One question I (and as I'm" sure many others) often get asked is how to address their employment gap on their resume. Honestly, this topic has been beaten to death and back so I'll just add my input as well as a few pointers based on my personal experience and people I've spoken too. In the current economic climate more than likely you've been enjoying an "extended vacation" and the longer you have it the less likely your chances in finding some honest work. Your chances get even more daunting if you're in the 18-24 and 50+ age brackets. The job market has become the buyers market which (in simple terms) means you're screwed more often than not. So in that opportunity that you bypassed the company's keyword scanning system, you make it to the interview. Nice suit, million dollar smile, showing enthusiasm that'd make the best of actors blush, acing those interview questions like it was amateur until... "I see you have been out of work for quite a while." Its a statement many long term unemployed expect but never know how to prepare for nor respond. In the chance that the interviewer actually cares to hear you out (hint: never assume otherwise) it is best to have an idea of what you want to say and then attempt to steer the conversation back in your favor. The easiest thing to fall back on is what you've been doing since you quit, got fired or laid off. This can include anything related to work (i.e. freelance, blogging, volunteering, networking, etc.) to life circumstances (parenting, school, military, illness, accident, etc.). With a good coherent statement that still highlights relevant your skills, more than likely you're back in the ball game. If you didn't do anything, as much as popular opinion goes against it, be honest because they can tell when you're lying (they really can). The interviewer has probably already made up their minds on hiring you or not within the first 5 or so minutes so it can't hurt to "keep it real" however this does not mean spill out your life story and even more so, act desperate. If you're long term unemployed, you haven't got much to lose on lying anyway. If you have a cover letter, provide a brief explanation of your situation in there. In the interview, use a modified approach to your previous statement but again don't sound desperate even if you are. It sucks to be sure, but that's how the game goes. Remember to always be aggressive in your job search and not to sell yourself short because of some discriminatory practices; every setback is a learning experience. if anyone has any other tips or advice feel free to leave a comment. In the current era of inter-connectivity and interacting with your audience, the popular trend is to simply point to social media. However, it is important to remember that building a relationship with your audience via e-mail is just as or (depending on your industry) even more important than social media. The beauty about e-mail marketing with an inbound strategy is that it always tailored to the information that fits them on their schedule. With e-mail, you’re delivering directly to them without the “noise” of social media. If you’re potentially selling a product or monetizing your services, this allows you to engage your followers on a personal level and help them to the product they’re going to purchase in addition to other products of interest you may offer in the future. The personal nature of an inbound e-mail strategy allows for a much higher chance of closing a sale versus again, the busybody of social media. It does make sense after all when considering the reasons that many access their e-mail versus their social media; in different environments they are receptive to different things in different ways. As useful a tool that e-mail can be it’s always important to remember that, like with anything it is all about content and execution, make sure your e-mail strategy is cohesive with the rest of your engagement offerings so that it is positioned in a way that is not intrusive to your followers but engaging. If you have any experience with e-mail as a relationship tool, feel free to leave a comment. Something that I've noticed come up recently and quite often regarding the job search process are the validity and effectiveness of cover letters; there seems to be a growing sentiment that cover letters are, by their concept, useless. An argument most often posed against cover letters is that, among other factors, it is simply a matter of time. Most HR professionals (whether that'd be HR Managers or Staff) simply say that don't have the time to read cover letters when there are hundreds of applications sitting on their desk (or their computers). Another argument is that what is stated on the cover letter should already be explained in the resume and comes off as "window dressing" in some circles. They are however, not without their supporters. Proponents of cover letters believe that it is an extra step that is used to differentiate yourself from your competitors; an immediate opportunity to quickly provide a snapshot of your knowledge of the organization and how your skills fulfill their need(s) before even getting to the resume. Mastering the art of a strong cover letter is tough, but supporters believe that when done right can immensely improve your stock on the by-chance that an employer actually reads it. Both sides present a valid argument all things in the current job market considered. I believe both sides to an extent, when you think about how many applications are coming into HR (or related department) on a regular basis in a downturn, it can be pretty overwhelming to process so many resumes and find the most suitable candidate. Right or wrong, a good portion (if not more than that) will probably take any shortcut they can to screen out candidates which effectively means a cover letter is useless. On the other hand, the chance that you do get through the screening out process and they take a look at your resume, they may take a look at your cover letter and it may result in a higher chance of you landing an interview. I'd say in 2013 the effectiveness of a cover letter largely depends on your industry (smaller skill focused jobs, writing/communication jobs, etc.) and whether or not you're using cover letters for networking or job hunting. I recommend networking personally as from my experience, recruiters are much more receptive than databases but that's just me :D, I know it sounds cliche and well it is, but in this situation it is really up to the individual to weigh their options and pick the route that serves them best. Are cover letters truly necessary, not as much these days but that doesn't mean you can completely disregard it as an effective tool in the job hunt if you know how to leverage it into results. What is your experience with the use of cover letters? If you have any experience in this field or subject matter, feel free to leave a comment. The next generation of gaming consoles represent an exciting time for the industry, from both those within and those who consume the products. With the Wii-U already released and the Xbox One on the horizon, at the forefront momentum wise stands Sony who will be looking to release their Playstation 4 gaming console. However, the Playstation 4 isn’t the only card that Sony has in its deck and is looking to go full on with their content delivery and build Playstation as a brand, an ecosystem more so than simply a gaming console. Sony aims to leave no consumer untapped as Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Playstation Vita, VitaTV, Playstation Mobile, Playstation Network and Gaikai all serve to support the Sony gaming ecosystem. I’ll give Sony daps for their long term and (relatively) cost effective thinking and am curious to see how these implementations will payoff for them in the next 3 years. In my opinion, communication will be (if not nearly) a must in that Sony must effectively deliver the products' value proposition to consumers. Marketing wise they will need to get savvy and sprinkle some hustle into their campaign efforts with the mindset that every dollar spent on communication is a positive on their bottom line. Simply put, the Playstation 4 needs that front-loaded kickstart to put everything else into motion. Sony’s gaming division has become a very western oriented brand over the past few years, reflected in their outreach, target market and IP portfolio. I’m” intrigued as to how the Japanese market will respond to the Playstation 4 when it releases next year. It is no secret that Japan has lost a large chunk of its marketshare over the past decade as the market expanded due to globalization. As stated, with the next generation of gaming consoles on the horizon, Sony has everything to gain. With such a large portfolio of devices, services and content at their disposal it is imperative that the main piece of the puzzle, the Playstation 4, is off to a strong start and can maintain that strength going into spring 2014 and beyond. After a financially disastrous Playstation 3 launch, it looks like they’ve gotten their act together and is banking on the long term success of their devices to strengthen their brand. We will see in about 3-5 years time whether or not this pays off. For Do-it-yourself'ers, whether it is maintaining a blog, website or forum it is never an easy task and requires much dedication and perseverance. Most startups fail, but out of that are (many) silver linings depending on your outlook. One of those things is adding that sexy "entrepreneur" title to your resume. When jumping back in the old fashioned job hunt, this job title can either assist or hinder your job of nabbing that position. I'm" here to explain a few pros and cons of doing so. Pros: Given your startup lasted at least say six months and saw some measure of success (no matter how small), adding that entrepreneur line can be a huge boon on your resume. Some employers love prospects who doesn't wait around for what they want and is willing to go into business for themselves even if it doesn't necessarily pay off, its the work ethic and mindset behind this that matters (even for something like maintaining a dedicated blog). Starting your own brand takes a degree of risk and good or bad a number of people do not like to take risks or gamble (speaking in business terms). People like go-getters and self starters typically demonstrate this and related attributes on the basic level. It increases the stock of your resume if your website, blog, etc. has seen some verifiable degree of success but by no means does a failed startup indicate apparent weakness on your part, it's all a part of the game. Cons: Now on the flipside, those seemingly positive attributes can work against you in some situations. When some employers see "entrepreneur" in your job history or extracurricular work; it may create a stigma about you as a worker. For instance, as an entrepreneur (especially if your venture or brand have seen success) you're more than likely used to being on your own boss; they may believe that you won't be able to take orders or potentially clash with your superiors. If you're a entrepreneur with no job on the side you may have conditioned yourself with a certain amount of freedom, this could put you at odds with potential employers who will most likely demand a more strict work/life balance. Employers may even think that you may leave the job if your newest venture starts to yield results (even if you don't plan on starting a new startup or not). Being a Do-it-yourself'er does come with its perks and shows a level of commitment and confidence success or fail, but it is not without its drawbacks. It is important that if you decide to jump back into the traditional job market or even if you are already working and planning to add your efforts to your resume, always research and make an educated guess how the inclusion of entrepreneurship into your portfolio will impact your chances at your desired job of choice. If anyone else has any additional tips or advice they'd like to share, feel free to leave a comment. It is often said that one shouldn't judge by looks, however one of the most important things when starting up your blog, website or brand is deciding on your logo. The logo is the immediate indicator of you, the "face" of your brand if you will. With that said, here are a few things to consider when developing a logo for your brand: 1. Colors Something that isn't mentioned often is the color of your logo. Colors themselves carry distinctive and varied meanings and is something to consider when creating your logo. For instance, my logo above is black and white as I chose to use colors which conveys "simplistic and distinguishable" (though I am considering Blue, my favorite color, in the future). 2. Style Consider what style of logo you want, you could go for a flashy design like Aston Martin or take a minimalist approach like Microsoft. Keep in mind how your audience will perceive the style by putting yourself in their shoes and asking yourself question they made ask in relation to the aesthetics of your brand. 3. Imagery/Symbols If you're thinking about including images into your logo, think about going for things that relate in some fashion to your content whether directly, discreetly or through a specific meaning. It goes without saying not to blatantly copy more established or popular acts (good way to get sued if you're into that). 1. Make sure it "fits" you. As a personal brand or blog it is just that, personal. It is more attractive to let consumers of your content see another layer of your personality or content reflected through your logo whether directly (using distinctive indicators like your face, things you like, etc.) or indirectly (using indicators such as symbols, letter style, etc.). Yes consider your audience but at the same time, consider your own taste(s). Have any extra tips not mentioned here? Feel free to leave a comment. |
Frank Sheppard
NOTE: all opinions/views represented here are my own and do not reflect on any third party that I am affiliated with. Archives
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