Hard copy resumes. Cover letters. Online database applications. We’ve all created them. Updated them. Managed them. But are they still relevant in today’s job market?

In my seven years in the job market, I’ve always monitored branding trends. What I’ve realized in today’s brutal career landscape, just having a resume and cover letter is not enough. In fact, having an online presence is not enough. You have to maintain it. If you keep these three ideas in mind, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your personal branding objectives.

LinkedIn will be the modern resume
Traditional resumes will not fit into job market in the future. My advice: Forget your Word document resume and start building your online presence so that recruiters can find you. Down the road, companies won’t ask for your resume; they will ask for your website URL.

Your online influence will put you at the top of the pile
Ten years ago, if you had hard skills for the job, that was enough to land the job. As the market became more competitive, companies started looking for soft skills, like presentation, writing, organization and leadership skills. Today, you need to have hard skills, soft skills and online influence. In communications, you could be hired based on your Klout score, Twitter followers or who RTs you.

Your personal brand and professional brand will unite
Think about how many times YOU login to check your Facebook. Most of you reading this probably check a handful of times. When you house your ideas online, your actions can affect the way people around you treat you, in and out of the workplace. Like I’ve always said, everything you publish, and whatever is said about you online could likely be there for a lifetime.

Also, do you agree that HR headhunters are doing online background checks on job applicants? You betcha! Business leaders and employers are already Googling applicants. I predict most companies will use the Internet to verify candidates. If you can’t be found online, it may show you aren’t as valuable to employers as other candidates. Like I’ve been saying for years, I advise everyone to build a personal website and manage your reputation before other people do it for you.

My point to all of this? Take these trends seriously when moving forward in your career. The sooner you build your brand and take advantage of new technologies, the more prepared you will be for a successful future!

What would you add? Join the conversation.

Note: This is an adaptation of written works and ideas of Dan Schawbel and Sarah Evans.

Technorati Tags: 4 truths about the future of personal branding, career advice for new professionals, LinkedIn will be the modern resume, Random "Trish" Thoughts, young professional tips, your personal brand and professional brand will unite

Yesterday I was asked by a local business professional to describe what makes me unique from my competition … in only a few words. Interesting, right? I think I squandered a bit. Bummer. Here’s the thing, the question wasn’t referenced to my employer, it was meant to me. What makes me different than other business professionals in the area?

I was in a “relationship building” meeting with one of the local businesses that I keep in touch with from time-to-time about their membership with Forward Janesville Inc., Janesville’s chamber of commerce. The meeting was to discuss membership discounts, events, community initiatives and opportunities. It ended up as a personal interview about myself. Don’t get me wrong I don’t mind talking about my company or myself when the time is right. I expect that, given my profession. But I was intrigued with the question, mainly because I had never really thought about that before.

As communicators, we know how important it is to have an “elevator pitch” and to be able to explain what it is that we do for a living. I do believe it’s important to be able to describe what we (or our business) can bring to the table in a clear, concise way. I just didn’t realize I’d ever be asked in only a few words. I have prepared myself for next time. Thing is, my mentor (and teacher) in college encouraged us to do just this in an assignment. I wish I had kept that paper. I’m sure it’s on a flash drive somewhere. It would be interesting to see what I said. Have those words changed? Not sure.

So how do you come up with just a few words? I took some time to look back through my recent LinkedIn recommendations, emails and “feel good” files and looked for common themes. If you don’t have recommendations or testimonials, you could get feedback by asking people you work with for just one word to describe you.

I came up with my few words to describe me: enthusiastic, creative, leader, motivator. Have you ever pondered this? Who are you, in just a few words? Share below.

Image provided by pewresearch.org

Technorati Tags: in a few words, professional advice for communicators and business professionals, Random "Trish" Thoughts, Who are you

… or it could jump up and bite you on the butt!

Let’s face it, if you have Facebook, Twitter, or a blog [any kind of presence online, really] people are reading it! That’s the point right, but are you mindful of who is actually listening? It’s not just your friends folks, it’s potential employers, clients and business partners as well. I wanted to blog about this topic because many of my online friends are venting constantly, swearing or worse … saying way too much about their lives. I get it, I really do! But watch out, the people you don’t want to listen, ARE.

A good friend of mine [and happens to be a job recruiter in the area] and I were having a conversation over drinks one night and she’d mentioned she’s using the Web to evaluate prospects. She says she’s looking at Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn updates for a personal “taste” of what the potential employee is like. It’s nothing new. In fact, a survey by the Electronic Recruiter Exchange found 60 percent of its members checked LinkedIn as part of the job checking process. I couldn’t help but wonder how many people online aren’t really thinking about what they say online. For example, even if you’re account is set to private, people can still find out what you’re saying on Facebook.

People talk about personal issues - divorce, sick parents, recovery programs, and bad relationships at work, etc. My friend says, and I quote, “If someone is having a big issue in life, are we you really going to take that chance and hire them?” Interesting comment I thought.

In my opinion, if you’re going to complain about how dumb your boss is and how much you hate your job, keep those rants private. The Internet is public domain and comments have a way of finding their way back to all the wrong people. I look at it this way; if you wouldn’t stand outside your boss’s office and tell a co-worker how ready you are to quit, don’t express the same thoughts in an open forum.

In the business of networking, people know people. You really have to find out what you want your social media face to be [I wrote a post on personal branding months ago – that covers what this means]. If you use that concept wisely, you’ll be in the clear.

With that said, every tweet, status update or post is being actively indexed by search engines. Just be mindful of what you put out there because it could jump up and bite you in the butt.

I’m curious. How many of you agree with me? Please write a comment. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Technorati Tags: be mindful of what you post online, Random "Trish" Thoughts

As promised, I’m posting a re-cap of Caryn Alagno’s jam-packed presentation from the Corporate Communicators Conference I attended earlier this month. I had the pleasure of listening and meeting Caryn, a 28-year old master communicator, who is VP of Edelman Public Relations in Washington D.C. Caryn was kind enough to share her notes and presentation with me. As I mentioned to Caryn after her presentation, it’s so important for these tips to be communicated to all young professionals. That’s why I’m bringing this to all of you. Here’s Caryn’s top ten list to prove your worth:

#10 Do your homework

This seems obvious, right? But Caryn says, “when you’re the youngest person in the room, you don’t have the luxury of being unprepared or under prepared for a meeting.” So true. After all, if you can’t be trusted with the small things; how can you be trusted with anything larger? Do your homework and be prepared.

#9 Use technology to your advantage

We young “bucks” are more familiar with technology, so we’re more apt to use it to our advantage in a business setting. It’s more than Facebook, Twitter and those other user-generated sites; it’s about recognizing the opportunity to use that knowledge in a business setting. For example, the corporate world is starting to wean its way into social media. You’re familiar—get in there and tell the upper hand’s in your office what it’s all about. Chances are they’ll look at you as an expert. That’s your opportunity to shine!

But not too boastful folks. There’s a danger in being technically-savvy and boasting about it. Caryn mentioned a 25-year-old whiz kid who got a little too comfortable in her role as the office “tech guru” and began poking fun¾in a nice way¾at her older colleagues. She got a little too carried away and was told to tone it down.

#8 Everyone’s in your network

I’m a HUGE advocate for this tip and I base all my business off of this concept. It’s not what you know people, it’s who know you. Who you know and who can get you access to the information you need is key as well. Take advantage of people who know a lot about what you know NOTHING about. Show your boss and upper level management that you’re connected; it shows that you’re aware that you don’t and can’t know everything…. But you can get the answer for them. Remember: networking happens all the time; especially when you’re looking for the right opportunities.

#7 Bell well-read

Remember this always: It IS part of your job to read the papers every day¾and not just articles that mention your company or your industry. I tend to do this a lot (I’m working on it.) Caryn suggests reading opinion pieces, editorials, books and blogs. When you’re young, people think you’re arrogant and they think you’re uninformed. Caryn says to not feed into that stereotype.

#6 Have an opinion

Caryn gave a great example: When your CEO (or anyone in upper management) asks you what you think about Chrysler filing for Chapter 11, what will you say? If all you can say is, “Yeah, that really stinks,” you’ve missed an opportunity to demonstrate that you are an asset to your company. Caryn reiterated that in our communications roles, we are hired to think. We are not worker bees; we are thinkers. Anyone can pump out a press release or a speech, but it’s what makes it good is the thinking behind what we’re saying; how we’re using those tools and when we draw upon them. This idea of having opinions—of doing really solid thinking—this is what gets us to the next level in our careers. Worker bees are a dime a dozen; thinkers are leaders. And leaders are rare.

#5 Say “I don’t know”

If you think you do, you’re feeding into that notion of young arrogance. You can look extremely smart by saying, “I don’t know…” By saying, “I don’t know,” from time to time, people will know that when you do speak up, it’s grounded in something. And don’t forget: You can say “I don’t know” without the conversation ending there—say, “I don’t know, but I’ll get back to you.” If you don’t know something ask questions. Ask good questions that show you’re thinking. And listen to the answers. When starting a new project, asking questions will also help you slow down the process and think about what you’re being asked to do and why.

#4 See the opportunity

“Sometimes being low on the totem pole stinks. But only if you let yourself think about your position in that way,” Caryn says with a smile. To bring this home in the session, Caryn referenced to an example that really connected with me and is one of the big reasons why I’ve moved up in my company. Caryn remembered a time when an intern worked all the way to the top by seeing the opportunity. Consider this:

An advertising agency gets a lead on a big account. They ask an intern to sit in on several brainstorming sessions and to take notes. She’d get them coffee when they needed it; she’d run out and get lunch when they couldn’t be interrupted. She’d compile the memos, the briefing documents, etc. When the team finally won the account, she—all of the sudden—became the most knowledgeable staffer on the account. She was immediately hired on full time; and she helped get other team members up to speed on the strategy and the thinking behind it. She saw the opportunity folks. She did the grunt work and she realized the potential payoff in the end. Remember to REALLY see the opportunity.

#3 Avoid being negative

Leadership is the ability to keep your head when everyone around you is losing theirs. And it’s true in a corporate world as well. If you can stay positive even when people around you aren’t—you will set yourself apart. Caryn said, “worker bees are a dime a dozen, but leaders are what make companies successful.” Remember that young people! Also know that people, at work and in life, will build teams/friendships with people who are enjoyable to be around. Caryn mentioned over and over again to not lose sight of the optimism and fresh perspective us young people bring to an organization. Be positive; concentrate on the task at hand; say thank you; and stay positive despite the fact that you might actually have a bad boss or two during your career.

#2 Make mistakes … recover

It is what it is. If you make a mistake, LEARN from it.

#1 Remember the good days

Sometimes when we really need to recover, one of the best ways of doing it is reminding ourselves why we’re in the positions we’re in. Caryn keeps a file of complimentary, good-job emails. GREAT IDEA. I started one as soon as I got back. She keeps a running list of big projects, clients or executives she’s worked with to remind herself that she is capable of doing good work. It can also come in handy at raise and review time!

Caryn’s presentation really emphasized the struggles of being the “young” person in the room. But it also emphasized the empowerment of being young actually has over the rest of the workforce. I loved her last (and to me) her most important tip: Just do it! Caryn says that when you take a risk; you seek out a new opportunity or experience; or otherwise let yourself be challenged outside your comfort zone¾GREAT ADVICE!

I’ve had friends and colleagues who have moved to other states; even across the world for job assignments. And Caryn agrees when I say, almost no one regrets it. When I came home from Spain I came back feeling exhilarated and full of insight on life and the way I wanted my professional career to go.

She closed with this statement, “Now is the time for you to take risks in your career; to take advantage of every opportunity before you.” I take this advice to heart because when I look back on my life, I don’t want to regret the things I haven’t done more than the things I have done.

Technorati Tags: Caryn Alagno, communications, marketing, PR, RAgan Communications, Random "Trish" Thoughts, recognizing the opportunity, struggles for young professionals

I had an interesting conversation with a friend a few nights ago. She was asking about how she should “really network at an event.” At first, I thought it was pretty self-explanatory, but then I thought, you know … I bet there are a lot of young people out there who struggle finding their place in a room full of people they don’t know. Some people are simply terrified. I know, I used to be one of them!

Networking is a powerful way of building professional relationships and it can generate new business opportunities. It is a common process based on the exchange of ideas, advice and contacts. Although there is no one-size-fits-all way to network, it is important to remember proper business etiquette in approaching and developing new professional relationships.

The first and utmost important thing to KNOW and remember is that you have the control and all the power over the impression you make. Here are three simple steps to take with every new person you meet:

Introduce yourself

Yup, it’s that easy. In fact, a great way to network is to simply introduce yourself to anyone who is standing alone. Chances are, they are begging for someone to approach them anyway.

Be optimistic and have lots of enthusiasm

Do NOT only talk about yourself. What a bore. Be a giver of valuable information and help fellow networkers make connections. This will have a positive effect on your reputation. Plus, people love to talk about themselves. So if worst comes to worst, just listen and let them babble. But really the key is to be enthusiastic, a good listener and use reinforcement in your body language. Keep good eye contact, nod, smile, lean forward (ha, but not too close guys). You can use this to your advantage in a room full of new people. Ask questions about who they are, what they do, who they work for, who they know, etc. Give the people you talk with your undivided attention. Don’t look around the room when you’re in the middle of a conversation. Eek! A great tactic: Get engaged by asking questions you don’t already know the answers to.

Ask for their card

Most people do, especially if you’re at a business event. Ask for business cards so that you can remember their names. Jot down some notes on the back about the unique aspects of the conversation so you can remember them in the future. It’s also important to remember names, ladies and gents. A good trick I use, repeat their name back to them when they introduce themselves (little college psychology trick). Shake hands firmly (women often have a problem with this) and don’t let go of their hand until you’ve repeated their name back. While you have their hand, say “It’s very nice to meet you, Joe” or “It’s certainly a pleasure to know you, Sally.” Try it, it works!

Networking blunders

Apply the right networking techniques and you’ll be well on the way to growing your business or rapport, but get it wrong and you’ll be left wondering why you hate networking so much. Here are a few quick things that work for me in certain, awkward situations:

Dwindled conversation

You’ve been talking to someone who is not as interesting as you had hoped. Awkward silences, uneasy gestures, long-winded stories. Yup, we’ve all been there. It’s perfectly okay to say something like, “Will you excuse me for a moment, there’s someone I want to meet OR say hi to.” It’s a perfectly acceptable thing to say. Simply smile and walk away. Enough said.

What’s your name again?

I’ve learned this “oops” the wrong way. If you run into someone you already met and can’t remember their name, simply say “Hello again. Remind me of your name.” Be clever with your approach. But remind them of your name too!

Eek, it’s THAT guy again

If you find yourself back talking with someone you didn’t particularly care for, ask if they’ve met anyone especially interesting that you might like to meet. Or point out someone you found interesting. Or both. It’s a great way to mingle around the room. Plus, if you’re one of those people who needs a “wing man” it’s an effortless way to get more comfortable with others.

Remember, networking is always easier when you’re optimistic and feeling good about yourself. So don’t hold off by ‘hanging’ with friends the entire time. Have fun and be enthusiastic. Enthusiasm is extremely contagious and if you do it right, you’ll soon be the main attraction at events! After more practice, people will start to seek YOU out to talk with you.

Happy networking!

Specific questions? Feel free to send me a tweet or email me.

Twitter.com/trishskram

trishskram@gmail.com

Technorati Tags: advice and contacts, building professional relationships, exchange of ideas, networking

Building a personal brand

What is a personal brand anyway? You are, your personality, your characteristics, your strong points, weaknesses, expertise … it’s all part of your brand. Everyone is online these days and social media is a great tool for creating and communicating your personal brand.

So, where does Trish brand herself?

Got Facebook?

Let’s face it, everyone’s on Facebook. If you’re not, you’re WAY behind. I started Facebooking in college, BEFORE it was available to the public. I never thought it would be one of the most widely used social media networks in 2009. Simply enough, Facebook is a start to making yourself visible to those around you. Other than the fact that I love to poke people, update my status and make fun of what my friends and I did the night before as we painted the town red with our shenanigans … Facebook has helped solidify my brand by helping me reinforce my personality. If you look me up, you’ll see that I’m social, I like to try new things, have great family and friends, travel and enjoy a drink or two. Some people will tell you that those “party nights” will reflect negatively on you, but I disagree. I think that’s one of the better features of Facebook.

Connecting on LinkedIn

Resume online? What a fabulous concept. I am a recent college graduate, but I wish I would have found LinkedIn sooner because I think it would have helped me network the system a bit better, more easily. When people request to “get connected,” they are able to view my work experience, educational background and professional assets. This helps build my brand as a knowledgeable, ambitious PR/marketing professional. And it has helped me land some pretty great gigs as a freelancer. Amazing platform, really.

Building rapport with tweeple

Have you heard the saying, “you are what you eat?” and “you are who you associate with?” This holds true to some degree. On Twitter, I am able to associate with and talk to people of similar interests all over America, even globally. Twitter is serving as my top link to my blog, TrishSkram.com. In fact, in just three months, I’ve acquired over 130 followers … not bad! I’m using Twitter to brand myself by connecting with people who have similar interests, people who I can learn from and vice versa. It’s quite a twitterific idea!

TrishSkram.com

This is my only my second blog post. To be quite honest with you, I should have started blogging years ago. My goal for 2009 is to make TrishSkram.com my top tool for building my personal brand. I want to write about my personal experiences, interests, life and most importantly, write to connect with my readers. TrishSkram.com will help improve my writing skills, while a build a brand as well. The best part? People have noticed my experience with social networking because of my accounts. Executives and fellow co-workers have even asked me to explain the process, what it is? Etc. I’ve gotta be doing something right, right?

So I pose to you, out there in the blogsphere of social networking. How have you built your brand? Better yet … how has personal branding affected your career or professional aspirations?

Let’s talk. And if you’re new to the professional world, still a student or just want some pointers, I’d be glad to help you get started.

Email me at trishskram@gmail.com

Technorati Tags: blogging, facebook, linkedin, personal brand, trishskram, twitter

Coming soon…

Technorati Tags: my work