Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Even in the Digital Age, Beware Your Handwriting

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Even in the Digital Age, Beware Your Handwriting In a world in which written communication mostly takes place electronically, handwriting is a forgotten art. Heck, elementary schools don’t even teach cursive writing anymore. Nevertheless, opportunities to expose your handwriting do come up every now and then, and you’d be surprised how easy it is to form judgments about someone based on his or her penmanship. Graphology is the study of handwriting, especially when employed to analyze a person’s character, personality, and attributes. According to Pens.com, you should be on the lookout for these markers (forgive the pun): Size If your letters are large, you are telling the world that you are outspoken, outgoing, and people-oriented, and that you love attention. You may pretend to be confident, though it isn’t always real. If your letters are average-sized, you are showing others that you are well-adjusted and adaptable. Tiny letters indicate that you are withdrawn, studious, and meticulous. Spacing Wide spacing between words tells others that you enjoy your freedom and don’t like your style cramped. Narrow spacing between words indicates that you don’t like being alone and that you may be intrusive. For more, check out the full post at Intuits Fast Track blog.

Writing a Resume - Make Job Goals on Your Resume

Writing a Resume - Make Job Goals on Your ResumeWriting a resume is just like writing a good essay. It takes practice and knowledge of the proper terminology to succeed. An article such as this may not be enough to make you successful at this endeavor. A resume writer must also have a thorough understanding of the terminology used in the job description or search manual.When writing a resume, it's important to write it according to job goals. The goal should be something that's written right on the job description or on the specific section of the website where the job posting is found. If there is a specific skill that needs to be filled, make sure to include it on the resume as well.To help the writer achieve these goals, be sure to have skills in these areas. For example, if you are a writer, list your work experience in a few sentences. Also, if you are an able to do some data entry work or typing, list it.As a writer, your job goal should be to write a resume that's appealing. R emember, an employer is likely to discard a resume with spelling and grammar errors, which will leave you open to the employer leaving you. There are spelling and grammar check programs for both computers and for a variety of other tools that can help.Use the technical skills you have to point out your qualifications. You should also include any achievements you've had. Write a resume that includes details about what you've done, including the skills, work history, awards, and certifications.Be sure to include goals in your resume as well, since they are important to job goals. Your resume should include your current job goals, as well as specific career goals you would like to have. Include some short details about your future goals, such as employment growth and achievements as a leader or educator.Be sure to include your work history, even if it is incomplete. You can list job titles in which you worked and when you did them. Be sure to write a work history that doesn't include s tart dates and end dates, since these don't reflect the job search process.Writing a resume is an art. This article is only a guideline to help you get started. If you feel like you're ready, take the next step and learn how to write a resume for the job of your dreams.

Authenticity Pays Off During Your Job Search - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Authenticity Pays Off During Your Job Search - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career au•then•tic•i•ty (aw-then-tis-i-tee) â€"noun: the quality of being authentic; genuineness. au•the•ntic (aw-then-tic) â€"adjective: accurate in representation of the facts; trustworthy; reliable Being authentic comes in many shapes and forms and when applied to the job search. Candidates need to be careful about how authentic they are during the job search, or do they? Get authentic and get the job Recently I had the honor of speaking on a panel with a Vice President of Human Resources for a top digital agency in Chicago, the Chief Marketing Officer of a nationally acclaimed online company and a senior recruiter for a worldwide ad agency, who all agreed that “authenticity” has quickly become one of the top characteristics they look for when interviewing a candidate in today’s market. Integrating authenticity into your brand Your personal brand is about you and therefore, should incorporate elements of your personality. This week while on LinkedIn, a great place for job seekers to network, I saw a personal brand that captured my attention and immediately conveyed authenticity: “Brand Marketing Geek.”   Out of the hundreds of profiles I view a week, this one grabbed me, made me smile and enticed me to read.   The best part about her brand? It was spot on, she has an impressive background in CPG branding. As for being a geek? Ill leave that to her. Connect your brand to your image While I doubt the self-proclaimed brand marketing geek would show up for an interview in wing-tipped glasses wearing a pocket-protecter, I do presume she’d present smart, detail-oriented branding knowledge wrapped up in a professional package. Why? That’s what her 3-word personal brand conveys. It’s important to connect your brand to your image. If youre a triathlete yet have the word geek in your brand, somethings amiss. Bye-Bye interview anxiety If you suffer, like many, from interview-day anxiety. One way to ease some of those jitters is applying a dash of authenticity. If youre a digital media creative director and for the past 10 years you’ve worn funky glasses, jeans and trendy coats to work, then rock a dressed up version of that to your interview. Stay true to yourself. Why? Employers want to know what they’re getting into when they hire someone. They want you to be authentic in your presence and the conversation. Be careful to walk a fine line here. If you buy funky glasses and trendy shoes the night before and try to “fake it till you make it” these hiring pros will spot you a mile away. How do you know if you’re being authentic? Those interview jitters will definitely calm a bit. (hint: it’s because you’re comfortable in your skin) Author: Adriana Llames is a veteran career coach and acclaimed author of Career Sudoku: 9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game, released with top book seller Amazon.com. She is creator of   “HR In-A-Box,” a Human Resources software product helping small businesses across America and a professional keynote speaker motivating and inspiring audiences with her focused programs on “9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game”, “Confessions of a Career Coach” and “Nice Girls End Up on Welfare.” For more information, visit www.adrianallames.com

The Dos and Donts to an Effective CV

The Dos and Donts to an Effective CV You see the perfect job, know you can do it, apply and anxiously await feedback. In the back of your mind you are thinking what do we look for? I thought I would take some time to guide you through what a successful CV looks like from an internal recruitment perspective and give you tips and hints for success when applying directly. Your CV is one part of the recruitment process that is entirely in your control. Get it right and you significantly increase your chances of being selected for interview. Get it wrong and you run the risk of your application being overlooked. Section 1 Header No CV should be more than three sides of A4. It should be a synopsis of your suitability for the role in question, not a full itemisation of your career history and its presentation speaks volumes about your communication skills. Make it as concise and compelling as possible, starting with the header. Save space elsewhere by putting your personal and contact details here and leaving out extraneous details such as date of birth, marital status or any photos. Section 2 Personal Statement Your CV is your selling document. Open your pitch with your personal profile a short paragraph that captures your key skills, core offer and career aspirations. This neednt be more than 50 words it should pithily sum up what makes you the ideal person for the job. Section 3 Career History Give this section the attention it deserves. As the showcase for your relevant experience, its undoubtedly the most important part of your CV. List your jobs in reverse order, starting with the most recent and giving basic details for each: company name; dates; job title. Write a quick summary of the role, followed by bullet points of your core activities and key achievements. If you have a lot of experience, stick to more recent jobs and projects. Your summary shouldnt read like a job description. Provide context by focusing on the tangible results of your work. For example, rather than responsible for implementing SaaS project, say successfully implemented SaaS project on time, to budget, with excellent client rating and projected revenue increases of 15%. Use key phrases that will resonate with the reviewer (design, architecture, stakeholder management etc.) and clear, directive action words (e.g. implemented, achieved, directed, recommended). Section 4 Qualifications List your degree, professional qualifications and relevant technology certifications in reverse chronological order. Theres no need to include every single technology youve worked with; only the ones relevant to the job youre applying for. CV Dos and Donts time! Do: Consider using the structure outlined above Keep it concise realistically, you only have 60 seconds to impress! Keep it simple and easy to read Organise it well keep sentences short and use bullet points Make it relevant it should only include information pertinent to the job youre applying for Go into more detail about recent roles (summarise key tasks for older jobs and only elaborate if its relevant) Use facts not opinions to describe your achievements consultancy revenues rose by 20% says far more than highly successful consultant Detail your personal input into team accomplishments Explain any gaps in your work history Be honest and accurate our recruiters need to verify the information you give us in order to progress your application, so any anomalies will be picked up Review your CV at least twice before you send it critically assess whether it best reflects your suitability for the role, scour it for mistakes and if possible ask someone else to proofread it too. Dont: Go over three sides of A4 Use humour or attention-grabbing gimmicks Include photos or pictures Over-complicate things with so little time to make an impression, its far better to use plain English and a clear format Repeat yourself Use the word I any more than is necessary youd be surprised how easily a single letter can dominate a document Make your career summary read like a series of job descriptions keep the focus on your achievements within each role Understate your case this is the place to take full credit for your achievements Include hobbies or interests youre just wasting precious space Submit your CV until you are 100% convinced it doesnt contain any spelling or grammar errors Have you got any additional tips? Let us know in the comments below!

How to Do a Cover Letter For a Resume

How to Do a Cover Letter For a ResumeYour cover letter is the first thing that you will need to add to your resume. A cover letter should tell the reader a little bit about yourself and your qualifications. What can a well written cover letter do for you? Well, here are a few things that will benefit you if you make the effort to get one.The first thing a cover letter does is to get you an interview. When you write a cover letter, you are telling the employer that you have something in common with the position that you are applying for. You will want to be specific about your previous job experience, education, certifications, skills, and etc. This shows the employer that you are someone who could perform the tasks they require of you.Also, writing a cover letter shows the employer that you care about your future. No matter what you say in the letter, they are expecting something of you. They are asking you to write a letter with care, detail, and emotion. Remember, employers don't r eally like someone who sounds bitter, angry, or disinterested. Show them that you want the job and are committed to getting it.These letters get people to remember your name, to remember where you worked, and which jobs you were in. Another great thing about these letters is that they can give you a feel for what you are applying for. Do some research about what a position entails and how to apply for the position that you are applying for.A cover letter can be an effective tool to help land a job. Remember, a cover letter can tell the recruiter everything that they need to know about you. If you send out generic letters, chances are they won't read it all. Then, if theydo read it, you are wasting both of your time and theirs.Resume writing is something that takes time and effort. When you write a cover letter, you are investing in your resume. There are many tips that can show you how to do this. Use a template or learn some good practices. However, if you do not have any experienc e in writing, look for companies that offer custom cover letters.If you really want to do a cover letter well, you need to practice. Don't put pen to paper until you are sure you know what you are doing. When you get the hang of it, you will be able to write a cover letter and an opening letter. The purpose of these two letters is to help you find the job that you are looking for.Your goal is to ask for an interview and gain that experience. If you haven't asked an employer for an interview, you will not know how to request one. By writing a cover letter, you will be able to get that experience, which will pay off in a positive way.

7 drinking games that are way better than Ring of Fire will ever be - Debut

7 drinking games that are way better than Ring of Fire will ever be - Debut Im going to tell you exactly what would have happened at your Freshers pre-drinks if you hadnt found this article. You lay out those cards around that halls souvenir mug and have that 30 minute discussion about the rules. Then you play for 15 minutes, constantly having to nudge people when its their turn, The local lightweight does something funny and no-ones paying attention to the 38 soggy remaining cards on the table any more. Lets face it, Ring of Fire is dead. It might be fine the first few times, but after that, its uninteresting, overlong and you can do better. Get drunker quicker and in impressive style with these awesome Debut-approved drinking games and leave Ring of Fire to the basics in the flat next door. Back To Back Image via Giphy You’ll need: An inflated sense of self-regard Two players stand back-to-back with each other, drinks in hand while the remainder of the group ask them questions to see which player is superior to the other (e.g. ‘Who’s the better dancer?’, ‘Which one of you can drink more?’ etc.). If you back yourself as the answer, you drink. The more arrogant you are, the drunker you get. Biscuit Image via Giphy You’ll need: Two dice (actual biscuits optional) Pretty similar to Ring of Fire, but it uses dice and is therefore cooler. You’ll need to assign someone to be the ‘Biscuit’ to start with this’ll be the first person to roll a total of 7. After that, drinks are parcelled out based on what everyone rolls on their turn. Spoiler: The ‘Biscuit’ ends up drinking wayyyy too much. Ride The Bus Image via Giphy You’ll need: A pack of cards (you won’t need: an Oyster card) The dealer goes around everyone, holding the deck face down, first asking whether the card on top of the deck is red or black. If the answer is wrong, the player drinks; if it’s right, they get to nominate someone to drink. Afterwards, they get dealt the card. Do this for three more rounds with different questions. Once, everyone has four cards, the dealer lays out the rest of the deck face down in a pyramid and things start to get a lot more colourful. Rest assured, nobody comes out the other side sober. F*ck The Dealer Image via Giphy You’ll need: A pack of cards, a mortal enemy This game is great if you want to victimise someone. The chosen dealer shuffles the pack and goes around the circle giving people 2 chances to guess the card on the top of the deck. If the player gets it right, the dealer drinks. The deck only gets passed on after 3 people get the wrong answer, so if someone is a hilarious drunk, give them the pack and keep them dealing.  ?? G’Day Bruce! Image via Giphy You’ll need: A convincing Australian accent Ah, nothing like internationally-themed drinking games to get the party started.  Everyone starts out this game with the name Bruce. Going clockwise, the first player says to the player on their left ‘G’Day Bruce’. After that player replies, the first one gestures to the next person along and says ‘Say G’Day to Bruce, Bruce’ and the pattern starts again with the 2nd player. Each time you mess the pattern up, your name changes and if you make 7 mistakes, you’re out of the game. The key is remember who you’re introducing! Fuzzy Duck Image via Giphy You’ll need: Great diction Another one of those tongue twisting word drinking games! Going around the circle clockwise, everybody says one of three possible phrases, ‘fuzzy duck’, ‘ducky fuzz’ or ‘does he?’ which reverses the direction of play. Anyone who messes up or hesitates drinks. Simple, sure, but as everyone starts slurring their words, the drinks start getting passed out faster than free pens at a Freshers’ Fair. Paranoia Image via Giphy You’ll need: A lack of trust and a sense of humour Going clockwise around a circle, the first player whispers a question about the group to the player on their left (e.g. Who do you think dressed the best tonight?’) The person who was asked then points out the person who they think is the answer, without revealing the question. If the player pointed out wishes to know, they have to down their drink. This is one of those drinking games can get brutal so you might want to save it for the end of the week but the more risqué it gets, the more fun it is! Feature Image © Celebreak Download the Debut app and you could totally grab yourself a summer internship  way before anyone else. Follow Alex on Twitter @AndThenAlexSaid Connect with Debut on Facebook and Twitter

Blogforum.dk notes Good blog stories - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Blogforum.dk notes Good blog stories - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog I suggested a session at blogforum.dk on good stories about blogging, and dalager, emme, eatmyshorts, bubber, myagent and I had a fun and exciting exchange. The stories ranged from me being invited to a conference in DC by Traci Fenton after posting about her to Guan being flamed by Basse Bergqvist to emme being hired to invent a fictitious past. I didnt write down all the stories, but we did discover some common themes, namely that most of the stories were about: * What happens when you interact with ithers on the basis of the content of your and/or their blog * Unexpected consequences of blogging * What happens when you lose your (real or perceived) anonimity So the good stories we tell each other are not about solitary epiphanies stemming from blogging. Theyre mostly about social encounters (on- or offline, real or fictitious) that were affected by the contents of a blog. If you have a good story about blogging, feel free ro add it in a comment here or blog it yourself and add a link. 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

Want to Get Your Stuff in a Publication Be Proactive and Pitch the Press! (PLUS a Great Giveaway for a $99 Press Release!)

Want to Get Your Stuff in a Publication Be Proactive and Pitch the Press! (PLUS a Great Giveaway for a $99 Press Release!) Vintage Typewriter Poster Love Print by Handz Annching Wang is a current client of mine with a fashion and communications background and biz, Bespoken. When she recently launched the $99 Press Release, I cried, Please! Give this away for my blog readers! They need it theyll love it! Not only did she agree, but she sweetened the pot by writing a post to go with it! So even if you dont win, you have some great tips on how to write your own (or you can still hire her to write yours, since its super-affordable). Win-win! Let’s say that you have a website, and it’s just sitting there, waiting for a big break. You’re getting customers, but you want to reach more, and you’re ready. And you have something that you wanna promote (whether it’s the opening of your Etsy shop, a new product launch, ora holiday sale you want to get out there). You’re at the point where you’re probably wonderinghow to go about getting press coverage in a newspaper, a magazine, or a blog. The plain and obvious truth is that there really are only two ways to go about doing it: The first is to get noticed (i.e. the scenario above where your website is sitting and twiddling its thumbs,waiting for some hotshot editor to discover it), and the second is to get them to notice you. I love being proactive about our goals and our businesses, so of course, if there’s ever an opportunityto take action yourself towards something that could a) give you more authority b) expose you to more people and c) get your amazing thing out there, well, you should take it! So, what exactly do you need to approach the press to share your story and spread the word? The four elements of a great press pitch are a well-written press release, a press kit (optional but awesome if you want to really stand out), 1-3 web-optimized images if your work is visual/tactile in nature, and an engaging, personal, and brief cover email. The key is to be professional, but personal. Engaging, but clear. But before you jump in, let’s go over the no-no’s. First thing to remember is that the people you want to get in touch with to potentially write about you are inundated with requests every day. As a fashion blogger, I have had press inquiriesfrom people who spelled my name wrong (if in doubt, copy and paste is what I say), sent me stuff that had no relation whatsoever to what I wrote about, and/or sent me a press release where, after quickly reading through it, had no idea what exactly they were trying to sell becauseit was written so poorly (and yes, some of these were from actual PR companies!). Don’t send an email with nothing else and expect someone to go to your website to “find out more”. You need to grab them right then and there. At the same time, don’t send a huge email with your 20 MB catalogue attached people just don’t have the time. Other tips: Start small. You might be a little bit nervous to pitch to the big guys. That’s totally fine! Start small, with local media and niche blogs. In fact, they may do more for your business than you think. Don’t spam. It’s very obvious when you copy and paste a form email and send it to everyone. These are the emails that will end up in the trash. Give it a try! As with all business strategy, you never know what will happen until you do it. Want Annching to write your Press Release for you? Shes giving away a $99 Press Release complete with  5 Big Q’s, a  1 Page PDF,  1 Custom Headline and up to 300 words designed to match your brand to one of my lucky readers! Comment on this post before 3p Eastern on Wed 11/23 with your answer to the question: What are your 3 dream publications (blogs, magazines, newspapers, etc)  that you would love to be featured in? A winner will be chosen at random and will be announced here before the end of the day on Wednesday. Good luck everyone! UPDATE: Congrats to Adriana for winning the giveaway! AnnChing will be in touch with the details via email for ya, Adriana. Thanks for entering, everyone!