Reputation Management 4 Things to Know and Do Before Employers Google Your Name

Reputation Management 4 Things to Know and Do Before Employers Google Your Name 75 A recent survey claims that 1 in 5 employers in the USA check up on candidates via social networks. Should you be worried about your reputation online? 8 findings that are scaring companies away According to this article about the survey, “the top areas of concern found on social networking sites include: Information about alcohol or drug use (41% of managers said this was a top concern) Inappropriate photos or information posted on a candidate's page (40%) Poor communication skills (29%) Bad-mouthing of former employers or fellow employees (28%) Inaccurate qualifications (27%) Unprofessional screen names (22%) (a classic resume mistake) Notes showing links to criminal behavior (21%) Confidential information about past employers (19%)” What to do before employers find you online Employers don't usually search with the hopes of finding something negative about you. The opposite is true- they're looking to confirm the information on your resume and hoping to find more proof that you're a good candidate who really can help their company. However, employers can't predict how their search will end. But you can.eval Everything on the Internet can be found if someone is really determined to find it. Google caches (keeps copies of) websites for months and the Internet Archive keeps copies of webpages for years. Here's what Yahoo looked like on October 17th, 1996. However… People can't find what isn't there. Keep the above 8-point list in mind whenever you comment, blog, post a video, upload pictures of yourself or contribute to the Internet in any other way. See what employers will discover about you before beginning a job search (or now, better late than never). Use the same websites that employers might use to find out about you. Google your name and search for it on social networks that are popular where your employer is. Here's another reference in French but you'll recognize names like MySpace and Facebook. Decide how to react once you know which results employers will see. Try to clean up any sites that will leave a negative impression and improve the sites that will leave a positive one. For example, clean up your profiles on the social networks that you use or have used in the past. The order these sites appear in the search results is the way to determine priorities. Look for an upcoming article here on JobMob with more details and advice on how to find and track what's being said about you online so that you can take preventive action and be ready with good answers to potentially embarrassing interview questions. Should it even matter? Everyone makes mistakes and does things they regret later. Should you pay the consequences for those actions years after the fact? Is that fair?eval If you liked this article, you'll enjoy the 200+ Resources and Tips To Help Manage Your Reputation Online. Active online?

New or Used Car Heres a Guide

New or Used Car Here’s a Guide Did you know that a car is probably the second most expensive purchase that you are likely to acquire as a consumer? If you didn’t know, worry not: I also learnt it when it was time to purchase my own car. Honestly, us, women assume that we are perfect at choosing clothes, scents and well, husbands, but I can tell you that nothing works the brain like buying the first car. Let me tell you for free that buying your first car will be so stressing that you risk making impulse decisions. However, to save you all that trouble, here is a post I made to save my fellow women by providing a few tips they must consider before settling on buying a new or used vehicle. Here is a comparison between old and new cars Advantages of a new car It gives you peace of mind as most come with three-year warranties. They are cheaper to run because everything is new. Buying new lets you choose the specifications you want. New cars are more energy-efficient and greener. Disadvantages They can be very costly. Their value depreciates drastically especially in the first year. Personally, and to keep it brief, I think if you have the cash to purchase a new car, just do it. I find the initial (buying) cost as the biggest challenge in acquiring a new ride. There are numerous new car dealers with online showrooms where you can visit and choose your preferred ride. One of the best in the UK are Motor Parks. They deal in both new and used cars. Lest I forget, I should also let you know that they just released an assortment of 65 reg plate new vehicles. Visit their page here to learn more. Advantages of a used car Image courtesy of M 93 on Flickr A used car can have little to no depreciation. They are definitely cheaper to acquire and maintain. Disadvantages Most might guzzle more fuel than new cars. It is very hard finding one in your preferences. Some might be costlier to maintain due to frequent repairs. I did not imply that used cars are bad at all: rather, I just stated my preferences. However, as an emerging woman, you can still find a second-hand car that is as good as new. Just take advantage of the depreciation factor and bargain for that car you want so much. What I would caution you against is purchasing an old car. Buy a used car, not an old one! Luckily for you, Motor Parks have a web section where they showcase used cars that are in perfect condition. Visit their “Used Cars” section for more details. Once you get your car, the next thing to think about something like  Youi, something Ill be discussing in a future post! See you on the roads! Image courtesy of MotorParks

Help Me Find a Job Fast - VocationVillage

Help Me Find a Job Fast - VocationVillage Dear Dr. Civitelli,Can you help me find a job fast? I hate my job so much, I am depressed when I wake up on Monday morning and I stay that way until Friday evening. Ive used up all my sick days and vacation time and it is early in the year. I dont like the company, I dream of yelling at my boss, and my only friend at work quit last month. Im snippy with co-workers and customers and I think my boss is starting to notice. I dont want suggestions about how to make my job better. I just want out.Signed, MiserableDear Miserable,I understand that you want a new job and you want it yesterday. Without knowing more about you other than what you have written above, I can tell you some strategies that tend to help job-seekers land jobs more quickly.1. First, read this article about things to do before you quit your job.2. Decide a job search focus. The more you can clarify what you want to do, the easier the rest of the job search process goes. Some people wish to pursue several different simultaneous goals to see which one gains traction but since you seem clear that speed is your top priority, Id say it makes sense to identify your first choice focus and switch to the second one only if the first one doesnt get results. See #3 for thoughts about which focus to pick.3. When your priority is landing a new job FAST, youll likely gain more traction with new employers when you pursue opportunities that match areas where you already have a successful track record. This means staying in the sam e industry or in the same general functional area of expertise or both. The single quickest way to generate interest in you is to explore job possibilities with your current employers business competitors (consult with an employment attorney if you signed a non-compete agreement).4. The top method that employers use to fill jobs is employee referrals (source: Society for Human Resource Management). This means one of the best things you can do is communicate with everyone you know (including acquaintances) about what you are seeking.5. Think of five specific career skills you have that would be amenable to keyword searching. This might be the title of your position, a key technical expertise youve developed, a specific software you learned for the job, a second language you know, etc. Then use these keywords in a top job search engine like Indeed or Glassdoor to find jobs where you might have a competitive edge.6. 95% of recruiters use LinkedIn so anyone seeking a new job should have a 100% complete profile and be active enough on LinkedIn so that the LinkedIn search algorithm includes your profile in LinkedIn searches containing keywords relevant to your career. You dont need a ton of references but having a few good ones adds credibility to your profile.7. Choose one professional association that matches your career goals and find a way to contribute. These organizations can be a terrific way to get connected more quickly. Whether you serve on a leadership board, volunteer at a conference, or help with the newsletter or website, this is one way to find out about job possibilities before they are advertised.8. Subscribe to a publication that covers your industry and watch for news of companies that just landed funding or are growing. Write a well-crafted approach letter describing how your skills might be a match for what they need and send it to the head of whatever department best fits your career focus. For example, if your expertise is marketing, the head of marketing might be a Chief Marketing Officer, Vice President of Marketing, or Director of Marketing.9. Ask your professional colleagues if they have worked with a recruiter they like and trust, then ask for an introduction. This works much better than contacting recruiters cold because recruiters receive hundreds or thousands of inquiries and it is too easy to get lost in the shuffle if you arent introduced by a valued mutual acquaintance.10. Consider doing contract-based, project-based, or temp work. Every city has agencies that specialize in this type of placement and it is often easier to find than permanent work (theres no such thing as permanent work, but the term is still used to distinguish it from work with a known end date).11. Consider whether you have a skill that could bring in income if you quit your current job before you land a new job. The criteria for this option is that it has to be something you can do right away without a lot of upfront investment. Here is one resource:  17 Great Websites To Find Freelance Jobs.12. Dont worry about getting trapped in the next place you land. Once you are in a situation that makes you less miserable, it will likely be easier to think clearly, decide what you really want to do, and plan your next career moves.Hope this helps!

Does Your Skin Have Holiday Hangover

Does Your Skin Have Holiday Hangover It’s holiday time again. Although Thanksgiving has passed, the “booziest” holidays such as Christmas and New Year’s are yet to come. This post-Thanksgiving period between now and the New Year are when even average people tend to binge drink.  What many people don’t realize is that drinking alcohol in excess can have a negative impact on your appearance. Alcohol dehydrates your body including the skin- your body’s largest organ. This happens every time you drink. Extra cocktails can be adding years to your face in the form of wrinkles, poor texture and lack of radiance. Dr. Stanley Poulos a board-certified plastic surgeon explains  that, “frequent alcohol consumption is also thought to deprive the skin of vital vitamins and nutrients. Over time, drinking heavily can have other, more permanent, detrimental effects on your skin. Rosacea, a skin disorder that starts with a tendency to blush and flush easily and can eventually lead to facial disfigurement, is linked to alcohol. Since  alcohol increases your blood flow, it often causes blood vessels in your face to dilate (sometimes permanently) and often burst, leaving behind broken capillaries and  red spots that are difficult to get rid of,” offers Dr. Poulos. Here’s a look at what alcohol can do to wreak havoc on your appearance, and what to do when libations give your skin a holiday hangover. Brittle hair. Whats worse, drinking too much doesnt only affect the appearance of your skin; it will dehydrate your hair, making it more prone to breaking and split ends.  Weak, brittle hair in addition to premature wrinkling, can easily add 10 years to someone’s appearance. Dark circles, bloodshot eyes and even blindness. In much the same way that alcohol causes broken capillaries on your face, it irritates and enlarges the tiny blood vessels on the surface of your eye (the sclera) causing a bloodshot appearance. If vanity doesn’t get your attention, how about blindness?  â€œBecause excessive drinking robs the body of some nutrients required to maintain eye health, it can lead to a condition called alcoholic optic neuritis, which impairs eyesight and, over time, can result in blindness,” cautions Dr. Poulos. Tips To Avoid Skin Hangover  Stay hydrated. Aside from giving up booze altogether, Dr. Poulos says it is possible to minimize the unwanted effects of alcohol by constantly staying hydrated.  â€œThat means drinking a full glass of water for every cocktail you have. Drink even more water before you go to bed to flush the alcohol out of your system, so you wake up less dehydrated, puffy and flushed,” he advises. Take care of your skin before bed. Taking care of your skin before hitting the sack is also crucial. Dr. Poulos advises fully washing your face and then applying a moisturizer, like a hydrating serum before getting into bed.  â€œSleeping with dirty skin makes it prone to clogged pores and acne.” Prop pillows and use tea. One of the best ways to minimize the eye and face puffiness is to sleep on two pillows, slightly propped up.  In the morning, rubbing ice cubes all over your face helps, too.  â€œOne of the best ways to deflate eye puffiness and reduce the redness is to place cold tea bags over the eyes.  The tannins in the tea help constrict blood vessels,” adds Dr. Poulos. Cover up what you can’t cure. To camouflage the redness in the face, use a green-tinted primer before applying makeup, which should help neutralize any redness. If you must use foundation, look for a lightweight, moisturizing formula.   Avoid powders, as they are often more drying.  Consider lasers. When at-home remedies aren’t making much of a difference. There are pricier measures you can take to minimize the effects of alcohol. “Certain laser treatments can reduce redness and spider veins on the face. It’s important to see someone who is well trained to administer the laser treatment,” suggests Dr. Poulos.  Choose your booze wisely. If you are going to consume alcohol know that different alcohols have different effects on the skin, but as a general rule, the clearer, the better. Vodka, gin, and tequila leave your system quicker. “If you’re going to drink anything, drink vodka that doesn’t have a grain in it, like potato vodka. It’s a lot clearer and smoother, so it gets in and out of your body quickly,” says Dr. Poulos.  Most physicians agree that although everyone metabolizes alcohol differently, if you can remember to drink in moderation and stay hydrated, you can save your skin. Reach for Caffeine Grab an extra-large coffee, then give your skin a little caffeine boost, too. Caffeine helps constrict blood vessels and is a good option after a night of drinking, since alcohol dilates blood vessels. This can make the area around your eyes look puffy and bloated, explains Dr. Poulos, who recommends keeping an eye cream with caffeine handy. Go for Yogurt Dr. Poulos advises slathering it on as a face mask and to make sure it’s plain yogurt.   Because its anti-inflammatory, it will help soothe redness, another side effect of drinking too much, especially for those who have rosacea, he notes. Leave it on for five to ten minutes before rinsing. Put Your Face on the Rocks. “Take the ice cubes out of the freezer, put them in a hand towel and rub them over your face,’ says Dr. Poulos.   He suggests doing this to minimize puffiness and swelling. Use cold teaspoons to de-puff around the eye area. About Dr. Stanley Poulos Dr. Poulos is a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon and Co-Founder with Ingvar Hvistendahl, M.D of Plastic Surgery Specialists recognized as one of the premier aesthetic surgery clinics in Northern California.

What Makes An Impressive Business Leader

What Makes An Impressive Business Leader Anyone can become a good leader, but to truly be an impressive leader is a feat that only few can accomplish.There is a great importance on leadership in any organization, especially when a business is concerned, because leadership is the catalyst for achieving a business’ maximum efficiency, capacity, and potential.Organizational goals can only be met if there is a strong, effective leader at the helm, guiding and working together with the team until those goals are achieved.evalA truly impressive leader is someone who can unlock the true and hidden potential of the business and lead it to true success.As John Maxwell says, “People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision.”This only means that a good business leader should be the person that can initiate action, motivate the employees, provide much-needed guidance towards the completion of tasks and the growth and development of those around him and working with him, create confidence to build a stronger and more ac tive team, boost morale when it matters the most Here are the key takeaways on what makes an impressive leader from the infographic by Healthy Business Builder:Great Listening SkillsGreat Decision-Making SkillsKnows How to Move Forward GracefullyLeverages NetworksStrong Desire to Reach the Next LevelEmotionally StablePowerfully PassionateTo learn more about these characteristics, such as how they manifest in a truly impressive business leader and how you can learn to be a more effective business leader, check out the infographic now.Infographic Credit â€" healthybusinessinsider.com

Too Shy To Network Get Over It. - Pathfinder Careers

Too Shy To Network Get Over It. - Pathfinder Careers Too Shy To Network? Get Over It. A week ago, I attended a business mixer sponsored by the Portland Business Journal, and was immediately reminded about something. As I walked into the crowded room of about 200 professionals, I remembered that keeping up the art of networking requires you to keep working at it. Like exercising a muscle, you need to keep flexing it in order to keep it in shape. Not that I have any excuse I have been (ahem) a little negligent myself  lately in getting out into true networking situations where I dont know anyone.  A heavy client load and multiple projects have kept my time constrained to running from appointment to appointment, with no time (or energy) to commit to going to any after-hours networking events. Ive been too exhausted. But that is no excuse. I realized it had been awhile since the last networking event that I had attended, and silently resolved to get myself back out there. So as I entered that room, I suddenly realized how flabby my networking muscle was.  And Ill admit it: I was scared since I knew a total of two people out of that crowd. Why was I scared? Because deep down, I am actually a horrifically shy person.  And when anyone who is shy is thrust into a setting where it is densely packed and they dont really know anyone, the natural instinct is to clam up and find a corner of the room for shelter. It was all I could do to force myself into the heaving crowd.  But I did it. When people reveal to me that they are shy or have a hard time networking, I know that pain personally. But  you CAN get past it and it can open up new doors in ways you couldnt have imagined. During the event, I pushed myself past the shyness envelope, made eye contact with strangers, and stuck out my hand to say hello.  I met a lot of people that night through the power of networking. One gentleman  I met was interested in resume writing services for himself (he contacted me later to follow up- a good sign); another was slipping past a door I was standing near and I jokingly said, In order to pass, you need to introduce yourself.  Turns out he was an executive coach and after chatting, we set up a meeting the very next day to figure out how we could refer business to each other. And a client of mine (one of the two people I knew at the event) was chatting with another gentleman to whom she introduced me turns out he was involved with a workforce board and we had a lot to discuss. Since then, we have met in person over coffee and shared ideas over email. So if you say that you are shy and that is the reason why you arent good at networking, that is a self-imposed barrier you have put up in front of yourself.  Yes, it can be uncomfortable.  But here are a few quick tips for you to get through that initial awkward conversational stage and transform the people that you meet at events into powerful contacts in your network: 1) Be fearless. Walk up, stick out your hand, introduce yourself, ask them about what they do, then shut up.  People love to talk about themselves. So let them.  Being quiet means you dont have to come up with things to talk about and you can take their conversational lead! 2) Be well-read.  Keeping up with current events and business trends gives you a treasure trove to draw from in terms of conversational topics. 3) Initiate a call to action. If you want to learn more, theres only so much you can chat about comfortably in a crowded room. Suggest to meet the person over coffee in a less busy setting.  Youll both be more relaxed and the ideas can flow more freely. 4) Follow up in 24 hours. Dont shove the persons card in your drawer and call it good. Thats not networking. Thats called disposing of your contacts (I am not talking about the kind you stick in your eyes).  Email messages are good, but even a nice little hand-written note can lend some distinction to your thoughtfulness. 5) If the conversation isnt working out very well, release the person.  You can always excuse yourself if they have lost interest or there isnt any rapport building.  (Or if they are looking over your shoulder!)  Say, Well, it was nice meeting you and we should both probably mingle a little more thanks again for chatting! and then let them go.  Sometimes, shy people have a habit of clinging to people that they are able to talk to and then never letting them go.  Dont be one of those networkers!  The purpose is to meet as many people as you can. Dont let yourself become your own worst obstacle to networking.  Get out there, and get a networking workout the more you do it, the easier it will become!

Career Impacts when You Dont Get Enough Sleep

Career Impacts when You Dont Get Enough Sleep Waking up from a poor night’s sleep and hitting the snooze button, swearing to myself that I’ll go to bed earlier the next night is a really bad habit of mine. I vow to get 8 hours, yet almost every night when the time comes to hit the hay, I’m telling myself “just one more post” or “just one more episode.” And then I regret it the next day when I’m groggy and can’t focus. It’s a vicious cycle most of us are stuck in. Of course, a mid-day nap would be great, if only you had time. “I’m too busy” we often tell ourselves. But it’s time to make the time for more sleep, because a lack of quality sleep will do more than make you feel sluggish. It’ll seriously damage your health, happiness and your career. Here’s what happens to your career when you don’t get enough sleep: 1. More Sick Days More sick days are a result of getting too much or too little sleep. Ideally, you should be getting seven to nine hours of restful sleep every night. However, those who sleep more than 10 hours or less than five are more likely to stay home sick for 4.6 to 8.9 more days. After stress and other factors are removed, this link between proper sleep time and illness remains. 2. Missed Creativity Creative ideas and problem-solving result from a time of incubation. It’s important to not disturb your REM cycles, because mental fogginess during the day will disrupt that period of necessary development and impede your innovation. 3. Productivity Plummets The less quality sleep you have, the less productive you are. Employees who sleep six hours or less are significantly less productive, affecting reaction time and cognitive performance. 4. Costs Your Employer and the Economy That loss of productivity and other important skillsets due to a lack of sleep is costing the U.S. economy up to $411 billion per year. Increasing sleeping hours from six to seven hours nightly could boost the economy by $226.4 billion. 5. Diminished Confidence Is your confidence lacking due to sleep deprivation? Less than six hours of sleep is closely linked to decreased levels of self-esteem and optimism. Comparatively, seven or eight hours of adequate sleep is proven to control depressive symptoms. 6. Crabby Attitude Sleep deprivation shortens your fuse and is linked to greater emotional reactivity, depression and less empathy. If you’re experiencing sleep loss, limit work on frustrating tasks and social interaction until you get back on a proper sleep schedule. Repeated instances of irritability could give you bad marks on a job review, citing â€" or worse. 7. Lessened Ability to Assess Risks Sleep loss will affect your ability to make decisions, lessening your ability to assess risks accurately. When you’re working and sleep deprived, there’s less activity in the area of the brain that weighs negative outcomes and increased activity in the area of the brain that analyzes positive outcomes. You’re more likely to focus on short-term and not long-term consequences, increasing your willingness to accept risk. 8. Inhibited Memory A primary function of sleep is that it consolidates long-term memory by strengthening particular neural connections and getting rid of unimportant ones. All the neural connections made throughout the day aren’t worth saving, and sleep is when the brain determines which ones are necessary. The neurons activated when learning a new task are activated again during non-rapid eye movement sleep, integrating the information into long-term memory. When you get proper sleep the night after learning multiple tasks, you’re more likely to remember that information accurately. Without a proper night’s sleep, mental fogginess affects your ability to recall what you’ve learned and will reflect in your job performance. 9. Increased Risk of Injury While certain jobs come with obvious risks, sleep deprivation increases the likelihood of work-related accidents. Lack of sleep leads to mental fogginess, slowed reaction time and dizziness, among other symptoms, increasing the probability of injuries at work. In fact, workers with sleep problems are 1.62 times more at risk for injury on the job than those without sleep problems, and 13 percent of work injuries are linked with problems sleeping. How to Get Better Sleep and Stay on Track You need proper sleep to function effectively at work and continue to excel on your career path. Fortunately, there are proven ways to get better sleep and stay on track: 1. Form a Bedtime Ritual When your mind is wound up on stress, it’s going to be difficult to drift off to sleep. A bedtime ritual prepares your mind and body for rest. It sounds hokey, but many successful people in business have bedtime rituals that work. They use meditative activities, like reading a book or taking a walk. Find what works for you and make it a habit to help prepare your mind for sleep. 2. Track Your Sleep Use a FitBit or other tracker to track your sleep. You wouldn’t be the first to do so â€" many have already given it a shot and had a lot of success. Once you know your sleep times, take steps to increase your hours and improve your sleep quality. 3. Limit Technology Before Bed Reading before bed is a great bedtime ritual, but if you read from a light-emitting device, your sleep is suffering. Your REM phase is shorter, and it takes longer for you to go to sleep and wake up. Short-wave blue light emitted from your tablet limits the production of melatonin, which begins its release in the evening. Those who read from a tablet before bed will be wide awake and have problems getting to sleep and staying asleep. Limit technology an hour before bed, and ideally use the bedroom for sleeping only. 4. Use Ambient Lighting in the Evening The sun sets and rises daily, and the human body must keep its circadian rhythm intact by following the cycles of light and dark. A few hours before bed, begin cutting down on bright light sources. Use ambient light an hour or two before bed to adjust your eyes and prepare your body and mind for sleep. 5. Lower the Temperature Your internal body temperature also regulates your body clock. Just as the sun sets and your body needs darkness to fall asleep, your body temperature is also adjusting. Help your body acclimate by lowering the temperature in the room between 60 to 67 degrees for sleep-inducing conditions. Cool, dark and comfortable bedrooms are key. Darkness signals melatonin production, and melatonin cues your body clock that it’s time for bed. 6. Block Out Bright Street Light Excessive streetlight keeps everyone awake in this 24/7 world of technology and electricity. If you live in a bigger city, you can probably relate. City-dwellers report dissatisfaction with sleep quality and fatigue at higher rates and are 6 percent more likely to get only 6 hours of sleep. Blackout curtains or thicker fabric curtains will help block bright streetlight. You can also try turning your bed away from brightly lit windows. 7. Don’t Oversleep You may try to “catch up” on sleep whenever possible, but oversleeping only worsens your quality of sleep. Getting too much sleep leads to an increase in anxiety and depression, affecting your ability to do your job. Instead, set your body clock by waking up at the same time every day. This conditions your body to feel tired earlier and keep your circadian rhythm â€" and career â€" on track. Don’t let your career suffer by letting sleep problems get out of hand. Getting restful sleep isn’t something nice you used do. It’s something your mind and body needs to be healthy and successful in life. What are your bedtime rituals and tips to get a restful sleep? Keep the conversation going: Leave a comment and subscribe to Punched Clocks! #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width:100%;} /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ Join over 700 readers! Get expert career advice sent straight to your inbox!