Phil Rosenberg, President http://reCareered.blogspot.com

People in career transition often pause to take stock. One of the really valuable parts of job changing is taking the time to decide “What do I want to do?”

Too many of us stay locked into jobs or careers that we hate because we’re afraid of change, afraid of risk, or simply don’t believe we can get paid for doing what we love.

Today’s internet provides amazing opportunities to those considering alternate careers. Many Web 2.0 tools give an amazing ability to create subject matter expertise and monetize what we love to do. For instance, a friend was a journalism graduate who didn’t end up working in a traditional corporate journalism job, but wanted to write and run her own show.

So whether your passion is running, stamp collecting, baseball, travel, scrapbooking, cooking, or Chicago’s nightlife, consider that you might make your passion your job.

Learn more about making your passion into your job …

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

A friend of mine recently left his position at our former company to start his own business.  He has 15 years of excellent work experience, including 10 years of managing others, and an MBA.  His former job is now advertised online, and over the weekend I met a woman who had applied for it.  This woman was unhappy with her current company and had noticed that my friend’s former position paid really well.  Interestingly, she failed to notice much else about it.

I talked to this woman about the position opening at length, and was surprised to realize that she had barely read the job description before deciding to apply.  She told me about her previous work experience, which was only vaguely related to the requirements of the advertised job.  She was stunned when I told her that the position required managing a department of 10 people, and then it started to sink in that her lack of supervisory experience might hurt her chances of getting the job.  She also mentioned that the opening had asked that applicants have knowledge of a specific online database system.  She then asked me the most surprising question of all: “Do you think they’re really serious about only hiring someone who has experience with that system?”

At this point, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for this woman.  So I will offer you the same advice that I gave her.  There are dozens of candidates applying for most open positions these days.  Hiring managers will tell you that one of their main job duties is “shortlisting” these applications into a small pool of qualified applicants—in other words, disqualifying everyone they can in order to whittle the list down to only the best candidates for each job.  Many times, companies find themselves ruling out perfectly qualified candidates simply because they have too many from which to choose.  With this in mind, please do yourself the favor of not applying for jobs if you’re just not qualified.  Employers purposely write their job descriptions in order to attract candidates who are a good match.  If the ad says they’re looking for X, Y, and Z qualifications, I can guarantee you one thing: Yes, they really mean it!

For more career and job search related articles, visit http://www.greatresumesfast.com.

As we all know, the recent economy has displaced a lot of workers from career paths on which they had been for many years.  At one time, my town had a lot of mortgage professionals; these days, my town has a lot of former mortgage professionals.  If you now find yourself in this situation, don’t be discouraged; there are several ways to move forward.

Find a similar position at a different company

If you enjoyed what you were doing and want to stick with it, you’ll need to make a list of target companies that are still hiring people who do what you do.  If you work in an industry that’s been particularly hard hit with layoffs recently, it’s especially important to include quantifiable achievements on your resume.  You’re going to be competing for a limited number of available jobs—along with a lot of other laid off candidates—so you’ll have to prove to employers that you’re the best thing around.

Transfer your skills to a similar position

Many workers with very specialized skills have found themselves out of work.  For instance, my friends in academia are often competing with hundreds of other candidates for one tenure track position.  However, professors can do much more than just teach.  Many work for institutions that have required them to become proficient in online learning platforms—skills which transfer easily to corporate training departments.  Professors with a science background can review scientific textbooks or research papers that require advanced, specialized knowledge.  Most people are qualified to do multiple jobs—you just have to create multiple resumes that highlight the skills and experience applicable to each position.

Turn a hobby or interest into your job

Some displaced workers face the difficult reality that their jobs have been outsourced overseas or that they will have to relocate in order to do similar work.  For many people, this crossroads can present an ideal time to start your own business.  Let’s say you’re a realtor hoping to start a career in photography.  Call up everyone you know and offer to take photos of their pets, their favorite beach, or their family members.  They’ll have wonderful photos, and you’ll have a portfolio with which to showcase your skills.  The key to taking your career in a very different direction is in proving to employers or potential customers that you have the chops to do the new job.

These are just a few of the possibilities for workers who find themselves displaced from their careers.  With the right strategy, it IS possible to move forward!

Jessica Holbrook Hernandez is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, speaker and President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast. She creates high-impact, best-in-class, resumes and cover letters that transform job searches into interviews and ultimately job offers. For more information about professional resume writing or to read more career and job search related articles visit http://www.greatresumesfast.com or call 1.800.991.5187.

I had lunch with a friend the other day who left her job earlier this year.  She relayed to me how she had gotten fed up with a particular client, and so she decided to quit.  She had about four months of living expenses saved up, so she figured she was good to go while she looked for another job.  Four months later, she finds herself running out of money with no prospects in the pipeline.

I was a little shocked to realize that my friend had seriously underestimated the state of the economy.  If, like her, you find yourself in a really unsatisfactory work situation at the moment, leaving your job might be the best thing for your mental health.  However, with nearly 10% of Americans out of work altogether and another 9% working fewer hours than they would prefer to, you simply have to have a plan before you can consider quitting on a whim.

The first step in your employment transition should be to figure out what types of positions you will target in your job search.  It’s very difficult to position yourself as a candidate if you don’t have a specific goal in mind.  Once you determine your career path, carefully consider the people in your network that can help you find another position.  Next, spend a lot of time and thought putting together a polished looking resume.  Have at least two other people review it for you and provide you with feedback.  Even the brightest employees often need help from a professional resume writer to pull together an effective document.

If you’re looking to quit your job, you should begin your networking process while you’re still bringing in a paycheck.  You can upload your resume to job boards so that recruiters will find you.  It’s a good idea to acquire some networking business cards for yourself—in case you leave your position before a contact has time to get in touch with you at your current company.

The last thing you need to realistically consider before quitting a job is what your financial situation will look like.  Bearing in mind that many companies take two months to even respond to an application, and then another month to complete the interview process, many candidates are finding themselves out of work for much longer than they had expected.  Can you realistically survive for the next year if, heaven forbid, you aren’t able to find another position immediately?

I wish I could have told my friend these things four months ago.  Hopefully, you will avoid her mistake: no matter how bad your day is at work, have a solid plan in place before you quit!

Jessica Holbrook Hernandez is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, speaker and President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast. She creates high-impact, best-in-class, resumes and cover letters that transform job searches into interviews and ultimately job offers. For more information about professional resume writing or to read more career and job search related articles visit http://www.greatresumesfast.com or call 1.800.991.5187.

Your personal brand is nothing more (or less) than the image you project to others. It’s the whole (although abbreviated) picture of who you are and what you do–professionally. Online, it’s the sum of the parts. A large (maybe the whole) purpose of creating and maintaining an online brand is so that people who don’t know you (employers or potential clients/business partners) can find you, evaluate whether they want to meet you/work with you/recommend you. And that’s why it’s a big deal.

Be the candidate who stands out from the crowd.

Your online brand is your first impression for people, job leads, or opportunities that you might miss if it’s not everything it could be. And, it’s definitely a piece of the puzzle for those who have met you in person and are looking to find out more. If you don’t think a hiring manager is going to look around online for more information about you before they make the offer, you are seriously misguided.

So, what can you do to make sure your online brand identity is a strong recommendation for why someone should hire you?

1. Use every opportunity to establish a presence. Although LinkedIn is my favorite online networking site, you should also incorporate Twitter, Facebook, Visual CV, and others. (One article says that you should “cybersquat as much social real estate as possible” to both strengthen your online brand and to combat social identity theft.) Make absolutely certain that every site provides a professional profile with dynamic words that describe who you are and what you do.

2. Make sure your photos are professional and consistent. Attach a head-and-shoulders professional photo to each of your online pages. Having the same photo on all sites will help those who don’t know you recognize you. And please remove the too-personal photos of you with your friends at the party, or you at your political function, or anything else that could cause controversy. If you’re trying to land a job in medical or health care sales, you want potential employers to concentrate on your job skills without anything else getting in the way.

3. Participate. Join groups and discussions, and try to share something of value to help others. Always keep your brand in mind as you contribute your thoughts and ideas. (It’s not hiding the “real you,” it’s simply keeping a public face that’s separate from your private one. Or, to put it another way…there’s a lot you wouldn’t say in front of your grandmother that you wouldn’t hesitate to say in front of your friends. Think of cyberspace as your grandmother. ) You decide how you want people to see you, and develop a consistent theme. It presents a unified, clear, positive image to the rest of the world that will pay off for you in your career.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Author Byline: Peggy McKee
Author Website: http://www.career-confidential.com

If you’re a fan of LOST, you know that the show offers a variety of lessons and morals through events and recurring themes. Whether it’s leadership, faith, or rebirth, there’s always something to learn from LOST. Here, we have detailed 10 life and career lessons that you can take from LOST.

Strong leadership is essential. Without strong leadership, the survivors would not have fared as well as they did. Leaders like Jack, Locke, Kate, and Hurley worked to guide and delegate when necessary, especially in times of panic. None of them were perfect, but they were, most importantly, effective and available.

Teamwork and cooperation are vital to success. One of the most pivotal lines from LOST is, “Live Together, Die Alone.” Jack shared these words to remind the survivors that they needed to work together, rather than be selfish and panic individually. This teaches us that teamwork and understanding of each other are essential to being a part of a group, and that more can be accomplished by working together.

Be indispensable. Although he wasn’t always the most popular among the survivors on the island, John Locke was always important. He displays characteristics that make him a valuable member of the team, including his ability to track, hunt, and follow his faith to reveal secrets. Locke shows us how vital it is to share your talents and let them be known.

Communication is more valuable than you know. With all the confusion on the island, you’d think at some point they’d all just sit down and share what they know. If only all of the characters among the survivors, The Others, Dharma, and other groups had shared information with each other, the mysteries of the island could have been revealed sooner and lives may have been saved. In regular life, communication is key-you can help save time, effort, and mistakes just by sharing what you know with others.

It’s never too late to start over. So many LOST characters experienced a rebirth of some kind. Charlie gave up heroin, Claire embraced her role as a mother, Jin and Sun rekindled their love on the island, and Mr. Eko took his brother’s place as a priest. Even Locke and Rose found new life, as their serious ailments were healed. If your life is not where you’d like it to be right now, you don’t have to get stuck on an island to change it.

Take time to have some fun. Even in the frenzy of Season 1, Hurley helped remind the survivors to take it easy. He set up the “Island Open” so that they could play golf, and worked to revive an old VW van on the island. Both events made a huge impact on morale, and overall, Hurley has been a voice of reason and positivity for the survivors.

Everyone lies. Nearly all of the LOST characters had cons and deceptions, even those that seem to be trustworthy. Kate murdered her stepfather, Michael led his friends into an ambush, Sun lied to Jin several times, and Ethan infiltrated the survivor’s camp. People can be trusted overall, but it’s important to ask questions and never assume you know the whole story.

Realize when you have a bargaining chip. When Jack agreed to operate on Ben and save his life, he was able to put him in a precarious situation and use him as a hostage so that Sawyer and Kate could escape. When negotiating, it’s valuable to remember what you have to offer, and what you have that others want.

Faith and facts are equally important. LOST presents an almost constant struggle between science and faith. Often, facts are not enough to go on, or you just don’t have enough information to fill in the gaps. Faith and intuition are essential in the LOST world, as they are in real life. Trust what you know as a fact, but pay attention to what you believe as well.

Always have on clean underwear. You never know when you’re going to end up on a deserted island. And on that note, always travel with more hygiene products than you think you’ll need. In all seriousness, it does help to plan ahead and be prepared for the unexpected.

Guest article compliments of: http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2010/05/10/top-10-life-and-career-lessons-from-lost/

This article is courtesy of Tim Tyrell-Smith, Founder at Tim’s Strategy – Ideas for Job Search, Career and Life ( http://www.timsstrategy.com ).

Thinking about hiring a career coach?  A resume expert?  There are a lot of choices out there, so how do you decide?

During the pre-recession housing boom, everyone wanted to be a real estate agent.  Or a mortgage broker.  There was a lot of activity in the housing market and, often, a lot of money to be made.

A lot of well-meaning people were quickly certified or trained to work in these jobs.  They came out of the woodwork.  And that’s a natural thing to happen as industry growth shifts with the economy.

Similar to the housing market shift, the recession has created new market opportunities.  A significant crowd of smart people were laid off or otherwise removed from their roles.  And over the past few years have been working to find new roles with new companies.  So this crowd has needs.  Many have never been out of work before.  Have never needed a resume.  Have no network on which to ask for help.

So, as you might expect, there are a lot of new voices out there.  Including mine.  I also imagine that the associations who train and certify career coaches and resume experts continue to get significant new applicants.  Makes sense.  So you might be asking . . .

How do you determine whether the investment in a career coach or resume expert makes sense?

To answer this, you really have to do some thinking on your end.  What is the problem you are really looking to solve?

Some examples of common problems I hear from job seekers I talk to each week include:

• I’m getting no response to my resume (no calls, no emails)
• I must be interviewing poorly because I never get to the second round (and rarely hear why)
• I don’t have a strong network (worried that I’m not hearing about new jobs)
• I’m not confident in my marketing materials or my marketing pitch (elevator pitch)
• I feel inefficient (wasting time doing things the old way and not social media savvy)

And all of these issues can be addressed effectively with the help of a career expert.  But if you don’t identify your real issues, you can spend a lot of money getting help that you don’t need.  And still have the real issue weighing you down.

Because your issue with not getting a response to your resume may be related to your resume.  But it also may be related to the jobs you are targeting.  For example, if you are trying to change industries right now.  Tough time to do that.  Or if you are unqualified for a job.  But apply anyway.

You can also look for signs.  Signs that your job search is on the right track.  Because when you do that you’ll begin to measure your success.  And learn over time where your strategy is broken.  And when it is really more of an execution issue.

But when you figure out your issue.  And realize that it can be solved with professional help.  The decision to spend some money feels good.  And it can be a huge confidence booster.

In my 2007 job search, I didn’t need resume or interview strategy support.  Not my issues.  But I still hired two fantastic coaches.  I hired them for two very specific purposes.

The first I hired to help me think about longer term career focus and strategy issues (job search is also a great time to rebuild your longer term goals).  The second I hired because they were incredibly well connected in my target geography.  In my eyes, this was a very smart spend.  Tactical and powerful.  She opened doors and phone lines for me with powerful people.

So you can use a career coach or resume expert for big strategic issues or smaller, more tactical ones.  You can also just admit that you are lost and find someone who can build you a comprehensive job search plan.  And be there with you every step of the way.

Some other considerations:

1. What is your financial situation? If you have the cash and believe that you have a significant issue, then I firmly believe you spend the money early vs. languishing with the problem for weeks and months.  Because then you begin to lose momentum and confidence.  Many hesitate here.
2. Are you self-accountable? If you are not in an accountability group (a group that meets weekly to keep each other stay on track with objectives), a career coach can be that person to keep you focused.  And hit you with the 2×4 when you need to wake up and smell the Starbucks.
3. Are you knowledgeable? Brand new to your search?  First time searching in 10+ years?  A veteran of search but struggling in this more competitive economy?  Your knowledge base is an important consideration in deciding how to use a career expert.
4. What job search stage are you in? Just laid off?  Out over a year?  You may need to find a career coach who specializes in helping job seekers at various stages.  And you may look to structure a relationship that adjusts over time.  In terms of the way you pay your coach.  And the amount of their time that you receive.
5. How are you with taking direction? Some aren’t good receiving advice and tend to be pretty independent.  And while this can be a detriment, you have to know yourself.  And work with a career expert who is a good fit.  Personality wise.

So if you’ve identified your issue (or set of issues) and know your situation, I highly recommend getting in touch with 2-3 career experts.  Set up a 30 minute first discussion (should be free) so that you can explain your issue.  Ask them for examples of people they’ve worked with who have similar issues.  Ask about their process.  And ask how they are compensated (hourly, weekly or project based).  You can also ask them for referrals.  People you can call to see if former clients left happy, satisfied, and with new jobs.

I’d also like to remind you about my career expert directory.  It is a growing list that includes experts in the US, Europe and Canada.  A searchable database of coaches, resume writers, career bloggers, authors, radio show hosts who can be a resource for you during your search.  And everyone who gets on the list is pre-screened and approved by me.  You can search for a local resource or look for the best resource in a particular field and work with them virtually (by phone or email).  Very common these days.

If you could have access to the best tips, resources, and advice from some of the best experts in the career search industry all in one place would you be interested?

Chris Perry at CareerRocketeer has brought together 20 career experts to share their wisdom on everything personal branding, job search, resume, and career related. (My disclaimer here is that I’m one of the experts! Just so we’re upfront).

His new book Launchpad: Your Career Search Strategy Guide features experts: William Arruda, Meghan Biro, John Crant, Maria Elena Duron, Hajj Flemings, Phil Gerbyshak, Meg Guiseppi, G.L. Hoffman, Jessica Holbrook, Tory Johnson, Pete Kistler, Jennifer Kushell, Liz Lynch, Mike Michalowicz, Chris Perry, Brent Peterson, Phil Rosenberg, Jacob Share, Carol Tuttle and Tim Tyrell-Smith

Each expert shares advice on their individual area of expertise. I highly recommend you check out this new book. I’ve read all the material from the other contributors and feel it is an amazing compilation of great career information that no job seeker should be without.

You can read more about Launchpad here: http://launchpad.careerrocketeer.com/

Or you can purchase the book on Amazon.com.

For more great resources and tips be sure to check out our other blog articles on resume writing, LinkedIn, and job search success. You can also request a free resume analysis by sending your resume to info@greatresumesfast.com.

Now that the New Year is upon us, it’s time make some choices regarding your executive job search that could help offer you a fresh start. The beginning of the year is the perfect time to evaluate your job search methods and to find ways to improve your chances of landing a dream position in 2010.

Reevaluate What You Want

As you’re thinking about the executive career you’re looking for, it’s good to make sure you feel the same way that you did about your career track a few months ago. It’s natural to evolve over time and have your career objectives evolve with you. So before you go with the “flow” you’ve created for yourself, take some time to make sure you’re heading in the direction you want to move in at this point. You may realize that it’s time to actually reevaluate your goals and begin searching for a career in a totally different industry.

Look for New Industry Trends

If you’re sure that you’re on the right track with the career you’re pursuing, even at this stage in your career, it’s good to keep searching for new trends to learn and understand. You may know a great deal about your industry, but without being entrenched in it regularly, it’s hard to know everything that’s going on. So in the New Year, it’s a good idea to see what new trends are expected in your industry then take the necessary steps to prepare yourself for changes (i.e. take new classes, add new categories to your blog, etc.).

Build Your Online Professional Brand

If you have yet to expand on your online presence, it is more than important that you get started sooner than later, so why not do it for the New Year? Many employers recruit executive-level professionals they’ve found online, so it’s important to build a brand in this area.

One fast and easy way to build an online presence is to create a free LinkedIn profile that allows you to list your employment history, education, and even garner recommendations. Also, you could create a free blog that allows you to give tips, advice and insight about your field.

Another great way to expand your online presence is to purchase a website domain in your name. This can be cheap–expect to pay as little as $10 per year, with additional costs of about $5 per month for hosting. On your website, you could create a simple page that lists your name, title, contact information and a link to your LinkedIn page/resume (don’t forget to create a creative, yet professional design).

Review Your Resume

One of the most important ways to get a good start to your job search in 2010 is to review your resume. Add anything to your resume that might be significantly influential, including training courses, guest blogs, etc. Also, you want to check to grammar and spelling errors, as well as any cosmetic adjustments you might want to make to help improve its appearance. With every new year comes a breadth of new opportunities, and you’ll certainly want to take advantage of these opportunities whenever and wherever possible. So as you prepare for a new year of job seeking, don’t forget to refresh and rebuild for 2010.

For a FREE resume analysis send your resume to us at Info@greatresumesfast.com. You can also view professionally written resume and cover letter samples at http://www.greatresumesfast.com/Samples.htm.