Ask The Expert Kim Mohuiddin and Your Resume

Ask The Expert Kim Mohuiddin and Your Resume It took a while for me to finish some other deadlines, and then convert this file, and then edit a few things out but finally its here the first Ask The Expert recording.  Sign up for the others here. Note: I didnt record the first few minutes but it starts very close to the beginning enjoy Kim Mohuiddin! Ask The Expert Kim Mohuiddin and Your Resume It took a while for me to finish some other deadlines, and then convert this file, and then edit a few things out but finally its here the first Ask The Expert recording.  Sign up for the others here. Note: I didnt record the first few minutes but it starts very close to the beginning enjoy Kim Mohuiddin! Ask The Expert Kim Mohuiddin and Your Resume It took a while for me to finish some other deadlines, and then convert this file, and then edit a few things out but finally its here the first Ask The Expert recording.  Sign up for the others here. Note: I didnt record the first few minutes but it starts very close to the beginning enjoy Kim Mohuiddin!

How to Be More Persuasive Part 2 Reciprocity

How to Be More Persuasive Part 2 Reciprocity Influence  is a book about how to be more persuasive, written by Robert Cialdini, Ph.D., who admits in the introduction that he wanted to research how and why he became such a patsy. “For as long as I can recall,” he writes, “I’ve been an easy mark for the pitches of peddlers, fundraisers and operators of one sort or another.” Cialdini dedicates his book to deconstructing what makes language persuasive, and it comes down to efficiency. We crave simplicity, because the world is increasingly complex. Thinking through every stimulus we encounter in a given day would be impossible. Our brain tries to be as efficient as possible when performing tasks, which makes us masters of shortcut thinking and intuitive understanding. (This is a cool example of the shortcuts your brain can take.) We excel at anticipating what will come next, and that means that we’re also pretty easy to fool. Not all persuasive behavior is intended to fool us, of course.   Just the best stuff. You may think you’re a completely rational being. All brain; facts and figures are the only things that can persuade you.   Good luck with that. Science tells us differently. Cialdini breaks down why simple techniques trigger automatic responses and make us very likely to buy, or do, things we might not if we thought about it consciously. In my previous post, I explained how simply giving a reason, no matter how simple or obvious, compels people to comply. Another ridiculously simple technique is Reciprocity. We’re hardwired to see any gift or gesture, no matter how small, as an obligation. The roots of this behavior are very ancient; humans could only guarantee survival by belonging to a social group. Remaining in the group, especially for vulnerable or young members, was a life or death matter.  Cooperative behavior, including returning favors, was an essential skill. Members who took and never gave back risked being ejected from the group. (We still despise “takers” today, even when the stakes aren’t life or death.) So when someone offers you anything, no matter how small, you feel a strong, primal need to reciprocate. To rid yourself of being in debt by repaying a favor as soon as possible. Cialdini writes, “By virtue of the reciprocity rule, then, we are obligated to the future repayment of favors, gifts, invitations, and the like.” Cialdini observed this in action in the Hare Krishna groups who roamed the airports and other public places in groups in the 1970s.   They gave out a book or a tired, faded daisy, something that most people didn’t want to accept. But the gentle Hare Krishna members would press it on recipients, then gently ask for a donation. That small token made people feel indebted, even when they knew the ploy. People gave money, no matter how they felt about the movement and even when they threw away the token immediately after the interaction. The movement raised millions using reciprocity in a simple and brilliant way. That’s why today, you receive free address labels, pens, even dollar bills in packages asking for your time, your money, or your attention. Even when you know it’s coming, reciprocity works. There’s even another version of this effect, sometimes called the Ben Franklin Effect. Franklin theorized that you become more fond of a person after you have done them a good turn, rationalizing the unnecessary effort you expended. Likewise, the theory goes, you may come to dislike someone you’ve harmed. It’s another way our brains fool us into thinking we’re rational and in charge. Next: Contrast as persuasion.

Personal Branding Interview Chris Houchens - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Branding Interview Chris Houchens - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Today, I spoke to Chris Houchens, who is a marketing speaker, writer, blogger, and consultant. Chris’ latest book is Brand Zeitgeist: Embedding Brand Relationships into the Collective Consciousness. In this interview, Chris talks about what the brand zeitgeist is, how to attract customers to your brand, how blogging has helped his career, first and last impressions, and customer relationships. What is the Brand Zeitgeist? The Zeitgeist is an abstract concept to describe the evolving collective consciousness of society. Its whats on peoples minds, what theyre talking about in their social circles, and it shapes how trends are developed. Branding is also an abstract idea to describe the relationship between consumers and a company. It struck me that the best conduit and medium for brand messaging to aspire to was the zeitgeist. A zeitgeist brand is always top-of-mind and become part of consumers lives. I wrote Brand Zeitgeist to reinforce basic marketing and branding principles in a way that even marketing novices could understand and teach businesses how to use fundamental aspects of human nature to develop a brand strategy. What does it take to get under your customers skin? To get under their skin, you have to get inside your customers heads and integrate your brand into their lives. The mistake many small businesses make is that they approach their marketing from their own perspective. You always have to market from the mindset of the customer. Brand Zeitgeist teaches that a brand is nothing more than a long-term relationship between a customer and the business. The question is how do you nurture that relationship and develop other relationships with new customers? The answer is to use fundamental aspects of human nature to develop the brand strategy. How do your customers interact in their personal social circles? Instead of trying to force the brand message, make it a natural part of the customers life. In Brand Zeitgeist, I delve into Maslows Hierarchy of Needs to see where brands fit in the human relationship. I discuss sociological and anthropological structures of society to see how companies can emulate personal relationships. I talk about three points (development, messaging, and customer service / experience) that all brands need to address in order to build a brand zeitgeist. Businesses can tap into the power of the zeitgeist to spread their marketing messages by bringing their brand to the forefront of customers minds. Businesses can also use the zeitgeist to provide those customers the tools to spread their message through word-of-mouth and other viral channels. Customers now have partial control of the brand and are developing conversations about the brand in real life and online. Smart companies will help guide those conversations. When did you decide to start your blog and what success have you had with it so far? Ive been blogging continuously at the Shotgun Marketing Blog since January of 2005. Previously, I had just been posting white papers on my marketing speaking and consulting web site and I found that blogging allowed much more flexibility in content. Over the past few years, Ive really enjoyed the interaction and success that the blog has enabled me to have. I was a guest blogger on Fast Companys FCNow blog. I was one of the first 5 entries on the Z-List. Seth Godin included my blog on his Bullmarket directory after he published Purple Cow. I debuted on the Adage Power 150 in the top 50. But the big success of the blog has really manifested itself in a few major ways: its enabled me to spread my ideas, its allowed my business to grow and it has opened up a world of new connections and friends all over the world. Unfortunately, in the past year or so with my focus on writing the book and interactions on other platforms like Twitter, I pushed the blog to the back burner. Im renewing my focus on blogging and Im looking forward to revitalizing my posting schedule. Is a first impression more powerful than a last impression? How do you make sure you nail both? The first snap judgment influences all interactions that come after it. It’s important that there’s a clear sense of what you want that impression to communicate. That’s why a strategy is so important. It’s regrettable that many companies (and with personal branding, people) don’t have a clear strategy of what they want to convey to others. Why long-term relationships off of quick money-makers? There’s the old saying of you meet the same people on your way back down the ladder as you met on the way up. It’s important to build a positive relationship with all interactions with all customers because you don’t know what role those customers will play in the future. An immediate concern now is that the consumer may create a long-term brand effect with a quick money-making interaction. If they have a negative customer experience, the story of that experience may spread exponentially through social media. The same thing can happen with a positive experience. The most important aspect of building a brand is the customer experience. Chris Houchens is a marketing speaker, writer, blogger, and consultant. He has spent years working in both media and marketing including as the operations manager of a radio group, as the online director of a newspaper, and as the marketing director of a healthcare organization. Houchens is a dynamic marketing speaker traveling worldwide delivering marketing keynotes and other presentations to conferences and corporate events. Chris’ blog, the Shotgun Marketing Blog offers common sense insights on marketing and has been ranked as a top marketing blog. Chris’ latest book is Brand Zeitgeist: Embedding Brand Relationships into the Collective Consciousness. He also is a co-author of the 2007 book, Achieving Customer Mindshare through Advertising. In addition, Chris is a contributing writer and source for numerous online resources and print publications. Chris is a past president of the Professional Marketing Association and was honored as that organization’s 2007 Marketer of the Ye ar. He was privileged to have been selected as a Forum Fellow for the Louisville Courier-Journal. He serves as a volunteer for several non-profit organizations and has served on several non-profit boards as a marketing advisor. Follow Chris on Twitter at @shotgunconcepts.

The Importance of Reading Job Descriptions Thoroughly

The Importance of Reading Job Descriptions Thoroughly When job searching, we instinctively want to skip through most of the description and get straight to the application process. You want to skim through and fill out as many applications as possible. Well, I know first hand how important it is to read through the entire job description. After all, that is exactly what led me to the wonderful opportunity I have now.First, I would like to share my professional biography with you. It will give you a little bit of information about me and my story and I share with you how reading a job description thoroughly, made an impact. Perhaps it will help you land that interview at the company of your dreams.If you read my bio, you know that I am a mom of two toddlers. A couple of years ago, I decided to leave work to be a stay at home and care for my kids for awhile. I had a resume gap of about 2 years. When I decided to get back into the workforce, finding a job proved to be more difficult than I ever would have expected.While I was reading one o f the job listings, I noticed it said, “bonus if you can catch the typo in this listing.” I was able to catch the typo and I mentioned it in my cover letter when I applied. Because of that one little sentence, my application stood out among over 300 other applicants. It landed me my interview, gave me the chance to show who I am and why I would be a great fit for the role and that landed me my job.So, Why Does It Make a Big Difference to the Hiring Manager?Filtering Applications - Hiring managers can get hundreds of applications for each job posting. That little ‘bonus points’ question can help act as a quick filter through the applications.Proves you know the job - It shows the hiring manager that you read through the job description. You know what the job will entail. It proves that you read the responsibilities and qualifications needed for the job. It also shows that you applied because you believe that you are a good fit for the position.Why Is It Important to You?Narro ws Your Search - It helps you to narrow down jobs that you believe you are the perfect fit for based on the job requirements and your skills.Helps you stand out - Getting a rejection letter before you even get an interview can be very discouraging. When you mention something from the job post in your cover letter, it helps your application stand out amongst others.Saves you time - say you applied for a job but didn’t read the description and there were some responsibilities or job duties in the role that you don’t like. So you follow up with the hiring manager, even schedule an interview. After speaking, you realize that you don’t like what the job entails and the job is not a good fit for you. You wasted an hour of your time when you could have been applying for a job that better suits your experience, wants and needs.By reading job descriptions thoroughly, you give yourself the chance to catch something in the post that you can add to your cover letter. This helps your cover letter stand out. It could automatically put your application in the lead even before resume review.Reading a job description thoroughly can be the difference in whether the company considers you for the job. So the next time you are job searching, take the extra couple of seconds to read the entire job post. You may find a little ‘bonus point’ that will make all the difference to how your application will be seen by a hiring manager. I know it did for me.

What is the Best Objective to Put When Writing a Resume?

What is the Best Objective to Put When Writing a Resume?There are many different things that you can put on your resume and not all of them are created equal. Many people do not really know what objective to put on their resume and this is why they cannot get hired.First, if you do not have any other work experience to brag about, then you should never include a past position in your person's resume. It is an oversight that many employers fall for. I know it sounds crazy but it is true.While it may seem a little strange, remember that you want your job objective to be something that attracts the employer to you. When you list a job objective, you are only describing what you do for a living, not who you are. A job objective should give you a description of who you are and what you are looking for in a job.Your objective should be very specific. Do not say, 'I want a job with the Army. I am a good leader and like working with other people.' What you should say is something like: 'I am a good leader and like working with other people.'Recruiters use these words more than anything else on your resume. The recruiter gets something out of a job objective and you are not getting anything out of one.Make sure you do not forget to include work history on your resume. It is almost necessary to have a work history because it adds to your credibility. If you do not have any work history, recruiters are going to view you as just another job seeker.I know that is hard to picture, but just imagine you are a recruiter and you are looking at a bunch of resumes. If you only see one, what should you do? If you see no work history, you will write the person off.When writing a resume, make sure you write your objectives in the exact same way that you would write a cover letter. This will help you feel more confident that you will be included in the next round of interviews.

8 Ways You Can Improve Your Business Writing - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

8 Ways You Can Improve Your Business Writing At work, youll communicate more via the written word than any other method. It can be a lot more convenient and easier for you, but it does have its downsides. You can and will be judged by how you write. Heres 8 ways you can improve your business writing skills, and get ahead at work. Work out your objective: Before you write anything, you need to know why youre writing it. What do you need to get across to the reader? If you have this nailed down first, your message is going to be a lot more effective, and to the point. Put your most important point first: If youve worked out what your objective is, then youll need to make sure that you put it front and centre in your message. Your goal is to ensure that the most important point of your message is in the first sentence of your message. That way, the reader knows what youre trying to say right away. Remove the jargon: There will be some cases where you cant avoid some amount of jargon. Wherever you can, though, take it out. Jargon only has meaning to a small amount of people, and it makes your writing more difficult to comprehend. Most of the time, its just unnecessary. Go through your messages and remove them whenever you can. Simplify your language: Many people try to use more grandiose vocabulary when at work, as they think it makes them look better. In fact, it can actually make you seen rather ridiculous. Its much better to use simpler language, as it gets your point across quicker and without hassle. Use online resources: If youre serious about improving your writing, then its a good idea to start using online resources to help you. Here are a few you should consider using: Via Writing: This grammar resource can help you improve your grammar with their easy to use guides. Easy Word Count: Check the length of your messages with this tool. State Of Writing: This site is full of writing guides that you can use to improve your writing. Markdown Here: This tool can help you format your emails with ease. Huffington Post: Read this article to check on where to find writing assistance. Cite It In: Use this tool to get the right citation for any source you use in your writing. Ask someone to read your writing: Its hard to see what needs changing in your own writing, as youre so close to it. Ask a trusted colleague to check it for you, and see what they have to say. They can help you make improvements you hadnt thought of. Break down the task: Many people find themselves opening a new document and just staring at it, as they dont know where to start. The best thing to do is to break the task down into smaller tasks, so you have a framework to work with. Proofread and edit: You should always proofread and edit everything you write. If you do this, youll stop mistakes slipping through that make you look unprofessional. These 8 tips will help you get the most out of your business writing, and give the right impression. Give them a try and youll see the improvement right away. Author bio: Mary Walton is a CV proofreader at UK  CV Service. She loves writing, thats why she started her blog, Simple Grad a couple of years ago (check her blog post  ResumeHelp.com Review).

College Sites for a Tough Job Market - CareerAlley

College Sites for a Tough Job Market - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. While this is one of the toughest job markets weve seen, there seems to be a fair number of entry level jobs available based on the job search boards. Generally speaking, entry level jobs fair the worst in this type of economy. Companies that are hard pressed to save money and reduce staff numbers are not as likely to add new jobs in a shrinking economy. That being said, it is even more reason for new and upcoming college grads to be diligent in their job search. Todays post is another installment in resources for new and recent grads. Gradgrad.com This site focuses on recruiting for college grads. It appears to work like most job search sites sign up (add your resume), employers search for you and then, according to the site add you to their list. You can do a job search by several different criteria. Collegecentral.com This site offers quite a few options. You can click on student central which focuses on entry level jobs, alumni central which focuses jobs for recent grads and Career Services Central which allows you to connect with mentors. The site also has a job search kit, which provides resources on resumes, cover letters and interviews. There are also a very wide range of articles on the first page. Aftercollege.com Aftercollege offers searches for internships and entry level jobs. You can register or just search. You can search by job categories and there are a number of job tools on the main page. This site also has endorsements which are similar to recommendations on LinkedIn, which allows professors, managers or anyone you want to put in the good word for you. Many Entry-Level Workers Find a Rough Market An interesting, if depressing, NY Times article which provides some interesting statistics on the state of the job market for entry-level workers A quick admin note Ive added a page dedicated to articles which have been covered on the site, the link is included on the right-hand side under links to resources Good luck in your search. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to land your first job. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search