Many of you are likely subscribed to a number of feeds providing the latest blog posts on executive career management, Monster’s job posts or a daily inspirational article. Recently, I opened one of hundreds of articles that I have been subscribed to for the past few years and quickly deleted it. When I realized I had barely looked at the content prior to deleting it, it suddenly occurred to me why this particular blog post didn’t resonate with me.

This is a favourite blog post which I often share on Facebook or retweet on Twitter. As an inspirational post, many of the authors are recognized for their courage in sharing their own personal experiences touching on failures and successes to offer advice. The key word is personal! It denotes a genuine and authentic impression lending credibility to the content.

The reason I quickly deleted that particular days article without investing the time to read it was because it lacked a personal touch; the photo! Since all but this one post have consistently provided a personal photo and short introduction, it wasn’t until I received one without it that I realized it had been a key component of these articles; it put a human being behind the words. It was a personal touch which generated a first impression of credibility.

First impressions count! Reaching out to offer a firm handshake is the personal touch which will interest someone to get to know you. It is a personal message on Linkedin rather than the generic message that will inspire someone to link in with you. And it will be a professional photo added to your online profiles which will create a positive first impression and the personal touch needed to generate credibility. It will influence decision makers to invest the time to read your profile and discover your qualifications. Although your cover letter and resume will not include a photo, the opportunity is still there to add a personal touch by sending it attention to a specific individual and adding content which is directly related to the company and position.

The face to face personal touch, whether a firm handshake, a genuine smile or a friendly greeting will generate a positive impression. If you want to share information online, a professional photo generates a positive first impression and is key to establishing a genuine, authentic and credible brand. Don’t forget this most important personal touch!

ABOUT US

Elite Resumes has been providing successful resume help and job search strategies since 1993. Martin Buckland, Principal of Elite Resumes, is one of Canada’s leading authorities on highly effective resume writing, high impact cover letters, successful job-search strategies, executive coaching, personal branding and interview tutoring. He has many years of training, experience, professional development and industry knowledge. Tap into his elite network of key human resources, executive search firm and placement contacts.

Martin’s certifications elevate him to an elite group of career professionals in North America:

Certified Professional Resume Writer
Co-Pilot Executive Coach
Certified Job & Career Transition Coach
Certified Job Search Trainer
Certified Professional Branding Strategist
Certified Employment Interview Professional
Online Professional Networking Strategist
Microblogging Career Strategist
Social Networking Career Strategist
Certified Social Media Career Strategist

Whether you are looking for a job, a position or the role you are passionate about, the goal is ultimately the same and so to is the key to success; you must be absolutely clear on what the job, position or passion entails! Exactly what does it look like? Do you have the necessary qualifications and experience? Is it a viable industry? A clear vision will result in a more focused search and an easily recognizable career path, one which will be noticed by decision makers.

Clarity in the direction of your career will result in the confidence that is needed to stand out in the crowd and positively influence recruiters and HR professionals. If you are not sure about where your career is headed, you can be assured that those recruiting to fill a specific role will have no idea either and no reason to consider you as a potential candidate.

Organizations are very clear about the position they wish to fill and Recruiters or HR professionals are entrusted to secure the right candidate; the individual that most closely resembles this criteria and one who exudes the confidence that says, “I’m the right candidate and I will exceed your expectations in this job!” It is the clarity, confidence and expertise exuded that has even influenced some employers to create a position in their organization.

If you are currently in career transition and not completely confident in the direction of your career or employed in a position that is not meeting your expectations, seek out professional advice from an Executive Career Management Professional. “A professional coach will listen, collaborate, support and assist you to identify and gain clarity on your goals, achieve your dreams, fulfill your aspirations and enhance your power to succeed.”

It is not always easy to establish an email address using your given name especially if your name happens to be John Smith or Jane Brown. When altering your name to acquire an available email address careful consideration should be given to avoid confusion.

After reviewing registrations recently for one of our monthly networking meetings, it was obvious that email addresses which varied greatly from a given name were not only a problem for us but seemed to be for the owners of the email address as well. On 2 separate registrations from the same individual one email address consisted of their first and last name and the other, their first and last name with the number 1 after it. Which one is the correct one? Did the owner create 2 separate email accounts? How far back do we go to discover the correct one? Let’s search incoming mail even though it appears the 1 was simply a typo.  Remember, don’t assume because the email with the number 1 after the name was the correct “one”.

Another email which appeared to be the first name and the first 3 letters of the last name also required further investigation because the first three letters of the last name were brd but the email address was bdr! Another typo? Is someone dyslexic? Was the last name spelled incorrectly or was the email address incorrect? Upon further investigation, which is my point, the inconsistency between the name and the email address was correct!

This is the given name, kazimier and this is the name used for the email address, casimir! Should we invest any additional time to consider if there is a typo here?

If you simplify your email address costly mistakes could easily be avoided. Imagine an amazing lead that could have come your way except the email address you provided for yourself was incorrect or was translated incorrectly! We are all aware that keeping it simple will result in fewer mistakes and increase efficiency. Your email address is a key piece of contact data; choosing to become too creative could lead to confusion.

Here are a few tips to consider for your 2012 email address:

• Write down your full name, the name which appears on your resume and mailing address and establish an email address that is as clearly related to this name as possible.
• Do not use words other than your name such as ballplayer, sexyone or gonefishing. The days of Hotmail are long gone and if you still have a hotmail or aol address, get rid of it.
• If your proper name is available, use it and only it. Don’t add numbers, extra letters or varied spelling if it is not necessary.
• If your name is not available give consideration to using a middle name or initials. Avoid numbers or a year of birth which mean nothing to anyone else who may be trying to decipher your email address. Consider a first initial with middle name or something which might be more familiar to those interested in your email address such as, johnsmithcga@ or johnsmithemba@.
• Avoid underscores as they are sometimes lost in the underline or confused with a dot. Unless the letters are within your name, use caution with i’s and j’s. Depending on the font type used, ijij you could be left guessing which letter it is.
• Stay as consistent as you possibly can and no one will ever be left guessing! The easier you are to contact the better your chances are of being contacted. The consistency between your name and your email address should be extended to your twitter, facebook and linkedin url’s; .com/name
• Create your google profile and establish an @gmail.com account. Rogers.com is another respected email provider.
• Those who have stayed current have likely purchased one or more domain names using a given name or company name. Establishing an email address in relation to the domain name is usually free and another option for creating a consistent, professional email address; JohnSmith@johnsmith.com.

Simplify your email address and reduce the risk of mistakes. That missed email might have been the opportunity of a lifetime!

Dismissed, let go, downsized or laid off! It doesn’t matter what term is used to describe it, they all SUCK! Although it is rarely a personal issue, it is impossible not to take it personally! Most will feel alone, rejected and scared combined with shock, disbelief, resentment, anger, overwhelming self pity and shame. All of those negative emotions can lead to some poorly made decisions so despite the emotional roller coaster that you will be riding for at least a few days, do your best to hold on tight and ride the waves of emotion.

Don’t go to the bar! Do go to the gym. Share the news only with those who truly care about you and have the ability to be both empathetic and supportive. If you believe the company or organization is not offering a fair and acceptable severance package seek legal advice immediately.

Worrying about the future will not change anything so think of your job loss as an unexpected holiday and your traumatic experience will become much more bearable, at least for the short term.

As much as we would like to believe all employees are respected and regarded as more than a name or a number, this isn’t always the reality of the situation at the corporate level and downsizing a department may be related simply to the number of employees or length of tenure rather than the individual so don’t take it personally. If the opportunity was given to prepare a case for NOT ME prior to the company issuing the “pink slip” you might have the right to say WHY ME but that doesn’t happen either.

Join a networking organization for those in career transition as soon as possible. You’ll discover losing a job is as common as acquiring one and any sense you had of being the only one who ever lost a job will quickly vanish.

So stand tall, accept that you have been fired, canned, terminated, dismissed, let go, downsized or laid off along with millions of others! Again, you are not alone. This one closed door will result in an awareness of many open doors, one of which could be the opportunity of a lifetime. Keep an open mind and remain optimistic. You could be ready for a Human Detour.

Martin Buckland has been providing executive career management services since 1993. For further information or to obtain a free resume critique contact Elite Resumes.

It appears that much advice in establishing a visible online presence to generate opportunities for success in your career or business is not getting through. If the question needs to be asked, “where are you?”, it is very likely the effort to find you will be abandoned. It seems that even those who have established long time web sites are providing examples of how not to be found.

A recent search of a professional who sent an email with a link brought up a HTML page that contained absolutely no contact data and no name. The company name was used to do a google search and although a web site was found, again there were no links to anything. No contact data, no name, no social media links. This is how not to be found!

If you do not have a Linkedin profile, you are not among over 100 million professionals networking and sharing opportunities and you won’t be found. If you have developed a profile but failed to include any further contact details, you still may not be found if a recruiter prefers to pick up the phone or use email.

HR professionals wishing to verify the various causes you said you supported in a job interview but couldn’t find results in the news media will likely look to Facebook for verification. If you do not have a Facebook profile or Page, you won’t be found!

Submitting a resume is usually done in the hope that someone at the receiving end will respond. Despite this intent resumes are submitted every day without phone numbers, email addresses or Linkedin addresses. You can be assured that without this basic information there will be no response and you will not be found!

Networking in person is as critical to your success as networking online but attending an event without sharing a business card providing adequate contact data is just one more example of how not to be found!

Are you in charge of your career or have you left it on autopilot without a destination? Sooner or later the fuel will be spent and in today’s job market you could risk crashing in a remote area or you could make the choice to take control and ensure you land in an acceptable location.

A flight plan, not unlike your career path will present challenges at times when it may seem impossible to see beyond the horizon but that does not mean you need to let go of the controls. Staying current and knowledgeable is  powerful. Experience generates confidence and networking results in opportunities. Add to this, a positive outlook, motivation and some professional advice and you have the resources to plan a successful course for your career. Plan well, stay in charge of your career and don’t despair if faced with an unexpected detour, it just might be what you were really looking for.

Contact Martin Buckland for information on the Executive Career Management Services available at Elite Resumes.

When was the last time you were on the phone with someone you were not acquainted with and at the end of the conversation they said, “Have a nice day!” and meant it? Did you smile and reciprocate? It should not be a rare occasion to receive or send a call or message that generates a smile. It’s in everyone’s best interest to establish a positive and lasting first impression and it requires little time or effort to simply brighten someone’s day. 

Many cold calls and messages are initiated in an attempt to acquire services or advice and more often than not,  little consideration is given to the individual answering the call or the impression that will be left with them. Perhaps it is simply the narrow focus on accomplishing the task at hand that hinders the human connection. Agreed, it is difficult to smile when expectations are of a recorded message at the other end of the line and usually one that consumes a great deal more time than we wish to allocate. For many, it will require a conscious effort but it is worth the investment of a few seconds to smile prior to making or receiving a call and to add a thoughtful comment such as “Enjoy your day!” at the end of your conversation or message.

We sometimes find ourselves overloaded with information, frustrated with technology or wishing for more hours in a day. It’s too easy to get caught up in the fast pace of the day and with so much interaction occurring online, it is more important now than ever before to make a conscious effort to interact with others in a solicitous and pleasant manner. Before you pick up the phone, smile! There is little that will influence a positive response more than a smile whether it is seen or felt. Your call or message will be welcomed and you will generate a positive first impression; one that will be remembered.    

Professional letters such as resume cover letters require a more formal salutation such as sincerely or sincerely yours, but for other letters, emails, text messages and social media correspondence an informal salutation is acceptable and appreciated. Break free from old habits and add some thought and consideration to your next message. “Kind regards”, ”Take care” or “All the best”, may more aptly relay your sentiments. 

It is with complete sincerity when I say to you, “Have a nice day!”  
Smiley Face      

Success in your life, your business or your career will be influenced by enthusiasm, confidence, connections, focus, knowledge and motivation. These ingredients for success are not always easily acquired or maintained and a conscious effort is required to stay on track. The following 3 recommendations are sure to have a positive influence, Reignite, Rejuvenate, Relate.

“ReIgnite at the McLaren” Including The Passion Test, presented by Ignite Consulting Group and facilitated by Edye St. Hill, Chief Ignite Officer is accepting registrations for March 22nd at the McLaren Art Centre, Barrie, Ontario.

Individuals or Businesses looking to ReIgnite your life, work or relationships – this is for you! Your Passions and Strengths are the clues to your ideal life. Gaining clarity on them is the first step toward…A Life and Business on Fire!  

Rejuvenate your resume! Maintaining an impressive and current resume is always in your best interest. You never know when the next opportunity will arise. Be prepared with a resume that will entice the most discriminating decision maker to call you in for a job interview. Contact a Certified Professional Resume Writer, Martin Buckland at Elite Resumes for a free critique today. Discussing your many accomplishments is sure to inspire confidence!

Relate to your peers through networking events to share ideas, different perspectives, new leads and resources. Your connections are your support system and you are theirs, in the successful pursuit of all future endeavours! Toronto ExecuNet and Senior ExecuNet is facilitated by Martin Buckland on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Wednesday each month. Register online for one of the GTA locations convenient for you.

If you are actively managing your career you are in need of a continuously updated, wealth of information. Wikipedia is OUR online encyclopedia, the ultimate collaborative online resource and it’s free! Discover pertinent history, acquisitions, key people, current revenue, headquarters, products and more for your list of targeted companies.  

Wikipedia was acknowledged in 2006 by Time Magazine for online collaboration and interaction by millions of users around the world, naming You as Person of the Year, noting on the front cover, ”You control the Information Age. Welcome to your world”.

Wikipedia is now the 5th most visited site in the world with 400 million visitors a month according to Canadian Business magazine. Their fundraising goal of $16 million is expected to raise twice as much as the previous year’s campaign which consisted mostly of banner ads, “A small price to pay for the value received”. The influence of personal branding was evident when donations increased by 400% with a change in the banner ads to a personal request from Jimmy Wales, who started the  organization in 2001.

Globe and Mail recently reported the average Canadian web surfer reads 16 Wikipedia pages a month, which is the most in the world — one more than German users, two more than Polish users and four more than Americans. Canadian users generate about 217,000 edits a month, which ranks 8th among the most productive countries. 

Are you utilizing this online resource to assist you in your job search? If you need to clarify industry related terminology, corporate titles, planning policies, procedures, executive profiles, corporate profiles or obtain a contact name, Wikipedia is a great place to start! Follow up with a Google search for any additional information. Search Twitter for real-time results and Facebook for a Page.   

If you are a senior professional in 2010, you likely have a web page, a blog post, Linkedin profile, Facebook Page, Twitter profile and a significant Google presence. Maintaining a professional profile is important in managing your career but did you know that the information you post could be used by an employer to predict your future within their organization? 

Predictive analytics is the use of algorithms to detect patterns and connections in life to predict future events. A new company in this field, Recorded Future is featured in an article in Macleans, “Corporate Mind Games”, as “the world’s first temporal analytics engine”. By scanning information from websites, news stories, blogs and Twitter pages for links between individuals, groups and incidents in the past and applying ”Temporal Reasoning” they are citing the ability to predict events that haven’t yet happened.

Using past information to predict future events is nothing new as financial data has been used for many years to analyze an individuals credit worthiness. A history of outstanding payments and late payment fees is a good indication of how future payments will be made. In addition to financial information we now have access to a tremendous amount of personal and professional information available online. HR departments have the potential to accumulate and analyze this information to predict the future of their employees. Is it possible that your history will indicate the next time you will call in sick or when you will change jobs? 

As a matter of fact, don’t lie about anything to get a job, including your age! Time after time a conscious decision is made to submit a resume that does not contain the dates for educational accreditation’s. Think about this very carefully. If someone is hiding something it is natural to believe there is a significant reason for it. In reality it backfires every time because the decision to hide the dates on your resume gives the impression you are even older and rather than knowing you were born in the 60′s, will assume you were born in the 50′s! Omitting any pertinent information is not recommended but even worse is to lie about your age to get a job.

Over 80% of recruiters and HR professionals are utilizing social media and checking you out online. If you made a decision to lie about your graduating year on your resume, did you also lie about it on your Facebook profile? What did you put in your Linkedin profile? If the lack of a consistent brand can tarnish a reputation it is obvious the damage that could be done by creating online profiles with contrasting information. Being caught in a lie is a sure fire way to eliminate you as a potential candidate.

Transparency is the sign of the times! A professional resume, an established brand, a visible online presence, testimonials and recommendations from employers and colleagues are all necessary if you want to excel in an executive career. Don’t lie and do not omit dates or employment history. If it was necessary to spend a year caring for a loved one on a full time basis, add it to your resume and list your accomplishments during that time frame.

Contact Elite Resumes for further information on managing your executive career or to obtain a  free resume critique from Martin Buckland, Certified Professional Resume Writer.  

“There are plenty of career opportunities for today’s executives and professionals, if they know the rules of the new job search game. Hear executive expert MARTIN BUCKLAND share the new ground rules. How has the face of resumes changed? Is it enough? What are the key ways we can leverage social media? What else do we really need to know if we are to succeed in landing our career aspirations?”

Elizabeth M. Lengyel, People Coach, interviews Martin on her radio show: BIZ Juice, “Straight-Talk With The Masters”. 

The following comment was posted on a professional networking site by a “professional” who chose to respond to an individual email and replied to all for the entire organization to read.

“This is not appropriate subject material for a job network group. Use your brain a little and quit thinking through your pants.”

Do you think this is an appropriate comment? If you are thinking that it depends on the content in the original message that it referred to, you are making a mistake. Why? Because the original message was spam email. In other words the person who was sent the nasty message for all to see did not send the original email!  Many of us realized the first time we read it that it was spam and I’m not sure why site administrators didn’t catch it sooner but for those of us who did, there is only one inappropriate comment here and that is the one noted above.

Unfortunately, too many of us are familiar with the prevalence of online viruses out there today. I recently received a link from a friend prefaced by his website address making it seem all too authentic except that I knew him well enough to suspect receiving a link without a personalized message. Upon advising him, he confirmed he had not sent out anything to anyone and it was spam.

Don’t assume that an inappropriate message was sent by the sender as it could easily be spam. If you feel the need to ask or respond, keep it one on one and give consideration that your comments could still be distributed at some point for all to see. Secondly, always think before posting any comment giving consideration to how others will receive your message. Is it positive, inspiring, intelligent, productive, or informative? Does it provide an answer to the question asked? Does it clearly relay your message? Is it grammatically correct and free of typos? Finally, when posting any comments online  or distributing an email for all to see, remember the following:

“Two wrongs do not make a right.”

“If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.”

“Do/say unto others as you would have them do/say unto you.”

“It only takes one comment to ruin a good reputation.”

“You don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression.”

Are you exuding  A Professional Image?

Word of mouth in the form of endorsements, testimonials, validations or references is by far the most influential promotional tool available. It is more powerful than any other available marketing initiative and the fact that it is free adds to credibility. Managing a career or promoting a business requires a conscious effort to obtain positive feedback in order to establish a reputation that will attract opportunities for advancement or increase sales of  a service or product. 

More often than not, we are faced with the task of asking for an endorsement or testimonial and find it to be an unpleasant task, especially when it becomes necessary to follow up with further requests. This is not a time to be humble so if it seems a difficult endeavour it may require some additional preparation to increase your self esteem. Your resume is your personalized marketing tool and will help boost your confidence by reviewing your many accomplishments. It has also become acceptable to offer to write your own testimonial and provide it as a draft to lessen the inconvenience for the referrer. Writing about your expertise, valuable skills and abilities will also help to inspire and add the encouragement that might be necessary to overcome any reservations.   

Perhaps the best reference is one that is not requested and is received quite unexpectedly. Recently, it was my pleasure to read a blog posted by Susan Crossman of Crossman Communications which referred to a “terrific presentation” that I gave on resume writing. Not only is this positive feedback appreciated but it is also highly valued as it comes from an expert in communication! The details Susan provides are also a validation that my message was clearly relayed. Thanks Susan!

Think before you post! Rationalize, be considerate, polite and professional. Don’t damage your reputation by letting your emotions get the best of you and posting online comments in haste for all the world to see that you can NEVER take back! If necessary, take the time to walk away and respond at a later time or date. There is nothing wrong with sharing your opinion but don’t ever lose site of the negative impact a damaged reputation can have on your career. The advice we received as children is as applicable today as it was then; If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all!   

Not only will your negative comments damage your reputation in the eyes of those on the site you posted it but social media provides a fast and easy forum to share the news of your online blunder even further than you could imagine, just read, The Anti-Social Media, “..you don’t call people names online. Ever.” ~Jay Dolan.  

Scott Stratten, expert on Twitter and author of UnMarketing, Stop Marketing. Start Engaging, includes a chapter titled, Seven Deadly Social Media Sins, specifically noting, Wrath and writes the worst thing about social media is the reactionary nature of it and goes on to say many don’t think before they tweet, adding, ”It takes a thousand tweets to build a reputation and one to change it all.”    

Unfortunately, the dramatic increase of those contributing content online has had no influence on our educational system. In a Toronto Star article by Barbara Turnbull, Scott Stratten says, “There’s rarely, (a current) curriculum being taught in the Canadian school system – and you’re talking to someone who just finished teaching at Sheridan for eight years. There’s no social media. We’re not even teaching the students and kids who use Facebook every day how to best use that in business. People don’t like to change.”

Although there is clearly a lack of formal education, there is an abundance of educational information available online and John Antonios gives us, 100 Social Media Tips You Must Know Before 2011. Here are just 4 of his extremely valuable tips: 

3.  Social media has made you immortal, but your legacy is your responsibility

47. Do unto others, as you would want others to do unto you

48. Every word counts – the spotlight is always on!

50. Offline, bad can become worse – Online, Bad can become ugly – beware of the viral effect of social media.

Heed this advice and think before you post to avoid damaging your reputation with online comments!

There will always be those who will post online comments containing opinionated, biased or prejudiced points of view giving little or no consideration to what could be perceived by many as offensive content. Some will openly admit they could care less about how anyone else feels or what anyone else thinks. Whether an attempt to mask insecurity or simply a display of arrogance, the negative impact on your personal and professional reputation will severely limit opportunities for advancment in your career. 

Diplomacy, intelligence, confidence, articulation, consideration and validity should be clearly evident in every online comment you choose to share with the world! Your reputation and your brand are key to managing a successful career. One online comment sent in haste or in the heat of the moment has the potential to seriously damage your reputation and result in lost opportunities. Inappropriate or negative comments tend to leave lasting impressions and only recently I found myself in a situation to refer an individual but couldn’t clearly recall why I wasn’t comfortable in doing so. After some deliberation I recalled an offensive and insulting online rant that they had become embroiled in. If this individual could not maintain professional behaviour when all the world was watching, how would they perform on the job? Needless to say, I was unable to offer a personal recommendation and unknown to the potential candidate, an opportunity was lost. Is it possible that your online comments have limited your career advancement? 

Those who are successfully achieving regular advancements in their career are not apt to offend others with online comments but rather to show consistent, mutual respect and consideration. This earned respect generates a larger audience enabling you to share thoughts and ideas with those interested in listening, inspiring support and increasing opportunities for success.  

One of the most renowned Canadians of our time is Chris Hadfield. You need only listen to him speak for a few minutes to understand the magnitude of his achievements and his genuineness as a human being. He is one of the top astronauts in the world and will be the first Canadian astronaut to command the International Space Station. What does this have to do with online comments? Despite this commendable achievement announced in a CBC News article about a truly amazing individual it has produced many negative online comments. I’m not suggesting you waste your time reading them, but what should be noted is the overwhelming support for the positive comments indicated by a thumbs up versus the negative comments with a thumbs down.

Another way to lose respect and damage your reputation is to post online comments that are based on a unique sense of humour. You know who you are if your sense of humour tends to be misunderstood by the majority of people so posting what you believe to be a humorous online comment is a risk you may want to consider very carefully. It won’t get a laugh if it is misunderstood or perceived as offensive. 

Finally, don’t count on anonymity to post slanderous, blastphemous or threatening online comments. Online rants carry big legal risks, an article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune by David G. Savage states, “Although bloggers may have a free-speech right to say what they want online, courts have found that they are not protected from being sued for their comments, even if they are posted anonymously.”

What are you saying online?

“You’ve just won $1,000,000! Email your detailed account information now and we’ll send you the money.” We’ve all received some form of Email spam and recognize it for what it is, SPAM! Although it would be nice, there is no doubt that anyone is going to send you a million dollars from some other country unless it’s in your dreams! There are all types of email spam which is directed at a variety of targets including those who are seeking employment. Are you aware of emails referencing resumes that contain an attachment with a virus? Are you aware of the email campaigns by companies that prey on the vulnerability of job seekers making promises in exchange for thousands of dollars that will never be realized? Job seekers beware!

It’s not always easy to recognize that the personalized email regarding your resume is actually a generic, spam email that has been sent to thousands of individuals. Unfortunately, your resume has probably not been discovered nor does the sender have an opportunity for you. We have all been warned not to open attachments from unknown senders but when someone makes reference to your resume, which you have just updated online in the hopes it will be noticed by someone, the anticipation of a potential opportunity overrides the caution normally exercised when unknown attachments are received. If the message is:        

“Could I get an update on your resume? Your cooperation will be
appreciated in this matter.
The resume we have on file for you is
http://wxw.careerbu ilder.com/ ShareInfo/ Resume.aspx? xxxxxxx DON’T OPEN IT!

Another popular email received by job seekers is also a mass mailing which references your resume and how it caught someone’s attention. Read it carefully and you will notice that the same content could apply to anyone and your resume did not stand out any more than anyone else’s did and no, you did not win the lottery. However, you have been given the opportunity to contact the undersigned for an interview upon which you will be asked to return with your spouse and pay thousands of dollars to obtain the job of your dreams. Search www.ripoff.com for further details. And remember, recruiters will never ask a job seeker for money as they are working for the employer to fill a position.  

Word of mouth is still the best assurance you have to secure the services of a reputable company. Online resources and social media provide a wealth of information including references, company information and contact details. If there is not a real person behind the company name, look elsewhere. The opportunity to easily connect with millions will most often provide a contact who knows someone who you know that will be happy to provide you with a valid recommendation.

Seek out professionals that are accredited in their fields and are highly recommended. Invest in a professional resume, visible online profile, job search strategies, personal branding, career coaching and networking. There could be many along your career path that you will wish to thank for their expertise and support but ultimately the success of your job search will be accredited to one person, YOU!    

The number of factors that will have an influence on your career advancement are infinite! Some will have a moderate impact and others will significantly affect the successful management of your career. The following are the top 12 factors:

1. professional resume
2. online visibility
3. presentable appearance
4. networking
5. confidence
6. education
7. positive thinking
8. leadership abilities
9. communication skills
10. career accomplishments
11. resilience
12. motivation

Although all of these factors will influence the success of your career, it is more important to recognize that all are completely within your control! It may be necessary to acquire the services of a Professional Resume Writer, Personal Branding Strategist or Executive Coach, but it is clearly within your power to achieve results that will positively impact your potential career advancement.

There is one influencing factor however, that is beyond your control and that is career trends. Without careful consideration of current and future career trends in the management of your career, your career advancement could easily be derailed. The volatility of the automotive industry and affiliated manufacturers in Ontario resulted in hundreds of thousands losing their jobs and as such, it would not have been an ideal industry to focus on career advancement. Certainly economic turbulence has impacted many industries, some more than others but there are those that have waned simply as a sign of the times. Keeping abreast of changing trends will assist you in making the right decisions to optimize the probability to further your career. Although changes in industries and career trends are beyond your control, the decisions made surrounding those trends are yours to make. As such, the decision to transition from one industry to another is becoming more prevalent with employers more aware of changing trends and recognizing the significance of transferable skills.    

The prediction of future trends even by the experts can be somewhat of a precarious endeavour but information on career trends, industry trends and top franchise opportunities is abundant and with careful scrutinizing will reveal some consistent and reliable forecasts. “The Best and Worst Industries of the Next Decade” or “The Top 10 Jobs of 2015 Don’t Exist Today!” are worth the read and monitoring statistics on the increase and decline of specific industries available from the U.S. and Canadian Labour Departments will also assist to keeping you informed.

A professional introduction is a significant factor in establishing a positive first impression, critical for those seeking to advance in their careers. Although it is completely under our control, we often find ourselves on auto pilot; unconscious behaviour based on old habits, which may work for some but most individuals should be concentrating on the extra effort necessary to initiate a practiced and polished, professional introduction. Old habits are hard to break and without many years of experience introducing yourself in a professional environment, you may regret relying on your instincts.

Looking good is also critical to a professional introduction. If you’re not sure about your attire, ask for advice. If they’re not sure, buy a new suit! Practice at home in front of a mirror or even better, a video camera, concentrating on eye contact until you have a well rehearsed, clearly articulated, introductory message. Don’t wing it! You may not have realized that up until now, 50% of your vocabulary consisted of “eh?” Give careful consideration to your handshake and practice it. That may sound as ridiculous as advising those submitting a resume to include contact details but more often than not, it is the most basic of protocols and information that are given little attention or consideration leading to easily avoidable mistakes and lost opportunities. Many people do not provide a professional handshake with the majority offering a less than firm handshake, which is usually perceived as a lack of confidence. And then there are those whose handshake is far too firm, especially when the recipient is donning a ring! OUCH!!!

Your investment in a professional introduction will contribute to establishing a memorable and confident first  impression. Follow these five tips to look good, feel good and sound good:

• Attractive, clean and pressed attire
• Eye contact
• Confident but considerate handshake
• Practiced and polished verbal introduction
• Ask how you can help

How do you create a professional introduction when submitting your resume? Accompany your resume with a professional and personalized cover letter!

Professional Independent Communicators Present:

Location: Metro Hall View Map

Are you happy and successful in your career? Do you know how to uncover jobs, contracts and freelance opportunities? This presentation, designed for both freelancers and employees, will provide you with answers to take charge of your career.    

By attending this presentation, you will learn:

• To develop an outstanding performance-based resume
• What search strategy will provide the best results on your time investment
• How to use social media to find key influencers

Speaker: Martin Buckland, founder of Elite Resumes

Martin Buckland is one of North America’s top career management professionals. Martin is a resume and career management expert for several associations and leading MBA schools. His peers recently voted Martin as one of the “Top 22 Career Management Professionals” in the world.

Register HERE