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Start Your Own Engagement Revolution, Today

Too often we hear the term “employee engagement” and think of it as corporate wide initiative led by HR. Or maybe it’s why we need to train the managers better, so they’ll do a better job of engaging their team members.

I’d like to humbly suggest that employee engagement is something you can lead, right now.

You can dramatically increase your own engagement at work, and even lift the overall engagement of those around, and the effects will be seen almost immediately.

First, you need to understand your own motivational triggers. Based on surveys of over 10 million workers in 150 countries, we know that Growth, Recognition, Trust and Communication are the top four drivers of engagement. But what about the individual level? Someone who is early in her career may desire growth, but another who is closer to retirement might value recognition more. To help you understand your own motivational triggers at work, I developed a free online assessment at www.MyEngagementProfile.com that reveals your personal engagement profile.

Second, be mindful of what your company and boss are already doing for your engagement. Come to work with an attitude of gratitude. Reflect on what is already being done to give information and to seek your ideas. Think about the learning and training opportunities available to you. Consider the organizations mission and goals. How do they recognize employee accomplishments?

Finally, you need to proactively partner with your manager (even if he stinks as a boss) to create a great workplace culture. You must be sensitive of busy schedules, be professional in your approach, and be positive. Consider these conversation starters:

  • “Hey, Teri, I was thinking about how we communicate on the team and had some ideas that I think can really improve my effectiveness. Do you have a few minutes over the next couple of weeks to chat about them? Would love your feedback…”
  • “Hi, Sudha, was wondering if you we could grab coffee sometime this month…I’ve been thinking about my career goals lately and want to get your thoughts on my strengths and limitations, and what career path options you think are in my future.”
  • “Hey Carmen, don’t mean to interrupt…wasn’t sure if you knew that Linda pulled an all-nighter finishing up that design work for the team. We wouldn’t have been able to hit the deadline without that. Just wanted to make sure you knew…see ya.”

Life is too short to be unhappy at work. Don’t wait for the HR department to improve engagement. Be grateful for the good stuff; become the change agent to make your culture great. You might start alone, but you will quickly friends.

by Kevin KruseKevin Kruse

Serial entrepreneur and bestselling author, Kevin Kruse, used a relentless focus on talent and employee engagement to build and sell several, multi-million dollar technology companies, winning both Inc 500 and Best Place to Work awards along the way. Kevin is also the author of several books including the NY Times bestseller, We: How to Increase Performance and Profits Through Full Engagement, which was named one of the top leadership books in 2011 by 800-CEO-Read. When not writing or speaking, Kevin is busy juggling life as a single Dad, with three kids, in Bucks County, PA.

This article is based on the new book Employee Engagement for Everyone: 4 Keys to Happiness and Fulfillment at Work byNew York Times bestselling author, Kevin Kruse.

photo credit: Nomadic Lass via photopin cc

Bring Your “Genius” To Work #TChat Recap

(Editor’s Note: Looking for details of this week’s #TChat Events? See the Storify slideshow and resource links at the end of this post.)

“The whims and vagaries of team life sometimes are not so much fun, but more often than not, there’s a great feeling of brotherhood amongst everybody that works together.”  Geddy Lee, Rush

Have you felt that kind of harmonic convergence in the workplace? Brotherhood and sisterhood. A deep sense of interconnectedness and shared purpose that moves you forward. Participation in a team whose members continually learn from one another and push one another to contribute their best.

Collaborative energy can be a powerful creative force — just as it has been for more than 40 years with my favorite band, Rush. Geddy, Alex, Neil. Each has lived, lost and loved his work, with every fiber of his being.

OK, I’m a fan. I romanticize. But the proof is in the music. They take their craft very seriously — blending bass, keyboards, guitar, drums and evocative lyrics. They also have fun. Lots of serious fun. And failure. They’ve seen their share of failure, too.

They’ve pushed themselves individually — and as a team — with a kinetic energy that knows no bounds. To me, this is refreshing, because I constantly hear the world of work cliché about how easy it is to find your passion and be happy with what you do.

It’s not that easy. It takes introspection and homework, plus a lot of practice and perseverance. But the good news is that the investment that pays off in ways that you can apply in your life. It’s not about becoming a big-time rock star. It’s about understanding your particular brand of “genius” — something you can get your heart around, and rev over and over again, until the vibe is right for you. It’s the full measure of your unique skills, experiences, passions, interests, talents, abilities, and attitude that you possess.

This week at #TChat Events with guests Maggie Mistal and Laura Rolands, the TalentCulture community examined this “core genius” in all of us. And I learned a two-step lesson:

1) Choosing Incremental Steps  Big leaps aren’t in most people’s risk-adverse DNA. For many of us, discovering what we can do (and what we’re here to do that only we can do) naturally unfolds one small step at a time. It’s like learning to play as a team, but internally, and with continuous refinement. My first step came as a child, when I began connecting words into honey-laced phrases. I’ve covered a lot of territory since then (with multiple side trips), but I’ve never looked back.

2) Can Lead to Monumental Outcomes  The operative word, here is “can” — but the point is that legitimate breakthroughs are possible from incremental steps. Finding your core genius is a very personal, soul-searching endeavor that requires self awareness, reflection and prioritization. Before you brainstorm life-changing career possibilities, you have to start with a meaningful decision framework. You need to learn what’s important for you, first.

How can TalentCulture support this process? Wherever you are in pursuit of professional bliss, we hope you’ll keep sharing your experiences with us here and on social channels. This is a safe place to test ideas, find resources, and exchange information. Your #TChat brothers and sisters are with you on this journey. We’re all in this world of work together. So let’s rock on.

#TChat Week-In-Review: Bring Your “Genius” To Work

Maggie Laura

Watch the #TChat Preview hangout now

SAT 2/1:
#TChat Preview:
TalentCulture Community Manager, Tim McDonald, framed the week’s topic in a post featuring a “sneak peek” hangout with guests, Maggie Mistal and Laura Rolands. See the #TChat Preview now: Careers: Better Choices Mean Better Business.

SUN 2/2:
Forbes.com Post:
In her weekly Forbes column, TalentCulture CEO, Meghan M. Biro, offered her perspective on why and how business leaders should encourage employees to develop their unique talents. Read Unleash Your Employees’ Super Powers.

RELATED POSTS:

Managing Your Career: What Would Richard Branson Do? — by James Clear
Shifting Focus: Aptitudes Instead of Attitudes — by Dr. Nancy Rubin
Soul Search — Then Job Search — by Maggie Mistal

TChatRadio_logo_020813

Listen to the #TChat Radio replay now

WED 2/5:
#TChat Radio: Host Meghan M. Biro and I talked with Maggie Mistal and Laura Rolands about what it takes to tap into your career “genius.” Listen to the #TChat Radio replay now

#TChat Twitter: Immediately following the radio show, Meghan, Maggie, Laura and I moved over to the #TChat Twitter stream, for a dynamic open conversation with the entire TalentCulture community. Moderator Dr. Nancy Rubin led hundreds of participants through a discussion focused on 5 related questions.

See highlights in the Storify slideshow below:

#TChat Insights: Better Career Choices Mean Better Business

[javascript src=”//storify.com/TalentCulture/careers-better-choices-mean-better-business.js?template=slideshow”]

Closing Notes & What’s Ahead

GRATITUDE: Thanks again to Maggie Mistal and Laura Rolands for sharing your perspectives on how each of us can find our core genius and apply it to our career. Your enthusiasm and expertise are infectious!

NOTE TO BLOGGERS: Did this week’s events prompt you to write about career strategy or professional development? We welcome your thoughts. Post a link on Twitter (include #TChat or @TalentCulture), or insert a comment below, and we’ll pass it along.

WHAT’S AHEAD: Next week at #TChat Events, we’ll look at how employers can be more proactive in forging employee relationships. Our guests are Chris Boyce, CEO of Virgin Pulse, and Kevin Herman, Director of Worksite Wellness at The Horton Group. It’s a discussion that speaks to the heart of talent-minded professionals everywhere, so save the date for this very special Valentine’s Week Event — Wednesday, February 12!

Meanwhile, the TalentCulture conversation continues daily on the #TChat Twitter stream, on our NEW Google+ community, and elsewhere on social media. So stop by anytime.

We’ll see you on the stream!

Image Credit: MenfiS at Flickr

Bring Your "Genius" To Work #TChat Recap

(Editor’s Note: Looking for details of this week’s #TChat Events? See the Storify slideshow and resource links at the end of this post.)

“The whims and vagaries of team life sometimes are not so much fun, but more often than not, there’s a great feeling of brotherhood amongst everybody that works together.”  Geddy Lee, Rush

Have you felt that kind of harmonic convergence in the workplace? Brotherhood and sisterhood. A deep sense of interconnectedness and shared purpose that moves you forward. Participation in a team whose members continually learn from one another and push one another to contribute their best.

Collaborative energy can be a powerful creative force — just as it has been for more than 40 years with my favorite band, Rush. Geddy, Alex, Neil. Each has lived, lost and loved his work, with every fiber of his being.

OK, I’m a fan. I romanticize. But the proof is in the music. They take their craft very seriously — blending bass, keyboards, guitar, drums and evocative lyrics. They also have fun. Lots of serious fun. And failure. They’ve seen their share of failure, too.

They’ve pushed themselves individually — and as a team — with a kinetic energy that knows no bounds. To me, this is refreshing, because I constantly hear the world of work cliché about how easy it is to find your passion and be happy with what you do.

It’s not that easy. It takes introspection and homework, plus a lot of practice and perseverance. But the good news is that the investment that pays off in ways that you can apply in your life. It’s not about becoming a big-time rock star. It’s about understanding your particular brand of “genius” — something you can get your heart around, and rev over and over again, until the vibe is right for you. It’s the full measure of your unique skills, experiences, passions, interests, talents, abilities, and attitude that you possess.

This week at #TChat Events with guests Maggie Mistal and Laura Rolands, the TalentCulture community examined this “core genius” in all of us. And I learned a two-step lesson:

1) Choosing Incremental Steps  Big leaps aren’t in most people’s risk-adverse DNA. For many of us, discovering what we can do (and what we’re here to do that only we can do) naturally unfolds one small step at a time. It’s like learning to play as a team, but internally, and with continuous refinement. My first step came as a child, when I began connecting words into honey-laced phrases. I’ve covered a lot of territory since then (with multiple side trips), but I’ve never looked back.

2) Can Lead to Monumental Outcomes  The operative word, here is “can” — but the point is that legitimate breakthroughs are possible from incremental steps. Finding your core genius is a very personal, soul-searching endeavor that requires self awareness, reflection and prioritization. Before you brainstorm life-changing career possibilities, you have to start with a meaningful decision framework. You need to learn what’s important for you, first.

How can TalentCulture support this process? Wherever you are in pursuit of professional bliss, we hope you’ll keep sharing your experiences with us here and on social channels. This is a safe place to test ideas, find resources, and exchange information. Your #TChat brothers and sisters are with you on this journey. We’re all in this world of work together. So let’s rock on.

#TChat Week-In-Review: Bring Your “Genius” To Work

Maggie Laura

Watch the #TChat Preview hangout now

SAT 2/1:
#TChat Preview:
TalentCulture Community Manager, Tim McDonald, framed the week’s topic in a post featuring a “sneak peek” hangout with guests, Maggie Mistal and Laura Rolands. See the #TChat Preview now: Careers: Better Choices Mean Better Business.

SUN 2/2:
Forbes.com Post:
In her weekly Forbes column, TalentCulture CEO, Meghan M. Biro, offered her perspective on why and how business leaders should encourage employees to develop their unique talents. Read Unleash Your Employees’ Super Powers.

RELATED POSTS:

Managing Your Career: What Would Richard Branson Do? — by James Clear
Shifting Focus: Aptitudes Instead of Attitudes — by Dr. Nancy Rubin
Soul Search — Then Job Search — by Maggie Mistal

TChatRadio_logo_020813

Listen to the #TChat Radio replay now

WED 2/5:
#TChat Radio: Host Meghan M. Biro and I talked with Maggie Mistal and Laura Rolands about what it takes to tap into your career “genius.” Listen to the #TChat Radio replay now

#TChat Twitter: Immediately following the radio show, Meghan, Maggie, Laura and I moved over to the #TChat Twitter stream, for a dynamic open conversation with the entire TalentCulture community. Moderator Dr. Nancy Rubin led hundreds of participants through a discussion focused on 5 related questions.

See highlights in the Storify slideshow below:

#TChat Insights: Better Career Choices Mean Better Business

[javascript src=”//storify.com/TalentCulture/careers-better-choices-mean-better-business.js?template=slideshow”]

Closing Notes & What’s Ahead

GRATITUDE: Thanks again to Maggie Mistal and Laura Rolands for sharing your perspectives on how each of us can find our core genius and apply it to our career. Your enthusiasm and expertise are infectious!

NOTE TO BLOGGERS: Did this week’s events prompt you to write about career strategy or professional development? We welcome your thoughts. Post a link on Twitter (include #TChat or @TalentCulture), or insert a comment below, and we’ll pass it along.

WHAT’S AHEAD: Next week at #TChat Events, we’ll look at how employers can be more proactive in forging employee relationships. Our guests are Chris Boyce, CEO of Virgin Pulse, and Kevin Herman, Director of Worksite Wellness at The Horton Group. It’s a discussion that speaks to the heart of talent-minded professionals everywhere, so save the date for this very special Valentine’s Week Event — Wednesday, February 12!

Meanwhile, the TalentCulture conversation continues daily on the #TChat Twitter stream, on our NEW Google+ community, and elsewhere on social media. So stop by anytime.

We’ll see you on the stream!

Image Credit: MenfiS at Flickr

How Good People Can Deliver Bad News at Work

Written by Sarah Colomé

Something has gone terribly wrong at work. (It happens.) You’re terrified about telling your manager. (That also happens.) Breaking bad news to your boss can feel like you’re the designated driver on girls’ night out — while it’s not easy, someone has to take the hit.

However, if you take a closer look at this situation, you may find it’s a blessing in disguise for your career.

Employers are looking for contributors who know how to think on their feet, adapt quickly and  communicate effectively. If you reframe a work nightmare by offering timely, useful, well-researched solutions, you’ll demonstrate that you’re not only a smart thinker, but also a doer with management potential.

So, when that moment strikes and you have to break bad news to the person who decides your fate, consider these three strategies:

1) Bring the whole story to the table

Rushing to squeal that the keynote speaker for your annual conference just dissed your company on social media isn’t going to improve the situation.

Before you make a move, consider your source of information. Is this a credible individual or channel? Repeating uninformed, disruptive information only adds to the chaos. Research the facts (quickly!) so you can provide decision makers with relevant context. Your extra legwork can help them make an informed choice about how to proceed.

Knowing details helps frame the situation, allows for a better decision making process and makes you look like a mature, level-headed colleague rather than an reactive tattletale.

2) Think and speak objectively

Taking sides and passing blame does nothing to solve the problem. Instead, you’ll only paint yourself in a negative and self-serving manner — the complete opposite of what you want.

While this doesn’t mean you should hide pertinent information you have about the problem, you also don’t need to wrap a particular person up in a bow and pin them to a bull’s eye.

Pointing fingers isn’t necessary to solving the immediate problem. If necessary at all, it should be set aside until a solution has been found. Focusing on the fixing the problem helps you avoid looking like you’re stepping on another employee to make yourself look good. Plus, you’ll protect your working relationships with all parties involved — including the idiot who ordered 200 bottles of pineapple juice instead of Pinot Grigio for the donor banquet. Besides, if someone on the crew is truly inept, their actions will speak for themselves.

3) Offer problem-solving options

Showing up empty-handed to announce bad news accomplishes nothing. You need ammo. Prepare to suggest possible next-step ideas, so you’re less likely to become the target of a manager’s negative reaction.

Your goal is to avoid adding more stress to a difficult situation, by being ready to offer viable options. Research alternatives that save time or money, and assess the likely outcomes, so you can help determine a workable plan of action.

But keep in mind that offering effective solutions requires more than just a Google search and a few thrown-together spreadsheets. No solution can be implemented without investing employee energy, so assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for each path. This approach can help your manager avoid costly missteps — while simultaneously portraying you as a proactive, strategic thinker.

Delivering bad news is never easy, but reframing a negative work situation into a positive professional opportunity can be beneficial both for you and your company.

The next time someone accidentally sends detailed employee compensation data to everyone in your company, don’t fret. Get the whole story, be objective and come with a solution in hand.

Have you stepped up when there was a melt-down at work? How did you deliver the news — and did it help you grow in your career? Share your experiences in the comments area.

Sarah Colome (2)(About the Author: Sarah Colomé, M.S. is an educator, advocate and the SOARS Booking Director for A Long Walk Home, Inc. Based in Chicago, Sarah has traveled both nationally and internationally as a competitive collegiate public speaker. She teaches on topics related to social justice and diversity, health education, sexual violence and persuasive speaking. Connect with her on Twitter.)

(Editor’s Note: This post is adapted from Brazen Life, with permission. Brazen Life is a lifestyle and career blog for ambitious young professionals. Hosted by Brazen Careerist, it offers edgy and fun ideas for navigating the changing world of work. Be Brazen!)

(Also Note: To discuss World of Work topics like this with others in the TalentCulture community, join our online #TChat Events every Wednesday, from 6:30-8pm ET. Everyone is welcome at events, or join our ongoing Twitter conversation anytime. Learn more…)


Image Credit: Mugley via Flickr

Networking: 5 Ways To Work It Into Your Life

Written by Lynn Dixon, co-founder & COO, Hourly

Networking. Some people consider it a guaranteed way to connect with industry luminaries. Others believe it’s the ideal way market your professional capabilities and build brand awareness. Still, others dread the concept, and try to avoid it at all costs.

Truth is, networking remains one of the most effective techniques for selling yourself, as well as uncovering new business opportunities, projects and jobs.

But there’s a key to networking success that isn’t often discussed — knowing how to conduct yourself in various social situations is essential.

While handing out business cards may work wonders for you at a designated networking event, the same strategy might not work in a different atmosphere. Is there a way to predict what techniques will be effective in a specific setting?

Let’s look at several common social scenarios, and consider an appropriate networking plan of action for each:

1) Work Events

Work events come in all shapes and sizes, from professional development courses to off-site meetings with colleagues. These events tend to be more formal and task-oriented. Typically these settings are not ideal for aggressive networking, primarily because your participation is tied to other business goals.

How to play it: Although you may know most people at a work event, you can subtly network by introducing yourself to other attendees. When it fits into the flow of conversation, you might also mention recent accomplishments or challenges you’ve overcome. This helps people in your internal network see where you shine, and helps them envision how you could contribute to future projects with them or others they know.

2) Office Parties

Events like the annual holiday party or your boss’s birthday don’t usually scream “networking.” Conversations are often focused on personal life, and you may not want to think about business. Although no one wants to “talk shop” throughout an entire office party, it can be an awesome opportunity diplomatically reinforce your strengths.

How to play it: Put the alcohol down and get to know colleagues you don’t know well, especially those in other departments. You don’t have to brag about your accomplishments, but you can weave in your expertise. Chances are, one day they may need your skills on a project. Be memorable and focus on how you add value.

3) Family Events

You probably believe family events are the last place to whip out your resume and market yourself, but these events can be a networking goldmine. Think about it. Your family wants you to do well in your career. It’s like preaching to the choir. You just have to know what songs to sing.

How to play it: Although members of your family probably don’t work in your industry, they’re likely to know someone who does. That’s why it’s advisable to touch base about business with as many people as possible while you “work the aisles” at reunions, weddings and other family gatherings. Bring a stash of business cards, in case someone expresses interest. In the future, if someone they know needs someone with your skills, you’ll be the first person on their radar.

4) Industry Conferences

Conferences are a great way to establish excellent connections who can help you expand your network. Sometimes the premise of a conference centers on networking. Other conferences are developed for you to learn more about your industry by listening to speakers, attending workshops and sharing ideas with professional colleagues.

How to play it: This is one of those obvious networking situations where you’ll need lots of business cards, a stack of resumes, and a variety of portfolio samples. Since conferences attract a plethora of industry colleagues, you never know who you’ll run into — so you need to be prepared. It’s also smart to refresh your LinkedIn profile before the event, so anyone who checks your profile afterward will see your most current information.

5) Running Errands

Picture this: You’re at the grocery store when you see an influential member of your industry. You don’t want to throw business cards at this important person, but you do want to make a connection. How do you approach a power player in public without appearing to be desperate?

How to play it: Look for an appropriate opening. Briefly introduce yourself and explain why you admire this person. Try to mention a recent article they wrote or compliment them on a recent accomplishment. Then, close quickly by asking if you could connect via email or on a social network. This opens the door to future conversations while downplaying what could otherwise be an awkward situation.

The ability to market yourself in any situation is a skill that should be practiced and polished. You never know who you’ll bump into and how they could help you out in the future. Look at every situation as a chance to boost your network and provide a possible stepping stone for your career.

What do you think about the power of networking in social settings? How have you marketed yourself at various events? What has been effective for you?

Lynn-Dixon(About the Author: Lynn Dixon is the co-founder and COO of Hourly.com, an employment network that quickly matches people who are interested in flexible positions with the right opportunities. Connect with Lynn and Hourly on Twitter and LinkedIn.)

(Editor’s Note: This post is republished from Brazen Life, with permission. Brazen Life is a lifestyle and career blog for ambitious young professionals. Hosted by Brazen Careerist, it offers edgy and fun ideas for navigating the changing world of work. Be Brazen!)

(Also Note: To discuss World of Work topics like this with others in the TalentCulture community, join our online #TChat Events every Wednesday, from 6:30-8pm ET. Everyone is welcome at events, or to join our ongoing Twitter conversation anytime. Learn more…)

Image Credit: Pixabay

The Rise of Influence in Social Business #TChat Preview

(Editor’s Note: Are you looking for full highlights and resource links from this week’s events? Read the #TChat Recap: “Can You Hear Me Now? Influence Goes Social.”)

Think for a moment about the brands that have the deepest impact on your professional life.

What companies and people do you look to for credible information, relevant insights and valuable connections? And which ones would you include on your “who’s who” list?

More importantly, how would you develop that list?

Influence Isn’t What It Used To Be. Or Is It?

In less than a decade we’ve seen a dramatic shift in the logic and tools we use to create and shape our professional circles. “Influence” is no longer limited to an elite and somewhat static class of highly prominent organizations and individuals. Today, social channels make it possible for anyone to claim a corner of the marketplace, earn a share of voice, and develop a loyal following.

So, what do these new social dynamics mean for the future of employer and employee brands? And how can we all do a better job in leveraging the “currency” of influence? That’s what we’ll explore this week at #TChat Events, with two experts in the art and science of influence:

•  Mark Fidelman, CEO of RaynForest, an influence marketing platform
•  Mark Willaman, Founder and President of Fisher Vista LLC, owners of HRmarketer software and Fisher Vista marketing services

To frame this topic, I spoke briefly with both guests in separate G+ hangouts. First, Mark Willaman discussed the “what” and “why” of influence:

Then Mark Fidelman offered a quick take on how influence is measured:

What are your thoughts about the role of influence in today’s world of work? Join us this week to share your ideas and opinions!

#TChat Events: Social Influence as a Competitive Advantage

#TChat Radio — Wed, Nov 6 — 6:30pmET / 3:30pmPT

TChatRadio_logo_020813

Tune-in to the #TChat Radio show

Our hosts, Meghan M. Biro and Kevin W. Grossman talk with Mark Willaman and Mark Fidelman about the role of influence in today’s social world of work. Tune-in LIVE online this Wednesday afternoon!

#TChat Twitter — Wed, Nov 6 7pmET / 4pmPT

Immediately following the radio show, we’ll move this discussion to the #TChat Twitter stream, where Cyndy Trivella will moderate an open chat with the entire TalentCulture community. Everyone with a Twitter account is invited to participate, as we address these questions:

Q1: How can “industry influence” impact the world of work?
Q2: In what ways does social listening shape culture, marketing and branding?
Q3: Why would brand influencers make better employees? (or not?)
Q4: How do leaders know who is an influencer, and how does this impact culture?
Q5: What social tools do you use for brand marketing and talent recruiting?

Throughout the week, we’ll keep the discussion going on the #TChat Twitter feed and on our LinkedIn Discussion Group. So please join us share your questions, ideas and opinions.
We’ll see you on the stream!

25 Jobs in One Career? Brace Yourselves

Recently, I participated in an unsettling Twitter chat, focused on career planning.

Usually that’s not a controversial topic, but this particular discussion disturbed many participants. Why? Because we projected the number of jobs a typical Millennial will accumulate over the span of a career in our so-called “New Economy.”

Do The Math

Consider these estimates from reputable sources:

By 2020, 40-50% of all income-producing work will be performed by short-term contractors, freelance workers and “SuperTemps
The length of a career already averages 48 years — by 2020 it will be 50+ years
Today, the average time-in-service for a Millennial at any company is 2.6 years

Admittedly, I am not really good at math. But this data is pretty conclusive…

At 2.6 years per job, over 50+ years in the workforce, plus several temp assignments and contracts means that Gen Y can expect to hold 20-25 jobs over the course of a career.

Here’s the problem… or, rather, several problems:

No One Told Gen Y

Those statistics genuinely scared #InternPro participants — most of whom are Millennials. No one had done the math. Plus, between parents, educators and old-school career experts, there seems to be a halo effect surrounding an old paradigm: lifetime employment. Many Millennials seem to believe that once they graduate and get that first job, their job search is effectively over. They are unprepared for the fact that it’s really just the beginning of a continuous process.

Traditional Higher Education Hasn’t Noticed

Many higher education stalwarts — not exactly known for quickly adapting to changing economies and markets — still feature old-school theory taught by tenured professors who’ve never held a position outside academia. Instead of teaching the skills that will be in demand in the “Freelance Economy,” we’re still shoving 1970’s courses and curriculum down the throats of unsuspecting students. Higher education must change fundamentally. To remain relevant, academics must start emphasizing transferable, marketable career skills.

We Aren’t Entrepreneurial Enough

Successful SuperTemps, solopreneurs and freelancers rely on one skill above all else: entrepreneurism. Why? Because, going forward, our livelihood depends on our ability to sell our skills, our value proposition and our niche — continuously.

In fact, with the average duration of a job search at about 40 weeks, there will almost never be a time when we’re not selling… us.

Old School Recruiters Haven’t Adapted

It doesn’t help that recruiters still haven’t caught-on. Old-school recruiters, unwilling to accept new workforce trends, discount job seekers whose resumes show they move every two to three years. They still consider this “job-hopping” — and many will not interview candidates with this tendency. They are labeled “disloyal” and a “long-term risk”.

Here’s the reality: between economic conditions, Gen Y’s penchant for moving on when they become restless or feel undervalued, and the inevitable entrepreneurial spirit that is becoming pervasive among job seekers, recruiters who stick to this now antiquated “rule” will lose out on high-quality talent. In the meantime, their competitors will thrive.

Fasten Your Career Path Seatbelts

Without a doubt, our new economy is already here. Members of Gen Y who cling to old standards — through fear and/or influence by parents, higher education and recruiters — will clearly continue to struggle. They will continue to do as trained — and will continue looking for jobs that no longer exist.

However, young professionals who recognize the new workplace for what it is, and learn the career skills required to win…

Strategic planning
Goal setting
Sales and digital marketing
Effective follow-up
Customer service
Integrity-based self-promotion

…will not only embrace the new economy, they will surround themselves with success.

What’s your reaction to the “average” career path of the future? How would you suggest that Millennials prepare to manage their careers more successfully? Share your thoughts in the comments area.

(Editor’s Note: This post has been adapted from YouTern, with permission.)

Image Credit: Stock.xchng

Considering a Career Change? Take a 360 Snapshot

Written by Dorie Clark, Next Avenue

Thinking about reinventing yourself professionally so you can switch fields or move up the ladder in your current career? A good way to start is by giving yourself a “Personal 360” interview.

At some corporations, employees receive performance reviews based on what are called “360 reviews” (360, as in all directions). In a 360 review, the key people you work with — your boss, peers, subordinates and clients — provide anonymous, aggregated feedback about you and your performance. Firms conduct these reviews partly to uncover the suck-ups who get along perfectly with their bosses but are tyrants to everyone below them.

What a Personal 360 Interview Can Do For You

By pulling together your own Personal 360 interview, where you talk with assorted people about your strengths and weaknesses, you’ll be able to begin leveraging your best talents for the next stage of your career. These people are not only your best hope of receiving honest feedback, they’re also the ones you’ll turn to for mentoring and (eventually) new business and referrals. It may seem like an imposition to reach out, but the truth is, it takes a village to reinvent yourself.

(Related reading: Why We’re Hardwired for Midlife Reinvention)

Personal 360 Process

Here’s how to conduct a Personal 360:

First, create a list of questions you think would be helpful in enhancing your self-knowledge. Executive coach Michael Melcher suggests paired questions. For example: “What’s my strength?” and “What’s not my strength?” Or “What career can you see me in?” and “What career can you definitely not see me in?” That format, Melcher says, “gives people permission to give the full picture; they don’t want to be too negative.”

A few good questions that aren’t paired:

  • What 3 words would you use to describe me?
  • If you didn’t already know what I do for a living, what would you guess, and why?
  • I’m trying to go from field X to field Y. What steps would you suggest?
  • What are my blind spots?

Picking Interview Targets

Next, identify the people you’ll be tapping for your 360 review. You need to be careful, especially if you don’t want to tip your hand to co-workers that you’re considering a career change. Focus on friends, trustworthy colleagues and family members you can depend on to provide honest feedback (no frenemies need apply).

Phyllis Stein, a career consultant in Cambridge, Mass., and the former director of Radcliffe College Career Services at Harvard University, suggests identifying up to 20 people who exemplify the interests, skills and values you admire. Ideally, you’ll want to corral a diverse assortment of men and women in different fields so you can get a broad perspective.

Once you’ve selected potential members of your 360 posse, it’s time to approach them. Melcher suggests making it clear that you want them to set aside time, but not for friendly chitchat. “If you tell your friends you’ll be interviewing them, they’ll take it much more seriously,” he says. Explain that you’ll be spending about 20 minutes asking them about your personal brand so you can see how you’re perceived.

(Related reading: Why Delay Your Dream Job?)

The Face-to-Face Advantage

Face-to-face interviews often yield better responses than phone calls, emails or Skype chats because they let you probe answers further. But they’re not always possible. You might be in Miami and the interviewee in Mumbai, for instance. Or the person you want may be so busy that the best you’ll get is an email pecked out on a smartphone between layovers.

However, be prepared. You’ll need a thick skin to conduct face-to-face interviews. Sometimes the truth can be painful. So if your poker face isn’t up to snuff, you might just want to stick to doing your Personal 360 electronically.

No matter how you conduct the interviews, be sure the people you’re talking with agree to be brutally honest. New York–based career coach Alisa Cohn says you almost have to be forceful about this with friends because their desire to protect you is often so strong.

“Say, ‘I’m trying to develop myself and I know you love me, but I’d appreciate your candid feedback about my limitations,’” Cohn recommends. If your friend says, ‘You don’t have any,’ insist he or she takes your request more seriously.

How to Prompt Honest Answers

One trick, she says, is to bring up negatives about yourself so your 360 team doesn’t have to do so. “You can say: ‘I’ve gotten feedback in the past that I’m a tactical thinker — not strategic. I wonder if you’ve seen that and what you think?’” Cohn says. “When you rat yourself out first, they can add on.”

Conducting a Group 360 Interview

In addition to (or instead of) one-on-one conversations, another possibility is hosting a group gathering in your living room with 8-10 trusted friends and colleagues, assuming your network lives nearby. The benefit of this is that you can leverage the wisdom of crowds when one person’s idea sparks another. Think of it as a focus group where the focus is you.

Make sure you have enough comfortable chairs and, just as in real focus groups, bribe people with dinner and/or copious, high-quality snacks. If you’re able, it’s a classy gesture to provide each attendee with a small token of your appreciation, like a gift card for a coffee shop or bookstore. Keep the whole shebang to 90 minutes max, with 30 of those minutes upfront for mingling and to accommodate late arrivals.

Essential Jobs for a Group Interview

Two roles are critical: the facilitator and the scribe. If you’re a terrific moderator — you can keep meetings going efficiently, politely hush ramblers, probe interesting statements — take on the facilitator role yourself. But for most people, this can be a tricky assignment when the subject is you. So you may want to ask a friend or co-worker to fill the role. Just be sure to coordinate in advance with the moderator so you’ll be able to slip him or her notes for follow-up questions.

You might, however, be comfortable as the scribe. If so, sit silently in the back, don’t interrupt and just take notes. It’s a good idea, with your group’s permission, to record the session so you can play it back and review it in the future.

You may want to set aside five minutes at the end of the session to ask attendees to write down a short summary of their perceptions — three words that describe you, the most important skill you should develop and so on. Since some participants may be too shy to offer their thoughts out loud, this is a good way to ensure you’ve captured their insights.

It could also be useful to supplement your 360 interviews by reading over previous performance reviews and recommendation letters you’ve received at work, as well as by seeing what people have said about you online — positively and negatively. (A Google search can help you accomplish the latter).

(Related reading: A CEO’s Advice for the Third Chapter of Your Career)

How to Interpret What People Say

Once you’ve gathered all the input, it’s time to synthesize that information. Be sure you’re assigning the appropriate weight to what you’ve heard. Rather than obsessing about something one person mentioned in a 360 review, look for consistent patterns across comments you’ve received.

It’s easy for something negative to stick in your craw. But the power of one harsh appraisal can cloud your understanding of how you’re perceived in general. Remember, you’re trying to find patterns. To uncover them, ask yourself the following questions:

  • What adjectives did people use to describe me?
  • What skills did they say I possess or lack?
  • What aspects of me or my brand were most frequently mentioned?
  • Were any of those aspects cited as unique or unusual?

Now you have to determine what it all means. Be careful not to confuse kind words with traits that will serve you well in your career reinvention. “People may say, ‘I see you as thoughtful, methodical, and nice,’” Cohn says. “Those are lovely professional qualities, but they aren’t describing a leadership brand like the word ‘decisive.’ They’re not going to get you to the C-suite.”

Dorie Clark headshot(Author Profile: Dorie Clark is the author of “Reinventing You: Define Your Brand, Imagine Your Future.” She is an adjunct professor at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, and is a consultant and speaker for clients such as Google, Fidelity, and the World Bank. She also contributes frequently to Harvard Business Review and Forbes. Learn more about Dorie at dorieclark.com and follow her on Twitter @dorieclark.)

Editorial Note: Reprinted with permission by Harvard Business Review Press and Adapted from “Reinventing You,” copyright 2013 Dorie Clark. All rights reserved.

Read the original post at Next Avenue.

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Where's The Love? Recognition DIY

Written By Ritika Trikha

Overworked. Undervalued. Now What?

You’re working your fingers to the bone – extra hours, extra projects, extra everything. And yet no extra appreciation is coming back your way. No one seems to notice your hard work. What to do?

No matter why or how you found yourself in this situation, you can turn it around. It’s time to take back control.

As Roxanne Peplow of Computer Systems Institute notes, “You cannot seek praise from others—it has to come from within.” Rather than waiting to be recognized and praised by others, choose to be proud of your accomplishments in their own right. Give yourself the credit you deserve. Shed light on your achievements when appropriate. And look for ways to acknowledge the efforts of others who contribute to your success — those on your team.

“If you feel that you are doing more than what is expected of you and it isn’t being recognized, you are making yourself a victim. When you victimize yourself, it’s impossible to be positive,” Peplow says.

Try these 5 steps to find the recognition you deserve:

1. Look Closer — Then Speak Up

If it seems like you’re swamped, first reexamine your workload. You may benefit from smarter ways to prioritize and minimize work. If that’s not enough, don’t be a hero. Talk with your boss.

“Many employees mistakenly believe their job is at stake if they say they can’t handle one more project. More projects equal less focus and lower quality,” says Steve Duffy, president of ListHere.com. Like many other managers, Duffy would rather have an employee deliver great results than take on too much and fall short.

Tell your manager. He wants to know. After all, his success depends on your ability to perform.

2. Do Something You Love — After Hours

Balance in other areas of life can make or break your workplace happiness. Fast Co.Create suggests that professionals develop a “passion project” outside of work.

Firstborn Creative Director Adam Rubin is also a children’s book author. He told Fast Co.Create that having a side project is not only personally gratifying, but also translates positively back to his work. For him, writing children’s books as a sideline “is an excellent exercise in simplicity and rhythm. It has helped me improve the brevity, clarity and pace of my writing.”

3. Stop Taking On Extra Work From Slackers

If you’re overworked because you’re picking up slack from one or more colleagues, enough is enough. Don’t wait until you’ve reached a boiling point, says Joseph Grenny, co-author of New York Times bestseller “Crucial Confrontations.”

Grenny led a study that suggests 93% of employees work with others who don’t pull their weight — yet only 1 in 10 of us actually confronts underperforming colleagues. If you feel uncomfortable speaking directly to offenders, you have two alternatives: 1) Just say no to helping in the future, or 2) Discuss it with your boss (see suggestion #1).

4. Get Enough Sleep

When you’re overworked, sleep is probably the first thing to go. “Work can keep us up at night, worrying about what is next or staying up because work still needs to be accomplished,” says Chris Ohlendorf, Partner at Versique Search and Consulting.

Realize that the more sleep you lose, the closer you are to burnout. And burnout won’t advance your career.

5. If All Else Fails, Start Searching For The Next Job

If your boss is simply not budging, you have no time to balance your life, and you’re surrounded by slackers, it may be time to reward yourself by jumping ship. Just make sure you’re not job hunting on company time, warns Lida Citroen, personal branding and reputation management expert at LIDA360.

Her advice: “Networking — online and in person — and studying industries, companies and business leaders will help you become more proactive in your career.”

Chalk It Up to a Lesson Learned

ListHere.com’s Duffy also offers some final words of wisdom for those who have reached the point of no return – treat any company the way it is treating you. “Remember that a company only hires you because you can add value to their bottom line.”

If you’re no longer moving forward in your career, accept the lessons learned from this experience, and find a new employer. But avoid repeating past mistakes. In interviews, be sure to ask questions that will help you determine whether or not that company will be a better fit:

  1. How would you describe your management style?
  2. How did this position become available?
  3. What kind of recognition system is utilized here?
  4. Can you tell me about the growth opportunities available to employees?

Take back control. Embrace and celebrate your achievements, while helping others see your value and respect your contributions. You have nothing to lose!

Ritika-Trikha(Author Profile: Ritika Trikha is a writer for CareerBliss, an online career community dedicated to helping people find happiness in the workplace. When Ritika’s not writing, she’s obsessing over social media (and listening to Jay Z!). Connect with Ritika on Twitter!)

Republished with permission from YouTern.

Image Credit: Stock.xchng

Where’s The Love? Recognition DIY

Written By Ritika Trikha

Overworked. Undervalued. Now What?

You’re working your fingers to the bone – extra hours, extra projects, extra everything. And yet no extra appreciation is coming back your way. No one seems to notice your hard work. What to do?

No matter why or how you found yourself in this situation, you can turn it around. It’s time to take back control.

As Roxanne Peplow of Computer Systems Institute notes, “You cannot seek praise from others—it has to come from within.” Rather than waiting to be recognized and praised by others, choose to be proud of your accomplishments in their own right. Give yourself the credit you deserve. Shed light on your achievements when appropriate. And look for ways to acknowledge the efforts of others who contribute to your success — those on your team.

“If you feel that you are doing more than what is expected of you and it isn’t being recognized, you are making yourself a victim. When you victimize yourself, it’s impossible to be positive,” Peplow says.

Try these 5 steps to find the recognition you deserve:

1. Look Closer — Then Speak Up

If it seems like you’re swamped, first reexamine your workload. You may benefit from smarter ways to prioritize and minimize work. If that’s not enough, don’t be a hero. Talk with your boss.

“Many employees mistakenly believe their job is at stake if they say they can’t handle one more project. More projects equal less focus and lower quality,” says Steve Duffy, president of ListHere.com. Like many other managers, Duffy would rather have an employee deliver great results than take on too much and fall short.

Tell your manager. He wants to know. After all, his success depends on your ability to perform.

2. Do Something You Love — After Hours

Balance in other areas of life can make or break your workplace happiness. Fast Co.Create suggests that professionals develop a “passion project” outside of work.

Firstborn Creative Director Adam Rubin is also a children’s book author. He told Fast Co.Create that having a side project is not only personally gratifying, but also translates positively back to his work. For him, writing children’s books as a sideline “is an excellent exercise in simplicity and rhythm. It has helped me improve the brevity, clarity and pace of my writing.”

3. Stop Taking On Extra Work From Slackers

If you’re overworked because you’re picking up slack from one or more colleagues, enough is enough. Don’t wait until you’ve reached a boiling point, says Joseph Grenny, co-author of New York Times bestseller “Crucial Confrontations.”

Grenny led a study that suggests 93% of employees work with others who don’t pull their weight — yet only 1 in 10 of us actually confronts underperforming colleagues. If you feel uncomfortable speaking directly to offenders, you have two alternatives: 1) Just say no to helping in the future, or 2) Discuss it with your boss (see suggestion #1).

4. Get Enough Sleep

When you’re overworked, sleep is probably the first thing to go. “Work can keep us up at night, worrying about what is next or staying up because work still needs to be accomplished,” says Chris Ohlendorf, Partner at Versique Search and Consulting.

Realize that the more sleep you lose, the closer you are to burnout. And burnout won’t advance your career.

5. If All Else Fails, Start Searching For The Next Job

If your boss is simply not budging, you have no time to balance your life, and you’re surrounded by slackers, it may be time to reward yourself by jumping ship. Just make sure you’re not job hunting on company time, warns Lida Citroen, personal branding and reputation management expert at LIDA360.

Her advice: “Networking — online and in person — and studying industries, companies and business leaders will help you become more proactive in your career.”

Chalk It Up to a Lesson Learned

ListHere.com’s Duffy also offers some final words of wisdom for those who have reached the point of no return – treat any company the way it is treating you. “Remember that a company only hires you because you can add value to their bottom line.”

If you’re no longer moving forward in your career, accept the lessons learned from this experience, and find a new employer. But avoid repeating past mistakes. In interviews, be sure to ask questions that will help you determine whether or not that company will be a better fit:

  1. How would you describe your management style?
  2. How did this position become available?
  3. What kind of recognition system is utilized here?
  4. Can you tell me about the growth opportunities available to employees?

Take back control. Embrace and celebrate your achievements, while helping others see your value and respect your contributions. You have nothing to lose!

Ritika-Trikha(Author Profile: Ritika Trikha is a writer for CareerBliss, an online career community dedicated to helping people find happiness in the workplace. When Ritika’s not writing, she’s obsessing over social media (and listening to Jay Z!). Connect with Ritika on Twitter!)

Republished with permission from YouTern.

Image Credit: Stock.xchng

Career Moves: An Unconventional Payoff

“Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door.” -Emily Dickinson

I sat along the far front corner of the partner’s desk, trying not to sulk in the chair. This particular partner, an attractive Chinese woman in her mid-30’s, sat quietly behind her desk while she studied my professional profile like an archeologist attempting to decipher an ancient scroll. She even put her glasses on at one point. The partner’s sister — also a partner, and just as attractive but a few years younger — smiled at me like I was a special child about to get on the short bus for the very first time.

They asked me a series of questions about my experience and skills. They finally warmed up to me as we continued to talk about career aspirations, Silicon Valley, VC’s and HR-related tech startups.

Finally the older sister took her glasses off and said, “You know, you’re very unconventional. You’ve done a lot over time, and have been quite diverse in a short time, especially on paper. Now you’ve engaged with us to help give it all context. And it’s a pleasure, by the way. But still, it’s hard to put you in a…bucket. You know?”

I do. And so do many others who have carved and crafted their way into unconventionality by learning new skills, making career transitions, job hopping, consulting, freelancing, starting business endeavors and any combination thereof.

Professional Mobility Goes Mainstream

Nancy Friedberg, president of New York City executive coaching firm Career Leverage, recently said in a Fortune article, “Partly because of all the economic instability lately, and partly due to the entry of Gen Y into the workforce, people increasingly see themselves as free agents. It’s all about the portfolio of skills you bring, not loyalty or security. Moving around has become the new norm.”

This was a recent candidate experience I had with an executive search firm in Silicon Valley. Lovely, smart women who knew their business and understood the power of the professional skill portfolio. But as I noted earlier this week, we are naturally stalwart creatures of comfort and habit. Talent selection, mobility and succession planning have long been determined primarily by literally matching hard skills and experience to a job description, and of course gut instinct.

This is not to disparage any search professional working today, but saying that talent strategies should focus on hard skills is no longer enough. The softer skills — communication, empathy, team-building — are just as integral to selection and development, if not more so. The partners I met with understood this and made it clear during our conversation.

Looking at Talent Through New Eyes

This week on #TChat Radio, Josh Bersin emphasized the importance of looking at human capital management challenges through a more strategic, holistic lens. Rather than emphasizing the need for hard skills alone, high-impact organizations seek people with a full spectrum of capabilities — and develop both hard and soft skills. As organizations reinforce and expand these combined capabilities in real-time, and provide flexible context that responds to workforce competencies, we can expect talent selection, talent mobility and business performance to improve.

Those of us who pursue unconventional paths should take heart – it seems the tide is turning in our direction. If only unconventionality paid better, right? Actually, for the progressive individuals and companies propelling themselves and the enterprise forward, it does.

I’ll tell you more about my new bucket soon…

Image Credit: Stock.xchng

Mindfully Managing Your Personal Brand: #TChat Recap

“Act as if what you do makes a difference.
It does.”
-William James

It really does. Live who you are and be the difference not only in your own life, but in those around you as well. Each and every moment is a opportunity. The subtle inter-connectedness we have with those closest to us ripples outward from the pebble plunk touching even the most distant connections.

However, it’s our responsibility to manage the plunks. Being mindful and purposeful is what makes all the difference in the ripple effect.

Every Point of Presence is a “Plunk”

This is the new age of transparency and personal branding; you have to own each and every moment and every opportunity. Even for those of you who stay in the social shadows online, the light will find you at some point. Professionally speaking, that is. The world of work has new rules of personal branding and marketing today. Even if a prospective employer requires you only to submit a traditional resume and cover letter, odds you’re being vetted online in every way publicly possible – starting with a search engine query.

You are your own subdued reality show — so why not exploit the new branding and marketing rules for your own benefit? Why not be accurate, consistent, accessible and personable in every point of presence you “plunk” in?

The Medium is the Message

Brand marketers today know that everyone consumes content a little differently, so keep that in mind as you create content that supports you and your personal brand. Diversify the ripple with a variety of good stories about who you are and what you aspire to be and do — bring those stories to life across multiple media — written word, video, audio and/or visual imagery.

Make a difference and be a difference. Those who feel the ripples of warm, reassuring water passing them by will stop and take notice. That’s the bottom line lesson from this week’s TalentCulture community focus on “brand you.” Below are several other takeaways to consider, along with links to archives of the week’s activities.

1) Every Brand Tells a Networked Story

Each of us has a professional pathway, triumphant successes, and painful failures. All of these “brand you” elements are increasingly visible, and connected with others. Whether or not we proactively develop a personal brand strategy, our collective actions and associations reflect upon us, individually and in relation to our employers. And similarly, our employer’s brand reflects upon us. It’s a delicate symbiotic relationship.

2) There’s Nowhere to Hide

Assume everyone is watching, even if no cameras are in the room. Social media captures and exposes interactions. It blurs the lines of communication among job candidates, employees, customers, business partners, organizational leaders and recruiters. So, what are the issues and opportunities that come along with this fluid, open digital village?

3) Listen to Smart Brand Guidance

That’s why #TChat called-in brand management big guns to lead the way this week:

If you missed any of this week’s events – or if want to revisit insights anytime – just follow the links below…

#TChat Week-in-Review

SUN 2/24
In a Forbes.com post, TalentCulture CEO, Meghan M. Biro outlined the premise for this week’s focus on career strategy and branding: “5 Steps to Discovering the Brand You”

#TChat Radio logo

Listen to the #TChat Radio recording

MON 2/25
#TChat Weekly Preview laid out key questions for the community to consider: “Empower the Brand You”

TUE 2/26
#TChat Radio Show:
Our hosts sat down with Chris LaVoie and Rayanne Thorn for an up-close and personal brands – and their role in the world of work

WED 2/27
#TChat Twitter: Rayanne returned to moderate our freewheeling #TChat Twitter forum, and we set the stream on fire! By the end of the hour, the #TChat hashtag was trending globally on Twitter – a sign of tremendous “signal” strength. But we care most about the quality of the conversation. What were people saying? And did others find it useful?

Participants included job-seekers, recruiters, consultants, writers, thought leaders, social media specialists, marketing professionals, and even a couple of CEOs. Now that’s proof of the relationship between individual brands and the world of work! And what were they talking so fast and furiously about?

To see highlights from yesterday’s #TChat Twitter forum, please watch the Storify slideshow below:
#TChat INSIGHTS Slide Show: “Empower the Brand You
[javascript src=”//storify.com/TalentCulture/tchat-insights-empower-the-brand-you.js?template=slideshow”]

Closing Notes

THANKS: Again, thanks to Rayanne Thorn and Chris LaVoie for sharing your personal stories, aspirations, and professional expertise with the TalentCulture community this week. You bring context, dimension and personality to the concept of employer/employee branding.

NOTE TO BLOGGERS: Did this week’s events inspire you to write about career management or recruiting issues? We’re happy to share your thoughts. Just post a link on Twitter (include #TChat or @TalentCulture), or insert a comment below, and we’ll pass it along.

WHAT’S AHEAD: Next week, we’re looking at the power of collaboration tools and techniques in helping diverse minds work together more effectively in today’s workplace. Save the date for #TChat Radio, Tuesday, March 5, at 7:30pm ET. And #TChat Twitter Wednesday, March 6, at 7pm ET. Look for more details next Monday via @TalentCulture and #TChat.

Until then – we’ll see you on the stream!

Image Credit: Pixabay

#TChat INSIGHTS: Empower the Brand You

Storified by TalentCulture World of Work· Wed, Feb 27 2013 17:37:25

#TChat Trending! http://pic.twitter.com/Ac7CNytn0vJobscience
Q1: The level of transparency for job candidates, employees, and employers is higher than ever. Good or bad? Why or why not? #TChatRayanne
A1: Your brand must start with you — and stay true to you #TChatMeghan M. Biro
A1 I transparency is good but for younger crowd not mature enough to understand what it means #TchatLisa Larter
A1) it’s great for people who know how to use the tools. People who know their way around the internet will do well #tchatRich Grant
A1: Transparency leads to accountability. Both good things in business/life. #tchatSpark Hire
A1. Transparency heals and transforms. #tchatMichael Clark
#Tchat A1 Transparency for employers is a window to the essence of the company, which is good, a public forum makes for a true meritocracy.ALEX BOTTOM
A1: Make sure #hiring transparency includes synergy b/w words & body language. Do they match? #TchatLara Zuehlke
A1. Transparency=hiring the right person with the right skills for the right job. #tchatTerri Klass
A1: Transparency is great in business. Personal privacy has to remain an option. #tchatRoger Veliquette
A1. Transparency is a good thing I think, be honest with applicants org culture and funding for things like professional devel #TchatGuy Davis
A1 The internet makes things pretty transparent these days #tchatSalt Recruitment
A1) too much info can be a bad thing, if it causes people to make incorrect assumptions #tchatRich Grant
A1 Good transparency allows a company to hire based not only where they’re at but where they want to go. #TchatBeverly Davis
A1 Transparency is a two-way street. Be honest about what you bring to the table as well. #TChatMarla Gottschalk PhD
A1 transparency is one sided. Most senior level managers are not sharing liek their employees IMO #TchatLisa Larter
A1. The important thing to remember is: are you being transparent in the right way? Is it effective? Is it relevant? #tchatKimPope
A1: the question is transparent about what – there is still such a thing as too much information #tchatSusan Mazza
A1: The problem with transparency is both people & companies are delusional about who they are. #denial #tchatHeather Bussing
A1 Good because get to see candidate from many angles. Nobody is perfect. Poor experience if data used just in tick box assessment. #TchatSejual
A1: Good b/c now everything is crystal clear for both sides and now MOST LIKELY an honest and proper #decisionmaking can be done! #tchatAlam Sugarman
@TalentCulture #tchat #marcoisland http://pic.twitter.com/ZdlTDclecFLisa Larter
Q2: Does the world of work need a reality-based TV show? Why or why not? #TChatRayanne
A2: No, we live business/opportunities all day long. The last thing I want to do is come home and live even more. #tchatMichael Chopp, PHR
A2. Ughhh. Reality shows are NEVAH “needed” for anything and they’re never real either. #tchatHeather Bussing
A2: We are all interesting but THAT interesting? I don’t throw TV-worthy diva fits at work. Sorry. #TChatJoel Peterson
A2 I don’t think reality tv would add value, too much distrust on the truth #TchatLisa Larter
A2: Hehe, if it’s a real “reality” based recruiting show, let me give em a challenge!!! #TChatJanis Stacy
A2. It could be a good way for job seekers to see the other side of the process and see what recruiters look for #tchatKimPope
A2:I think we can re-design reality shows – They don’t all need to be Sleazy Shore! #TchatRayanne
A2: All reality shows are somewhat “scripted” so a reality show about life at work would only be worth it if it was not “managed.” #TChatJoel Peterson
A2: The Apprentice & Trump is a gr8 lesson in what not to do as a leader. #tchatJohn R. Bell
A2: We don’t need another reality show – just better editing of the stories we’re already telling. #tchatAndy Janning
A2: (Raises hand with puzzled look) What’s the point of a world of work reality TV show? Who for? #TchatLara Zuehlke
A2. Job seekers can see how other job seekers epically fail on this show and hopefully learn not to do it themselves :) #tchatAshley Lauren Perez
A2: There is too much “Truman Show” in our lives today. No more reality TV #tchatJen Olney
A2: Most ppl I know think of Reality TV as a *freak shows*. Is this the way 2 portray the hiring process, or is it too late? #TChatNancy Barry-Jansson
A2 Ready for a career makeover show. Needed. #TChatMarla Gottschalk PhD
#Tchat A2 Work is reality… Eyeballs flow to quality Information and topical authority is transferred to producers of relevant content.ALEX BOTTOM
A2 The question to ask is how real is the Reality show? Is there a transparency enough for people to see?#tchatSonalee Arvind
A2: I have to say that I have a lot of time for Shark Tank’s principles. #tchatJohn R. Bell
A2: But, if we can deliver good story for a cause, even ever so embellished hyper-reality, them I’m in. #TChatKevin W. Grossman
A2 Not helpful. Reality TV edited to serve up hype and drama. We watch world of work through unreal lens of show editor #TchatSejual
Online vetting can create tunnel vision. Traditional interviews, experience, references, 1 to 1 are essential. #Tchat A2Lois Martin
Here are my office digs, as requested. Small but cozy. (See top right corner for various board games.) #Tchat http://twitpic.com/c7cw1qJoel Peterson
Q3: Do we really live in an online peer-vetted playing field? Why or why not? #TChatRayanne
A3 Digital life and “real” life are increasingly overlapping #tchatChristopher Yeh
A3 Smart people don’t show “everything” online – that’s what branding is about – you can be honest without being “naked” #tchatAnnette Richmond
A3: To an extent. Tech has placed us in a peer-vetted environment but employers (or recruiters) are stuck in the 90’s. #TchatDamon Lovett
A3 The online part is important but ultimately it’s the human to human relationship that makes all the difference #tchatHolly Chessman
A3 the peers of old were too limited/ing. Add the online dimension & a world of opportunity opens to one who cultivates presence #tchatBrian Rensing
A3. I think we have the beginnings of a broad peer-vetting field but there’s room for a universal currency of trust. P2P Yelp! #TchatAndrew Marshall
A3. Think about our #tchat community of peers. Haven’t we all learned so much from one another? #tchatTerri Klass
A3: Don’t we keep each other honest? Hey, I saw that… #TChatKevin W. Grossman
A3. We’re having a lot of fun! Social business is essential for ROI on attention, time, energy. #tchatMichael Clark
A3: I’m still trying to figure out what an online peer-vetted playing field is. Reality gamification? #tchatHeather Bussing
A3. I think it depends on your confidence level HUGELY #TchatLisa Larter
A3: How do we know online personas are authentic? In face 2 face meetings, you can’t take time 2 construct the “perfect” response. #TChatKavita C.
A3. Networking outside of your organization can help ensure you don’t get yourself stuck with stale ideas #tchatKimPope
A3 Impressions are formed fast on #SoMe #tchatAlli Polin
A3: Problem is, I’ve not seen this actually happen in the real world. #tchatRob McGahen
A3: Call me old-fashioned but I still love real-life high-fives, handshakes, and HR-approved hugs. #TchatLara Zuehlke
A3: Don’t believe everything you read – back up it with gut feel and real references #tchatJen Olney
A3: If a tree falls in your forest, and nobody cares… #TChatKevin W. Grossman
a3 It’s like real-time back-door references on #SoMe #tchatAlli Polin
A3 But when u Google yourself, ur only seeing what Google thinks u want to see. Indv filters break the self awareness clarity. #tchatStephen Abbott
Currently at @panerabread during #TChat http://pic.twitter.com/0j8OFxsPqyMary Beth Huffman
Q4: Should we film our daily body of work? What other technologies should we use to empower our personal and corporate brands? #TChatRayanne
A4) Playing sports taught me, “the eye in the sky, doesn’t lie” It gives you opportunities to correct ur flaws. Would be interesting #TChatVinnie Levine
A4. I wish there were documented videos and realistic views of jobs when I was choosing a degree/career path in college #tchatAshley Lauren Perez
A4 If used correctly, video can definitely help convey a brand quickly and beautifully–in a short amount of time too. #TChatSendgine
A4: We’re all using social media to empower our brands, aren’t we? #tchatVizwerxGroup
A4 Film, if you must, with a few softening filters…reality can be too ugly sometimes. #TChatEnzo Guardino
A4: We should think like new world marketers and use all mediums to brand and promote ourselves. Every one consumes differently. #TChatKevin W. Grossman
#Tchat A4 Filming daily wouldn’t make sense for many firms but video chats will likely grow as older workers become less & less influential.ALEX BOTTOM
A4. Sharing without intent is personalized SPAM. If you are recording your life be mindful of why and for whom. #TchatAndrew Marshall
A4: We are not far off. Google glasses here we come. HR / Privacy Nightmare #TChatSean Charles
A4: I am all about knowledge sharing BUT there are limits – there has to be. #TchatDamon Lovett
A4: If I filmed my daily activities it would be me playing on Facebook, eating Bon-Bon’s in my Pajamas > (according to my husband) #TChatSusan Avello
A4: Plus wouldn’t there be huge implications legally? #TchatLara Zuehlke
A4: No matter what the subject, every story has to be crafted. Nothing worth learning from is just “unscripted” if its filmed. #TchatJoel Peterson
A4: Filming an engineer working probably wouldn’t be something most would like watching. Type Type, coffee, type type. #TChatJanis Stacy
A4: Not everything needs to be shared. Pick your spots and create content that is worthy of the brand #tchatJen Olney
A4. Just because you CAN, doesn’t mean you should. #TchatPatty Swisher
A4: A powerful brand can stand out even without technology. MLK did not need twitter ! #tchattanvi gautam
A4 Hmmm. In my practice everyone would have to sign a waiver. :) #TChatMarla Gottschalk PhD
A4: For #SoMe projects it would be awesome to view & record screens of my team to coach & reward #TChatSean Charles
A4. We keep moving forward, not resisting but embracing tech, (almost) anything’s possible. #tchatMichael Clark
#tchat mug shot http://pic.twitter.com/MfbPTSKjWNJobscience
Q5: What should business leaders do to better improve the recruiting process and the candidate experience? #TChatRayanne
A5: Keep it simple and put yourself in the position of candidate – would you want to work with your organization? #tchatJen Olney
A5. Know exactly what they are hiring for rather than just who they like. #tchatJohn Baldino
A5: Realize: talent isn’t free. There’s an initial #investment to hire & ongoing investment to retain. A good employee = hard 2 find. #tchatEvelyn Eury
A5 Do good work, provide excellent service, and care about how you do it. #tchatHeather Bussing
A5. Respond to each applicant if even with only a form email letting them know there candidacy is over and someone else got the job #TchatGuy Davis
A5: Don’t force yourself to be someone you’re not. This rule also applies to social media and candidate experience #TChatMeghan M. Biro
A5: Don’t assume that if you build it they will come. Those days are gone. #tchattanvi gautam
A5 #tchat Have a complete understanding of the transferable skill set needed for the position.Michael Chopp, PHR
A5: Get creative. Ask your teams,: “given what U know about our culture now, would you accept a job w/us if U were a new candidate? #TchatJoel Peterson
A5: In all seriousness, tell me HOW to apply to their company. Then treat me with respect as a human being. #TChatJanis Stacy
A5 manage expectations how and when you will respond to job applicants #TchatPeter Clayton
a5 The recruiting process should use the ATS as a tool, not as ‘the answer’ Still need to pick up the phone & connect #tchatAlli Polin
A5. Consciousness reveals purpose, purpose sparks passion, passion pushes choice, choice creates consciousness… #tchatMichael Clark
A5 It’s all about value value value. #jobseekers and #employers need to outline how they mutually add value #tchatGoldbeck Recruiting
A5. The recruiter’s purpose is not to stump the candidate. #tchatTerri Klass
A5) prob unrealistic given legal climate, but would be great to get honest feedback – why wasn’t I hired or interviewed? #tchatRich Grant
A5. If you always do what you’ve always done you will always get what you’ve always got. Want different? Be/Act different. #TchatAndrew Marshall
A5: #Job applicants need to understand that #hiring isn’t personal. So easy to think it is. Keep branding yourself & strengths. #TchatLara Zuehlke
A5 Improvements come from honest engagement in recruiting process. Better experience when leaders’ training cultivates better EQ #TchatSejual
A5) it would save time for both empl. and job applicants if employers provided a salary range #tchatRich Grant

Empower Brand "You" #TChat Preview

We’ve made the business case for the unemployed and helped to further humanize brands. The growing space in between elevates employee and employer to better see into each other’s yard. The Internet’s collaborative inter-connectivity empowers us all to own our online presence, our personal branding, our development, our successes, and our painful failures. And own them we must. This goes for professionals and the enterprise.

This new level of social transparency presents a peer-vetted playing field unprecedented in the world of work. We continue to learn from one another, mentor one another, give it to each other straight whether we live in the same town our across the globe — especially about professonal development and career decisions. Inject a little branded entertainment and you’ve potentially got something crazy good on your hands.

Or more precisely, something crazy good on your computer screen. Queue the wildly popular recruiting show called “Top Recruiter, The Competition Miami” reality show. Creator and executive producer Chris LaVoie brought together savvy recruiter pros and pitted them against one another with a variety of talent acquisition tasks, all in the name of helping professionals find promising employment. Mix in HR and recruiting thought-leader judges along with some melodramatic moments, and you’ve got a hit with season 1. (He’s working on season 2 now.)

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Listen to the #TChat Radio show

This week on TalentCulture’s #TChat Radio and Twitter #TChat, we’re going to discuss the good and the bad of putting such an important topic under the hyper-reality TV camera lens.

This week’s theme is world of work transparency and branded entertainment. Following are our very special guests:

Chris LaVoie (@TopRecruiterTV) — creator, executive producer and founder of “Top Recruiter, The Competition Miami” reality show, Chris enjoys creating and producing media that creates a fan base buzz in the digital marketing space for human resources and talent acquisition. He has a deep expertise in producing, advertising, marketing, branding, sourcing and social media, and he applies his channel knowledge in attracting the industry. Chris is the founder, as well, of LaVoie Entertainment and iccimedia.

Rayanne Thorn (@Ray_anne) — vice president of communications and branding for Evenbase US, Rayanne is one of the judges from season 1 of “Top Recruiter.”

And here are this week’s questions:

Q1: The level of transparency for job candidates, employees and employers is higher than ever. Good or bad? Why or why not?

Q2: Does the world of work need a reality-based TV show? Why or why not?

Q3: Do we really live in an online peer-vetted playing field? Why or why not?

Q4: Should we film our daily body of work? What other technologies should we use to empower our personal and corporate brands?

Q5: What should business leaders do to better improve the recruiting process and the candidate experience?

So please tune in. #TChat Radio is Tuesday Feb. 26 at 7:30pm ET / 4:30pm PT, when yours truly (@MeghanMBiro) and Kevin W. Grossman (@KevinWGrossman) will chat it up with Chris. Then, it’s on to the Twitter stream for our weekly #TChat Twitter conversation Wednesday, Feb. 27, from 7-8 pm ET, when Rayanne will guest moderate. We look forward to your tweets. Join us!

When Passion Fits the Bill

That’s the thing about full circle — sometimes it wraps you in a warm hug in spite of itself. Even a fiery one.

Earlier this week on #TChat Radio, and then during the Twitter #TChat, we talked about what to do with getting the long-term unemployed employed. According to a recent Businessweek article, “The long-term unemployed make up 38 percent of all workers without jobs, double the average share and just a few notches down from the 2010-11 peak of 45 percent.”

Devastating and perplexing. Our dialogue about the subject became a little strained when we discussed who are the job creators and how the unemployed of any duration can and should package and market themselves to prospective employers. Seeing any job seeker for who they are and what they could be still doesn’t mean they’ll be considered. In fact, from the same article above:

“[Researchers] sent out fictitious résumés to employers in 50 metro areas to see how they reacted to long spells of unemployment. [They] found that an ‘applicant’ out of work more than six months had little to no chance of being called back. The résumés of those out of work for less than six months drew more interest when they showed the applicants had relevant industry experience. At more than six months of no work, having industry experience didn’t help at all.”

Most economists agree that the primary job creators are the start-ups and small businesses, but they’re just as perplexed as to why this long-term unemployment is so pervasive. I’m with the Keynesians who say more government investment is needed, especially since the U.S. infrastructure is woefully in need of dramatic repairs and upgrades. This could be the jump start that the long-term unemployed need to return to relevancy, while at the same time make it easier for small businesses to thrive and grow (and hire).

But then our #TChat conversation took a fluffy turn. Or at least that’s what I’d call it. Why aren’t leaders looking at the unemployed as people primed and ready? Why aren’t they giving those with passion a chance? Chances are the reasons, however unfair, still come back to the volatile economy, hesitancy to add headcount, and that if you aren’t applying your skills to an immediate body of work in a business of any kind, even freelance work or volunteering, you’re relevancy fades quickly. That doesn’t make it right, it just reiterates the status quo.

“Passion doesn’t pay the bills,” I said. “Unicorns and rainbows don’t invest in business to create jobs and help place the unemployed.” I was quickly reprimanded on that point, but still stand by it, even when I held it up in front of me and the class.

Segue to a being on a local career panel with other professionals this week speaking to high school students about career futures, whatever those may hold. We shared our backgrounds, wisdom and realities of what the world of work may have in store for them, and how to plan for it all and take ownership of it all, through boom and bust. This was another career panel I participated in put on by an amazing local organization called Your Future Is Our Business. YFIOB is a community-based 501(C) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to fostering business/education partnerships that benefit students. Their mission is to support young people in Santa Cruz County with making informed educational and career decisions.

“Let me time travel back to you, starting here,” I told the class.

I held up my first real-life published work — my business/tech career management book titled Tech Job Hunt Handbook — and told them the story of my passion: writing. Through every incarnation, it always been about the writing. I told them no matter what they do or where they go professionally in life, if there’s an activity they long like writing, or art, or music, or sports, or whatever, to never let it die, to always keep it fueled with ferocity and fun.

There were some smiles. A couple of kids scoffed. But they all heard me, and I heard me, and then felt my arms reach round and pull tight.

Screw the bills, I thought. As long as it fits the bill…although most economists would disagree (and yet, they’re not hiring me).

Image Credit: Flickr

Is It Time to Hire Yourself? #TChat Recap

(Editorial Note: Talent Science Expert, Dr. Janice Presser, led our community through a week of memorable #TChat events focused on weathering today’s rough employment waters. She adds these parting insights – focused on trends that deserve additional thought by anyone who cares about carving out a career path – or creating new jobs – or hiring creatively. For a list of links to this week’s archived events and resources, look beneath Dr. Janice’s commentary. Thanks!)

I hope we can agree on one thing: unemployment isn’t good for anyone. It’s not just that idle hands are the devil’s workshop, but that long-term unemployment scares all of us, even the currently employed. And that fear erodes our engagement, reduces our productivity, and stifles our innovative spirit.

Entrepreneurs play a major part in driving innovation and a growing economy. According to a study by the Kauffman Foundation (the world’s largest non-profit foundation dedicated to the support of entrepreneurship), entrepreneurs and their startup teams are, and have been, the ONLY source of net new jobs in almost every year since 1977! (The chart below reveals how startups have consistently created new jobs, compared to existing organizations.)

JobsChart Dr JaniceUnfortunately, the balance between jobs disappearing and jobs being created is only part of the problem. Are you trapped in a job that you really don’t fit, or worse, trapped in one that makes you miserable? Without a vibrant job market, getting ‘stuck’ like this has become a serious problem.

My Advice

If you’re entrepreneurial, give your ideas a chance. Organizations that help start-ups are popping up everywhere. Find a way to ‘bootstrap’ your idea with the help of anyone who’s willing to help you – especially if they approach the challenge from directions you haven’t thought of yet.

If you’re in HR, please recognize that resumes are losing their relevance, and work requirements are being transformed. Look to the emerging field of Talent Science for alternatives. For most jobs, understanding how a person ‘teams’ with others is at least as important as current and past employment. (Have you noticed that 401k documents say something like ‘past performance is not a guarantee of future performance”? That’s because it isn’t.)

If you’re looking, resist the temptation to apply for jobs you know you are likely to hate. Take some time to learn how you really want to contribute to the mission of an organization. Then articulate the key points, and communicate them widely. Social media – it’s not just for socializing any more.

@DrJanice

Speaking of social media – how did the TalentCulture community leverage social channels to address this issue throughout the past week? Check out the resources below:

#TChat Week-in-Review

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Watch the #TChat Sneak Peek video now…

SUN 2/10
TalentCulture Founder, Meghan M. Biro outlined the need for smarter hiring strategies in her Forbes.com post: Four Reasons Leaders Hire in 3D.

G+ Hangout Video: Sneak peek interview with special #TChat guest Kevin Matuszak (@Tooozy), who talks about his creative #HireKevin campaign to gain a position as the face of Applebee’s.

MON 2/11
#TChat preview post Narrowing the Unemployment Gaps outlined the week’s core theme and questions.

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Listen to the radio show recording now…

TUE 2/12
#TChat Radio Show: Dr. Janice joined radio hosts Meghan M. Biro and Kevin W. Grossman to discuss core issues and opportunities in today’s job market – and how employers should rethink current recruiting practices for everyone’s benefit.

WED 2/13
#TChat Twitter: Dr. Janice and Kevin Matuszak were on hand again, as #TChat-ters gathered around the Twitter stream to share ideas and opinions about why companies should act more creatively in filling talent gaps, and what unemployed workers can do to move their professional agendas forward. To see highlights from yesterday’s #TChat Twitter forum, watch the Storify slideshow below.

#TChat INSIGHTS Slide Show: “Narrowing the Unemployment Gaps”
[javascript type=”text/javascript” src=”//storify.com/TalentCulture/tchat-insights-narrowing-the-unemployment-gaps.js?template=slideshow”]

Closing Notes & Highlights Slideshow

SPECIAL THANKS: Another shout out to Dr. Janice Presser, CEO of The Gabriel Institute and architect of the underlying technology that powers Teamability™, as well as Kevin Matuszak, the mastermind behind the viral #HireKevin job campaign. You both caused us to think more creatively and carefully about what matters in hiring decisions and processes.

NOTE TO BLOGGERS: Did this week’s events inspire you to write about hiring job trends, recruiting practices or other workplace issues? We’re happy to share your thoughts. Just post a link on Twitter (include #TChat or @TalentCulture), or insert a comment below, and we’ll pass it along.

NEW LINKEDIN GROUP: Did you hear? We’ve expanded to LinkedIn! Come on over anytime to the TalentCulture – World of Work forum!

WHAT’S AHEAD: Next week – we’ll look at the human side of business through a different lens, as we examine the importance of “Brand Humanization – What, Why and How” on #TChat Radio, Tuesday, Feb 19, at 7:30pm ET and on #TChat Twitter Wednesday, Feb. 20, at 7pm ET. Look for details next Monday via @TalentCulture and #TChat.

Until then – we’ll see you on the stream!

Image Credit: Stock.xchn

Feeling the Freelance Love in Today's Workplace: #TChat Recap

I am so over the global economic upheaval. Aren’t you?

Apparently, so are employers who’ve had to make ruthless staffing choices in order to survive. Repeated layoffs, reduced benefits and increased workloads. It hasn’t been pretty. But necessity is the mother of invention. And to “make it work” along the way, business has embraced an unprecedented shift toward contingent labor. In fact, an estimated 40% of the U.S. workforce now operates on a part-time or contract basis.

Should I Stay Or Should I Go?

But what does it all mean for the future of work? Well, this free-agent shift cuts both ways. Although the allure of a variable-cost workforce may seem sexy for an organization’s bottom line, too much of a good thing has its consequences. Recently, while the romance between employers and freelance talent has flourished, relationships with employees have eroded.

And engagement isn’t the only weak link in the talent chain. According to research by Bersin By Deloitte, organizations will struggle to find, develop and retain the skilled talent they need to expand in the years ahead. Ouch. So where is the love?

A New Employment Relationship Normal

This week, the TalentCulture community looked at issues and opportunities in this new era of hired guns. Our goal was to generate ideas for a more sustainable talent model – one built on relationships and focused on value, competence, trust and mutual respect – regardless of cost or contractual requirements.

Two forward-thinking talent strategists helped guide our interaction:

Below are highlights and links to resources that we hope you’ll find helpful. If you know of related articles, or want to share ideas of your own, feel free to add a comment below, or include the #TChat hashtag to your posts on Twitter. The TalentCulture channel is always open, so don’t be shy!

#TChat Week-in-Review

SUN 2/3
TalentCulture Founder, Meghan M. Biro framed the issue in her Forbes.com post: Free Agent Nation Romance: The Good, The Bad and the Unknown

MON 2/4
Our #TChat preview post outlined the week’s core theme and questions: Is The Employment Romance Really Over?

G+ Hangout Video: Career strategist Dawn Rasmussen briefly explains why professionals should continuously market themselves, regardless of their job status.

TUE 2/5
#TChat Radio Show:
Dawn joined Greta Roberts, and radio hosts Kevin W. Grossman and Meghan M. Biro, to discuss the upside and downside of today’s talent acquisition and retention realities.

WED 2/6
#TChat Twitter: Participants from around the @TalentCulture community gathered around the #TChat Twitter stream to share their expertise, experiences and opinions about the changing shape of today’s workforce, and the consequences for business and individuals.

NOTE: To see highlights from yesterday’s #TChat Twitter forum, be sure to watch the Storify slideshow at the end of this post.

Closing Notes & Highlights Slideshow

SPECIAL THANKS: Another shout out to Dawn Rasmussen and Greta Roberts for contributing your time and expertise to TalentCulture events this week! Your insights challenge us all to think more carefully about both sides of the employment equation.

NOTE TO BLOGGERS: Did this week’s events inspire you to write about contingency workforce trends or other workplace issues? We’re happy to share your thoughts. Just post a link on Twitter (include #TChat or @TalentCulture), or insert a comment below, and we’ll pass it along.

NEW: We’ve expanded to LinkedIn! If you like participating in groups we invite you to join us there anytime at TalentCulture – World of Work.

WHAT’S AHEAD: Next week – we’ll look further into the realities of today’s work world, as we talk about why and how companies should focus more carefully on recruiting from the nation’s unemployed talent pool. Don’t miss “The Business Case for Bridging the Unemployment Gap” on #TChat Radio, Tuesday, Feb 12, at 7:30pm ET and on #TChat Twitter Wednesday, Feb. 13, at 7pm ET. Look for details next Monday via @TalentCulture and #TChat.

Until then – we’ll see you on the stream!

Image Credit: Stock.xchng

#TChat INSIGHTS Slide Show: “Employment Romance is Over. Now What?”

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#TChat INSIGHTS: Is the Employment Romance Really Over?

Storified by TalentCulture World of Work· Wed, Feb 06 2013 17:29:42

Coffee girl! Pic at Starbucks. #tchat http://pic.twitter.com/JadcGdVuDawn Rasmussen
@KevinWGrossman chocolate has always been the key to my heart http://www.twitpic.com/c1giu0 … oh and cash #TChatSylvia Dahlby
BOOM! We’re off >Q1: Do all these shifts in the employee-employer relationship mean they’ve broken up for good? Why? #TChatMeghan M. Biro
#TChat A1: Larger employers are acceptable with the turnover just like the money they waste in their marketing budgets.Anthony Ryan
A1-The relationship has matured and evolved to a diff level given the changes in tech and global mobility on the whole #TChatSonalee Arvind
A1: Long-term relationships happen when both understand clearly why they “fit” and work to inspire each other #TchatDan Schultz
A1 It especially hurts youth. Experience paradox – how do you get experience if no one will hire you without it? #TChatMarc Cibulka
A1. I’ve been in temp jobs that treated me LIKE I was temp- no one trained me or used me as an asset. Shame. #tchatAshley Lauren Perez
#tchat A1 Too much of the current relationship is driven by Cos avoiding employee benefit paymntss rather than by ideals.Michael Leiter
A1 – The market is completely different & relationships have changed – it’s much too risky to think w/yesterday’s lens #TChatLeAnna J. Carey
A1: Those in-house “intrapreneurs” that add so much are now becoming “Entrapreneurs”… can I say out-house ppl? #TChatTom Bolt
A1. Relationships are never broken as long as both parties are willing to communicate. The opposite of love is not hate but apathy #tchatSatya Solutions
A1 Companies like the ability to hire without long term commitment. Works like a probationary period. #tchatEmilie Mecklenborg
A1, Employers have figured out there are a lot of folks who are not work keeping around #SadButTrue #TchatDave Ryan, SPHR
A1: The shift is due to economics – doesn’t make sense to have employees that negatively affect the bottomline #tchatJen Olney
A1: who says old employee-employer relationship was more ideal? #TChatStephen Van Vreede
A1: Mass-Entreprenuership is not a viable model on a larger scale. You’ll always need an employer/employee relationship. #tchatJoey V. Price
A1 The relationship has evolved bcs. of market forces. Both must look through different lens 2b sustainable; there is no alternative #TChatLeAnna J. Carey
A1: it is a negotiation and isn’t the goal always a win win?? #TChatLori~TranslationLady
A1. Don’t think it’s broken for good- just for awhile until more of the boomers retire. #tchatTerri Klass
A1 This shift may bring more situations of worker misclassificaton. Thoughts on that? #tchatTim Baker, CHRP
A1 I believe this generation has grown accustomed to the “try and buy” hiring style. Opportunity for employers to cut costs. #tchatAndrew Grossman
A1 – long term trend away from traditional employment. Co.’s learned it was cheaper to outsource to contractors #tchatRichard S Pearson
A1 – Degree of Employer/Employee relationship broken is inversely proportional to communication and culture. #TChat #GeekKeith C Rogers
A1: Don’t think they’re done for good, believe they’re going thru an evolutionary change. #TchatRobert Rojo
#TChat A1. If Ee is still with Er and vice versa, they must reap something out of it, i.e. not totally “broken”, is it..LiChing Ooi
A1. Jobs change every three years or less. Important to realize that employee:employer trends may also follow that pattern #tchatCream.hr
a1 I think orgs are hiring slow and firing fast without setting people up for success in between. Want them off & running #tchatAlli Polin
Q2: Do you see a world of work where the employee & employer ever get back together, like it used to be? Why? #TChatMeghan M. Biro
A2 contractors play a vital role in strategy #tchatOrgz Consulting
A2 Yes! The Love is not lost, just that the vows have changed! #TchatSonalee Arvind
a2 Temp = no respect…. consultant = respect. Both may bring specialized skills #tchatAlli Polin
A2: Employers have to take responsibility for environ and contractors have to make it about more than just $$ #TChatRoger Veliquette
A2 – Why would ER hire someone w/o a personal brand? A personal online brand is no longer a nice to have #TChatLeAnna J. Carey
A2. If contingent workers are becoming the norm companies need to create a new team model- be more inclusive #tchatTerri Klass
A2: Yes, contractors will be the new ‘purple squirrels’ with all the new skills they have added to their repertoire. #tchatDaisy Wright
A2: treating people as expendable bc they are freelancers will backfire. Talent is never expendable in any form. #tchatSusan Mazza
a2 Whole divisions are being outsourced to large staffing agencies & becoming contingent workforce. Hard shift 2 make #tchatAlli Polin
A2 – no such thing as the “good old days” and no turning back, unless WWIII reduces the earth to radioactive mudball #TChatSylvia Dahlby
A2 Our research shows 39% of independent workers (freelancers, etc.) feel MORE secure than if they had a traditional job #tchatSteve King
A2: Contractors may become the new rockstars when they have skills no one else has. #TChatDr. Janice Presser
A2: The winners in the new skills-based world will be those who ramp and scale quickly with singular or multiple gigs. #TChatKevin W. Grossman
A2. There is such a thing as ‘collective talent’ – so that when an ee leaves a team (e.g. end of contract) team IQ drops #tchatJane Watson
A2: More folks are finding that its better to depend on themselves then be beholden to a organization #tchatJen Olney
A2 We’ve shifted from relational to transaction relationships. You never know, it might shift back when it becomes too transactional #tchatChristopher Yeh
A2. Maybe for some. A mostly contingent workforce has disadvantages. I wrote about neuroscience research on ‘intelligence of teams’ #TchatJane Watson
A2 The workforce will definitely continue to expand and innovate. Workers are learning to depend on themselves more than their jobs. #tchatBeverly Davis
A2. Hopefully not if it includes an isolating top down hierarchy #tchatCream.hr
A2: No. We’re not going back, so don’t turn around, lest you become pillar of salt :) #TChatStephen Van Vreede
A2) Why should we revert? Why not just create a better “new normal” for both sides of the equation? But we need a sustainable model. #tchatExpertus
A2. I’m not sure it will but I think the workforce can benefit by bringing some of those old qualities back and work it with the new #TchatKimPope
A2 Really depends if the company wants a contract “for service” or “of service”…big difference #tchatTim Baker, CHRP
A2: A lot of this change has to do w/ the economy and how risky a business is willing to be. If things stabilize, employees will too #tchatSpark Hire
A2: A few roles can be lifelong. Seasonal and contract work will continue to be significant. #TChatRoger Veliquette
Q3: Contractors & part-timers are “pan-opportunists.” Is this what they want? Does it help or hinder #innovation? #TChatMeghan M. Biro
A3 Innovation is a result of people’s mind , not their time. Smartness is being Value driven not time driven #TChatSonalee Arvind
A3: Augmenting staff with contractors to help solve business driving challenges can really accelerate time to solution #TchatDan Schultz
A3: If you don’t thrive in ambiguous situations, don’t freelance. #TChatDr. Janice Presser
A3 There is loyalty but longevity of being at a company for 10+ years will not be as popular as it once was. Ppl today crave change. #tchatEmilie Mecklenborg
A3. Better faster way to the C-Suite: Create an organization. #tchatMichael Clark
A3: Is there loyalty out there anymore?? #TchatRobert Rojo
A3: Some companies will continue to reward loyalty, especially those in hard to fill locations. #TChatDr. Janice Presser
A3: Pan-opportunists can be great but difficult executing a 5 yr plan with rotating talent. Some corps can do well, others not. #TChatJanis Stacy
A3 – it is a tremendous challenge for co.’s to manage teams of freelance – laws gov. contract workers much diff. than employees #tchatRichard S Pearson
A3. The workforce today is filled with creative people who crave flexibility. #tchatTerri Klass
A3: Contractors are typically specialized. Orgs have to know why they are using them and how to use them or else why? #TchatDamon Lovett
a3 It doesn’t work for everyone though… many still want security over variety & choices #tchatAlli Polin
A3: Met Maslow’s basic physiological need of survival. #TchatRobert Rojo
A3 – contractors can be much more objective bcs. they are not ingrained in the culture & unpack business models more easily #TChatLeAnna J. Carey
A3 Very successful freelancers/contractors – about 2.2 million in US make more than $100k – value control and flexibility #tchatSteve King
A3 contracts must be used strategically, your most focus should be on your own work force. #tchatOrgz Consulting
A3: Perhaps not. But reality is that they must go extra mile to prove value. Doing what reg emps won’t. #tchatMark Salke
A3: Creation/innovation teams are never exactly the same twice. Flux is normal for inno. #TChatRoger Veliquette
A3: Sometimes the part-time opportunity is a foot in the door to something permanent. #tchatDaisy Wright
A3: The workforce of today is highly unique and virtual = The Pan-Opportunist Works! #TChatMeghan M. Biro
A3. Neither. Influx stems from a changing job economy. It’s innovation from its start #tchatCream.hr
A3 #Tchat I know both ppl who get contract job after another & I know some ppl who scrape by. A consistent flow of opptys is best.Cyndy Trivella
A3: Not really any one answer. Some folks thrive more in “permanent” roles while others thrive in serial “permanent” roles. #tchatVizwerxGroup
A3: Contractors & PTs *see* the issues that e’ees & e’ers probably don’t ~there is a wealth of knowledge to be shared! #TChatNancy Barry-Jansson
A3: If employers were more willing to hire contractors FT (or consider them more part of the team), it’s likely many would stay. #tchatSpark Hire
Q4: Social media leads employees & contractors into other orgs’ arms. How can leaders use it to foster fidelity? #TChatMeghan M. Biro
A4. Build internal digital village first. Make mistakes-improvements. Then, open to the world via social media. #tchatMichael Clark
A4. Healthcare organizations outsource doctors. Crazy. #tchatTerri Klass
#TChat A4: By doing EXACTLY what their social media is SUPPOSED to be doing, FOSTERING & actually GROWING relationships with their employeesAnthony Ryan
A4: Skills come, go and change. Let’s be flexible enough to play to – and hire for – strengths. #tchatknack
A4 – it’s just outsourcing that started big time decades ago – to individuals instead of companies #tchatRichard S Pearson
A4: You want your employees to be your brand ambassadors treat them like ambassadors – give them good hors d’ouvres. #TChatDr. Janice Presser
A4: The US has always been a nation of “At-Will” employment. Except in Montana… lol. #tchatJoey V. Price
A4 Teach your employees how to use social media to become thought leaders. It benefits them and the whole org. #tchatHolly Chessman
A4: Don’t blame #SoMe. No room to grow in-house means looking externally for opportunity. #TChatRoger Veliquette
#tchat A4 Social media builds cross (org) border communities. They bring in talent as well as draw them out.Michael Leiter
A4: Build trust. Those who don’t feel trusted will seek greener pastures #tchatJen Olney
A4. Be agile, up to date, stay with the trends. Learn what your employees want so they’ll want to stay in your arms #TchatKimPope
A4 Leaders can use SM to foster fidelity through engagement!! Be visible & build relationships within the org #tchatAlli Polin
A4: Just like unionization: Stop trying to regulate it and treat your people well. It’s pretty simple really. #TchatDamon Lovett
A4 social media helps determine which orgs spend the time engaging employees. If that’s you, then you’ll keep more people #tchatGoldbeck Recruiting
A4: Fidelity to an organization may be an outdated concept. #tchatVizwerxGroup
A4 Fidelity is earned. Orgs need to make contractors & part-timers feel welcome and accommodate their new associates #TChatEnzo Guardino
A4: They can start by trusting their employees on social and wasting time & money on trying to block it!(HOO-AH) #TChatSusan Avello
A4 Engage employees on the web — esp. when it comes to recognition. Robust employer social media helps. #tchatAndrew Grossman
A4: An employer brand and the atmosphere/trust in a team (contractor included) can and should involve social media. #tchatSpark Hire
A4 – If you’re taking care of your employees then you have no reason to worry. I don’t think there’s a talent black market going on. #tchatJoey V. Price
A4 – by signing contracts for freelancers for terms of projects – by keeping them in a positive environment so they will want to stay #tchatRichard S Pearson
A4 – SoMe is a huge required skill set for growth & survivability for both EE/ER – digital is a game changer #TChatLeAnna J. Carey
Q5: What are some specific strategies for employers to rekindle the romance with their employees? #TChatMeghan M. Biro
A5) Oddly I see TONS of posts using term “employee” even tho we’re trying to look at the 40% of workforce that is outside that box :) #tchatExpertus
A5: Engage the employee! Everyone wants to contribute and play a big role in their company’s growth #TChatJeffrey Fermin
#tchat A5. Get to really know about them. Everyone is motivated by different things. Some seek $ others flexibility. Personalized approachMichael Chopp, PHR
A5: Show them some love and make them feel that their opinions matter. #tchatDaisy Wright
A5 #Tchat Employees need to remember, the employer is not a mind reader. If U want something address it head on with them.Cyndy Trivella
#tchat A5 Many ways: flexibility, team building, recognition, training and empowerment. Make the effort to be meaningful and authenticStan Phelps
A5: two words – Reciprocal Trust #Impact99 #tchatTim Baker, CHRP
A5. The romance might be stronger if each party stops being sketchy, holding cards close to heart. Be transparent. #tchatAshley Lauren Perez
A5. Help create a company narrative that includes all the employees’ stories. #tchatTerri Klass
A5: Authenticity needs to return to the workplace relationships #tchattanvi gautam
A5 #tchat Clear expectations, roles & responsibilities are critical to employee engagement; which improves relationship.Anna Christina
A5 who brings money at your work? Employees. Care them and develop them.. #tchatOrgz Consulting
A5. Be open and transparent, using your own challenges and failures as examples. #tchatMichael Clark
A5 Listen to employee feedback. Constructive and effective communication. #tchatEmilie Mecklenborg
A5: Include growth plans for positions and individuals as part of strategic business plans. #TChatRoger Veliquette
A5 – Empower your teams to solve hard problems, the days of ivory executives sitting in the tower doing everything are over #TChatJeff Moore
A5: Co-creating the map of the future and co-owning it will lead to a space where folks feel they are in it together. #tchattanvi gautam
A5: Mood lighting… wine and roses in the office… and a little Barry White? LOL #tchatDawn Rasmussen
A5 Ask them what they care about. Do a values exercise. Incorporate the values in the organization. #TChatMelissa Lamson
A5 Be flexible, every worker has a different source of meaningfulness in work #tchatChristopher Yeh
a5 Let people go to off-site training & conferences. Good ideas aren’t only found inside of the org #tchatAlli Polin
A5: Humanize. #tchatMark Salke
A5 Make it clear which jobs and roles will be done by permanent employees & what jobs and roles will be done by contingent workers #tchatSteve King
A5: Engage, engage, engage…make them feel like they belong. #TchatRobert Rojo
A5: Engagement is key – at the level where the employee wants to be engaged #tchatVizwerxGroup
A5: Start by bringing your WHOLE self to your work every day = Be true to you. #TChatMeghan M. Biro

Is the Employment Romance Really Over? #TChat Preview

EDITOR’S NOTE: Want to read the RECAP of this week’s events? Read “#TChat Recap: Feeling the Freelance Love in Today’s Workplace”

You know the story. Once upon a time, companies courted new talent with the promise of a lifelong relationship. “Work” meant employment and job security for years, if not decades. But the romance has died, for better or worse. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an estimated 40 percent of all U.S. workers currently operate on a part-time or contract basis. And, as Bersin by Deloitte says:

The contingent workforce is now a permanent fixture, so many elements of talent management, recruiting and engagement are being extended to these mobile ‘free agents.’

Really? Just how well are companies rising to the occasion in this highly scalable new world order they’ve created? Are contractors still considered second-class citizens in most corporate settings? What’s being done by leading-edge companies to ensure that contingent workers fit into the culture and engage with the organization? Without funding from hiring companies for professional development, is the future of the contingent workforce at risk? And what does this mean for business innovation and competitiveness, overall?

Here are the questions we’re asking at TalentCulture World of Work events this week:

Q1: Do all these shifts in the employee-employer relationship mean they’ve broken up for good? Why?

Q2: Do you see a world of work where the employee & employer ever get back together, like it used to be? Why?

Q3: Contractors & part-timers are “pan-opportunists.” Is this what they want? Does it help or hinder innovation?

Q4: Social media leads employees & contractors into other orgs’ arms. How can leaders use it to foster fidelity?

Q5: What are some specific strategies for employers to rekindle the romance with their employees?

Click on the image to see the preview at #TChat Radio and, on the day of the show, to listen and participate.

Just a reminder — we do the #TChat dance twice every week now. So, join us first on Tuesday, Feb. 5, for #TChat Radio from 7:30pm ET / 4:30pm PT. Then, on Wednesday, Feb. 6 — from 7-8 pm ET (6-7pm CT, 5-6pm MT, 4-5pm PT, or wherever you are) — we’ll revisit the employment romance, on #TChat Twitter.

Joining us as guests for both the chat and radio show will be Greta Roberts (@gretaroberts), CEO at Talent Analytics Corp. — a company using analytics to link raw talent with business performance — and Dawn Rasmussen (@dawnrasmussen), founder of Pathfinder Writing and Careers, a boutique resume writing and career management company.

It’s a Valentine’s Month–themed #TChat this week, so let’s check in for some World of Work relationship counseling. Is the employment romance really, truly over? Or can the employer and employee — full-time, former, part-time, contractor or other — really still be friends?

Image Credit: Stock.xchng

Lose Job? Keep Career! #TChat Preview

The official word, that there’s economic uncertainty, is so 2012. We’re all cheerful and happy the economy produced 155,000 jobs last month (not completely, but we’re trying for some enthusiasm here).

So have we turned the corner? Can we all relax and think about careers instead of jobs? Well, perhaps the answer is a guarded yes. And besides, it’s always time to move beyond hanging on to your job — time to begin with active career management.

More than anything else, active career management is what helps you to stay employed, wherever your career  takes you. While job creation numbers might be less than auspicious, it’s time, yes, for employees, leaders and HR pros to get back in the game. Take control. Manage your life, your career and your future prospects. No one else will — but they’ll certainly manage to find someone else, who does.

This week’s #TChat World of Work and #TChat Radio are all about career management — what, how, when, where, how and why. We’re going where we haven’t in a year or two — to take a look at what it takes to actively manage a career, with stops along the way to look at barriers and challenges, and at how the topic has changed.

Here are this week’s questions:

Q1: What are the biggest career management challenges for professionals today and why?

Q2: What are the top three activities job seekers should focus on this year and why?

Q3: What are the hot professions today, and what are employers looking for in every employee?

Q4: Will the online profile eventually be the demise of the resume? Why or why not?

Q5: What are the best technologies job seekers should be using in their search and why?

Click to visit #TChat Radio on BlogTalkRadio

Join us Wednesday night, Jan. 9, from 7-8 pm ET (6-7pm CT, 5-6pm MT, 4-5pm PT, or wherever you are) for a #TChat where we’ll talk about getting back to being in control of our careers. Mark Babbitt (@YouTernMark), CEO and founder of YouTern, will be our moderator, backed by yours truly (@MeghanMBiro) and Kevin W. Grossman (@KevinWGrossman).

And, on Tuesday, Jan. 8, at 7:30pm ET / 4:30pm PT, Mark will join two other guests for #TChat RadioKeppie Careers Founder Miriam Salpeter (@Keppie_Careers) and Andy Osburn (@Equals6Cares), CEO of Equals6.com. Tweet and chat with us!

Image Credit: Source unknown

So Much for the Job Have Nots: #TChat Recap

“All I know is that sometimes you have to be wary
Of a miracle too good to be true
All I know is that sometimes the truth is contrary
Everything in life you thought you knew…”

–Neil Peart

They sat in the front pews listening to our advice. The air conditioning didn’t work, so fans swirled warm air from back and forth between the open doors and windows, like restless dreams of the unknown. They listened with guarded optimism, looking tired, a little lost.

We talked about résumé best practices and where to look for jobs and how to optimize and leverage online professional profiles and where to find freelance and project work. We talked about volunteering and getting involved in your local community, not only to give back, but to exchange with one another via networking reciprocity; we never know where our next opportunity could come from. At one point toward the end of my segment, I forced a smile, thinking of my own career path, the highs and lows and mediocre in-betweens. I wiped my sweaty brow and looked toward the windows, already somewhat regretting my metaphorical cliche.

“Keep all those windows of opportunity open you find throughout your careers,” I said. “You never know when you’ll need them.”

These were the job have nots — working-class to middle-class folk who have lost their jobs, whose careers have ground to a halt, whose personal lives have gotten in the way of their professional ones. This was also my latest experience volunteering with Hirewire, a local organization to help job seekers in Santa Cruz County with career development and job search advice.

Consider one of the Hirewire attendees, an aerospace engineer in his late 50s out of work for nearly three years, struggling to fill the hole in his résumé and remain relevant and to again become employable.

Consider another of the Hirewire attendees, a service delivery professional in his early 40s out of work for over a year, struggling to find value in the local employment office workshops and counseling sessions.

Consider my best friend from college. In 1987 he wanted to be an airline pilot. He finished his college degree, flew hundreds of hours, finished all his flying certifications and — wallah — he became an airline pilot, first flying for a commuter airline and then for a global transport airline. But then just last month — wallah — he was out of a job, laid off due to the continued economic ice age.

Consider the thousands of men and women given highly skilled training to defend us near and abroad, to then find themselves again as civillians drowning in double-digit unemployment.

Consider the millions of high school graduates (and many more of those who didn’t graduate) who fight for a finite number of low-wage jobs while being shuffled to and fro from social service to social service and then told to look ahead, figure it out and find a job.

Figure what out, exactly? Sometimes the truth is contrary for the job have nots. And sometimes it’s a breath of fresh air, like the note I recently received from another friend of mine:

All is moving along for me…I’m doing some interesting work with companies both inside and outside of the HR space which is keeping things fresh. And still managing to find (some) balance in life by following your advice from the last time we spoke about “keeping all the windows open.”

Ah, so much for metaphorical clichés — so much is needed to warm the world of work again. So much has been lost during the darkest of modern economic winters. So much needs to be reinvented and reinvested.

So much for the job have nots.

Thank you for joining us yesterday. Your tweets couldn’t have come at a better time for the job have nots. If you missed the preview, click here.

 

New Technology Changing The Future of Resumes

Written by Kevin Wang

There are core values and ideas that will remain eternal. However, the shape and form in which they manifest themselves constantly changes through time due to improved technology or cultural shifts. Think of what marriage, transportation, or news outlets looked like or meant to people in different periods, and you’ll see what I mean.

I believe the resume will never die. As long as a majority of companies hire their employees based on knowledge, resources, and experience, the resume’s purpose will remain vital in the process. I do believe, however, that the form in which a resume manifests itself is slowly growing outdated. Just as the email attachment replaced the mailed print copy, one of the following below could easily replace the email attachment as the next standard resume.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn, a social networking website for professionals, has rapidly taken off since its founding in 2003, with the company now boasting over 100 million users and over $160 million in annual revenues. Just as Facebook became the platform on which we interact with our friends, LinkedIn is becoming the platform on which we interact with contacts and companies. People of all ages are realizing the wealth of potential and opportunity awaiting them on the website, and flocking to start their own accounts.

With one’s experience, education, recommendations, contact information, and just about everything else conveniently listed on one’s page, it only takes a quick profile look-up from HR to find everything they need to know about an applicant. Perhaps in the future, LinkedIn may even go beyond allowing users to simply submit applications to posted jobs, building tools and services (like video chat, applicant evaluation software, etc) onto its platform to allow for the entire hiring process to take place on its website. With the company’s continued sustained growth and innovation, it is likely that this will usurp the traditional resume.

Video

It has become relatively easy in this day and age to create high-quality homemade videos. Video cameras (or phones) and simple-to-use editing software are everywhere, and uploading content to the web is a breeze. A video resume allows an applicant to present himself or herself in more dimensions to a recruiter by showcasing creativity, personality, and interests while still communicating qualifications and experience

Additionally, the visual presence of the applicant allows him or her to speak more directly to a recruiter than any cover letter could ever allow, making for a more compelling personal pitch. This format has already started to become more prevalent: for example, Cambridge-based tech start-up SCVNGR now accepts videos in lieu of a cover letter. There are even companies, like TalentRooster, which specialize in producing such videos for hopeful hires who would otherwise produce something laughable, like this. Or awesomely ambiguous, like this.

Personal Pages

With more people embracing personal branding and establishing their presence on the web, it becomes important to tie all their outlets together. Recruiters don’t just want to see a resume anymore; they want to learn about your opinions, values, and personality, which they can extract from your online activity.

Whether it’s a WordPress blog, YouTube account, or a Twitter handle, every digital footprint left generates exposure and adds value to an individual’s personal brand. A personal page aggregates everything into one convenient location for a recruiter to look through. Additionally, like video resumes, a personal page allows you to add creativity and a visual presence in a way a traditional resume cannot. Such sites are quite easy to set up: building a solid fan page on Facebook or a splash page on About.Me or Flavors.Me can be completed in less than half an hour. For those willing to go the extra mile and spend a little cash, purchasing themes, domain names, and outside help can help add a little flair.

The death of the email attachment resume is fast approaching. Thanks to the web, applicants no longer have to submit anything beyond their basic information, for a plethora of information about them is already readily available online and Google-able. It’s not hard to imagine a future job application reduced simply to this:

IMAGE VIA L Hollis Photography

It's the Brave New World of Work: #TChat Recap

“Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else.” -James Matthew Barrie

Somehow I missed that memo the first time around. The one about making sure to underestimate your marketplace and overestimate your sales cycle when you’re starting a new business.

Or even a new career for that matter. New careers are self-contained yet interconnected businesses within themselves. Entrepreneurship has always included career management, business development, [personal] brand marketing, sales and sticky-sweet (but legitimate) customer service.

Because most, if not all entrepreneurs were employees with careers going anywhere but where they wanted to go. So they launch new careers, some of which eventually grow to make a few hires here and there, and a few others get really big by hiring tons of people, collecting tons of investment capital and riding sky-high (for now) with huge valuations (think social media firms of late).

But I did finally get the memo and read it thoroughly. You’ve heard the saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” From careers, to start-ups, to small businesses to big businesses — American’s longing for success and trying again is hard-wired into our DNA.

This is National Small Business Week, and as Matt wrote yesterday in his #TChat preview:

As Obama (or proxy) observed, it turns out Mom & Pop and VC babies share more in common than size; they share spirit, ‘the idea that if you have a good idea and are willing to work hard enough, you can succeed in our country…’

…For many more millions of small business owners, and workers, who have dared to dream and injected so much sweat equity into their bottom line, that creation myth is still being created.   They might call themselves small businesses, or entrepreneurs, or start-ups, but our economy – and our jobs – depends on their growth. So we just wanted to say thank you.

Indeed. Thank you.

Most of the #TChat faithfuls preferred going from small companies to working in big companies. I concur. And even though I’ve always worked for smaller firms, I have worked “with” bigger companies and have always wondered what it would be like to pull the curtain back in Oz and give it a go…

Somebody slap me. Working for yourself, for a small company, launching your own start-up or firm — these activities are what continually breathes new life into the sometimes failing lungs of capitalism (long-time smoker, you know). And it’s this economic activity that sparks job creation as well. Brand name firms may still pull in the greater talent, and they’ve got the revenue to get creative with “total rewards,” but even big firms have struggled of late and now focus heavily on internal talent mobility — I know you’re in there and are just right for this position because I can’t find you out there. Plus, in this (yes, I know how many times you’ve heard it) global, virtual, contingent world where depending on the projects and the hourly rate, talent is fluid from small to big and back again.

It’s the brave new world of work. Just don’t forget to read the memos, even the stinky ones from the ditto machine. Hey, I kinda liked that smell growing up…

Here were the questions from teh #TChat last night:

  • Q1: How do you define ‘small business?’  Is this the term we should be using?
  • Q2: Would you prefer working for a small business or a big company?  Why?
  • Q3: What role does talent play in small business success?  How can small businesses successfully compete with bigger companies in the ‘war for talent?’
  • Q4: What are some of the biggest advantages of working for a small business employer?  Drawbacks?
  • Q5: Do you think employers and recruiters value small business and big company experience differently?
  • Q6: What should big business workers know about moving to a small company (and vice-versa)?
  • Q7: What’s your best advice for someone thinking about starting a small business? Any myths vs. realities?

Photo: Christina @ wocintechchat.com

8 Secrets to Getting Informational Interviews

Informational interviews have a number of things going against them. They sound boring, ineffective and most importantly are hard to get. However, in reality, they aren’t hard to get at all and, if leveraged effectively, will increase your chances of finding and being considered for jobs, especially the “hidden” ones.

Unfortunately, many job seekers fail to request the interviews properly and as a result, actually turn off or lose the “interviewee” altogether. Here are eight secrets for effectively requesting and successfully getting informational interviews:

1. Email, don’t call. Emailing or sending a message via LinkedIn allows the recipient to choose to respond at their own leisure and doesn’t interrupt their schedule.

2. Make GRAMMAR your new best friend. I know we all use spell-check nowadays, but honestly, proofread anything and everything you write to any professional. It doesn’t matter how well they write, they have a job and you don’t yet, so make sure everything from punctuation to capitalization is perfect. If possible, ask someone else you trust to read your outgoing messages to these professionals just for outside perspective. This is especially important if English is not your first language.

3. Hook them with your subject line. No matter how you know the person you want to contact, the subject of your message has to be personal and direct to catch their attention and move them to read it. If you don’t know the person, consider using “John – Question from a Student” or “John – Request for Informational Interview.” If you do know them, I recommend “John – Request from Chris Perry” or if you don’t know them personally, but went to the same college or have something in common, I recommend something along the lines of “John – Request from a W&M Student.”

4. Briefly introduce yourself. In a short first paragraph, state your name, who you are and what you are doing. Remember, busy people don’t have time to read long messages. Keep it short, sweet and to the point.

5. Command the common ground. If someone who knows them has referred you or you have something significant in common with the person (i.e. college, professional organization), make sure to include this at the end of your first paragraph or at the beginning of your second. A stronger connection or link between you both can only help you get the interview.

6. They know you want a job, so don’t ask for one! In your next paragraph, this is where you make the direct request for the informational interview; however, DON’T ask them upfront for help to get you a job in their company, as they already know you’re interested in opportunities in their company or you wouldn’t be contacting them. I recommend you make it more about them and ask them for the opportunity to speak about THEIR career, how THEY got involved in it, THEIR company and/or its culture.

7. NEVER send your resume to them with your initial request. This looks presumptuous and inconsiderate and your resume just implies that you expect them to take time to look at it and more time to send it to the right person BEFORE they have even had a chance to “yes” or “no” to your request. If you are emailing them, include a link to your LinkedIn profile in your signature, and if you are sending a message via LinkedIn, there is no need, as you are already on that network. Let them be the one that request more information from you.

8. Don’t Forget Your Contact Info. Make sure to have a professional email/message signature with all possible methods of contact listed. This way, you look good, but they can also get in touch with you in whatever way they prefer. You might even tastefully include a link to your LinkedIn profile, personal website or other supporting media online. This is more appropriate than a resume, because it offers them the option of seeking more info about you.

Chris Perry, MBA is a Gen Y brand and marketing generator, a career search and personal branding expert and the founder of Career Rocketeer, Launchpad, Blogaristo and more.

When to Walk Away From a Job Offer: 7 Red Flags

If you’ve been job-hunting for a while now, you may want to jump at any job offer you can get. However, it’s important to evaluate the offer before making any rash decisions. Consider any red flags that may have come up during the process to determine whether the job is right for you. Here are a few to watch out for:

It’s a big step down. In today’s economy, you might think that taking a job that you’re overqualified for isn’t so bad. But it can make employers think that you’re not resourceful enough to find an appropriate job for your experience and qualifications. You might have to be flexible in your salary requests, but don’t accept a title well beneath your qualifications. Know your worth and determine your bottom line before heading into an interview.

The company offers you the job—immediately. This may be an indication that the organization has experienced a lot of turnover in the position and desperately wants someone to fill the spot. While waiting for the right job offer can be frustrating and costly, it’s often worth the time to be at a company that’s the right fit for you.

The hiring manager seems to be concealing information. If you’ve asked questions about your daily responsibilities or your supervisor and have received the run-around, the hiring manager might not be telling you everything you need to know about the opening. Some employers might do this in fear that you’ll find the position unattractive—so be sure all of your questions are answered before signing a job offer.

You can’t see yourself working in the environment. If you can’t see yourself working in a particular company’s culture, it might not be the best fit for you. You’ll be spending much of your time at the office and you need to feel comfortable in order to put your best foot forward.

Something inside of you says it’s not a good idea. Your gut feeling is often the best indicator of when something is right for you. If you’re feeling uneasy about any step of the process, step back and re-evaluate the offer before putting anything in writing. Do this by asking more questions of the employer, doing some additional research or talking with former and current employees if possible.

There aren’t any available growth opportunities. No room to move up at the organization? You might want to continue looking if the employer says that promotions are atypical. Ask questions about how the hiring manager moved up in the firm and how promotions are typically handed out to determine the company policy.

You don’t think you would get along with your potential colleagues. Conflicting personalities and work styles can make for an unpleasant workplace to say the least. Observe the culture of the company when you head in for an interview and evaluate how well you get along with the hiring manager initially. If you feel that you might be uncomfortable or unhappy in this work environment, it’s probably best to look for a better opportunity.

What else should job seekers watch out for before accepting a job offer?

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Recruiting Trends & Effect on Job Seekers

Today’s post is by Ty Abernethy — founder and CEO of ZuzuHire, a multimedia candidate screening tool incorporating video, voice, essay and multiple-choice questions. He has a background in executive recruiting, and currently manages the finance/accounting recruiting division of Chase Professionals.

The hiring process is changing–not only for companies and recruiters, but also for candidates. With companies facing challenges like budget cuts and understaffed recruiting departments, they are looking at new tools to simplify the hiring process. Things are changing quickly, and it’s hard to keep up. But it’s also difficult to tell which tools and innovations will stick once the dust has settled. Here’s a breakdown of some of the exciting new technologies that will (most likely) stick and how candidates should adapt to keep up.

Ding, Dong the Job Boards Are Dead (well sort of…)

Once upon a time, all hiring strategies went like this: 1) post an ad to a major job board, 2) review resumes, 3) interview, 4) and hire. But things are changin’. Now, with the advent of social media, companies and recruiters have so many more recruiting gadgets in their tool kit. And with aggregate job sites like Indeed and SimplyHired, there is no longer a need for employers to post with the major job boards. Companies can use the smaller, lesser known (and cheaper) boards and get great results. And LinkedIn has now become the largest “resume” database in the world. Soon companies and recruiters will use LinkedIn profiles interchangeably with resumes. And before too long, companies will start allowing applicants to apply to their job postings via the “Connect with LinkedIn” plug-in instead of having to upload a resume. For candidates, this means they must have a professional, updated, and detailed profile.

Video Is Not Just For Pop Stars!

Video is fast becoming a major component to the hiring process, both as a marketing tool and as a candidate screening and interviewing tool. Companies are realizing that the more they differentiate their jobs from their competitors’, the easier it is for them to attract exceptional candidates. And video is a great way for a job seeker to get to know a company better. YouTube and Facebook videos help to give a company a face and a personality and make candidates more excited about the organization. Additionally, video offers a great time saving solution for companies during the interviewing process. Companies can interview candidates in a fraction of the time by incorporating video, and save on travel costs as well. Very soon it will be commonplace for companies to screen and interview candidates via video before bringing candidates in-house to interview. Job seekers need to purchase a webcam so they can keep up!

Mobile! (It’s not just a town in Alabama!)

Mobile recruiting will be huge in the future. Currently, companies looking for a competitive edge have started to incorporate mobile apps and text messaging into their recruiting campaigns. New technology allows recruiters to send out a job via an app and candidates can “check in” if they are available. Recruiters see not only that the candidate is available, but where he/she is geographically located. Then recruiters can reach out to candidates that are in the closest proximity to the job. Crazy, right! Additionally, recruiters now have the capabilities to mass text message candidates with job specs. Instead of having to wait for a candidate to check his/her email, recruiters send the message directly to the one device candidates never put down—their cell phones! Powerful stuff, especially for recruiters sourcing for time-sensitive temp jobs. Job seekers should update to smart phones to keep up.

How Job Seekers Should Adapt

Job seekers that adapt the fastest will see the best results. Being prepared for these changes really helps a job seeker stand out from the crowd. First off, it’s imperative for candidates to leverage their social media communities. Great sites like StartWire make it extremely easy to keep your networks updated on your job search and to ask for assistance and support along the way. It is imperative to find and apply to jobs within the first 24 hours that they are posted. Candidates should set up Indeed and Bing job alerts for target job titles in their geographic location. Signing up for social media job search tools like BraveNewTalent can also be quite effective for finding companies that are hiring. Job seekers should purchase a webcam and become comfortable communicating and interviewing online. If job seekers can keep up, they will stand out among the crowd.

The times are a changin’, and if you adapt you will thrive. What are you doing to update you recruiting or job search strategy?

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Leveraging Your Career Culture

Developing Good Career Habits Early on Will Serve the Rest of Your Career.

Even the most mundane, front-line roles – whether doling out room keys as a front-desk motel clerk or dishing up burritos and serving beer at your local Mexican restaurant – are of value, not just to the customer, but to you, in developing your career reputation.

You may perceive your early roles as mainly a means to an end; e.g., for college students, jobs often tie directly to paying for textbooks, entertainment and basic living expenses while you prepare for your ‘real’ job. Therefore, you miss prime opportunities to create shiny, bankable career coins. By making regular deposits, you can nurture a positive reputation and network of career advocates that will help shepherd you to more meaningful roles.

I encourage all early careerists to realize that, whether you are 18, 25 or 45, each job in your career arsenal is potentially bankable and, if you attend to it with enthusiasm and as a problem-solving, customer-focused contributor, you can build a career-propelling resume, and as a result, the career to which you aspire.

March Madness, a Motel and a Mexican Meal

In a recent trip to Lake Texoma (Texas), my husband, Rob, and I played the role of customer in a series of initiatives that reinforced for us the value and impact of early-career, front-line staff members.

In one example, 30 minutes outside of Durant, Oklahoma, we vetted pet-friendly motels and dialed the Comfort Inn.

“We have no rooms for the night, Mr. Poindexter,” explained the youthful motel clerk. “In fact,” she asserted excitedly, “It’s March Madness, so you won’t find a room from here to Atoka!”

Frustrated by her sweeping response, but undeterred, we called the Days Inn, which was just across the street, and were met with a prompt and amenable, “Yes, we have rooms available!”

We instantly booked an overnight for two adults and one pet.

Rob and I were curious that the first motel clerk snapped to a conclusion that, essentially, we were out of luck in finding a room for the night in her city, or the neighboring town. Rather than take a moment of her time and suggest a possible alternative solution (such as the name of another motel in the area), in effect, she waved us off.

Checked into the Days Inn, we ambled over to a Mexican restaurant. This was a clean, calm venue that was underwhelmed by customers and appeared to have more than a sufficient ratio of wait staff to diners. A friendly young server approached us, and, though sweet, she was a bit sluggish in tending to our needs. It was as if she was on ‘island time;’ yet, there was no island, no ocean, no pleasant sea breeze to distract while we awaited our orders.

The first issue occurred when my dinner order was misinterpreted. After we alerted the server, she swept away the dish, along with all silverware, and the new meal perfunctorily was placed before me. We scrambled to locate replacement utensils.

Next, we ordered a Corona Light, which they had run out of; rather than being proactive and presenting us an alternative option, the server reflexively returned to our table empty-handed.

Moreover, throughout the dining experience, we were met with casual regard, and whether seeking out a missing set of silverware, a replacement for a wrongly delivered dinner or a substitute beverage, the minutes ticked by, and the onus, therefore, was on us, to direct our server to fulfill our needs.

In both of these instances, these young ladies overlooked opportunities to build value with us, and possibly expand their career reputation that could benefit them down the road.

Leveraging Your Ordinary Job to Create Extraordinary Career Value

No matter how lowly or ordinary the job may seem, it’s important to create your career culture early. Even though Rob and I realized the people serving us were probably not earning a lot of money, we were still the customer and were expecting good service.

Rest assured, careerists, though your simple gestures of problem-solving and customer care may seem small, in and of themselves, cumulatively they will sell your future value, and you never know whom you may meet who not only cares about how much you care, but who will also care enough to extend your message beyond the four walls of your diner, motel or other service arena and help lift your career goals to a new level. The impact, therefore, of your simple gestures, can be exponentially valuable to your overall career goals, and help you to be the culture you desire to attract.

So, your reputation builds and customer advocates multiply while your strategic problem-solving, customer service, leadership skills and talents also become more honed. Ultimately, your resume story becomes robust and compelling, advancing your career satisfaction and culture!

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