Personal Branding Weekly - Have You Zombified Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Branding Weekly - Have You Zombified Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career It’s not even been a month since the season finale of the television show, The Walking Dead, and I’m already missing it.  If only that is what I was referring to in this headline, but it’s not. Last week I wrote about the Wacom customer service representative who was robotic and barely human as he cruised through his phone script. Then, I encountered another rep, but this time with Sprint, who was also focused on her script. So much so that she was having her own conversation without any input from me. She wasn’t barely human. She was barely alive or aware that I was a part of this conversation. In fact, when I asked her if she knew what my actual question was (after three repeated times attempting to gain her attention) she was silent. She didn’t know. It reminded me of a moment from the movie, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Evelyn, a recent widow played by Judi Dench, is on the phone with a call-center agent trying (and not receiving any assistance) to cancel one of her deceased husband’s subscriptions. Frustrated she says, “I know you’re reading from a script.” While we can discuss the effectiveness and challenges of call centers, my focus is on the people behind the phones and on both sides of it. After all, every business and every brand is made up of people. My question to you is â€" are you guilty of this? Are you barely like a dead person walking through and to the duties and tasks of your day?   Are you: No longer excited about going to work? Feeling you’re no longer able to contribute or advance at your place of business? Feeling unappreciated and not valued? Stressed all the time? While quitting might not be economically feasible, it’s important for you to discern if you’ve already quit in mind and spirit. As always, let’s discuss your thoughts and feedback below. This week we shared the following insights to help you manager your personal brand: Communicate Your Personal Brand in the Job Interview  by Debra Benton The Least Known Secret of Success  by Nance Rosen 5 Tips for Negotiating a Pay Raise  by Ceren Cubukcu 3 Ways to Use LinkedIn to Build Your Career  by Heather Huhman Finding a Job Is a Nonsport Competition  by Alex Freund Hard Close Loses to Selling Ethically  by Elinor Stutz Are There Generational Differences in Expressing Appreciation?  by Dr. Paul White Interview: Smart Money Smart Kids by Dave Ramsey And Rachel Cruze by Dan Schawbel Five Reasons Your Attitude Is Hurting Your Career  by Richard Kirby Help Employers Understand How To Max You Out!  by Eddy Ricci Personal Brands: Delivering on the Brand Promise  by Maria Elena Duron The Realities of ROWE  by Jeff Shuey Motivate Your Army With a Declaration of Independence  by Skip Weisman Is Your Brand Attracting the Right Recruits through Social Media?  by Susan Gilbert Customer Service Beliefs that Can Hurt Your Business  by Leslie Truex Get Hired: Make Yourself Shine In Your Interview  by Beth Kuhel Why Shrinking Your Resume Can Hurt You  by Glassdoor.com Are You Your Authentic Self at Work?  by Marc Miller

5 ways to make your work day a little bit easier

5 ways to make your work day a little bit easier Even those who really love their jobs can have days where getting out of the bed and heading into the office feels like a huge trial. Follow these steps and adjust your working lifestyle so that, even on those days when you really can’t be bothered, there are just enough incentives, tricks and tips to get you into the office looking and feeling your best. Make lunch in advance Avoid the  20-minute trek to a Tesco express at lunchtime, and actually go on a nice walk or meet up with a friend by preparing your lunch the night before. From a nice tuna salad to the humble sandwich, almost everything can be put together in advance. It’ll also give you something to look forward to eating in the middle of your work day if you actually put some effort into making it. While you’re at it why not make some overnight oats? These are a tasty breakfast treat and super easy to make the night before. Have something to look forward to Planning your evenings ahead of schedule will mean the friends you really want to see are more likely to be available, and will give you a motivator to get through the work day if you’re having a particularly long or arduous shift. Catching a movie with mates, planning to visit a new cocktail bar, or even just knowing that you’re going for a long walk with your dog will take the mental pressure off you at work and is likely to lighten your mood. Get your emails done early The dreaded Monday morning emails are a part of every working week, and often end up being left far longer than is really appropriate. After making a coffee, sit down at your computer and power through these first thing on a Monday morning. It may seem like a gargantuan task, but you’ll feel ten times better for having got it done. Who doesnt want to feel highly productive before they’ve even finished their morning coffee? Dress professionally Whether youre following a dress code or choosing your  clothing purely because of personal preference, a slightly smarter mode of attire is likely to have a significant impact on the way you work and feel. Whilst you don’t have to wear a full blown suit every day, it’s proven that making more of an effort to dress professionally will increase productivity and improve your overall mindset. Find a drink to wake you up and invigorate you Whilst caffeine will ever be the fallback option when you’re in dire need of a pick-me-up, it’s not great to consume in copious quantities on a daily basis. Instead, try to substitute your lattes and cappuccinos with green, mint, or other herbal tea. Green tea, in particular, is proven to have health benefits; this also means that when you do need a real energy boost once in a while, you’ll feel greater effects when you do have a coffee. Alexandra Jane writes  graduate careers advice  for Inspiring Interns, a  graduate recruitment  agency. Check out their website to see which  internships  and  graduate marketing jobs  are currently available, as well as their  graduate jobs Manchester  page for further opportunities.

What to look for in a lawyer

What to look for in a lawyer When you need a lawyer, there’s a good chance you’re going through a stressful period. For example, if you’ve been hurt in a car accident, you may need a no win no fee personal injury lawyer. Or if your business is looking to acquire another company, you’ll need a corporate lawyer. This means you’ll need the services of the best in order to get the outcome you’re looking for. And despite different specialists having different knowledge and abilities, there are certain characteristics good lawyers share. So regardless of what your needs are, you’ll be able to find the right legal professional for you based on the following criteria: Experience How much experience does your chosen lawyer have? This is typically one of the most important factors you should consider when evaluating who to appoint. A lawyer who specialises in one field is going to be more experienced than one who works on numerous cases in different areas. Their training and previous cases will all come together to benefit you. Experience is the best educator. This means that a newly qualified lawyer isn’t going to have the same level of knowledge as someone who’s been practising for a decade or longer. It’s a good idea to check with the law firm you’re considering who the lawyer they’ll appoint to your case is going to be. If you’re given the choice, an experienced lawyer is always advised. Record You don’t have to carry out too much research to find out if your chosen solicitor has a strong record. There are plenty of sites that provide information on lawyers, from the Legal 500 to the Solicitors Regulation Authority. You’re able to search for regulatory and disciplinary decisions about a firm or individual lawyer, making it simple to find and evaluate their record. Often, a quick Google will also provide you with plenty of information, including review sites. Another client’s opinion is worth a huge amount, so don’t discount this source of advice. Communication Lawyers can speak in another language a lot of the time. We’ve even put a name to this language they’re fluent in: legalese. If you find a lawyer who can help you understand what they’re referring to when they show you jargon-filled documents, you’re probably onto a winner. Equally, if you’re dealing with someone who doesn’t bother to find out if you understand what they mean, they’re probably not going to make the rest of the process very pleasant. It’s probably worth looking elsewhere. Rapport You may also end up basing a decision on a feeling you get when meeting with a potential lawyer. Although this isn’t quantifiable, it could be a strong indicator of who you should choose. After all, you may end up spending a lot of time with your lawyer as you prepare your case. This means it should be someone you get along with. Your lawyer should treat you with respect and understanding, while acting with integrity and honesty. If you see this in your chosen lawyer, you’re likely to have a good working relationship. This will help you feel at ease during what can often be a stressful and disconcerting time. Picking the right lawyer can feel like a challenging process, but when you know what you’re looking for and what you’re judging prospective firms on, it becomes far more straightforward. Use these pointers as a basis for narrowing down your shortlist and you’ll be one step closer to finding the right lawyer for you.

The best Christmas attractions in these 7 uni towns - Debut

The best Christmas attractions in these 7 uni towns - Debut Its the most wonderful time of the year. Deadlines done, last week of term its time to make the most of that Christmas magic in the air. Before you nip off home for a month to put on a stone or two, why not do something with your flatmates that doesnt involve sticky nightclubs and Jaeger shots? If that sounds like a foreign concept to you, we got you covered. Birmingham Theres plenty of Christmassy stuff to do in the West Midlands if youve rinsed the world famous Frankfurt Christmas Market and, of course, Cadbury World. Blithbury Reindeer Lodge in nearby Rugeley boasts the largest herd of reindeer in England. If thats too tame for you, The Snow Dome in Tamworth has a Winter Wonderland with real snow. Wanna dominate your housemates in a snowball fight? Of course you do. Manchester Manchester peeps nip over to Bury to have the opportunity to spend a Christmas-themed day out on a flippin steam train. East Lancashire Railways Santa Special is a seasonal train trip for all you people out there who literally want to live the movie Polar Express. Oxford If you get through the Christmas markets a little faster than expected, try this spell-binding garden trail at Blenheim Palace. Completely redesigned with all kinds of lights and sounds just for the season its well, lit. Bristol Bristol being super cool kids that they are have tonnes going on for Christmas. Over at Cribbs Causeway you can explore Santas Enchanted Ice Castle. For the less adventurous, they also have the largest outdoor ice rink in the South West. Or, if you prefer your ankles not sprained, theres a really cool Festival of Light at Longleat House, where you can check out what an Edwardian Christmas is like. London LITERALLY A HUNDRED MILLION things you can do in London but well whittle it down to the gems here. If youre keen to avoid Winter Wonderland. Vauxhall Winter Village is a good substitute. Theres fondue and festive cocktails galore. Alternatively, if you fancy teaching yourself a thing or two, the Christmas Past exhibit at Geffrye Museum will show you a fascinating 400 year history of Christmas. For you cool kids, Hackneys Cinema in the Snow is screening classic Christmas films including Muppet Christmas Carol, which we can all agree is the best movie ever made. York Yorks Designer Outlet is home to Yorkshires award-winning Winter Wonderland where you can test your skating skillz on The Ice Factor, the largest outdoor ice rink in the North. You can also visit St. Nicholas Fayre for locally made homeware, wine, cheeses and mmmmm mulled wine. Cambridge Damn, Cambridge does not play when it comes to Christmas. That much is clear by the The North Pole Christmas Festival fairground rides, an alpine bar and yes a 600 square-metre ice rink. If you havent already, definitely get involved. Images via Trip Advisor Feature Image via Warner Bros. Pictures Download the Debut app and  get Talent-Spotted by amazing graduate employers! Connect with Debut on Facebook and Twitter

Avoid These Job Performance Traps

Avoid These Job Performance Traps It’s easy to fall into a comfortable routine at work. We go into work each day, complete our tasks, attend meetings, and go home. If we aren’t given any feedback on our daily job performance, we will most likely continue the same patterns. Since most of us dont receive this feedback, I have a list below that you can use to evaluate yourself, or ask a trusted co-worker to evaluate you on, to see if changes need to be made in your work performance. Are you falling into these traps? Not Generating New IdeasWe are able to accomplish all of our work tasks when they are laid out in front of us, but thats about all. Oftentimes we can become complacent and complete the tasks as assigned time after time. Are there better ways to accomplish these tasks? Are there new projects or ideas that you would like to work on that would benefit your company? If so, when was the last time you spoke to your manager about these ideas? Bringing up new ideas not only shows your initiative, but can also lead to some great projects you can work on to grow your skills professionally. Needing an Attitude AdjustmentWork has its ups and downs. No one loves their job all day, every day. However, ask yourself if you are falling into the complainer trap. Are 60% of the words coming out of your mouth negative? Do you spend too much time focusing on the negative aspects of your co-workers, managers, projects or company in general? What are your responses to new assignments or manager/co-worker interactions? Are you even-keeled in listening to what they have to say? Do you take some time to process the information before reacting or are you oftentimes reacting in anger or other outbursts? Individuals who have a calm demeanor will have their ideas, suggestions, and input taken more seriously. Those who are positive and dont focus on the negative, will command an audience longer. Over-Reliant on EmailTechnology has been a wonderful aid in the workplace. Tasks can be done faster delivered over great distances and collaboration is made easier. However, our reliance on technology can also include unnecessary work. Do you engage in lengthy and multiple email conversations with those who you can easily speak with? Do you IM the person who sits directly next to you? Are you using technology as a way to avoid face-to-face engagement with a co-worker or boss? Sometimes a face-to-face or phone conversation can easily answer questions, provide input, and finish the endless conversation on a specific issue. Don’t be afraid of old fashioned face-to-face interactions. It can be the best use of your time, while helping you develop personal relationships. Hiding Your MistakesPerfection is impossible in the workplace. No employee completes perfect work 100% of the time. Mistakes will happen. Your boss cares more about how you handle the mistake than the mistake itself. Don’t try to hide the fact that you made a mistake and avoid talking with your boss about it. Instead, identify your mistake, understand the impact of the mistake, understand the solutions that are necessary to fix it and to make sure it doesn’t happen again in the future. Bring this information to your manager. She will appreciate your thoroughness in dealing with the issue. Even when you aren’t getting the feedback you need from your manager or co-workers, you should take time to evaluate your own performance. The four traps listed above are a few ways to measure how you are performing, but they are critical in self-examination and, in turn, developing your career.

Writing a Resume After Being a Stay at Home Mom

Writing a Resume After Being a Stay at Home MomWhen you are still trying to get your life in order after the maternity leave, it can be a real challenge to get your writing a resume after being a stay at home mom. It can be overwhelming, but there are many resources available to help. All you need to do is take the time to do some searching and figure out how to best make yourself presentable to the employers that want to hire you.Having been through a career change when I was still in my 20's, I knew exactly what I was up against when I started my job search. There was no room for error because I had been out of the workforce for so long. I had no idea that there were still options available to me and that I could apply for jobs that might not have even been open before I was off work.Writing a resume after being a stay at home mom is not nearly as difficult as it used to be. There are a lot of resources online that you can use to your advantage. A little research and ingenuity can help you get the most out of your time when looking for a new job.One of the first places that you should check out is online forums and social networking sites. You can find companies and corporations that are looking for new employees that work from home. These are the places where you will meet people who are looking for the same thing that you are.Another good resource for this sort of thing is Facebook and MySpace. There are hundreds of companies and corporations that are looking for employees to help them do their jobs, and they are posting job postings on these social networking sites as well. You can find out the latest openings by logging into these social networking sites and checking the postings that are posted.It is also a good idea to check out career websites. These career websites are always listing the newest jobs and companies that are opening up for new employees. You can find out about a lot of information that you would not find in your local newspaper or in a m agazine article.When it comes to getting your resume out there, there are still some things that you need to keep in mind. The first thing that you need to do is make sure that you have all of your contact information, including a physical address, phone number, and email address, included with your resume. In addition, it is a good idea to include a photo of yourself on your resume, as a way to let potential employers see that you are worth hiring.This sort of thing is something that you should be doing when you are done with your job search. Doing this will ensure that you don't forget about your goal to become a stay at home mom and will also keep you from losing out on opportunities that you would otherwise get in the past. Once you have done the legwork and have found the right resources for you, you can begin your career search.

Resume Writing Tips - How to Enhance Your Job Objective and Put Your Best Foot Forward

Resume Writing Tips - How to Enhance Your Job Objective and Put Your Best Foot ForwardCareer objective or job description is one of the most important parts of a resume as it is where you detail the objective for the position you are applying for. It is one of the few elements that are mentioned in a resume and yet there is much that can be done to make it a standout from all the rest.Your objective is what drives you to choose a particular career and is not just a list of skills that is required to get the job done. It provides information about the specific job and how you were motivated to do the job. A good objective will set the goal for the resume and tell you exactly what the job is all about.Here are some writing tips that can make your objective shine:Write with passion. Writing for a job is not easy, you have to be positive and confident about what you have to say. Avoid negative emotions in the letter. Be straight to the point. A good objective must have purpose.Make sure that you will need to look for the job. Most job adverts are not search ads so if you only want to know the position but don't need it, you will not get accepted. You need to state the job as well as the exact location. This will determine whether it is considered open or closed. You should also state the salary you want to earn, your expected date of completion and the kind of job you want.Focus on the qualifications. A good objective must cover all the necessary requirements. A great one will include more than what is listed. It must also cover how the qualifications are relevant to the job you are applying for. In the case of applying for a managerial position, the objective should state the minimum amount of time you will need to prove your capability and if any education, special training or experience is required. An objective for a medical practitioner's job can even mention the specific goals of the work.Summary. One of the most important parts of a resume. It is easy to mis s this part of the letter because it tends to be written separately from the rest of the letter. It can be added at the end of the resume or beginning.