Casual Articles - Business

Brand Match And Brand Usage - Can't Hurt If They Use The Product
Chapter 4 of 14When selecting a celebrity endorser it should go without saying that you need to select a person who matches the goals of your product or company and its brand message. Too often I see brands using individuals that do not match the demographics or targeted consumer. Why is that? I think many times companies are just so caught up in using a celebrity they tend to overlook what the message is and who it ultimately needs to reach. In the case of a large company, it is safe to say they have conducted extensive research to make sure the fit is correct for the company. However, things can and do backfire. The most recent example of that would be McDonald’s and Kobe. Here is a situation that when the relationship started it was the perfect match, at least on paper. In one fleeting moment the well thought out strategic plan turned into a media nightmare for both McDonald’s and Kobe. His guilt or innocence didn’t matter - the dama

t do, or more specifically - how they get paid. It definitely differs from country to country, but predominantly the following is true:

Recruiters are - not - agents for candidates; they are agents for clients, and they don't find jobs for people.

Approaching a recruiter to discuss "how we can work together" or presenting them with "the opportunity" to represent you will expedite your listening to a dial tone or having your email deleted.

Instead, ask the recruiter if they might benefit from being connected to any of your contacts based on the current search portfolio the recruiter is working on - even if you don't map into it.

Approach recruiters this way, and there's a much greater chance they'll call you when the timing is right.

9. Manage time efficiently, and be consistent about reaching out with your resume on a regular basis.

Spend less than 10 minutes with recruiters or hiring authority/executives if they don't have an immediate opportunity to discuss.

Remember: You are ambushing someone with any unscheduled call. If you are connecting with someone worth spending more time with, schedule a follow-up call.

It takes on average between 60-120 days to fill most searches. If you're not sending your resume to recruiters or hiring authority/executives at least once a

What About Bob? Further Lessons in Implementing a Diversity Strategy
A recent movie starring Richard Dreyfus and Bill Murray tells the story of a man desperately trying to be included as a member of his psychiatrist's family. Whenever the doctor attempted to exclude him, his family would respond by asking, "What about Bob?"In the midst of all the work relating to diversity in the workplace, one group often gets excluded. When affirmative action categories are closely examined, we find that nearly everyone is covered in some way except this group. In discussions of equity, this group is excluded. As we struggle with ways to break through the glass ceiling, they are the ones on the other side. In our quest to value differences, we often fail to account for and honor their differences. I speak of course of the non-immigrant, non-Hispanic, able-bodied, heterosexual, white male. (Isn't it interesting that I had to list so many qualifiers to adequately identify them?) This group is often seen as "they&qu

Are you're trying to learn how to conduct a job search, how to expose yourself to career opportunity, or how to increase/establish your personal Internet presence prior to or while looking for a job? This article summarizes 10 points executives job seekers should keep in mind as they look to land their next job opportunity. By keeping these basic principles in mind you'll be light-years ahead of those who don't.

1. It all starts with your resume

Most executives fall into the trap of trivializing the importance of having the best possible resume by saying, "I communicate my value and the substance of my career best in an interview."

If your resume isn't "pin sharp", you're dead before you even start.

The quality, content and format of an executive's resume are strong reflections of their capabilities and focus.

2. Have the right tools for the job.

You're beginning the biggest networking and marketing campaign project of your life.

You want access to every business card, contact and email address you've ever collected. You want access to every tradeshow, symposia, conference, user group, relevant industry specific blog/website, and additional contact information via free and subscription based research services and databases you can identify. Possess ongoing memberships and working familiarity with professional business networking environments.

Equate - not - the power of a networking platform with simply the size of the membership – period.

Networking sites don't competing; they complement each other.

3. Develop a balanced plan.

The old adage of "those who fail to plan; plan to fail" is absolutely true in a proactive job search campaign. Don't focus on approaching recruiters. Read the Career Journal article: "E-Mailing Resumes to Recruiters Won't Generate a Big Response."

Reaching out to recruiters and hiring authorities/executives directly utilizing resume distribution services and a desktop email campaign software should be combined with direct networking. Leveraging professional business networking environments (e.g., Ecademy, LinkedIn, et al.).creates an effective job search strategy increasing your exposure to more opportunities.

Make sure your plan includes investing time in personally branding yourself and building an Internet presence. Can you be found if someone types your name (e.g., "John Doe") into Google?

For more related articles do a Google search on:

Personal Internet Presence Articles

Absolutely check out the "Case Study: Recipe for Success" describing how to leverage a networking platform's power to drive your content to the 1st page of Google. This is an - extremely - powerful aspect of certain networking platform memberships.

Don't kid yourself; you are conducting a direct marketing and networking campaign. If recruiters and hiring authorities/executives don't know who you are, can't find or learn about you, and don't know how to contact you, you will miss out on a lot of opportunities to advance your career.

4. Consider budgeting for and leveraging Resume Distribution Services.

So you've written a - pin sharp - resume. Now what? Just sit around and hope the phone rings right? Of course not. Consider leveraging a Resume Distribution Service to increase your exposure to opportunities.

5. Consider budgeting for and leveraging one or more leading "6-figure" Executive Job Sites such as Forbes "Best of the Web" winners like Netshare or ExecuNet.

These sites typically offer additional job search & career oriented services as part of their different levels of subscription.

6. Understand how to build and leverage a job search campaign database via a desktop email campaign tool.

Do not simply rely on resume postings and recruiters to make your phone ring. Reach out directly to as many hiring authorities as possible using a desktop email campaign software solution that allows you to send formatted html emails with attachments(e.g., award winning GroupMail from the folks at Infacta, et al.). Outlook email merge does not allow you to send attachments (e.g., like your resume).

Buy a cheap email extraction tool (e.g., Email Address Collector) to pull all the email addresses you've communicated with or saved from every document, file, and email (To, From, CC, and BCC) on your computer.

The PriceWaterhouseCoopers MoneyTree Survey is the definitive source of information on emerging companies receiving financing and the venture capital firms providing it.

Add people you communicate with to your Outlook address book and SPAM filter's approved email contacts!

7. Have a 30-Second Elevator Pitch.

Milo Frank's book, "How to get your point across in 30-seconds or less" is fantastic.

Remember: It takes 10-times less effort for someone to respond to you via email than via voicemail. Always - include your email address in any voicemail you leave.

8. Understand how to approach recruiters effectively.

Many job seekers inadvertently shoot themselves in the head because they don't know how to effectively approach recruiters, and are clueless about what a recruiter does and doesn't do, or more specifically - how they get paid. It definitely differs from country to country, but predominantly the following is true: