Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

Looking for a job? The Career Summit is for you!

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I am excited to announce that I am participating in a big event — and you can join us! The Career Summit is the brainchild of my friends Mark Stelzner and Laurie Ruettimann, two highly respected and smart, sought after voices in the HR and careers sphere. In addition to Laurie and Mark, The Career Summit brings together more than 20 experts in all different career arenas, including:

Career columnists like Anita Bruzzese (USAToday), Sarah Needleman (Wall Street Journal), Vickie Elmer (Washington Post) and Alison Doyle (About.com).

Recruiters, including Heather McGough (Microsoft), Jeremy Langhans (Starbucks), Richard Cho (Facebook) and Susan Strayer (Marriott Intl)

Authors, such as Alexandra Levit and Jonathan Fields.

Coaches, including Paula Caligiuri (professional career counselor), Alison Green (career advisor with non-profit expertise), Jason Seiden (executive coach) and Jennifer McClure (business process coach). I will cover resumes and job search/social media coaching in my session!

Plus, Mary Ellen Slayter (career advisor and senior editor, SmartBrief), Ryan Paugh (Community Manager for Brazen Careerist) and Susan Joyce (Job-Hunt.org Job Search Expert).

Wow! I’m excited to be in such great company.The point of all of this is to provide useful, actionable information to job seekers and people who may be starting to think that they may want to start looking for a new job or career.

(Maybe that is you?)

The topics include everything from how to think about finding a job you love, to what has changed in search, demystifying the recruiting process, online career management, interviewing and (last but not least) — strategies and tips for your resume, social media profile and job search. (That one is mine!) You’ll need to visit the site to review all the great workshops; there are 13 sessions! It’s all available online, both live and in archives if you miss something. There’s even an online community; you can interact there as much or as little as you want.

The site explains:

You buy one ticket and you have access to 13 sessions covering all aspects of job seeking and career management. The difference is you have control – you can access the information live, or whenever you like, since it’s all online and archived. Live sessions run between October 26th through November 17th. General sessions will be held every Wednesday, between 3 and 6PM ET.

You get invitations to all of our career expert sessions which you attend online. If you miss anything, log in to your account and access the session archives. We will record everything so you will have unlimited access to the classes. You can go back and listen at your convenience.

Why THIS summit? Because it’s the one-stop shop for the most relevant career expertise in the market today. There is a lot of “career expertise” floating around out there. We used a tough and cynical eye to handpick the experts we thought were most helpful and actionable – given today’s economy, given today’s social networking environment, and given what’s coming next. Check out our agenda to see what we’re talking about.

Sounds good? You really can’t lose, especially with early-bird pricing. You get all of this, plus bonus materials and a chance to win a career makeover for only $99 if you sign up soon!

Learn more by CLICKING HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

How to get your job search started

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The blogosphere is full of good posts this week about how to get started with your job hunt. (Here’s a good one from the New York Times, another one from Anita Bruzzese.)

In the “old days,” job seekers could put together some basic information (a resume, a cover letter and a pitch) and, with a little luck, land an opportunity. Now, not so much. People like to see optimized materials (a *good* resume isn’t good enough), a LinkedIn profile is a must, social (online) resumes are more and more common and an online presence is assumed. Not to mention use of Twitter and Facebook, both of which fuel today’s successful searches.

So, what is a job seeker to do?

It seems obvious – you can’t be successful until you get started. You can’t get started on everything at once, so break it down and work on one thing at a time. My friend, Cindy Petersiel, a business coach, introduced me to a term that describes this basic, yet important idea: “chunk it down.”

As a career coach, I advise my clients to “chunk down” their tasks so they won’t be overwhelmed by the process of finding a job. It’s great advice for any of us facing lots to do and not enough time. (That pretty much describes most people I know!)

Some tips for “chunking it down”:

1.) Review your assignments and goals. Create a list of everything you need to do. Make sure you have a complete picture of the tasks and create a time frame.

2.) Break down the project into natural segments. “Write a resume” may be one project (with several parts). “Make a networking plan” is another task. Prioritize the segments and think about how much time each piece will take to complete.

3.) Focus on one thing at a time. Compile a daily “to do” list. Make sure it is reasonable; don’t give yourself too many tasks on one day. Depending on the job and your patience, you may need to further chunk down the steps. (No one should expect to write a resume in a day!)

To decide what to do first, consult your list of priorities. To keep your focus, try to include some fun, interesting or simple tasks early on. If you’re doing things you enjoy or finish rapidly, you’ll give your project a boost and quickly check things off of your “to do” list.

4.) Plan ahead. Make sure you have everything you need to work on your task as scheduled.

5.) Seek help. It helps to have a good support system. Ask for advice when you’re really stuck and to ensure that you are on the right track.

6.) Reward yourself. Celebrate your accomplishments. Do something fun!

Get ahead by getting started… timeless advice for job seekers!

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No matter what your job target, you can benefit from personalized advice! Don’t forget that clear, concise, optimized job search materials AND a strong, well executed plan are key for job search success! I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

photo by radiant guy

Stay ahead of the crowd during the holidays

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candydish385069511_37dd7b353d_mIn an effort to convince you to ramp up your job search efforts during the holidays (look below for links to part 1 and 2),  I’m sharing ideas and insights from some of my colleagues and friends during this holiday week and next. Today, I am happy to share some thoughts from Anita Bruzzese, Gannett syndicated newspaper workplace issues columnist and author. Anita also has a great blog, which I highly recommend!

I’m always telling my readers to do something different and to stay ahead of the crowd, so I was glad to see that Anita’s advice starts in that vein…You never know what information may be exchanged over the candy dish at a holiday party!

These are Anita’s thoughts on the subject of looking for a job during the holidays:

I think you should NOT take a break from hunting for a job during the holidays, because that’s what a lot of other people will be doing. That gives you a chance to make some inroads. Sure, some managers will be gone for the holidays, but a lot of them will be sticking around to finish up year-end work.   If you can present yourself as the person who can hit the ground running and be on board raring to go for 2010, it can be pretty appealing to them.

Also, the latest research I’ve done shows that companies (especially technology and health care) are contracting with more recruiters. That means these employers need hires to be made, and they’ve got the money for salaries.  So, now is the time to really get your name out there and network.

Don’t forget that a lot of people will be using social media to post about holiday parties or company volunteer activities. Pay attention and you might be able to volunteer at an event where you can meet a hiring manager or make a contact. Or, you may be able to learn key players through a Facebook page talking about a holiday get-together.

The key is thinking ahead: Do your research about these employers and be looking to put yourself in their line of sight. Maybe that means attending a tweet-up, volunteering at the local food bank or finding a friendly employee posting holiday pictures and talking about a gift exchange.

What are your experiences with job seeking during the holidays? Share in the comments!

Part 1 – My suggestions and a free ebook offer

Part 2 – Walter Akana – personal branding expert and coach

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

photo by sharynmorrow

Art – and the "right" way to job search – are in the eye of the beholder

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met246896968_6dc95bda71_mThere’s a reason, I think, that so many artists and creative people live in New York City (and other big cities). There is so much going on there, it is almost impossible NOT to be inspired in some way – just in walking down the street. Having recently come back from a visit to the Big Apple, I decided to take a lesson from one of my blogging mentors, Anita Bruzzese, whom I admire, among other reasons, for the fact that she never has writer’s block!

Anita suggested that I should take inspiration from what is all around me. So, some NYC inspired thoughts for the job seeker…

One of the highlights of our trip was a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A few thoughts the museum inspired in me…

Forgive me for saying so, but am I the only one who thinks, “Art is in the eye of the beholder” whenever I visit a museum? Of course, the halls were full of masterpieces, but when I visit their famous collection, there is always something I walk by and say “hmm…THAT’s in the Met?”

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To a certain extent, the same concept – art is in the eye of the beholder – applies to the job search.

I have written about the fact that there is no ONE right way to look for a job. If someone tells you that they offer the holy grail of job search, be wary. The fact is, just as certain art appeals to some more than others, resumes, job search techniques and approaches for the hunt can only be evaluated individually. Everyone brings a unique set of circumstances to the table – biases and personal preferences are an undeniable aspect of job hunting.

My colleague Louise Fletcher recently addressed the issue of including something on the resume that may not appeal to 100% of readers. Her client was concerned, but she argued that doing something that is  “calibrated to appeal to your target audience” has the potential to appeal to more people than not.

There are many nuances in job hunting…How you write your resume, what you say in your LinkedIn profile…If you should write a “social resume.” It’s not a “one size fits all” or a “come as you are” job market. Everyone has an opinion, and you want to be sure that you are listening to someone who is an expert to advise you.

Stay tuned for more thoughts…Feel free to share your insights!

There is no “one size fits all” career advice. Don’t you deserve the best, personalized information and help? Learn how I can help you with your search.

Frustrated that your search isn’t resulting in a job? In Atlanta? Join me and Stephanie A. Lloyd, CEO of Radiant Veracity for our series of in-person job search interventions. Read more about how to propel your search and sign up here.

Photo credits:  wallyg


Happy Blog-aversary to Keppie Careers – Announcing a New Blog on Examiner.com

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It’s hard to believe, but I’m celebrating one year of blogging! Last year at this time, I couldn’t have known how terrific it would be to join the career advice blogosphere. So, I’m thrilled to announce that I have started a new blog!

Last week, I signed on as the Career Coach Correspondent for the National edition of Examiner.com. I’m very excited to join this group of journalists, who write about every topic you can imagine! You can find my column HERE.

(I learned of this opportunity via Twitter, thanks to Heather Huhman!)

I often write about how valuable it is for job seekers to engage in Web 2.0 applications (such as blogging and social networking). I get up on my soapbox and remind clients that they must take the time to engage and connect for success. So, I thought it made sense to publicly acknowledge and thank a few professionals who really made a difference when I first started blogging.

Lindsey Pollak was the very first blogger who reached out to me online. I commented on her blog, and she responded by posting a comment on mine. I was excited to hear from Lindsey and really appreciated that she took the time to connect. She was the first one to demonstrate to me the importance of personal connections online.

Anita Bruzzese‘s blog also quickly became a favorite when I joined the blogosphere last year.  Anita has been successfully writing about career topics for years, and I was thrilled when she went out of her way to respond to me and offer advice. Anita has never had writer’s block, so she’s a great inspiration to a blogger like me! (She also keeps me laughing and informed with her tweets!)

Another early favorite blog belonged to Penelope Trunk. I liked her conversational style and how she often linked to topics so readers could explore further. Imagine my surprise and delight when she emailed me asking for a guest post for her (then) new site, Brazen Careerist! I wrote a blog exploring being connected versus being exceptional. So began my foray into being connected via Web 2.0!

I thought about listing the many wonderful opportunities I’ve been offered as a result of this blog and all of the great people I’ve “met” online, but I realize that the list is too long! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to connect and partner with so many terrific professionals and to share information with job seekers around the world! I’m excited to see what 2009 holds for job seekers, Keppie Careers and this blog!

Thanks for reading…Please come back often. I hope to celebrate many more blog-aversaries with you!

Are you ready to jump start your job hunt? Contact me to see how I can help!

photo by happy via