leader? STRICT FOCUS.   I work 7 days a week inside the world of online direct response marketing.   I religiously follow the leaders in the space.   Additionally I keep a close eye on other direct response marketer’s campaigns. If I see something I like I test it out and then put my own spin on it. By nature I’m a perfectionist.   I never get complacent.   Even when our campaigns are doing awesome I still look to find ways to improve. What was the biggest professional risk you ever took, and what was the result? I put myself out there big time last year when I launched my own website,  www.DirectResponse.net.   It was a dangerous thing to do as a direct response marketer because there are so many haters out there. The result was well beyond my wildest imagination.   The direct response community was ripe for a seasoned online direct response marketer to start a blog.   I supplied the demand and have since positioned myself as an authority in the space.   The blog allowed me carve out an area of expertise for me in the market. Through it I’ve met some really awesome people in the space and some of us are making money together now.   It can’t get much better than that!!! What are your personal goals? What keeps you motivated each time you wake up? My personal goal is for my wife and children to view me as the best husband/father in the world.   I love my family dearly. When I wake up in the morning I don’t go to work.   Instead I get to enjoy my hobby which in turn pays exceptionally well.   I absolutely LOVE what I do.   There’s nothing like watching a campaign go live for my clients and see it bring in 3,000 sales in a day for a sum of $150k!!   That’s FUN!! What advice do you have for our readers who are looking to build their own personal brand? If you’re going to put yourself out there and build a strong personal brand, make sure you’re living life on the up and up.   As the old saying goes, “the loudest person in the room is also the deadliest person in the room.” Building a personal brand is extremely important.     Make yourself STANDOUT.   Avoid mediocrity by taking calculated risks.   Most importantly, before building your brand, determine your exact beliefs…then stand by them with absolute unwavering conviction! - Rich Gorman started working in online direct response marketing over ten years ago and since has made his fortune as the industry’s primary trail-blazer. Now that he has become a seasoned professional in the direct response and affiliate marketing game, Gorman has teamed up with other industry leaders to share valuable insider information with other direct response marketers. As a leader in the online direct response  industry, Rich Gorman has been able to construct an extensive network of insiders that have agreed to help with DirectResponse.net by contributing their information and advice, including Seth Godin.

Important Things to Include In Your Resume Objective

Important Things to Include In Your Resume ObjectiveWriting a good resume objective is just as important as writing a good job description. When writing the objective, it is important to be clear and concise in what the purpose of the position is.Because of the simplicity of the job, an employee can put down a simple job description for the employee. However, if you have a more complex description and cover letter then the applicant may not be able to focus on what the company needs to know. The next step is to include the employee's name and contact information.The objective should be reflective of the kind of person the employee is and should be based on his or her skills and capabilities. You can be as specific as you like. Be sure that your objective does not contradict the requirements for the position.If you know that the position has specific qualifications such as the height and weight of the candidate, the resume must show that. This will provide a nice picture of the prospe ctive employee. You should be able to explain the type of experience the person has had with the job. Write the most relevant details.As a way to retain an applicant, it is important to make them feel that they are wanted. Whether it is a recruiter or a future employer, the message needs to be consistent. It is important to create a sense of urgency so that the applicant does not feel like they are left out. Explain to the applicant that they are needed now and that if they were not hired they would be lost.Knowing what the organization is looking for and how they want it done is one of the most significant things. The resume objective should make this clear. For example, if the position is a certain number of flights in a month and the applicant is in that type of flight position, it is important to write this clearly. It should not say 'flight leader' since this is not a flight position.It is important to be aware of the rules that apply when writing a resume objective and how thi s will influence the person who has been recruited. There are many things that the aviation administration does when recruiting and when writing a resume it is important to include this information.For an example, if the applicant has taken courses to be qualified for the job, but there are no transferable credits it should state this on the resume objective. Since there are many times that a person may be unable to transfer the credit hours then this should be made clear. Another example is if the employee is unable to use a student ID and there is no requirement for a student ID this should be stated.