Career Newsletter from Riklan Resources, LLC

Michelle A. Riklan

Certified Resume Writer, Career Coach, LinkedIn Profile Writer, Trainer, Facilitator, Author, Columnist, Speaker

Career Newsletter

Volume III, Issue 1 January 2013

Riklan Resources, LLC

522 Highway 9 North #290

Manalapan, New Jersey 07726

(800) 540-3609

Greetings!

"If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward."

--Martin Luther King Jr. (Martin Luther King Day is January 21st)

Welcome to January's career newsletter!

How are you moving forward in 2013? The beginning of a new year tends to be a busy time for those of us who assist with career transitions. Just like those who join the gym on January 2nd with a "gung-ho" attitude, many individuals get an adrenaline rush and a "need" to make a career change. And so, I ask a few important questions for you to consider BEFORE you start to throw your resume out into the wind.

1. WHY do you want to make a change? Is it your career path or your actual job? Is it your job or your employer? Know for sure before you put yourself out there.

2. In an ideal world, WHAT would improve your situation? Less hours, more hours, a different boss, more training, flexible work hours, different commute, a promotion, more money, alternate work space, a change in co-workers, different scope of responsibilities? WHAT are your core work values? (An important question that I ask my resume and coaching clients during their intake session)

3. Do you have the needed TOOLS (and know where to get them)? We may know we want to make a change, but do we have what we need? Making a change may often mean hiring a coach or a mentor, taking a class, or getting additional training. If you have your sights set on something new, make sure that you find out what is needed to be successful and, if you are missing some important tools, decide if you'd like to make the investment to fill in your tool box.

4. Are you ready to MARKET yourself? Yes, making a change requires marketing yourself and networking effectively. Are your materials in order? You will need (at minimum) a compelling and strategically designed resume that catches a potential employer's attention and showcases the unique value that you have to offer; and a strong LinkedIn profile. (Visit our website to learn more.)

At the end of the day, preparing for a career transition, new job, or return-to-work requires careful planning. So before you get on the 2013 career change treadmill, do your homework, and solicit the professional assistance you may need to help you stay the course.

Kind regards,

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Our list is growing! If you would like to advertise in future issues, please send an e-mail to robin@riklanresources.com.

Please feel free to send suggestions for improvement and additional areas that you would like to see covered in future issues to michelle@riklanresources.com.

Upcoming Teleseminar: Powerful LinkedIn Strategies for Your Successful Job Search

This exclusive free event is co-hosted by me, Michelle A. Riklan, ACRW, CPRW, CEIC, Resume Expert and Career Coach, and Marshall Brown, Career and Executive Coach and certified REACH Branding specialist.

Join us

Monday, January 21st at 7:30 PM EST

Here's a quick preview of some of what you'll learn in this LinkedIn Job Search teleseminar:

How to optimize your LinkedIn profile for maximum visibility
How to leverage the power of LinkedIn to supercharge your job search
How to gain endorsements from supervisors, colleagues and past associates
How to search for great jobs
How to discover & create real connections with rainmakers in your industry
How to make the most of LinkedIn groups
How to build your LinkedIn connections

And much more ...

Testimonials:

"Michelle is a woman of excellence and integrity with a unique ability to connect on multiple platforms focusing on the solution and creating awareness to bring out the best in you. Thank you, Michelle, for the opportunity to work with you and for taking the time to listened and really hear my needs." --Dr. Lisa Christiansen

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"The information you shared on how to best pursue a job search as well as how to craft a resume that stands out in the crowd, provided me with the tools I needed to bring life to my resume. I secured a new position that totally suits my needs. I can't thank you enough!" --Shawn E. Boynes

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"Thank You Marshall Brown. You gave me hope when in my mind there was none." --B.C.

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"It may have taken awhile, but it feels like things are finally coming together. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you bringing focus to my career goals and getting things moving in the right direction." --David Mintz, David Mintz Consulting

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If you are serious about leveraging the power of LinkedIn's 100-million plus connections to help you land the right job for your talents and skills, then you will benefit from attending this free teleseminar!

<<<<<<<<<< Sign up Today! >>>>>>>>>>

http://www.mbrownassociates.com/teleseminars.html

We are both looking forward to having you on the call Monday, January 21st.

In support of your success,

Marshall and Michelle

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter!

@ResumeWoman & @MarshallBCoach

P.S. Please forward this invitation to your friends. They will thank you for it!

LinkedIn Profile Photo

by Michelle A. Riklan, ACRW, CPRW, CEIC

Your profile photo on LinkedIn is very important. Did you know that profiles with pictures attract 50-70 percent more inquiries than profiles without pictures?

Here are some tips for your LinkedIn photo:

Don't use an old photo. There are few things worse than meeting someone for the first time and not recognizing them because the picture on their LinkedIn profile is from 15 years ago (or longer)!

Use a photo of you in your profile - don't use a photo of an object.

Your photo should include your head and shoulders, do not use far away pictures.
Photos should be professionally done, if possible (but not Glamour Shots).

Don't have other people in your photos (and don't crop other people out of your shot).

Make sure the background in the photo isn't distracting.

Take multiple shots and ask people their opinion on which one makes you seem most "approachable."

Mining Specialized Job Posting Sites

by Don Orlando, MBA, CPRW, JCTC, CCM, CCMC, CJSS, MCD

Many people find looking for positions using the Internet a frustrating experience. No wonder-some of these sites have tens of thousands of jobs listed. And those listings usually have minimal information about the position. How can you make sense of this data overload?

You're not the only one who is frustrated by some of the megasites. An employer who posts on a large site may be flooded with resumes. In many cases, these come from unqualified applicants or even from people with nothing else to occupy their time. How, then, do employees wade through this morass? In other words, how do they find you?

Specialized job posting sites often increase the likelihood of a good match between your excellence and an employer's needs. A specialized job-posting site does only a few things, but does them well. Consider a site just for HR professionals, particularly one sponsored by a professional organization. That organization can assure companies that "...only the best..." HR professionals visit the site. That's because only members of the organization can respond to the postings and, in fact, pay a fee for site access.

That gives you two advantages. First, companies can't get away with vague "announcements." The resulting, detailed postings let you tailor your resume to the employer's needs. Second, all those announcements offer help you prepare for the interview. If I were looking at a posting site for country club managers, I would see references to "...detailed knowledge of food and beverage operations" again and again. Guess what one of the interview questions will be about?

Now you know the secret power of specialized job posting sites. They offer you a wonderful opportunity to select the right match for you and give you an edge when it comes to the interview.

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Don Orlando, MBA, CPRW, JCTC, CCM, CCMC, CJSS, MCD

The McLean Group

One of America's first personal, professional career coaches

Former Charter Member, Board of Directors, Career Management Alliance

Monthly columnist: Professional Association of Resume Writers; regular contributor: NETSHARE.com
Published in more than 65 collections of the best resumes in the United States, Canada, and Australia

Suggested Reading: Should I Stay or Should I Go? How to Get the Most Out of Your Job During a Tough Economy.

By Marshall Brown, Career and Executive Coach and Certified REACH Branding Specialist.

Marshall Brown book In this book I cover:

In Search of Job Satisfaction
What is Job Satisfaction?
Have You Quit Your Job Emotionally?
Ten Ways to Get More from Your Current Job
Is It Time to Leave?
Six Steps to a Smooth Transition
and more!

To receive this FREE E-Book click the link below.

Author, Marshall Brown is a career and executive coach with a passion for encouraging individuals and organizations to reach exceptional levels of performance. He is founder and CEO of Marshall Brown & Associates, an international coaching, training and leadership development company. His mantra is simple: Get clear, get focused, get ahead.

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If you have a favorite career book to suggest or an article that you'd like to submit for our upcoming issues, please send your information to newsletter@riklanresources.com.

Book Giveaway: 101 Great Ways to Skyrocket Your Career

By Michelle Riklan et al.

101 tips from over 39 authors that will give your career a boost! A collaborative effort from Career Directors International Empowerment Summit 2012 Career Experts.

For a limited time, type in coupon code SKYROCKET at checkout and get this resource for FREE!

<<< Click on the book to download this E-Book. Remember to use the coupon code
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If you have a favorite career book to suggest or an article that you'd like to submit for our upcoming issues, please send your information to newsletter@riklanresources.com.

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Join our LinkedIn Group!

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Do you have a career related product or service that you would like to promote in our upcoming newsletters? Contact us at robin@riklanresources.com for more information.

In This Issue

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