LinkedIn for Job Search (DVD)

LinkedIn for Job Search (DVD) A few weeks ago I started shipping the second edition of the LinkedIn for Job Seekers DVD. I gotta tell you, humbly, that this $49.95 LinkedIn DVD is A.W.E.S.O.M.E. It is 3 solid hours of webinar-like instruction.  This is not talking-head stuff you literally watch over my shoulder (you watch my screen) as I go over LinkedIn and show you, as a job seeker, how to use LinkedIn. The funny thing is this is not just for job seekers (unless you believe we are ALL job seekers).  If you want to learn how to optimize LinkedIn, doesnt a three hour webinar make sense? The DVD is broken up into 22 different segments/chapters so you dont have to digest 3 hours of content in one sitting.  Heres the breakdown (the length is minutes:seconds): 0 Introduction to LinkedIn for Job Seekers (length: 5:46) lays the foundation for using LinkedIn in a job search.  Principles can be applied to using Facebook, Twitter, etc. 1 Home Page (length: 9:53) there are many opportunities to connect with your contacts but its hard to know who and when and why.  On the home page you can find the answers to all of those. Also a discussion on the LinkedIn status and more. 2 Profile: Above the Fold (length: 22:21) the longest video there is just too much to talk about here and have it shorter. Optimize your Profile so people find you and your personal brand drips off of the monitor.  Many, many people miss opportunities on this part of LinkedIn. 3 Profile: Summary (length: 7:52) how long should your LinkedIn Summary be? What should it include?  This segment goes beyond put in all your keywords to help you create a Summary that will be read and will help solidify your personal brand. Thats more than 45 minutes already that alone is worth the price but there is SO MUCH MORE! 4 Profile: Below the Fold (length: 9:34) after the summary your Profile still goes on what do you need to care about?  How do you make sure the rest of the LinkedIn Profile helps you get found and your brand shines through?  What Groups do you show (hint: not all of them!)? 5 Profile: Applications (length 6:11) what are LinkedIn Applications and how do you decide which ones to use (and which ones to avoid)?  Theres great opportunity here to strengthen your LinkedIn Profile OR muddy up your brand and distract the reader. 6 Profile: Add a Video (length 4:00) Have you seen videos that play right on someones LinkedIn Profile?  Its really cool, and its fairly easy to add a video to your Profile.  This is NOT for everyone, but if you find (or create) a video that strengthens your brand you should consider adding it to your Profile! Were just getting started thats an hour of solid content, most of which geared to help you be found (mostly passive strategy so far) theres 2 hours left, though!) 7  Companies (9:13) a relatively new feature in LinkedIn, there is GOLD in the Companies feature.  This section helps you figure out WHO to contact and gives you a reason (talking points) to contact them its very, very powerful.  If you arent using this feature you are missing out. 8  Groups (19:28) the second longest segment this is not a new section in LinkedIn but the features have become more robust.  Learn the ins-and-outs of LinkedIn Groups, what to do, what to avoid, and how to get value out of joining relevant Groups. 9  Jobs (6:47) think you should avoid job boards in your job search? Think again!  Dont necessarily apply to all jobs you think you qualify for on job boards but use them as a tool.  The LinkedIn job board has features that no other job board does learn why you should spend some of your online job search time here. 10  Advanced People Search (8:25) I ignored the people search, and the advanced people search for too long, but one of the value props of LinkedIn is FINDING PEOPLE.  Use this powerful search tool to find contacts that you should network with or reach out to.  Need to do informational interviews?  Find the right people in your target companies using this search page.  Theres more than meets the eye here. 11  Communicating with Others (7:01) Whether you reach out to someone with a LinkedIn Invitation, an InMail or a LinkedIn Introduction, there are certain things you should include in your communication.  Develop a message that is read and replied to, not just ignored or questioned as spam.  Dont blow your chance to create a solid relationship. 12  Recommendations (4:09) Do you need to get Recommendations? What do you do with them after you have them?  How do you get them? How do you give a solid Recommendation?  Find out in this segment. Were up to TWO SOLID HOURS of content.  By this time you are getting proficient at LinkedIn and really understand how it fits into your overall social strategy.  Its not about wasting time online, its about leveraging these tools to work for you! 13  Answers: Asking Questions (11:48) Asking questions is one of the most powerful proactive tactics you can employ in LinkedIn.  Why?  It shares your brand and helps grow your network.  It can help you nurture individual relationships.  This segment shows you how, why, and what to do to make sure you dont waste your efforts on LinkedIn Answers. 14  Answers: Answering Questions (11:00) The other part of LinkedIn Answers is simply answering questions.  In this segment we talk about what questions you should answer, how to answer them so your brand and expertise comes across strong, and where the major tie-in with your LinkedIn Profile is. 15  Manage your Settings (7:47) if you get too much email from LinkedIn (and your Connections) you need to watch this section.  Also, privacy considerations and some critical information to ensure your LinkedIn Profile is yours forever (not your bosss). 16  Browse Connections (3:43) Learn how to find other key contacts based on who your Contacts know.  This is a very powerful part of LinkedIn and is worth spending time on on a regular basis. 17  BONUS Now, 10 Things to Do (1:57) overwhelmed?  Me too!  But here are 10 things to do right now This section was designed to help ensure you take action, and I help you know where to start.  Short segment but it might be the thing to get you to the next level. 18  BONUS 20 Questions (12:02) this was FUN a rapid-fire format of questions and answers how to, why, etc.  These are 20 questions I hear all the time, with my responses. 19  BONUS Export Contacts (2:38) I am a strong advocate of exporting your Contacts regularly heres how to do it (dont miss the next two segments). 20 BONUS Cleaning the Export (7:35) once you export your Contacts you end up with a csv file that is . in need of cleaning.  There are unused columns and junk data I show you how to clean up your data so you can use it later. 21  BONUS Importing into JibberJobber (5:14) one thing to do with your Contacts is to put them into a useable CRM system (like JibberJobber).  I show you how to do it with JibberJobber but much of what I show you here could be helpful if you are importing into Salesforce, ACT!, etc. WOW seriously, 3 hours. The disk sells for 49.95.  I should sell it for over $100 but hey, this is for unemployed people, and $50 is enough, dont you think? Tell me its not worth the $50 go on, tell me.  I have hundreds and hundreds of people who have told me otherwise what are you waiting for, order it today. You can also bundle other stuff with this order, more info here. LinkedIn for Job Search (DVD) A few weeks ago I started shipping the second edition of the LinkedIn for Job Seekers DVD. I gotta tell you, humbly, that this $49.95 LinkedIn DVD is A.W.E.S.O.M.E. It is 3 solid hours of webinar-like instruction.  This is not talking-head stuff you literally watch over my shoulder (you watch my screen) as I go over LinkedIn and show you, as a job seeker, how to use LinkedIn. The funny thing is this is not just for job seekers (unless you believe we are ALL job seekers).  If you want to learn how to optimize LinkedIn, doesnt a three hour webinar make sense? The DVD is broken up into 22 different segments/chapters so you dont have to digest 3 hours of content in one sitting.  Heres the breakdown (the length is minutes:seconds): 0 Introduction to LinkedIn for Job Seekers (length: 5:46) lays the foundation for using LinkedIn in a job search.  Principles can be applied to using Facebook, Twitter, etc. 1 Home Page (length: 9:53) there are many opportunities to connect with your contacts but its hard to know who and when and why.  On the home page you can find the answers to all of those. Also a discussion on the LinkedIn status and more. 2 Profile: Above the Fold (length: 22:21) the longest video there is just too much to talk about here and have it shorter. Optimize your Profile so people find you and your personal brand drips off of the monitor.  Many, many people miss opportunities on this part of LinkedIn. 3 Profile: Summary (length: 7:52) how long should your LinkedIn Summary be? What should it include?  This segment goes beyond put in all your keywords to help you create a Summary that will be read and will help solidify your personal brand. Thats more than 45 minutes already that alone is worth the price but there is SO MUCH MORE! 4 Profile: Below the Fold (length: 9:34) after the summary your Profile still goes on what do you need to care about?  How do you make sure the rest of the LinkedIn Profile helps you get found and your brand shines through?  What Groups do you show (hint: not all of them!)? 5 Profile: Applications (length 6:11) what are LinkedIn Applications and how do you decide which ones to use (and which ones to avoid)?  Theres great opportunity here to strengthen your LinkedIn Profile OR muddy up your brand and distract the reader. 6 Profile: Add a Video (length 4:00) Have you seen videos that play right on someones LinkedIn Profile?  Its really cool, and its fairly easy to add a video to your Profile.  This is NOT for everyone, but if you find (or create) a video that strengthens your brand you should consider adding it to your Profile! Were just getting started thats an hour of solid content, most of which geared to help you be found (mostly passive strategy so far) theres 2 hours left, though!) 7  Companies (9:13) a relatively new feature in LinkedIn, there is GOLD in the Companies feature.  This section helps you figure out WHO to contact and gives you a reason (talking points) to contact them its very, very powerful.  If you arent using this feature you are missing out. 8  Groups (19:28) the second longest segment this is not a new section in LinkedIn but the features have become more robust.  Learn the ins-and-outs of LinkedIn Groups, what to do, what to avoid, and how to get value out of joining relevant Groups. 9  Jobs (6:47) think you should avoid job boards in your job search? Think again!  Dont necessarily apply to all jobs you think you qualify for on job boards but use them as a tool.  The LinkedIn job board has features that no other job board does learn why you should spend some of your online job search time here. 10  Advanced People Search (8:25) I ignored the people search, and the advanced people search for too long, but one of the value props of LinkedIn is FINDING PEOPLE.  Use this powerful search tool to find contacts that you should network with or reach out to.  Need to do informational interviews?  Find the right people in your target companies using this search page.  Theres more than meets the eye here. 11  Communicating with Others (7:01) Whether you reach out to someone with a LinkedIn Invitation, an InMail or a LinkedIn Introduction, there are certain things you should include in your communication.  Develop a message that is read and replied to, not just ignored or questioned as spam.  Dont blow your chance to create a solid relationship. 12  Recommendations (4:09) Do you need to get Recommendations? What do you do with them after you have them?  How do you get them? How do you give a solid Recommendation?  Find out in this segment. Were up to TWO SOLID HOURS of content.  By this time you are getting proficient at LinkedIn and really understand how it fits into your overall social strategy.  Its not about wasting time online, its about leveraging these tools to work for you! 13  Answers: Asking Questions (11:48) Asking questions is one of the most powerful proactive tactics you can employ in LinkedIn.  Why?  It shares your brand and helps grow your network.  It can help you nurture individual relationships.  This segment shows you how, why, and what to do to make sure you dont waste your efforts on LinkedIn Answers. 14  Answers: Answering Questions (11:00) The other part of LinkedIn Answers is simply answering questions.  In this segment we talk about what questions you should answer, how to answer them so your brand and expertise comes across strong, and where the major tie-in with your LinkedIn Profile is. 15  Manage your Settings (7:47) if you get too much email from LinkedIn (and your Connections) you need to watch this section.  Also, privacy considerations and some critical information to ensure your LinkedIn Profile is yours forever (not your bosss). 16  Browse Connections (3:43) Learn how to find other key contacts based on who your Contacts know.  This is a very powerful part of LinkedIn and is worth spending time on on a regular basis. 17  BONUS Now, 10 Things to Do (1:57) overwhelmed?  Me too!  But here are 10 things to do right now This section was designed to help ensure you take action, and I help you know where to start.  Short segment but it might be the thing to get you to the next level. 18  BONUS 20 Questions (12:02) this was FUN a rapid-fire format of questions and answers how to, why, etc.  These are 20 questions I hear all the time, with my responses. 19  BONUS Export Contacts (2:38) I am a strong advocate of exporting your Contacts regularly heres how to do it (dont miss the next two segments). 20 BONUS Cleaning the Export (7:35) once you export your Contacts you end up with a csv file that is . in need of cleaning.  There are unused columns and junk data I show you how to clean up your data so you can use it later. 21  BONUS Importing into JibberJobber (5:14) one thing to do with your Contacts is to put them into a useable CRM system (like JibberJobber).  I show you how to do it with JibberJobber but much of what I show you here could be helpful if you are importing into Salesforce, ACT!, etc. WOW seriously, 3 hours. The disk sells for 49.95.  I should sell it for over $100 but hey, this is for unemployed people, and $50 is enough, dont you think? Tell me its not worth the $50 go on, tell me.  I have hundreds and hundreds of people who have told me otherwise what are you waiting for, order it today. You can also bundle other stuff with this order, more info here. LinkedIn for Job Search (DVD) A few weeks ago I started shipping the second edition of the LinkedIn for Job Seekers DVD. I gotta tell you, humbly, that this $49.95 LinkedIn DVD is A.W.E.S.O.M.E. It is 3 solid hours of webinar-like instruction.  This is not talking-head stuff you literally watch over my shoulder (you watch my screen) as I go over LinkedIn and show you, as a job seeker, how to use LinkedIn. The funny thing is this is not just for job seekers (unless you believe we are ALL job seekers).  If you want to learn how to optimize LinkedIn, doesnt a three hour webinar make sense? The DVD is broken up into 22 different segments/chapters so you dont have to digest 3 hours of content in one sitting.  Heres the breakdown (the length is minutes:seconds): 0 Introduction to LinkedIn for Job Seekers (length: 5:46) lays the foundation for using LinkedIn in a job search.  Principles can be applied to using Facebook, Twitter, etc. 1 Home Page (length: 9:53) there are many opportunities to connect with your contacts but its hard to know who and when and why.  On the home page you can find the answers to all of those. Also a discussion on the LinkedIn status and more. 2 Profile: Above the Fold (length: 22:21) the longest video there is just too much to talk about here and have it shorter. Optimize your Profile so people find you and your personal brand drips off of the monitor.  Many, many people miss opportunities on this part of LinkedIn. 3 Profile: Summary (length: 7:52) how long should your LinkedIn Summary be? What should it include?  This segment goes beyond put in all your keywords to help you create a Summary that will be read and will help solidify your personal brand. Thats more than 45 minutes already that alone is worth the price but there is SO MUCH MORE! 4 Profile: Below the Fold (length: 9:34) after the summary your Profile still goes on what do you need to care about?  How do you make sure the rest of the LinkedIn Profile helps you get found and your brand shines through?  What Groups do you show (hint: not all of them!)? 5 Profile: Applications (length 6:11) what are LinkedIn Applications and how do you decide which ones to use (and which ones to avoid)?  Theres great opportunity here to strengthen your LinkedIn Profile OR muddy up your brand and distract the reader. 6 Profile: Add a Video (length 4:00) Have you seen videos that play right on someones LinkedIn Profile?  Its really cool, and its fairly easy to add a video to your Profile.  This is NOT for everyone, but if you find (or create) a video that strengthens your brand you should consider adding it to your Profile! Were just getting started thats an hour of solid content, most of which geared to help you be found (mostly passive strategy so far) theres 2 hours left, though!) 7  Companies (9:13) a relatively new feature in LinkedIn, there is GOLD in the Companies feature.  This section helps you figure out WHO to contact and gives you a reason (talking points) to contact them its very, very powerful.  If you arent using this feature you are missing out. 8  Groups (19:28) the second longest segment this is not a new section in LinkedIn but the features have become more robust.  Learn the ins-and-outs of LinkedIn Groups, what to do, what to avoid, and how to get value out of joining relevant Groups. 9  Jobs (6:47) think you should avoid job boards in your job search? Think again!  Dont necessarily apply to all jobs you think you qualify for on job boards but use them as a tool.  The LinkedIn job board has features that no other job board does learn why you should spend some of your online job search time here. 10  Advanced People Search (8:25) I ignored the people search, and the advanced people search for too long, but one of the value props of LinkedIn is FINDING PEOPLE.  Use this powerful search tool to find contacts that you should network with or reach out to.  Need to do informational interviews?  Find the right people in your target companies using this search page.  Theres more than meets the eye here. 11  Communicating with Others (7:01) Whether you reach out to someone with a LinkedIn Invitation, an InMail or a LinkedIn Introduction, there are certain things you should include in your communication.  Develop a message that is read and replied to, not just ignored or questioned as spam.  Dont blow your chance to create a solid relationship. 12  Recommendations (4:09) Do you need to get Recommendations? What do you do with them after you have them?  How do you get them? How do you give a solid Recommendation?  Find out in this segment. Were up to TWO SOLID HOURS of content.  By this time you are getting proficient at LinkedIn and really understand how it fits into your overall social strategy.  Its not about wasting time online, its about leveraging these tools to work for you! 13  Answers: Asking Questions (11:48) Asking questions is one of the most powerful proactive tactics you can employ in LinkedIn.  Why?  It shares your brand and helps grow your network.  It can help you nurture individual relationships.  This segment shows you how, why, and what to do to make sure you dont waste your efforts on LinkedIn Answers. 14  Answers: Answering Questions (11:00) The other part of LinkedIn Answers is simply answering questions.  In this segment we talk about what questions you should answer, how to answer them so your brand and expertise comes across strong, and where the major tie-in with your LinkedIn Profile is. 15  Manage your Settings (7:47) if you get too much email from LinkedIn (and your Connections) you need to watch this section.  Also, privacy considerations and some critical information to ensure your LinkedIn Profile is yours forever (not your bosss). 16  Browse Connections (3:43) Learn how to find other key contacts based on who your Contacts know.  This is a very powerful part of LinkedIn and is worth spending time on on a regular basis. 17  BONUS Now, 10 Things to Do (1:57) overwhelmed?  Me too!  But here are 10 things to do right now This section was designed to help ensure you take action, and I help you know where to start.  Short segment but it might be the thing to get you to the next level. 18  BONUS 20 Questions (12:02) this was FUN a rapid-fire format of questions and answers how to, why, etc.  These are 20 questions I hear all the time, with my responses. 19  BONUS Export Contacts (2:38) I am a strong advocate of exporting your Contacts regularly heres how to do it (dont miss the next two segments). 20 BONUS Cleaning the Export (7:35) once you export your Contacts you end up with a csv file that is . in need of cleaning.  There are unused columns and junk data I show you how to clean up your data so you can use it later. 21  BONUS Importing into JibberJobber (5:14) one thing to do with your Contacts is to put them into a useable CRM system (like JibberJobber).  I show you how to do it with JibberJobber but much of what I show you here could be helpful if you are importing into Salesforce, ACT!, etc. WOW seriously, 3 hours. The disk sells for 49.95.  I should sell it for over $100 but hey, this is for unemployed people, and $50 is enough, dont you think? Tell me its not worth the $50 go on, tell me.  I have hundreds and hundreds of people who have told me otherwise what are you waiting for, order it today. You can also bundle other stuff with this order, more info here.

Times New Roman Fonts For a Professional Resume

Times New Roman Fonts For a Professional ResumeIf you want to impress the boss in your next job interview, one of the best fonts to use is Times New Roman. This simple and effective font is used in hundreds of resume samples as well as in many applications that have a noticeable difference in their appearance. So if you want to impress your employer and bring them to your side by using a good resume, then it's a good idea to use Times New Roman.The bold fonts are the one that you should be considering because these fonts stand out against the other fonts in the application. This font also creates a look of professionalism with its simple fonts and that is why it is the best font to use when writing resume. They are easy to read and once you see the crisp look of this font, you will easily convert to thinking this is what you will use to write your resume.Another feature that makes these fonts stand out is that they give a modern look. Their designs are very minimalistic, yet still gi ve an elegant appearance that will make you more professional. They make you have a very smooth and bright look that makes you look brighter and confident. So if you want to gain an upper hand in your resume, then you must use this font.There are several other fonts that are used to create professional resumes. But Times New Roman is the most popular and is a good alternative for the others. It is used in many applications and different types of documents. It is also popular among most people because it is a classic and traditional font.So if you are looking for something to use to display your skills and experience, then you should consider using this font. They are affordable, especially if you are looking for it online and if you are willing to have it printed on paper, you can save even more money because they are less expensive compared to others. Thisfont can also be used to display other information such as your resume or your contact information. Because it is so easy to rea d, it is not difficult to understand so you can use it in all your documents.The easiest way to use this font is by putting it into Word which will take you less time to download and use than any other application. It is important to know that you don't have to spend a lot to be able to use this font because there are plenty of free resources available. There are also many computer applications that allow you to choose from a wide range of fonts that can be found on the internet.Once you get a hold of a font that you like, then you will be able to display the information that you want to include in your resume. You will be able to find several applications that have a Word version that allows you to be able to use this font. Using a free version of the application allows you to put the information into the document in as little time as possible. But if you want to have a better design, then you should be willing to spend a little bit more money.Most of the people who will be applyin g for a job have their resumes completed. Once you use a font to get your resume made, then you will be able to enjoy it in different ways. If you want to impress the boss, then use Times New Roman.

Its Time for Your Mid-Year SELF Review.

Its Time for Your Mid-Year SELF Review. Yes, a self review. Not a review from your bosses at work. This is all about you, for you and by you. Im hoping you took my advice at the end of 2008 and made a 2009 Vision Plan for yourself and set some concrete goals and reviewed them frequently throughout the year. Without writing your goals down, and keeping them top of mind, its pretty impossible to achieve them. Today marks mid-year so its time to get that list out and track your progress. If you did not create a plan for 2009 and feel you are struggling through a quarterlife crisis (like many other twentysomething professionals do), creating a vision plan and setting specific goals for yourself might help you get back on track. You may want to split your list up into categories. For example: financial, personal, career and health. Most people have a vice they struggle with. For example: credit card debt, not saving enough, their weight, hating their job but being too afraid of the unknown to look for a new one, being in a bad relationship, wanting to go back to school, etc. Find out what your vice is and create SPECIFIC goals around it to help you get to a new place. If you want to get rid of your debt, find out how much money you can pay each month in order to get it down to $X by year end. Dont just say to save more and spend less. Not gonna happen sister. Goals must be: 1. Written 2. Reviewed 3. Realistic 4. In line with your actions. 5. SPECIFIC! To help you get started on creating your goals/plan for the rest of the year, you may want to think about and jot down your answers to the following questions: My ideal working environment is: The relationships I want to surround myself with are: I want to spend my days working on: If I werent so afraid, I would: My life will not be complete unless I: If I only had six months to live, I would: If I had all the money I ever needed, I would spend the rest of my life: I want people to remember me by saying I was: I feel alive and energetic after I have just: The community/world issue that I feel most strongly about is: My Ideal Vision is to: For those who did set goals for 2009, how did you do so far?

Say It With Style! A Free Creative Resume Template

Say It With Style! A Free Creative Resume Template Say It With Style! A Free Creative Resume Template As a creative professional, you may struggle with crafting a resume that balances professionalism with showcasing your creative talents. You don’t want to use the standard, boring resume designs. On the other hand, you don’t want to come off as flighty or weird. We have created this “Say It With Style!” resume template to mellow out these two issues!  It has been designed with visual artists, working musicians, web designers, graphic designers, interior designers, and others creative professionals in mind. Our template combines blacks, greys, and lavender hues to create a visually compelling effect. Like our other resume templates, it has the space you need to enter in your personal information, work, and education. You can edit the template as you want through Word or any other compatible program. You are sure to impress a hiring manager with this template.The next step is yours to make! Just click below to start the download process! File size: 179 KB Format: .docx Down loaded 2,713 times License: Free, personal use only. Please read the license terms for resources. Download previous article Standing Up to Workplace Bullying next article 6 Ways to Stay Happy in the Workplace you might also likeThe Freelancers Resume Creative Resume Template for Independent Workers

Resume Writing Services - How to Make a Great Resume

Resume Writing Services - How to Make a Great ResumeResume writing services LinkedIn marketing is a commonly used term and it means using LinkedIn and Facebook as marketing tools. It is also a way of reaching out to people who are looking for work.You may think that this is an outdated strategy but the truth is this is still an effective marketing technique. You can take advantage of the latest trends in technology and bring your skills to the top of their search engines. You can attract as many employers as possible to your profile to make you appear as a more desirable candidate.People use LinkedIn to search for the skills they are looking for. You should also take advantage of this way of marketing yourself. Here are some steps to help you create a professional looking resume:Write your information in an organized manner. The first thing that a recruiter will see is your resume. So make sure that you give it all the details that they will expect.Format your resume in a way that it is appealing to the eyes of the reader. Employers and recruiters may have been put off by poorly formatted resumes in the past. Do not let this happen again.Do not include personal information such as dates of birth or social security numbers. You do not want them to feel embarrassed about asking you for these things. If you use them, ensure that they are the right people and that your personal information is secure.Recruiters will only ask for your personal information if they need it. So you will not be wasting time by putting this information in the resume.In conclusion, you should not try to get by with a poorly formatted resume or make it so that it looks like an advertisement for your skills. Using professional resume writing services can make you stand out from the crowd and make it easier for you to get the job that you have always wanted.

Certification Is It Worth It It Depends! [Updated] - Career Pivot

Certification â€" Is It Worth It It Depends! [Updated] - Career Pivot Certification Certification is one of the hottest trends in adult learning and employment space. Over the next 20-30 years, I believe we will see a shift away from getting advanced college degrees to getting certifications. Note: This post was originally published in February of 2014. It was updated in January of 2020. The question I am often asked is: Should I get “XYZ” certification? My response is almost always â€" Maybe! Before we jump into whether you should get a certain certification, let’s define what it means. My definition for certification is: Some person or organization has deemed that you have attained a certain level of expertise and granted you a certificate. There are three general classifications of certifications: Federal or State-Issued These are certifications like teaching, legal, social work, and medical. You must attain certification to be able to perform this work. In the field of social work, the person or organization who pays your bill will determine whether or not you can work. For example, the Medicaid program requires practitioners to have attained a certain level of certification in order to be paid by Medicaid. Practitioners with a lower level of certification can see patients that self-pay. If you want to be hired by an agency that handles Medicaid patients, you must get the certification required by Medicaid. Listen to the most recent episode Another example is becoming a nurse. Whether you are a Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) you will need to acquire its associated certification before you get hired. These certification programs are run by agencies of state government in the U.S. Industry Certifications Industry-sanctioned groups issue these certifications. A good example of this is the PMP certification issued by the Project Management Institute (PMI). You can take training directly from the PMI or from a third-party provider. Another example, HR Certification Institute issues a variety of certifications like PHR or SPHR. You will likely go to a third-party provider like a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) chapter to help you prepare for the exam. The big difference between industry certifications and government certifications is that industry certifications are not necessarily required to have to get hired. I have known many HR professionals whose employers paid for their training and certification costs after they were employed. The PMP certification requires you to have significant experience as a project manager before you can even sit for the exam. Corporate Certifications Corporations issue these certifications. In the old days, this meant certifications like CCNA from Cisco or MCP from Microsoft. As everything has moved to the cloud, there are new certifications for Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services, and Microsoft Azure. This is a huge industry! I even designed, developed, and implemented one of these programs for my last employer. They can be time-consuming and expensive to attain and maintain. Are they required in order to gain employment? This depends on the employer, but usually no. They do demonstrate that you have attained a certain level of technical skill. When breaking into a new area where you have no experience, having these certifications can be invaluable. How do I determine if I should get a certification? The first question you need to ask yourself is, Do I have to have this certification to get hired? I made a mid-career decision to go teach high school math. In order to get hired, I had to acquire a Texas Educator Certificate for Standard Classroom Teacher Mathematics (Grades 8-12). Initially, I attained a Probationary Certificate, which allowed me to be hired. With some exceptions, I had to have the certification. One exception would be if I went to a private school. Another would be if a public school had a great need with no available certified candidates. They could hire you contingent while are you pursuing the certification. If you are looking at an industry or corporate certification, the next question you need to ask yourself is: What benefit will I get from having this certification? Here is where this gets murky. The value of each certification is dependent on the demand in the local market. Some certifications are hot in certain markets and not needed in others. You need to do your research! The process I have had clients pursue is the following: Go to LinkedIn Search Enter the certification letters (PMI or SPHR or CCNA, etc.) in the last name field Enter your zip code into the Postal Code field Click on Search The results will be everyone in your network who has placed the certification letters after their last name. Start connecting to some of these people and ask them if the certification is worthwhile. You will need to talk to enough people to make a good judgment for yourself! For example, I had a family member who had just graduated from college. He wondered whether attaining a specific certification would be useful. He was applying for an out of state position. I told him to contact the officers of the local industry association, which he obtained from their website, and ask for AIR: Advice, Insights, and Recommendations. What several of the officers told him was that having the certification made them stand out during the dot-com bust and, therefore, keep their jobs when others were laid off. Valuable insight! Cost of Certification The last question you need to ask is: What is the cost to get and stay certified? Will your employer fully or partially fund your certification costs? Getting and maintaining these certifications can be quite costly and time-consuming. This especially true of some of the corporate certification programs. Some employers will assist you in maintaining your certifications but you will need to do your homework to see if this is true at any specific company. You will want to ask these questions of everyone you contact. The point is, you have to ask if it is going to be valuable where you want to work. The people who can tell you that are people with the certification where you want to work. Make sense? Are you going to get certified? Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

1 bullet - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

1 bullet - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Craig Nathanson tells this very moving story: Early one morning, Robert awoke, made his wife of 41 years some banana bread, took out the garbage and called to cancel a doctors appointment scheduled for the next day. He wrote a note to remind his wife to pick up the dry cleaning. All things considered, it seemed like a normal day. Robert had ?retired? four years earlier after nearly 40 years doing what he loved in the banking industry. After retirement, his life took a challenging turn. While he remained friendly and encouraging to others on the outside, on the inside he was suffering a deepening depression. After retirement, Robert couldn?t find anything to replace the meaning and fulfillment that work provided him. And this void was slowly killing him. So on that ?normal? morning, Robert cleaned up the kitchen after finishing baking his wife the banana bread. Then he drove himself to the parking lot of the bank where he had worked all those years. After carefully parking and locking his car, he walked into a local store and handed a note to the clerk behind the counter. Then he walked outside and shot himself in the head. He ended his life with one bullet at 1pm on a blazing sunny day. Robert was my dad. Craig Nathanson is The Vocational Coach and focuses on how people in mid-life can do what they love at work. Thats happiness at work right there. I admire his courage in telling this story so that others may learn from it, and its great to see some advice and tools specifically for people in mid-life. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Client Case Study Zoha Abbas - When I Grow Up

Client Case Study Zoha Abbas - When I Grow Up Um, do you know that Ive coached hundreds of women since I started offering dream career guidance in 2008? And that these women are freakin rock stars, leaving soul-sucking jobs and traveling the world and launching creative, grown-up businesses and simply doing work that fits their lifestyle goals? Well ya do now and youll hear their stories firsthand in my  Client Case Studies series!  Zoha Abbas is a baby business owner and a super refreshing voice (full of ef bombs) in the Claim Your Multipassionate Nature space with her new site, Multidoer. Just TRY not to fall in love with her and wanna be BFFs 4evah. Why did you decide to work with a creative career coach? Because I was at what felt like the most frustrating intersection EV-ER of miserable at my day-job and hopeful for my future. Ever since I watched Michelle’s CreativeLive course, Create Your Dream Career, I knew she was a person that could help me. As I went through a series of jobs that ranged from not-quite-satisfying to absolutely-hellish, I started developing an idea of what I wanted to create myself.   And finally, about 3 years after I first watched Michelle’s course, it sort of all fell into place. She sent out an email that she had ONE more spot open for clients in the next few months, and I pounced on my opportunity with the thought of “If not now, then WHEN? Get going already!” What were you doing work-wise when we started our sessions? I was working as a Senior Copywriter at an advertising agency. Advertising looks super shiny from a distance. Up close it’s full of rot and decay in a million different ways. That funny taste in your mouth right now is my bitterness about an industry that has crushed many a creative soul. ?? What was your biggest takeaway from our work together? My biggest takeaway was that I can DO THIS. I got validation that my business idea was actually worthwhile, and more than that, I got the validation that I have something valuable to share with the world. That’s a big deal coming from a job where you don’t feel like you or your contributions are valued in any way. It starts to grate on your sense of self. Working with Michelle has not only reminded me that I’M worth spending my own time and energy on, but that I’m capable of giving so many things of value to my creative community. My second biggest takeaway is that you’ve got to ask for help when you need it. This cannot be done alone, nor should it be. I had so many ideas bubbling up inside me with only a vague idea of how to make them come to life. Michelle helped me learn about and prioritize what I could do. Plus, she helped push me outside of my comfort zone, which has only made me grow and learn more. Was there anything else you tried to do as a career between the time we stopped our sessions and what you do for work now? If so, how did it inform your current career? I haven’t tried anything in between stopping sessions and what I do now because our sessions have only wrapped up very recently! But, our sessions have made me open my eyes to a lot of different possibilities for bridge jobs that I might not have seriously considered before. What would you tell someone now that was in your shoes when we first started working together? Whats your best tip to allow them to make a grown-up living doing what they love? My number one tip: stop worrying, you’re gonna be ok. When you are brave enough to be yourselfâ€"even if you make mistakes, even if you fail a few timesâ€"you are always going to be ok. Just try it and see what happens. You will find immense joy and fulfillment at every turn, because even when it sucks, you learn something that is just going to push you that much further forward. If you have your own biz, whats on the horizon for your business? Wed love to hear about any upcoming offerings or goals! I have a business called Multidoer, and I just launched my first course! It’s an 8-week program called The Multidoer’s Guide To Getting Shit Done, and it’s designed to help multipassionate creatives learn how to prioritize, organize and effectively execute all of their awesome ideas. Beyond that, I’m developing an interview series, looking forward to hosting some webinars and genuinely exploring where this amazing ride takes me.