30 Jan 09 I have a document like this and so should you

A coworker just commended me on something through an instant message (IM):

“Thanks, you saved me today with your help.”

It reminded me that I have a document for comments like this, so I added it to the “Quotes about my Performance” document I have.  You should have one, too.

Why you should have this

A document like this is important for several reasons. I’ll include some ones I have, and I encourage you to add to the list in the comments:

• Credibility of your accomplishments. It serves as a record of your accomplishments in someone else’s words.
• Recommendations. Comments like these can be used in promotional material for yourself.
• Cover letters. Specifically, reinforce a point made in a cover letter with a quote from a coworker or client about what you’ve done.
• Encouragement. When you feel down or discouraged, you can refer to this list and remember that you have done something others have found valuable
• References. Chances are if people have praised your work before, they might serve as references. Feel free to remind them what they’ve said if they have forgotten.

Where to find them

I’ve identified some places where you find quotes from others about you.  Feel free to add to the list in the comments:

• E-mail. If you have worked where you send and receive e-mail, you probably have some messages with morsels of praise within.  Find those messages. I have often forwarded work messages with content like this to my personal account for this very purpose.
• Performance Reviews. Chances are, if your company does performance reviews, your boss or manager has said something nice about what you’ve done, and you have a copy of it somewhere.
• LinkedIn Recommendations. If you’re on LinkedIn (and you should be if you’re reading this blog- we should even be connected!), you can ask your connections for recommendations. Not only are they useful on your profile over there, but you can include them in this list.
• Blog/Twitter trackbacks. If someone whose opinion you value highly has commended you in a blog post, on Twitter, or through some other form of “new media,” you can use Google Alerts and Twitter Search to find those comments.
• Audio. I may be reaching a bit, but, let’s say you listen to a podcast or interview, or have been interviewed by someone else.  Chances are you’re being interviewed because someone finds what you have to say important.

Start creating one

There are a few ways you can start creating a list like this:

• Handwritten. Get yourself a notebook and start recording these comments in it.  I used to have a page in a Franklin Planner many years ago for this. This might get time consuming, though, and you’ll have to be careful not to misplace your notebook.
• Word. Create a document in Microsoft Word or other word-processing software and start adding to the list. But you’ll need to save this document somewhere and hope you’re able to keep track of it.
• Online. I use Google Docs for this purpose, since I’m able to carry my Google account with me wherever I go, even if I leave an employer and have to give the computer back.
• UPDATE: Jason mentions that the JibberJobber Job Journal is a great way to do this, and it’s now available in the free level.

Feel free to share this on Twitter with the following text:

RT @danieljohnsonjr: (via Get That Job!) I have a document like this and so should you: http://tinyurl.com/gtj-doc

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Tags: Franklin Planner, Google Docs, linkedin, Performance Review, twitter, Twitter Search

17 Sep 08 Employers using social networking sites to screen candidates

How is your online personal brand?  According to a CareerBuilder nationwide survey of some 3,100 employers, one in five hiring managers said they search job candidates on social networking sites.  This can be good or bad, depending on the content you have on your various social networking profiles.

Now is a great time to remove any unsavory content you wouldn’t want a potential employer to find.  Check out the article from MarketingCharts.com for more details on the survey.

And if you haven’t already, please watch this 45-minute presentation Mitch Joel gave at Podcamp Toronto 2007 about Building Your Personal Brand.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (73.7MB)

Tags: personal branding, portfolio, social networking

26 Jun 07 Career strategies for using MySpace, Facebook and other social networking sites

I’ve listened to Peter Clayton‘s interview with Steven Rothberg two days in a row, because it’s got me thinking about my own career strategies for using social networking sites, as well as my portfolio blog. You need to listen to this, too.

From the shownotes at TotalPicture.com:

Did you know that MySpace is the 3rd most visited U.S. website and that the average age of a MySpace user is 35? Check out this interview, which covers an overview of CollegeRecruiter.com, and an in-depth analysis – from a career strategy perspective – of MySpace, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Second Life.

Click on the player to hear the 39-minute interview:

powered by ODEO

Alternate links that get you the content:

• Direct download (mp3) from the Total Picture Radio site
• Total Picture Radio shownotes
• Odeo audio page
• PodShow+

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice networking professional+development daniel+johnson+jr

Find thousands of Bilingual jobs at LatPro.com.

27 Mar 07 Job Searching vs Career Management

Jason wrote a great article about changing the way we approach job searching and career management:

I frequently think about how we think of our job transitions – we are supposed to have lots of them during our career.

I’m completely intrigued by the people who have forgotten what a forced transition is like, or by those that feel totally secure in their job (or their ability to find a new job) – and their reactions to a “job search.”

I’m finding that Career Management was easier when I was looking for work. Now that I’m working, it’s harder and harder for me to stay in that mindset. I’m spending more time thinking about projects at work than my own career management.

But I try to do a little bit every day to manage my career, whether it’s setting up a lunch appointment with a friend, or use my LinkedIn URL as I comment on this and many other posts. I also maintain a portfolio blog. I also look for other ways to share what I’m learning about career management.

I don’t want to be misled into a false sense of job security. Right now work is going strong, but I still need to keep my eyes on the big picture.

What practical things do you do every day to manage your career?

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice networking professional+development daniel+johnson+jr career+management jibberjobber

23 Mar 05 Database of Qualified College Students and Graduates Seeking Summer and Full-time Jobs

U.S. Newswire : Releases : Labor Department Offers Employers Database of Qualified College Students and Graduates Seeking Summer and Full-time Jobs

A free database that identifies 1,913 qualified college students and recent graduates with disabilities who seek summer and fulltime employment is available for the tenth year to public and private sector employers to help them meet their staffing needs:

“The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) offers employers a larger pool of skilled job candidates to choose from while offering students and graduates with disabilities more opportunity to explore or begin careers,” said Roy Grizzard, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. “The program also fulfills President Bush’s New Freedom Initiative pledge to promote employment opportunities for people with disabilities throughout the nation.”

The department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) is offering the WRP database of job seekers with disabilities in cooperation with the Department of Defense. Through ODEP’s complimentary CD-ROM database, employers can search from a pool of pre-screened applicants who have skills in disciplines ranging from computer sciences and business to communications, engineering, office administration and more. Searches generate candidate profiles, academic and demographic data, and contact information for students from more than 200 colleges and universities in over 45 states and territories. To request a copy of the CD-ROM, send your name, company name, address and phone number to wrp@dol.gov or call ODEP at (202) 693-7880.

ODEP’s portfolio of assets for employers also includes the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) and the Employer Assistance & Recruiting Network (EARN). JAN is a toll-free information and referral service on job accommodations, self-employment and small business opportunities for people with disabilities and can be reached at 1-800-526-7234 or at http://www.jan.wvu.edu. EARN, a national toll-free telephone and electronic information referral service, helps employers who have job vacancies to find and recruit qualified workers with disabilities in their localities. EARN can be reached at 1-866-Earn Now (1-866-327-6669) or via its website (http://www.earnworks.com). ODEP’s website is available to employers and employees at http://www.dol.gov/odep as is http://www.DisabilityInfo.Gov — a cross-government portal on disability-related information.

26 Feb 05 Items To Include In A Portfolio

I attended a job search seminar last year, and one of the topics we discussed was having a portfolio. I’m not going to go into the reasons for developing a portfolio; rather, I’m just going to list the items you would typically include:

• copies of your resume
• Letters of recommendation
• copy of high school/college diploma
• copies of other certificates
• high school/college transcript
• examples of work, which for me might include
  • documentation
  • printouts of GUI (graphical user interface)
  • web pages
  • ”best posts” from my blogs

13 Jan 05 Chill Out During the Job Interview

How to Deal With Interview Stress: Job Tip Says ‘Relax’

by Caroline Levchuck

A relaxed job candidate is a confident job candidate.

Show the interviewer that you’re calm, composed and in command during an

interview. He’s likely to assume that you’ll be rock-solid on the job too.

Use these tips to stay relaxed during an interview:

• Breathing deeply and slowly (and quietly, of course).
• Sit up straight and don’t cross your legs or arms.
• Speak slowly and pause for breath often.
• Keeps your hands and jaw relaxed; no clenching.
• Smile — it really is contagious!

Source: MyYahoo! Daily Tip from HotJobs

I’ve often found that writing reminders to do these things in my portfolio helps.

03 Dec 04 Holiday Gifts for Job Seekers: Career in a Box

Holiday Gifts for Job Seekers: Career in a Box

by Christopher Jones

There are two kinds of people: Those who prefer one big gift and those who prefer lots of little gifts.

If you’re shopping for the latter, you can build a great gift box with

these small, inexpensive items.

• Ink Pens: Pens range from expensive and elaborate to inexpensive and simple. Go for the refillable models. Stick with black ink. No pencils!
• Business Card Case: They’ll keep cards crisp and clean and prevent any awkward fumbling.
• Portfolio: Leather, cloth or fabric, preferably in dark colors.
• Notebook: Job seekers can use this to take notes during interviews. Avoid the spiral variety.
• Stationery: Choose a conservative, unlined pattern. White and off-white work well.
• Coffeehouse Gift Card: The ultimate pre-interview perk up or post-interview reward.

Include the items in a box or a gift basket. Keep the receipts and leave items in their original packaging in case your job seeker decides to return any of the gifts.

Note: this Yahoo! HotJobs Daily Tip is being reprinted in its entirety because the URL does not change for each tip that is published. Don’t believe me? Go check for yourself.

23 Sep 04 6 Rules for Personal Resume Web Sites

Instead of having a hardcopy portfolio, some job seekers are now opting for an online one. This article offers rules for building such a site.

25 Jan 04

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are something that you could put in a professional portfolio, for example. They are often requested in academic settings. I found some links that hopefully will help

• Michael Ernst, an Assistant Professor at MIT, offers his advice:
  • Requesting a letter of recommendation
  • Writing a letter of recommendation
• Monster.com also has some advice: Writing a Letter of Recommendation
  

  As an employer, coworker, or friend, you may at some point in your career be called upon to write a letter of recommendation. If you are unsure about how to go about it or simply don’t know what to say, here are some tips about what to include and how to structure a typical letter of recommendation. This advice may also be useful if you request a letter of recommendation from someone who is not familiar with how to write one.

• Google Search: “Letter of Recommendation”