#CONTEST Leave a Comment, Win Professional Video Resume Help

#CONTEST Leave a Comment, Win Professional Video Resume Help 57 Here's a contest you can win with a single blog comment. Join in before Sunday night, ok? This comment contest is sponsored by Powtoon.com. Powtoon is “the best free animated presentation online software tool and PowerPoint alternative that supercharges your business presentations and animated video marketing.” Put more simply, it's an easy-to-use website for making professional-looking animated videos that you upload to YouTube. How is that relevant to job search? Check this out:eval Besides making a creative, animated video resume, you can use Powtoon for:eval Work portfolios Targeting companies you want to work for Project explanations, such as how you reached a specific achievement or result Video ad campaign to build your personal brand, or an employer's How to Enter At the bottom of this article, leave a comment that answers one of these questions: What is the most creative video resume you've ever seen and why? If you've made a creative video resume in the past, share it and tell us how you came up with the idea. Tell us why you deserve one of the prizes more than anyone else. Don't be shy… Comment now How to Win Simple â€" Leave an impressive comment. The winners will be the 3 people with the most impressive comments as judged by me (and possibly someone from Powtoon). You, or anyone you know, can try to influence the choice of winners by leaving more comments in support. Comment now Prizes 3 Professional-level Powtoon accounts for 1 year, a value of US$228 each Rules Must be 18 or older. You can comment as many times as you like, answering any or all 3 of the questions, but you can only win one prize. Be sure to use a real email address or Twitter account when you comment so that I can contact you if you win. Contest Deadline To be considered as entries in the contest, all comments must be submitted by this Sunday May 12th 2013, midnight PST, which is 10am Monday morning Israel time (check your local time here) Comment now Good luck!

Looking For Professional Resume Writing Agencies

Looking For Professional Resume Writing AgenciesWhen it comes to finding a great place to get your resume written, one must go online and read about all the professional resume writing agencies that are out there. The truth is that you can get a great resume written from a professional resume writing agency, but it does not mean that they are all great. This article will show you why it is so important to find a top resume writing agency.First of all, what exactly is a professional resume writing agency? They are usually smaller and more personalized than big, out of business agencies. They are the ones that will be able to help you write a great resume. You will want to make sure you pick one that will not only help you with your resume, but also with getting jobs as well.The first thing that you want to look for when you are looking for a professional resume writing agency is if they are reputable. After all, you want to be writing a resume that is going to be a success. In order t o do this, you need to make sure that they are trustworthy.This means that they are in business and not just out to get your money. Look for a website that has been around for a while. Look for one that has a history of helping other people get their resumes written.When you are looking for a professional resume writing agency, make sure that you do not take the name of the company and put it on your resume. This is so they can verify that you have done the work that they need you to do. It also makes them feel like you know them well and are confident in them.Make sure that they are willing to write a resume that is unique. As you know, you are not just a number when it comes to a resume. You need to stand out and make sure that you can make a professional impact on the employer.Keep in mind that you should have a professional resume to go along with your resume when you are looking for one. This is so the employer can see exactly what you have done for a living and what you are go od at. By having these two documents, the employer can easily tell what type of person you are and how you fit into the company.Also, make sure that you will be able to write a resume yourself. There are times when you cannot hire an agency to write one for you because they will not be able to complete the job that you want. Make sure that you are using the right professionals for the job.

15 LinkedIn Status Updates to Get You Noticed

15 LinkedIn Status Updates to Get You Noticed You have a  LinkedIn profile, but no one is contacting you. What do you need to do to draw attention to your profile? The secret is in sharing status updates that appeal to your network and potential employers.  LinkedIn reported that job seekers who updated their status weekly were 10 times more likely to be contacted by recruiters. First Focus on Your Profile: Is your LinkedIn profile top notch? You better makes sure its ready when people check it out. What Can You Do to Increase Job Leads? There are two reasons you want to do more on LinkedIn. First you want to be remembered by contacts in your network and second, you want to stand out and get noticed by people who may be looking for someone just like you. One of the best ways to stay top-of-mind and build a memorable reputation is by sharing on-brand news, stories and events. On-brand for a job seeker is NOT  sharing job search tips or making desperate pleas for help. You want to share  content related to your next desired occupation. Your mission is to consistently add valuable content to your LinkedIn status updates. When people in your  network see  what you share, they are likely to see you as a go-to resource. People often dont know what to share so to make it  easier for you, here are the types of status updates you can share on a weekly basis. 15 Types of Status Updates to Engage Your Network: 1. Share Industry Insights 60% of LinkedIn members are interested in industry insights according to LinkedIn’s marketing strategy guide “LinkedIn  Best Practices  Targeted  Status Updates.” This guide is written to help businesses promote themselves on LinkedIn, but because you are targeting the same readers, this advice works for you too. Whenever and whatever you share, keep in mind:  â€œinformative, useful updates receive the highest engagement rates” according to LinkedIn’s research. 2. Share News About Target Companies LinkedIn research found that 53% of users were interested in company news. People want to know what the competition is up to and usually  monitor mentions about their own company. You can take advantage of this by following companies you are interested in working for.  By doing this, you will be able to see the news they share through their LinkedIn company status updates. When they share news about new lines of business, new contracts or new services, you can share the update with your network. 3. Job-Related Tips/Hacks 43% of LinkedIn users are interested in new products and services. Help keep your network up-to-date on new technology in your field by sharing the latest trends in technology. You could also look for useful articles which provide solutions to common problems for people in your profession. Posts about time management, professional development, success stories or new trends. You can find these tips by reading LinkedIns  Pulse  or  Influencers articles or reading industry publications and newsletters. 4. Ask Questions Engage your network by asking for advice or opinions on certifications, new technology or recommendations for  professional associations, clubs or organizations. You can even share an article and ask your network for their opinions on a topic mentioned within the article. 5. Share Quotes Motivational quotes are uplifting and stir positive emotions. Keep in mind that LinkedIn is a professional network and ensure the quotes you share are work-appropriate. 6. Share Images Posting status updates with images increases comments by  98% according to QuickSprout. You could share a photo taken at a professional event, a screen shot of work you recently completed, or if humor is more your style, a funny meme or cartoon once in a while lightens the tone and may  help people understand you better. 7. Share Infographics Technically, an infographic is an image. The difference is that an infographic serves two purposes: its a  useful resource designed to simplify complex information and its  visually appealing. Infographics are helpful eye-candy and making it easier to understand. 8. Share Videos Who doesn’t love a great video? Share a TedX Talk or short video you’ve created and watch your network share it! Including a link  to a YouTube video translates into a  75% higher share rate, according to QuickSprout. 9. Contribute to a Group When you add a discussion to a group or comment on an existing group discussion  it shows in your activity feed and your network will see it. This is another way to demonstrate  you are active in your profession. Not only is adding to a group discussion a great way to network within the group, it also showcases your areas of interest and expertise. 10. Promote  Upcoming Events Are you planning on attending a conference or workshop? Share a link and description of the event with your network. You can also ask who is going  to the event. Meeting up with people can make the event more enjoyable and improve your network. 11. Share Status Updates from Your Network From your home page on LinkedIn, scroll down through the updates. Look for share-worthy articles. Tag the person who shared the  post  by using their name in your status update. This gives them credit for finding the article AND is a nice ping of recognition. 12. Like an Update A quick and easy way to add to activities to your feed is by simply liking an update. Don’t get carried away. Be purposeful in the updates you choose to like. Is your goal to keep in touch with someone? Like an update theyve shared. Is your mission to get on the radar of a company you would like to work for? Then like one of their updates. 13. Comment on an Update Adding a comment to someone’s status update or group discussion shows up in your network’s news feed. Make sure  your comment is clear, professional and  not hostile or argumentative. 14. Practice Random Acts of Kindness Do you know someone worthy of a compliment? You can mention a  work milestone, recent accomplishment, or congratulate them for outstanding work. When you tag someone on LinkedIn, they receive notification. 15. Indulge in Self-Promotion If youve been doing all these other things, youve earned the right to plug yourself.  Upload a slidedeck with  testimonials or recent project into your profile and share it with your network. Or show off your new infographic resume or personal website. What Else Shows Up in Your Activity Feed? There are other LinkedIn activities that your network can see such as connecting with LinkedIn members, following Influencer, Channel or Publisher and more. LinkedIn  provides a full listing of actions that show up in your feed and how to turn some on and off.

What Will Recruitment Be Like in the Year 2025

What Will Recruitment Be Like in the Year 2025 Where we are at now? I recruit for all types of recruitment businesses and represent all levels of recruiters, although generally I tend to specialise more in very experienced individuals, given my tenure in the sector, from a peerage perspective. As someone who physically enters and immerses themselves into their clients cultures, getting to know their processes, nuances, systems, culture inside out, there really is no parity across recruitment generally speaking. There is still a disparity with recruitment companies embracing social media policies within their candidate and brand strategies, database systems used with how that management data is used to a business’ advantage; there will always be a vast contrast in the operation of a business and how it uses KPIs  and other measures of its performance to manage the staff billing the revenue. There are so many options on the market for software, databases, integrated systems to bring you the best candidates, quicker, faster straight to your pc. Who needs to headhunt, right? Reflection Who would have predicted 10 yrs ago how recruitment would look now in 2015. I set my business up in 2005 (yes my 10 yr anniversary in October!) and as long as you had a fairly decent website and a mobile, you were sorted! Can you imagine doing that now? I can recall clients saying their biggest threat/worry was competitors and job boards. LinkedIn and Facebook- friend of foe? As we all know now, the fact you are reading this via a social media link somewhere, we haven’t made ourselves extinct. Yet! Sensible recruiters have either been trained properly in HOW to use social media and how each application is relevant to that audience. Having said that, I hear regular anecdotes of those who seem to think it is a free for all and a blanket approach to potential candidates is a wise attraction method- NOT! Face2face or Skype I personally meet every single candidate and client I represent- however, that is because I focus purely on the local area so it is physically possible for me to do so. I advocate the use of skype and facetime for those who cover a vaster/international areas as at least then you can watch and observe in the next best way. (although personally, i get distracted by my own camera and feel very vain flicking my hair and fiddling with my pen!) There are pros and cons of how the recruitment landscape looks currently, aren’t there and personally, I think there is a definite trend towards the “old skool” approach of personal recommendations, a more quality focused approach (well, this has been my focus for 10 yrs+ anyway.) So what will the recruitment market place look like in 2025? Specialists and exclusive I predict we will see a more clearly defined split in the market into market and discipline specialists. Recruitment is all about being the “go to” person and I think in any over crowded market place, discerning job seekers will grow to realise the benefit in trusting the one person to do this. Recruitment companies should think about this now and incorporate it into their training of staff and ensure they have an incentive too to get the best candidates ring fenced. Candidate led As skills shortages continue in the growth markets such as technology and manufacturing to name just two, I think that most perm and interim market will remain very candidate short and therefore recruitment companies should think about this when setting targets and their methods of recruiting now. Focus on what the candidates need not just the clients briefs! Technology I think that mobile technology will be the main focus as it already is for large employers; how does your website and candidate attraction work on mobile? Will robots replace humans by then? Well, I think that portal based recruitment already removes the human element for large scale based clients. There is already a backlash against this way of recruiting and I think we will see a rise in RPO providers to bring back the human element for these sized projects. Therefore, recruitment businesses need to ensure they have a robust training and development program to allow their hires now and in the future adapt a reactive style to a much more proactive one to ensure they are not left behind in the past as so many are. I hear of many draconian style recruitment businesses who are stuck in the 1990s (“time for the guru!”) and refuse to adapt or move ahead of the curve. What do you think? What will recruitment look like in 2025? I hope I am still recruiting then, with as much passion and love for the sector as I have now. Will you still be in recruitment or not? As always I want to know your predictions and whether you agree with my forecast. See you in 2025 to see if I was right!

What to Include in Your Animation Resume

What to Include in Your Animation ResumeAn animation resume is basically an application of information about your work experience that you can include in your animation resume. The information given in this page must be authentic and correct. Animation companies generally prefer to hire artists who have worked for them for a while, as long as they have exhibited excellent skills and ability. Thus, the process of drawing the details of their past experience into your animation resume will help them decide whether you are fit for their jobs or not.Animation resume details should be accurate, but if you have some gaps in your animation resume, it is better to add these gaps in your working experience in the past. These include data such as the names of companies you have worked for, titles and positions you held, your salary rate at the time you joined the company, the date of your last promotion and, finally, a list of projects that you completed. You must mention your name on every pa ge of your animation resume.Animation resumes do not usually ask for any further explanations. Only the few specific animators can give coherent answers to such questions. However, the employers are expected to go beyond what the animation resume tells them. They are expected to question you about the projects you worked on and evaluate your past performance by asking relevant questions. You should therefore be prepared to discuss with the employer all matters related to your past work experience.Your animation resume is usually organized by the head of the animation company. These professionals always find ways to work in the best possible manner, so they might also want to review your previous animation resume before making a decision on your hiring. You will also be required to present your portfolio on your application form. In such a scenario, it is imperative that you make every effort to come up with a unique and original portfolio for showcasing your skills.The animation res ume of an animator should contain all the information that the employer would like to know about you. This includes details about your previous employment, such as dates of employment, names of the places where you worked, and other important details. The animation resume is often abbreviated to 'animation resume'. Your employer would not need to see every page of your animation resume, but they might wish to see the main body of the document.An animation resume is, therefore, a document that has all the details that the employer needs to hire you. This document is a representation of you as an artist. It should also be an honest portrayal of your past work history. When you start working for an animation company, you must give accurate details about your skills and abilities so that the manager can get a sense of what you can offer to the company.The animation resume should also contain all the basic information required by the animation companies for your interview. This includes the date and place of interview, and the requirements of the interviewee for the interview. The animator's animation resume should also include details of the artwork you have created during your work experience. You must keep in mind that the animation company requires its staff to produce fine art drawings, not cartoons.The animation resume that you create should be well composed. In addition to this, you should include more than just the basics in the document. Be original, convey your feelings to the interviewer, and show potential employers your versatility as an artist!

Offshoring Yourself for a Better Job - CareerAlley

Offshoring Yourself for a Better Job - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Companies everywhere are outsourcing and offshoring work, sending IT, manufacturing and even front-line customer service jobs to countries with far lower costs of living. That means fewer jobs for workers in the United States, but it also means opportunity. Instead of waiting for your job to be offshored, decide to offshore yourself. Find a place youve always wanted to live, and look for an effective, strategic way to apply your skills. Here are a few ideas to consider: Teaching Yes, many young Americans participate in teach English abroad programs like the famous JET program in Japan. However, youre a professional adulttake it one step further by opening up your own freelance teaching studio. Plenty of wealthy parents in Japan, China, Singapore and India are eager to pay good money for one-on-one tutoring in English, mathematics or music. Who should do this:Talented, passionate teachers unable to find opportunities in the US, or current doctoral candidates/adjuncts unable to find a tenure-track job in academia. Writing How do professional web writers manage to stay afloat when rates are sometimes as little as $12/hour? They find places to live that arent the United States. Many professional freelance writers establish residencies in cosmopolitan cities with a low cost of living (Bangkok and Berlin are a popular options), and then write for American publications. Theyre the ones grabbing up all of those freelance jobs you cant afford to take, since their rent and cost of living is only 1/3 the cost of yours. Who should do this:People who have already built up a small freelance writing practice and have two or three long-term clients. Dont make this move unless you already have writing experience under your belt. Medicine The health care system in the US is in disarray; even though it is one of the fastest growing industries in the country,the desire to get more for less is squeezing doctors, nurses and other staff to the breaking point. Many medical professionals are choosing to open practices overseas, where doctors get to spend more than five minutes with each patient and where medical treatment is not burdened by the US health insurance system. You do, of course, have to be re-licensed in your new country of residence, but many countries are eager for trained and talented doctors. The other alternative is to start your medical training in a foreign country. As a reference point, consider theAUA Caribbean medical school, whichprovides world-class training in an international setting, effectively preparing students to take their medical careers to multiple countries after graduation. Who should do this:Medical professionals committed to doing good work, or students who want to study medicine but stay out of the US healthcare system. Web, Mobile, Software or Game Development Like many other careers, the high cost of living is pricing people out of taking a year or two to develop a really strong web app, mobile app, software, or video game. If you have a small team willing to travel, take a year, find an inexpensive place to live abroad, and churn out your work. Who should do this:Established, small teams willing to live and work together to create something amazing. Must have a project management plan in place before you move; dont make this a lets see what happens decision. These arent the only careers available to talented people willing to work abroad. See our previous article about the best overseas jobs, including government work, green energy, and engineering. Then make your plans and pack your bags: its time to offshore yourself to a new country. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search. Joey Trebif

Mistakes to Avoid in Negotiating Your New Job Offer

Mistakes to Avoid in Negotiating Your New Job Offer Almost a decade ago, researchers Dr. Michelle Marks, George Mason University, and Dr. Crystal M. Harold, Temple University, asked 149 newly hired employees whether they chose to negotiate their starting salaries*. They discovered that those who negotiated, increased their starting salaries by an average of $5,000. Chances are likely that their research is just as applicable today. Let’s talk about why you should negotiate your next job offer and how to do it. What criteria should you use to evaluate a job offer? How can you determine whether or not a job offer is a good one? The attractiveness of a job offer is a very personal thing based on the individuals’ needs at the time. It is key that every job seeker know their needs well before going through the interview process and receiving the offer. Assuming we are focused on the dollars in the job offer, break the offer down before reacting to it: List the salary. Calculate the bonus if there is one. Secure the details of the health coverage. Re-read the job description to remind yourself about the job duties. Consider the “soft” elements like length of commute, new skills you will learn, and the quality of the people you will work with. Research salary information that is available on the web. Glassdoor.com’s salaries and compensation section and Payscale.com are top locations. Should you negotiate with potential employers for better compensation? Do you run the risk of losing a job offer if you try? In 30 years negotiating my own offers, I have never had an offer repealed due to a negotiation. However, if a candidate is rude, overly demanding, or disrespectful in any way, the company can repeal the offer. In summary, yes, I recommend everybody negotiate. Remember, “If you don’t ask, you’ll never know.” What strategies can you â€" a prospective employee â€" use to negotiate a better job offer? Most important is to begin your negotiations grateful for the offer, highly respectful, and professional, not emotional. Try to negotiate with your hiring manager rather than a recruiter or other intermediary. The hiring manager has the budget and is the ultimate decision-maker. And they already want you on their team, so they are motivated to ensure you are satisfied. Write your negotiation out in a letter and e-mail it prior to discussing it with the hiring manager. That way you can outline your request and justification and they can forward it to other decision-makers. In the letter, keep it brief. Itemize every request you have, provide a target for a satisfactory solution and provide the justification for the request. Whatever facts you can provide the better. For example: Your Request: Your Rationale: Request #1: Increase salary by 8% My prior income was at this level. Request #2: 5 more vacation days Pre-committed family vacation What mistakes do prospective employees often make when trying to negotiate salary and benefits? Being rude, disrespectful, sounding entitled. Saying ,“I did my research, and this is below market.” Being “whiny” or use lofty statements like, “This isn’t good enough,” or “It’s not what I expected.” Saying, “It’s less than what I was earning in my last job,” when the last job was not the same, similar, or had fewer responsibilities. Not all jobs are the same and it is not a requirement that the hiring company match or exceed what you were earning. If stock is part of your total compensation, saying, “Well, you can’t guarantee that the stock won’t go up,” or “Stock doesn’t pay my bills.” This shows you are not in it for the long haul and not aware that your contribution can help the stock price, too. If you are a new college graduate or don’t have much work experience and want to command a better compensation package, here are my recommendations. Be realistic! Since you don’t have work experience, the company is taking a higher risk. Plus, you need to be willing to start at an appropriate level and work your way up. Ask for an early review, rather than waiting for an annual review to showcase your efforts and their results. If you feel you would be good in sales, then look for a sales position with commission on top of a base salary. In that role, the upside can be tremendous and directly correlated to your ability to close deals. Do your research on market salaries in your city at your target companies. Go to Glassdoor.com or Payscale.com. Remember your biggest mistake in compensation negotiation is not doing it. * Marks, M. and Harold, C. (2011), Who asks and who receives in salary negotiation. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 32: 371â€"394. doi:10.1002/job.671 Join Dana Manciagli’s Job Search Master Class ® now and get the most comprehensive job search system available!