Have you ever left an interview thinking that you got the job, only later to discover that they chose another candidate? Why do some people do well in interviews, while others who are equally or more qualified don’t get the job? I would like to suggest that the person who got the position might have had the benefit of interview coaching.

This week’s podcast is with Frances Cole Jones, a leading media training consultant, and best selling author of “How to Wow – Proven Strategies for Selling Your [Brilliant] Self in Any Situation”. Frances works with numerous executives and experts, helping them to communicate more effectively in crisis situations. He has been featured on shows such as Oprah.

Frances shared, “The most important word in the interview is ‘you’”. The person interviewing is thinking primarily of themselves. Referring to them by first name, or bringing the conversation back to them, are key strategies in creating a positive impression of yourself. The paradox of the job interview is that it isn’t about you, it is about the managers’ career and the company’s needs. We live in the world of twitter, facebook and Youtube. Those who. know their stuff AND, know to communicate are the ones standing out from the crowd and getting the opportunities.

This week, check out our interview coaching video on YouTube:

One of the key questions that I hear today is “where are the new opportunities?” With the amount of negative news it would seem like there are very few areas with needs. Ironically, there has never been more needs. In the world around you, professionals and organizations are always looking for the next iPod, Google, medical miracle or oil project. This week’s podcast is with Gad Shaanan. He is one of Canada’s most successful industrial designers. His firm recently won the equivalent of an Oscar within his field – a best of 2007 I.D. award for packaging with his work on the new WD-40 can. The big questions we all have are “how do we identify our next opportunity?” and “how to do this before everyone else is on the bandwagon?”

Often, the biggest opportunities for your next gig or big idea may be found in your garage. Gad’s story itself is quite interesting. He grew up traveling all over the world as the son of a diplomat. One of the things that he started doing quite young was taking things apart to see how they work. This curiosity and talent led him clearly on the path towards Industrial design. His one-bedroom apartment became part model room and world headquarters for his new firm. He now has offices in Montreal and San Diego and a team of 30. As Gad says, “I love the energy and cosmopolitan feel of Montreal and I get my inspiration from the ocean.” He is no fool – July in Montreal and February in San Diego – where do I sign up?

Running an Industrial Design firm, Gad has no guaranteed pay-cheque. Every year he needs to be paying attention to where there are new opportunities and problems to solve. Often, the biggest opportunities for your next gig or big idea may be found in your garage. Gad’s firm was brought in by the WD-40 Corporation to re-evaluate their core product. WD-40 was created in 1953 by high school graduate, Norman Larson. He was an inventor at heart, and was looking for a product that would displace water and prevent corrosion on rockets. The WD stands for water displacement, the 40 stands for the fact it took him 40 different tries to get it right. Fast forward to today. It is sold in 163 countries, has 94 per cent market recognition and the average house has 3-4 cans. Unfortunately for Norman, he sold the rights to the product for $10,000 a few years after designing the product. It is a great product and I personally have used it for a number of different needs in my life. However, it had a fundamental problem. Eighty per cent of users end up losing the red straw that you use to get a fine spray from. WD- 40 itself had a “squeaky wheel” that needed fixing. This is where Gad’s company came in – a small problem and great opportunity for Gad and his team to make a difference.

5 ways to find new opportunities in a tough economy
1: There is always opportunity to make anything, and I do mean anything better. “I love reinventing old products,” Gad said. ”Every single day, thousands of new products and companies are created in the world by professionals who are not waiting for permission from the market.” From reinventing what we have, to coming up with a brand widget, the world is not a static place, which is what makes this time in our career so exciting. What are you waiting for?

2: You need to keep your eyes and your ears open. How many of you have been frustrated with not being able to find that straw? Did you see the big opportunity in the tiny red straw? Some people see and listen, others don’t. You choose.

3: Most companies don’t see themselves or their products clearly. Gad was able to bring in a fresh perspective from the outside. He had no bias, but was able to offer the tools and expertise to help the WD-40 can be a much better product. What can you bring to a new employer or product that they don’t “see”?

4: Let the rubber meet the road. With Gad’s design, WD-40 had to decide if it was prepared to implement the idea. There was risk involved, but ultimately they pulled the trigger and implemented his ideas into the product. Are you prepared to take courageous action with your ideas?

5: Show me the money. Remember, at the end of the day the questions all organizations are asking are: How does this help us make money? How does this save money? In WD-40 with the new design, they sold 4 million (yes million) cans in Russia in a very short order. Where can you help your company save or make money?

Here’s the thing. There is lots of opportunity left in all businesses. If you bring your passion and talent to the needs in the market, magical things can happen. Gad has done this consistently, has ultimate job security and he does great work for this clients. And yes, you might just help millions of people have a better life

Struggling with finding your next opportunity? Ironically, as I talked with Gad, I realized we both are in the business of helping our clients design a better future. Are you struggling in your job search? Join the FREE TeleWORKshop – Looking for other ideas for what you might do next with your talents and passions? Do you need some practical help with your job search? Do you know if you are in the right career? This complimentary, 1-hour workshop is based on my book, Get the Right Job Right Now! It’s easy to learn simple ways to take control of your career, all from the comfort and convenience of your own desk. Limited to 20 participants. Click to register.

Innovating, along the road with you!

Alan

www.careerjoy.com

Who do you turn to when looking for career advice? Do you rely on books, friends or the internet? All of those are good places, however the best advice comes directly from our mentors. This week’s podcast is with Debi Rosati C.A. ICD.D. who is a Corporate Director on a number of boards including, Sears Canada and The Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation. A former Venture Capitalist and CFO, she shares the benefit of getting an external, objective and professional mentoring when it comes to managing a company. I love the saying “don’t believe everything you think” We are too close to many of the big decisions to see them objectively, that is why most companies have people like Debi on their board.

When it comes to managing your career, who’s on your personal Board of Directors? I have heard from many professionals who made poor decisions with no imput, or have gotten advice from those whom were biased nor qualified to help. According to a recent study conducted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, a full 96 per cent of HR professionals agree that hiring a career coach delivers tangible benefits to individuals and organizations alike. So whether you need help drafting a professional resume, securing a promotion, switching jobs, or any other career-related move, I am here to help.

This week, reach outside your circle to ask the right questions to the right people.

Designing, along the road with you!

Alan

P.S. Looking to redesign your job search? We can help you with The 90 Day Job Search Program.

www.careerjoy.com

An article taken from:  My Stylee Life Weblog

Although we are living in touch economic times and job market is shrinking, present day job seekers have many great options and online tools that were not available during the last recession. To find a career, one should still utilize traditional channels such as distributing resumes, networking, professional memberships, yet there are no limitations as to how creative and innovative one can get today. Many companies and employers look for job candidates online or at least they check their credentials on the web. It is absolutely important that job seekers create their profiles on Linked-in, Facebook, VisualCV, Craigslist, Plaxo, Ecademy, even create a video resume and post it on Youtube or Flickr. Also, check out Recruiter Earth with more than 9000 members, Jober Talk has over 1,000 who are actively talking about job openings and USAJobs for thousands of US Government jobs. There absolutely no reason why you should not have a blog or a simple website as well. Another way how to get your foot in the door is volunteering or internships.

Sarah Evans who is the director of communications at Elgin Community College (ECC) in Elgin, Illinois, believes that your job could be just a tweet away and recommends using Twitter as a great option for job seekers:

Get the most out of your page

1. Make your Twitter presence “employer-friendly”

• Put your job pitch in your Twitter bio (which is 160 characters)
• Use a professional looking avatar
• Tweet about your job search

2. Utilize your Twitter background. There’s lots of space you can use to promote yourself.

3. Include a link to an online CV or resume in your bio. Use a tool like VisualCV (see Dan Schawbel’s post HOW TO: Build the Ultimate Social Media Resume).

4. Establish yourself as an expert in your field on Twitter. It’s important to note that you should not misrepresent yourself. If you’re not a medical doctor, don’t play one on Twitter. As those on Twitter become interested in your content, when employers are looking at you, you’ll have more than just your resume to back up your knowledge and experience.

“It’s about who you know”

How do you get to know the right people? It’s not always about who you’re looking for, some people on Twitter are actually looking for YOU. There are many job recruiters who use Twitter to look for potential candidates.

Before contacting a recruiter via Twitter, check out:

• Their bio
• Follower/Following ratio (Have they been around a while? Do they follow people back?)
• Click the link to their website
• Ask others in your network whether or not the recruiter is a credible source

Here are a few recruiters representing different professions and industries on Twitter:

Christa Foley a.k.a. @electra – Christa is the recruiting manager and recruiter at Zappos.com. Christa gives followers an inside look into her career at Zappos. She tweets out examples of negative recruiting interactions with potential clients, outreach she does with high school and college students, and ultimately looks for potential Zappos candidates.

Craig Fisher a.k.a. @Fishdogs – Craig is an IT and executive recruiter who co-founded A-List Solutions staffing firm. On Twitter he offers tweets on how to find a job in the web industry, hiring tips and tricks, along with professional career advice.

Jim Durbin a.k.a. @smheadhunter – A social media recruiter, Jim is active on the Twitter scene. His goal is to partner “social media gurus” with the right companies. Jim responds to followers’ questions, offers general recruiting advice and sends out “teaser” tweets for positions he thinks followers might be interested in.

Jennifer McClure a.k.a. @CincyRecruiter – Jennifer is an executive recruiter/coach. She often tweets out specific advice for job seekers, including words not to use on a resume. Jennifer is accessible to her followers and tweets about non-recruiting topics as well.

Laurie DesAutels a.k.a. @biotechjobs – Laurie recruits a specific niche, looking for senior level leaders in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry. Her tweet stream includes links to other job search resources and lots of Twitter information.

Sarah Evans is the director of communications at Elgin Community College (ECC) in Elgin, Illinois. She also authors a PR and social media blog and is the founder of #journchat.

Tough economic times call for innovative approaches. An estimated 51 million people internationally are expected to lose their jobs in 2009, and with the unemployment rate on the rise, how does one find career opportunities fast? One great option is Twitter.

Twitter () is evolving as another resource, in addition to traditional methods, for both job searching and recruiting.

Get the most out of your page

o Put your job pitch in your Twitter bio (which is 160 characters)
o Use a professional looking avatar
o Tweet about your job search

• Utilize your Twitter background. There’s lots of space you can use to promote yourself. Don’t know how to create a professional-looking Twitter background? Use this free template to design your own.

• Include a link to an online CV or resume in your bio. Use a tool like VisualCV. (For more information on building an online resume, see Dan Schawbel’s post HOW TO: Build the Ultimate Social Media Resume)

• Establish yourself as an expert in your field on Twitter. It’s important to note that you should not misrepresent yourself. If you’re not a medical doctor, don’t play one on Twitter. As those on Twitter become interested in your content, when employers are looking at you, you’ll have more than just your resume to back up your knowledge and experience.

“It’s about who you know”

There are many job recruiters who use Twitter to look for potential candidates. Before contacting a recruiter via Twitter, check out:

• Their bio
• Follower/Following ratio (Have they been around a while? Do they follow people back?)
• Click the link to their website
• Ask others in your network whether or not the recruiter is a credible source

Here are a few recruiters representing different professions and industries on Twitter:

Christa Foley a.k.a. @electra – Christa is the recruiting manager and recruiter at Zappos.com. Christa gives followers an inside look into her career at Zappos. She tweets out examples of negative recruiting interactions with potential clients, outreach she does with high school and college students, and ultimately looks for potential Zappos candidates.

Jim Durbin a.k.a. @smheadhunter – A social media recruiter, Jim is active on the Twitter scene. His goal is to partner “social media gurus” with the right companies. Jim responds to followers’ questions, offers general recruiting advice and sends out “teaser” tweets for positions he thinks followers might be interested in.

Jennifer McClure a.k.a. @CincyRecruiter – Jennifer is an executive recruiter/coach. She often tweets out specific advice for job seekers, including words not to use on a resume. Jennifer is accessible to her followers and tweets about non-recruiting topics as well.

Laurie DesAutels a.k.a. @biotechjobs – Laurie recruits a specific niche, looking for senior level leaders in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry. Her tweet stream includes links to other job search resources and lots of Twitter information.

Job search tools & resources

@Microjobs

Started by well-known PR professional, Brian Solis, @Microjobs was developed to bring together job seekers and recruiters through tweets.

How does it work?
Recruiters begin their tweets with @Microjobs, and then submit. The @Microjobs account automatically tweets out requests to its growing network of job seekers.

TweetMyJobs

Another tool born out of Twitter for job seekers and recruiters. Follow the hashtag #Tweetmyjobs and visit the website. This is a very simple (and free) tool for job seekers. You can subscribe to desired job channels and even have new openings automatically sent to your mobile phone. Even better? You can specify which cities you want notifications from.

Job search accounts

There are a variety of Twitter accounts dedicated to providing job listings by field, company, region, and more. Once you’ve decided which best match your job search, consider turning on mobile alerts for these accounts to be among the first to receive messages (if your mobile phone plan includes SMS messages).

By company

@attjobs – Jobs at AT&T
@mtvnetworksjobs – Jobs at MTV
@TRCareers – Jobs from Thomson Reuters

By field

@alldevjobs – Developer jobs
@ArtDirectorJobs – Art director jobs
@cwjobs – Copywriter jobs
@jobsinhiphop – Jobs in Hip-Hop
@journalism_jobs – Jobs in journalism
@juicyjobs – Green jobs
@libgig_jobs – Library Jobs
@mediabistrojobs – Media job listings from mediabistro.com
@medical_jobs – Medical jobs
@media_pros – Jobs for media professionals
@narmsjobs – Retail marketing jobs
@PRSAjobcenter – Jobs in public relations, communications and marketing
@reflectx – Physical Therapy jobs
@seojobs – SEO job listings
@socialmediajob – Jobs in social media
@travelmaxallied – Healthcare jobs
@travelnursejob – Jobs for traveling nurses
@usmusicjobs – US Music Jobs
@web_design_jobs – Web design and other graphics jobs

By job type

@findinternships – Internships and entry level jobs for college students
@freelance_jobs – Freelance jobs
@heatherhuhman – Entry level jobs and internships
@Project4Hire – Freelance and temporary jobs
@jewish_jobs – Jewish job listings

By region

@MyBristolJobs – Job listings from mybristoljobs.co.uk
@chicagowebjobs – Web-related jobs in Chicago
@ChicagoTechJobs – Technology jobs in the greater Chicago area
@ITJobsLondon – IT jobs in London
@ITJobsSydney – IT jobs in Sydney, Australia
@JobsBoston – Jobs in the greater Boston area
@jobshawaii – Jobs in Hawaii
@NewYorkTechJobs – Technology jobs in the greater New York area
@PDXJobs – Jobs in Portland, Oregon
@sdjobs – San Diego technology jobs
@sfmobilejobs – Mobile Web and Digital Media jobs in Silicon Valley
@mtltweetjobs – PR/marketing/social media/tech jobs in Montreal
@TopJobsInLondon – Top jobs in London, UK
@web20jobs – UK-based web 2.0 jobs

General

@JobAngels – Helping the unemployed find jobs
@indeed – One search. All jobs.
@jobshouts – General job postings
@simplyhired – Job search site
@StartUpHire – Jobs at VC backed companies
@twithire – Job board service

To find additional Twitter job resources, use the Twitter search function and type in keywords important in your job search. For example, “job openings,” “looking for a job,” or “healthcare career.” Additionally, you can search out others in your desired career field on sites like Twellow, Just tweet it, and TwitterTroll.

Your next job could be just a tweet away.

Feeling stuck in your job search? Wondering if you are in the right career? Struggling with aligning your career with who you really are? Join my FREE TeleWORKshop – “Get the Right Career Right Now”

P.S. Looking to redesign your job search? We can help you with The 90 Day Job Search Program.

www.careerjoy.com 

Do you feel like you don’t belong in your work situation? Do you struggle with identifying your strengths? Does your job title define your? How’s that for some light questions with your Monday morning coffee? This week’s podcast is with Steve Maich and Lianne George, authors of The Ego Boom – Why the world really does revolve around you. I found their book provided interesting research and insight about why we struggle with finding the right fit in our personal and professional lives. The paradox is the world has never seemed more about us, yet many are lonely, unsatisfied, and not sure of their identity and place in this world. There are all kind companies providing products and services that are addressing the issue of identity.

(Face)book
(You)Tube
Oprah
America’s Got Talent
Starbucks
Amazon
Personal Blogs
and the newest kid on the block Twitter.

The answer lies with knowing, accepting and being true to our own identity. Not allowing a brand, company, or even job titles to define.

You.

The benefit.

Authenticity.

Take that Mastercard!

Feeling stuck in your job search? Wondering if you are in the right career? Struggling with aligning your career with who you really are? Join my FREE TeleWORKshop – “Get the Right Career Right Now”

Learn what Tim Horton’s can teach you about marketing yourself.
Understand the New Digital Job Search skills.
Discover if you’re in the right career?
Join me for a complimentary 1 hour workshop where you’ll connect with some new people and and get a fresh perspective on your career.
Our next teleconference is on Friday April 24th, 12-1 PM ET.

This workshop is based on my book, Get the Right Job Right Now!. Join myself, you will find that it’s easy to learn simple ways to take control of your career, all from the comfort & convenience of your own desk. Limited to 20 participants.
Click to register.

AlanP.S. Are you struggling with putting the you, in your career? Discover the right fit with The Career Identity Program.

…Keep Your Job

You can feel it coming. Whispers of doom are rippling across campus. Any day now, the efficiency experts will be circling your workstation. But you’re no sitting duck! Bernadette Kenny, chief career officer at HR giant Adecco USA, offers these tips for dodging the ax. — Mathew Honan

Illustration: Jason Lee

Self-improve. Use the new year as an excuse to ask your boss for feedback. Hit up your colleagues, too. Then follow their advice: Whether it’s to learn a new programming language or learn Mandarin, you (literally) can’t afford not to.

Illustration: Jason Lee

Get noticed. Now is not the time to keep your head down. Find ways to make yourself appreciated. “In these times, companies need risk takers and innovators,” Kenny says. Show initiative by pitching new projects.

Illustration: Jason Lee

Don’t get noticed. Resist the temptation to post your résumé online (unless the site offers airtight privacy). If your employer gets word that you’re browsing, you’ll be kicked up to the top of the boot list.

Illustration: Jason Lee

Make a backup plan. Update your skill set. Network. Research potential employers. If you’re in a dying industry like, say, print magazines (huh?), brainstorm how you can apply your experience to a new field.

Illustration: Jason Lee

…Comfort an Axed Coworker

The higher-ups just called a special meeting in the conference room; thank God, you weren’t invited. But your work pal was. As he boxes up his Star Wars figures and family photos, what can you say? Tough luck? Who needs ‘em? Sayonara? Here’s how you can help ease the pain. — Tommy Wallach

Depersonalize. Like a child reeling from an ugly divorce, the recently pink-slipped must be constantly reminded: “This is not your fault.”

Contextualize. Don’t let your buddy forget that tens of thousands of others are going through the exact same thing.

Don’t demonize. Beware the bitchfest. Fostering hate toward the company is always risky (especially since you still work there).

Patronize. Praise your friend’s brilliance and talent. Throw out the names of other firms that would be overjoyed to hire your chum. Mention Google.

Philanthropize. Most important, when you meet at the local Olive Garden to hash things out over manicotti, you better pick up the check.

Illustration: Jason Lee

…Lay Someone Off

It’s a dirty job, but no one said being a Valley prince is easy. Robert Sutton, Stanford professor of management science and author of The No Asshole Rule, suggests you hit these four key notes: Predictability. Warn your staff exactly when cuts will happen. Secrecy breeds stress. Understanding.Humans (and especially geeks) always want to know why. Give your victims reasonable justification for their termination. Empowerment. Let them have some control over their exit. A package with options—say, a choice between extended health coverage or cash up front—reduces anxiety. Compassion. Drop the Asperger’s crutch. A little humanity goes a long way. You might not even have to call security. — Sally McGrane

click the wired logo above to view the actual article on wired.com

Why it’s admired:

It’s been a rocky year for Apple: CEO Steve Jobs’ health made headlines, and critics said Cupertino wasn’t being open enough about it. But customers remained loyal to the brand that made white ear buds cool. As much of the computer industry struggled, Apple shipped 22.7 million iPods during its first quarter (up 3 percent from last year), 2.5 million Macs (up 9 percent), and 4.4 million iPhones. No wonder Apple tops our Most Admired list for the second year in a row. –Alyssa Abkowitz

Click HERE to view current openings at APPLE

The Monday Morning Motivator

What if you wake up one morning without a job, where would you find your next role? This week’s podcast is with Michael Gill, New York Times best selling author of “How Starbucks Saved My Life”. At age 53 he was taken out for breakfast, or what he would call his Last supper, and was let go from his position. Michael’s identity and purpose came very much from his work. It gave him a place, title, income and status. As with others who are defined by what they do and are fired, there was an extreme loss of identity. He spent the next 7 years in a consulting trying to find a work role and organization, that aligned with his professional and personal identity and which rewarded him in the way that he was accustomed. Then one day while standing in line at Starbucks, he was approached by a store manager and asked if he would consider applying for a job. Shortly after he joined Starbucks, finding a place that was well suited for him and giving him a whole new start in his career and life. Michael shared “Some of the best things in life happen by accident”. Finding your new role is much more likely when you are open to circumstances, opportunity and people who can help you.