Personal Relationship Manager

Personal Relationship Manager When I started doing research on JibberJobber I had a notion that this would become a personal relationship manager. Most CRM tools, including Salesforce, Goldmine, ACT!, etc. focus on a sales process.   They have sales jargon, sales reports, etc.   I wanted to develop something that did not have that jargon or emphasis, but would help people manage personal relationships.   I wanted something that would become a PERSONAL CRM, not a corporate CRM. I should say, in the CRM world there has been a lot of talk about the phrase manage relationships, which sounds cold, calculated and transactional.   I agree that it might not be a terrific phrase, but I do think that in order to nurture relationships, and to build intimate relationships, its darn useful to have some tool to help us remember when we last talked, what we have ever talked about, and when I need to followup.   So until I hear something better, Ill continue to say manage relationships.   I hope you get the idea, though, that Im not talking about the cold, transactional aspect of managing a relationship. Let me talk about CRM really quick CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management.   Companies would buy a CRM solution and give it to their sales professionals and business development professionals.   This is one reason why those who have had sales experience see JibberJobber and immediately get it because they used something very similar in a prior job. CRM tools allow a sales professional, or anyone who deals with external customers and prospects, to know who is in their pipeline, where they are at with each individual (has the sale been made, was there an offer, when does a follow-up need to happen, etc.), including a running log of all of the past communications.   Its an extremely important part of a professionals toolset, as it allows you to keep up with your relationships (and, sales). JibberJobber came out in May of 2006, and was positioned to offer this same level of functionality to the individual, whether they were in sales or not.   Oops, what I meant to say is WE ARE ALL IN SALES, AND WE ARE ALL CEO OF ME INC.!   What do we sell?   Ourselves!   Our brand!   Our value proposition! Whether we are unemployed or not, we are always in sales, and we should always work on our pipeline! Here are a few relationship management tasks that JibberJobber helps you with: Knowing WHO is in your network. Not just the name of the person, but information like when you met them, who introduced you to them, are they associated with any of your target companies, when you last spoke with them, etc. Knowing what your target companies are. Not so much on individual relationships, but you need to know your prospects JibberJobber helps you keep notes on your target companies, and allows you to keep track of how you network your way into a company.   This is critical, whether you are in a job search or not. Images and log entries. Putting special extra information on a record can help you remember who the heck they are.   Many times Ive looked at a business card and thought I have no idea who this is, and why I have the card.   Putting a picture on helps a lot, and putting log entries with snippets of an email conversation, or notes from a phone call, really help remind me who each person is. Ranks the relationships. Its not enough to simply have a network, or a big network, or a wide network I want to know how strong the relationships are with each individual.   Keith Ferrazzi, in Never Eat Alone, talks about ranking the strength of the relationship with each contact that was one of the first things designed into this personal relationship manager! Tags and Categories. This helps you slice and dice your data later if you tag and/or categorize a contact you can later get their info based on the tag/category.   For example, i regularly go in and say give me all the email addresses of my blogger contacts, or my family.   This is done by tagging and categorizing. And, as a bonus, JibberJobber is a great tool to manage a job search. While it is a comprehensive job search manager, it is not just about job search. it is about relationship management which is a LONG TERM thing that you do throughout your entire career! You can see were merging the concept of customer relationship management and personal relationship management and were doing it for YOU. Dont have an account?   Get one here. Personal Relationship Manager When I started doing research on JibberJobber I had a notion that this would become a personal relationship manager. Most CRM tools, including Salesforce, Goldmine, ACT!, etc. focus on a sales process.   They have sales jargon, sales reports, etc.   I wanted to develop something that did not have that jargon or emphasis, but would help people manage personal relationships.   I wanted something that would become a PERSONAL CRM, not a corporate CRM. I should say, in the CRM world there has been a lot of talk about the phrase manage relationships, which sounds cold, calculated and transactional.   I agree that it might not be a terrific phrase, but I do think that in order to nurture relationships, and to build intimate relationships, its darn useful to have some tool to help us remember when we last talked, what we have ever talked about, and when I need to followup.   So until I hear something better, Ill continue to say manage relationships.   I hope you get the idea, though, that Im not talking about the cold, transactional aspect of managing a relationship. Let me talk about CRM really quick CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management.   Companies would buy a CRM solution and give it to their sales professionals and business development professionals.   This is one reason why those who have had sales experience see JibberJobber and immediately get it because they used something very similar in a prior job. CRM tools allow a sales professional, or anyone who deals with external customers and prospects, to know who is in their pipeline, where they are at with each individual (has the sale been made, was there an offer, when does a follow-up need to happen, etc.), including a running log of all of the past communications.   Its an extremely important part of a professionals toolset, as it allows you to keep up with your relationships (and, sales). JibberJobber came out in May of 2006, and was positioned to offer this same level of functionality to the individual, whether they were in sales or not.   Oops, what I meant to say is WE ARE ALL IN SALES, AND WE ARE ALL CEO OF ME INC.!   What do we sell?   Ourselves!   Our brand!   Our value proposition! Whether we are unemployed or not, we are always in sales, and we should always work on our pipeline! Here are a few relationship management tasks that JibberJobber helps you with: Knowing WHO is in your network. Not just the name of the person, but information like when you met them, who introduced you to them, are they associated with any of your target companies, when you last spoke with them, etc. Knowing what your target companies are. Not so much on individual relationships, but you need to know your prospects JibberJobber helps you keep notes on your target companies, and allows you to keep track of how you network your way into a company.   This is critical, whether you are in a job search or not. Images and log entries. Putting special extra information on a record can help you remember who the heck they are.   Many times Ive looked at a business card and thought I have no idea who this is, and why I have the card.   Putting a picture on helps a lot, and putting log entries with snippets of an email conversation, or notes from a phone call, really help remind me who each person is. Ranks the relationships. Its not enough to simply have a network, or a big network, or a wide network I want to know how strong the relationships are with each individual.   Keith Ferrazzi, in Never Eat Alone, talks about ranking the strength of the relationship with each contact that was one of the first things designed into this personal relationship manager! Tags and Categories. This helps you slice and dice your data later if you tag and/or categorize a contact you can later get their info based on the tag/category.   For example, i regularly go in and say give me all the email addresses of my blogger contacts, or my family.   This is done by tagging and categorizing. And, as a bonus, JibberJobber is a great tool to manage a job search. While it is a comprehensive job search manager, it is not just about job search. it is about relationship management which is a LONG TERM thing that you do throughout your entire career! You can see were merging the concept of customer relationship management and personal relationship management and were doing it for YOU. Dont have an account?   Get one here. Personal Relationship Manager When I started doing research on JibberJobber I had a notion that this would become a personal relationship manager. Most CRM tools, including Salesforce, Goldmine, ACT!, etc. focus on a sales process.   They have sales jargon, sales reports, etc.   I wanted to develop something that did not have that jargon or emphasis, but would help people manage personal relationships.   I wanted something that would become a PERSONAL CRM, not a corporate CRM. I should say, in the CRM world there has been a lot of talk about the phrase manage relationships, which sounds cold, calculated and transactional.   I agree that it might not be a terrific phrase, but I do think that in order to nurture relationships, and to build intimate relationships, its darn useful to have some tool to help us remember when we last talked, what we have ever talked about, and when I need to followup.   So until I hear something better, Ill continue to say manage relationships.   I hope you get the idea, though, that Im not talking about the cold, transactional aspect of managing a relationship. Let me talk about CRM really quick CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management.   Companies would buy a CRM solution and give it to their sales professionals and business development professionals.   This is one reason why those who have had sales experience see JibberJobber and immediately get it because they used something very similar in a prior job. CRM tools allow a sales professional, or anyone who deals with external customers and prospects, to know who is in their pipeline, where they are at with each individual (has the sale been made, was there an offer, when does a follow-up need to happen, etc.), including a running log of all of the past communications.   Its an extremely important part of a professionals toolset, as it allows you to keep up with your relationships (and, sales). JibberJobber came out in May of 2006, and was positioned to offer this same level of functionality to the individual, whether they were in sales or not.   Oops, what I meant to say is WE ARE ALL IN SALES, AND WE ARE ALL CEO OF ME INC.!   What do we sell?   Ourselves!   Our brand!   Our value proposition! Whether we are unemployed or not, we are always in sales, and we should always work on our pipeline! Here are a few relationship management tasks that JibberJobber helps you with: Knowing WHO is in your network. Not just the name of the person, but information like when you met them, who introduced you to them, are they associated with any of your target companies, when you last spoke with them, etc. Knowing what your target companies are. Not so much on individual relationships, but you need to know your prospects JibberJobber helps you keep notes on your target companies, and allows you to keep track of how you network your way into a company.   This is critical, whether you are in a job search or not. Images and log entries. Putting special extra information on a record can help you remember who the heck they are.   Many times Ive looked at a business card and thought I have no idea who this is, and why I have the card.   Putting a picture on helps a lot, and putting log entries with snippets of an email conversation, or notes from a phone call, really help remind me who each person is. Ranks the relationships. Its not enough to simply have a network, or a big network, or a wide network I want to know how strong the relationships are with each individual.   Keith Ferrazzi, in Never Eat Alone, talks about ranking the strength of the relationship with each contact that was one of the first things designed into this personal relationship manager! Tags and Categories. This helps you slice and dice your data later if you tag and/or categorize a contact you can later get their info based on the tag/category.   For example, i regularly go in and say give me all the email addresses of my blogger contacts, or my family.   This is done by tagging and categorizing. And, as a bonus, JibberJobber is a great tool to manage a job search. While it is a comprehensive job search manager, it is not just about job search. it is about relationship management which is a LONG TERM thing that you do throughout your entire career! You can see were merging the concept of customer relationship management and personal relationship management and were doing it for YOU. Dont have an account?   Get one here.

Writing a Resume For Science - How to Use A Template to Make a Better Job Search

Writing a Resume For Science - How to Use A Template to Make a Better Job SearchWriting a resume for science is not as hard as you may think. It is actually quite easy if you know how to do it. You don't have to go through a long and drawn out process of picking up pieces of paper, turning them into paragraphs and then into sentences.Creating a resume for science is very simple. The only thing that you have to do is to fill in all the necessary information. This includes the required fields like name, email address, home address, and all the pertinent details about you.All you have to do is simply add your own information to these fields. For example, you may want to write down your qualifications and then use your resume as a basis for your job description. Do the same thing with the information about yourself.If you don't know what to write, there is nothing wrong with using templates. Most online job sites are providing various templates for the different fields. These are well-or ganized and very easy to understand.You can choose one of these and then write in the fields, which are applicable for your selected field. For example, if you are a meteorologist, you should only be using the fields that pertain to meteorology. You can even adjust the types of information which you would include to ensure that it matches with the job description that you are going to fill in.Another option is that you can create a resume for science as a general format which can be applied for various fields. This is also very easy. All you have to do is to put all the required information and then adjust it according to the requirement.With these resume templates, you will be able to create a more customized and informative resume. You can put in your personal information and then use some specialized terms when referring to your specific field. In other words, you can refer to the positions in the company as 'key position'major position'.When you use templates, you will find that creating a resume for science becomes a lot easier. You will be able to focus on the required information and make it flow well without having to worry about remembering a lot of stuff. It will all be done automatically by the templates.

Being Fired Is Like a Divorce . . . - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Being Fired Is Like a Divorce . . . - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Being fired is like a divorce and based on today’s statistics, that doesn’t sound good. So many articles cover the fact that 50% of all marriages in America end in divorce. Interestingly enough, other articles say 50% of all hires are bad hires. Might there be a correlation between the two? I think there is. But at this point, I must disclaim by saying that my area of expertise is not in psychology, and I’m merely expressing an opinion. Of course, once you get closer to the statistics, you can see that lots of variables come into play. For example, statistics indicate that the age at which people get married influences the divorce rate. A man who marries from 20 to 24 years of age has a chance of divorce that is close to 39%. A woman who marries from 35 to 39 has a 5% chance. I wonder whether there are statistics that bracket people by age and show the variances between those who have more of a tendency to lose their jobs. Even without hard evidence, though, I know that people tend to lose their jobs more frequently than they get divorced or separated. And thank goodness for that. But why such a high turnover in employment? Some articles say that these days, on average, people change jobs every two to three years. Numbers published by the government say 4.6 years. Admittedly, some quit and others get fired. My answer is that it’s partially because many jobs nowadays are project based, and once the project is finished, the job is, too. But I’m also certain that the hiring process itself is lacking. And it’s lacking because the system is broken. Every public company focuses on increasing shareholder value. And one quick way to achieve that is to cut expenses. Human resources departments have shrunk significantly from the sizes they used to be, and relatively few competent people are left who really understand the interviewing process. Plus, among hiring managers themselves who make final decisions to hire, only a minuscule fraction of them took any educational courses to learn how to interview and, further, how to make good final decisions. Isn’t it grotesque to think that so many hiring decision makers have absolutely no training in this important aspect of hiring? And by the way, some studies indicate that the cost of replacement of an employee is 10 to 30% of the employee’s annual salary. On the executive level, that could add up to several hundreds of thousands of dollars. So what’s wrong with this picture? My suggestion is that companies rethink their hiring strategies and begin to insist that all of those in a position to make hiring decisions get some formal education to improve their knowledge about the hiring process. Recently, I presented to a group of very senior financial executives. I asked the audience how many of them had taken at least one course about interviewing techniques. Only one of the 31 attendees raised his hand! It is astonishing and appalling that such high-level executives make such important decisions based purely on gut feelings. Again, getting at least some formal education and training on interviewing skills should be mandatory. I’m certain that if it were, retention rates would improve dramatically and so would bottom lines. Is this too much to ask? I invite your comments and opinions. Being Fired Is Like a Divorce . . . - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career . . . And based on today’s statistics, that doesn’t sound good. So many articles cover the fact that 50% of all marriages in America end in divorce. Interestingly enough, other articles say 50% of all hires are bad hires. Might there be a correlation between the two? I think there is. But at this point, I must disclaim by saying that my area of expertise is not in psychology, and I’m merely expressing an opinion. Of course, once you get closer to the statistics, you can see that lots of variables come into play. For example, statistics indicate that the age at which people get married influences the divorce rate. A man who marries from 20 to 24 years of age has a chance of divorce that is close to 39%. A woman who marries from 35 to 39 has a 5% chance. I wonder whether there are statistics that bracket people by age and show the variances between those who have more of a tendency to lose their jobs. Even without hard evidence, though, I know that people tend to lose their jobs more frequently than they get divorced or separated. And thank goodness for that. But why such a high turnover in employment? Some articles say that these days, on average, people change jobs every two to three years. Numbers published by the government say 4.6 years. Admittedly, some quit and others get fired. My answer is that it’s partially because many jobs nowadays are project based, and once the project is finished, the job is, too. But I’m also certain that the hiring process itself is lacking. And it’s lacking because the system is broken. Every public company focuses on increasing shareholder value. And one quick way to achieve that is to cut expenses. Human resources departments have shrunk significantly from the sizes they used to be, and relatively few competent people are left who really understand the interviewing process. Plus, among hiring managers themselves who make final decisions to hire, only a minuscule fraction of them took any educational courses to learn how to interview and, further, how to make good final decisions. Isn’t it grotesque to think that so many hiring decision makers have absolutely no training in this important aspect of hiring? And by the way, some studies indicate that the cost of replacement of an employee is 10 to 30% of the employee’s annual salary. On the executive level, that could add up to several hundreds of thousands of dollars. So what’s wrong with this picture? My suggestion is that companies rethink their hiring strategies and begin to insist that all of those in a position to make hiring decisions get some formal education to improve their knowledge about the hiring process. Recently, I presented to a group of very senior financial executives. I asked the audience how many of them had taken at least one course about interviewing techniques. Only one of the 31 attendees raised his hand! It is astonishing and appalling that such high-level executives make such important decisions based purely on gut feelings. Again, getting at least some formal education and training on interviewing skills should be mandatory. I’m certain that if it were, retention rates would improve dramatically and so would bottom lines. Is this too much to ask? I invite your comments and opinions.

How Can Small Businesses Save Money With Technology

How Can Small Businesses Save Money With Technology Staying up-to-date with the latest business trends tends to be at the forefront of every entrepreneur’s mind. The integration of technology into SMEs, start-ups and even the most free-thinking of enterprises is often touted as being vital to success, and fortunately such changes aren’t altogether difficult to adjust to. Instagram for Business  recently launched in the UK after success overseas, and goes to show how important it is for small businesses to connect with customers and clients through technology. Unfortunately, it isnt always easy for a small business owner to integrate technology into a her business.   Most small business owners just dont have the skillset to manage technology, nor the budget to hire someone full time to manage technology.   An IT consulting firm is an excellent resource for a small business owner.   They are able to offer skilled IT help when needed without breaking the bank.   Here are just a few ideas that a consultant might bring up for your small business. Managing resources The daily functionality of your business is the key to its success. To maximise efficiency, taking the time to analyse processes will slice costs, maximise profits and foster a greater understanding of how your enterprise functions.    As a small business you need to save money at every opportunity you get, sometimes you do need to spend money to save money. For example, hiring WAN consultants can really make your business elevate and in the long run save your business a hell of a lot of money. An increasing number of businesses are actively implementing systems for  smarter energy  use into the workplace. Smart meters allow you to monitor how much energy you’re using in pounds and pence, every day, week and month. You can spot the activities that cost the most and quickly take action to save money. Communicating externally Human resources are likely to be at the beating heart of your organisation. However a physical presence in the workplace is only half the story for many, thanks to mobile technology, cloud based filing and teleconferencing. The advantages of telecommuting are  well documented, including the ability to ease employee stress and galvanise motivation and productivity. Employees who loathe their commutes or find the office environment stressful are more likely to seek employment elsewhere or call in sick, whereas the liberty afforded them by telecommunications can circumvent those challenges. Mobilising payment options More avenues for revenue exist in today’s business world than ever before. Digital payment platforms like  PayPal  are already well-known and are beginning to gain traction in brick-and-mortar establishments as a viable payment option. At the far end of the scale, many businesses are even adopting cryptocurrencies such as  BitCoin. Both Apple and Android have integrated secure payment platforms into their mobile devices, making transactions a far simpler process for both the business and the consumer. Around a third of mobile users are already making regular mobile payments, while there are also fewer costly fees attached than with the traditional card swiping methods. Going paperless It’s easier than ever to conduct business without physical documents. A key example is the introduction of electronic receipts, which can be emailed directly to a client and reduce expenditures in tandem. The service also opens up the opportunity to engage directly with your customers via email. Smart small business owners will utilise newsletter and marketing generation platforms such as  MailChimp  to create content that keeps customers actively engaged, long after the purchase has been made. Coupled with the metrics that emerge from the data produced, such as customers’ buying habits, their engagement with sales and promotions and knowledge of their favourite products, you’ll be able to save capital by investing in your target demographic’s desires. These proven means have shown their worth time and again for numerous SMEs. By intelligently adopting such practices for yourself, you have the opportunity to create a business that has the agility and intelligence to excel in today’s competitive market.

More Reasons Why Executive Level Resume Writing Can Help You

More Reasons Why Executive Level Resume Writing Can Help YouExecutives have several advantages over employees with average qualifications when it comes to using executive level resume writing to their advantage. Since they are leaders in their fields, they are the ones who have the upper hand when it comes to influencing the hiring process.The power of a prospective employer finding out about you by reading your executive level resume is tremendous. By simply letting someone know about your resume at the end of an interview, it will likely give you a referral that could lead to you getting the job.You could end up having people working for you who know what a great job you've done in the past but they just didn't feel like you were promoting them in a favorable way. They can view your resume as an investment in their future with you, which is exactly what they deserve.The executive level resume is what gets this referral in the first place. It is something that you can be proud of an d that will also be helpful to the new employer, even if they don't need the skills your skills. Once they have this referral, they will be more inclined to get your resume on file and read it.As much as you want to improve your chances of being hired, you also want to make sure that your resume is enticing enough to have someone wanting the whole package, not just your skills. It is this that makes executive level resume writing so powerful.Executive level resume writing is all about creating a situation where the hiring manager or recruiter can feel the same way about you as you do about yourself. By leaving room for them to change their mind about you after reading your resume, you are also creating an open door for your resume to do its job.Having said that, you can still get your attention by telling someone about your executive level resume in a way that will get them excited about your skills. You want to tell them that it is a very positive thing to them and that they need t o take a look at it and read it because it is written to a high standard.The key to getting the right attention from the executive level resume writing is to let it be what it is, your professional statement and to follow up that statement with an offer. If you offer to send the manager a free sample, you will be less likely to have that person running for the door when it comes time to interview.

Over 17,000 failed to make rent payments last year

Over 17,000 failed to make rent payments last year We all know that university is a cash-strapped time for many of us. Measly maintenance loans, rising rent costs and text books on top of that? Its no wonder financial anxiety at university is on the rise. But recent research has shown that the situation is far more endemic than many thought. Over 17,000 students are reported to be facing rent arrears after failing to make payments last year, and the number of evictions from halls of residence has doubled. Its shocking to hear that students are literally being kicked out of their halls of residence after not receiving the necessary financial support to pay their rent. Clearly, something needs to change. Just how bad is it? The information, uncovered by the Liberal Democrats, found that 97 students were evicted from halls last year, up from 40 the year before.   Its a scary stat no student should have to leave the accommodation designed to house them while at university because they cant afford it. How can we say that high education is accessible to all if this is the case? The information surveyed 90 different universities across the country, and found that 21 had evicted students due to their failure to pay rent. Top of the table was Brunel, York, Leicester, Leeds and Warwick with the most students financially struggling to pay rent. Maintenance loans dont cut it If youve ever been a student youll know that maintenance loans are more like maintenance *groans*. Theyre barely enough to cover your rent, never mind extra bills, living costs, food and transport. According to a recent Save the Student survey, only 34% of students think their maintenance loan is enough to live off comfortably, and only one in five universities find it easy to get financial advice. If we want to encourage young people to go on to university, and we want them to be able to thrive when theyre there, then the government needs to sit up and take notice. Rising rents If were going to discuss maintenance loans we also have to discuss rising rent costs (which is a problem for everyone, not just students FYI). Average rent costs have been rising massively in recent years, and maintenance loans just arent keeping up. In 2012-13 the average yearly rent at a university halls of residence was £4,583, and in 2016-17 this had risen to £5,208, a 13.6% jump. The rise has been spurred on by increasing investment in luxury student halls by both private companies and universities themselves. Developers are increasingly focusing on building halls with plasma TVs and gyms which look almost like hotels, and more budget accommodation is being redeveloped to keep up, leaving students with little choice when choosing somewhere to live. In fact, its been reported that institutions invested £4.3bn in upmarket halls of residence last year, where room rentals cost up to £650 a week. Is it any wonder students cant afford their rent? Its clear that if we dont want students getting turfed out on the streets two things have to change. The government must revise maintenance loans to ensure they actually cover students living costs, and work must be done to curb spiralling rent prices. Connect with Debut on  Facebook,  Twitter,  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

Psst! Tips for jobseekers to make it through the holidays - Sterling Career Concepts

Psst! Tips for jobseekers to make it through the holidays Psst! Tips for jobseekers to make it through the holidays The next two weeks are a hectic time of the year for nearly everyone, but the expectations and events of the season can easily place extra stress on jobseekers.Penelope Trunkwrotean excellent post yesterday onhow to deal with unemployment in the face of holiday cheer where she sharedfive morale-boosting tips to helpjobseekers make the most of the holiday season. Based onthe comments section,her encouraging points comforted and resonated with jobseekers.As Penelope admits, answeringthe simplest of questions, How are you doing? can be a land mine forsomeone wrestling witha period of unemployment. What stood out (forme, at least)was Penelopes 4th pointaddressinghow December and January are strong hiring months. So true! And so easily forgotten!A recent post of my ownoffered severalsuggestions on how to effectively job search during the holidays, and theCareer Collective, of which Im a member, did an awesome job earlier this month ofaddressing the same topic.I urge you to read through theadvice of my esteemed colleagues as well. The bottom line: It is all tootempting to take a break during the holidays with your job search efforts, but the smarter move is to recharge and revitalize your search and continue forward. Let your competition take a break while you continue to network and connect withdecision makers at yourtarget companies. To your career success in 2010! Psst! Tips for jobseekers to make it through the holidays Psst! Tips for jobseekers to make it through the holidays The next two weeks are a hectic time of the year for nearly everyone, but the expectations and events of the season can easily place extra stress on jobseekers.Penelope Trunkwrotean excellent post yesterday onhow to deal with unemployment in the face of holiday cheer where she sharedfive morale-boosting tips to helpjobseekers make the most of the holiday season. Based onthe comments section,her encouraging points comforted and resonated with jobseekers.As Penelope admits, answeringthe simplest of questions, How are you doing? can be a land mine forsomeone wrestling witha period of unemployment. What stood out (forme, at least)was Penelopes 4th pointaddressinghow December and January are strong hiring months. So true! And so easily forgotten!A recent post of my ownoffered severalsuggestions on how to effectively job search during the holidays, and theCareer Collective, of which Im a member, did an awesome job earlier this month ofaddressing the same topic.I urge you to read through theadvice of my esteemed colleagues as well. The bottom line: It is all tootempting to take a break during the holidays with your job search efforts, but the smarter move is to recharge and revitalize your search and continue forward. Let your competition take a break while you continue to network and connect withdecision makers at yourtarget companies. To your career success in 2010!

5 Habits That Advance Your Career

5 Habits That Advance Your Career When someone has been been promoted often enough, they know what it takes to advance a career. Marillyn Hewson, who is Chairman, President and CEO of Lockheed Martin shares from her experience in 5 Habits That Can Lead to a Promotion. There are advantages to staying with a company and working your way up the ladder, but these habits will be good ones to develop no matter where you are working in the next decade or so. Here is what she looks for and encourages: Look for ways to solve problems on the job. Anticipating, identifying, and creatively addressing issues shows leadership potential. You can share your suggestions and let your boss decide what to do with them; even if your ideas go unused, your efforts will be noticed. Accept assignments that stretch you. Meeting those challenges gives you more opportunities. Keep track of your results. When theres a hard number to point to, it should be on your resume. Recording the evidence of your efforts validates your work experience when applying for another position. Understand your companys leadership values and look for ways to develop those qualities. Success is a team sport every leader is part of a group that works together for a greater good. Work on making your workplace a better place to work and your efforts will be appreciated. Marillyn Hewson speaks from her position as someone who has worked through many levels and positions at Lockheed Martin. She knows what your higher-ups are looking for. She says, Senior leaders spend a lot of their time focused on developing talent, building succession plans, and identifying who is ready to take on a leadership role. The success of an organization rides on doing this effectively. By practicing these five habits, you could be at top-of-mind when the next leadership position opens up.