The ABCs of Public Speaking

The ABCs of Public Speaking Today Im writing a post as a birthday present for my Austin buddy, Thom Singer.   Thom is really, really old today.   Im not sure how old (oh, just checked his blog he is 43 years old today a lot older than me :p), but he has to be a lot older than me :p   For his present, Im highlighting his new blog series called The ABCs of Public Speaking. A is for the Audience B is for Backstage C is for Confidence D is for Dress Code thats all he has now to keep up on this series go to ThomSinger.blogspot.com and subscribe to his blog towards the top right Ive subscribed for a couple of years and always look to see what he writes. (no, he has no idea Im writing this post, or suggesting people subscribe but this post kills two birds for me first, it is my bday present to him, second, many people ask me about speaking and I know Thom has excellent info about speaking!) Happy birthday Thom! Have you seen the LinkedIn for Job Seekers teaser video on YouTube?   Check it out and let me know what you think! The ABCs of Public Speaking Today Im writing a post as a birthday present for my Austin buddy, Thom Singer.   Thom is really, really old today.   Im not sure how old (oh, just checked his blog he is 43 years old today a lot older than me :p), but he has to be a lot older than me :p   For his present, Im highlighting his new blog series called The ABCs of Public Speaking. A is for the Audience B is for Backstage C is for Confidence D is for Dress Code thats all he has now to keep up on this series go to ThomSinger.blogspot.com and subscribe to his blog towards the top right Ive subscribed for a couple of years and always look to see what he writes. (no, he has no idea Im writing this post, or suggesting people subscribe but this post kills two birds for me first, it is my bday present to him, second, many people ask me about speaking and I know Thom has excellent info about speaking!) Happy birthday Thom! Have you seen the LinkedIn for Job Seekers teaser video on YouTube?   Check it out and let me know what you think!

Resume Writing For CFO - How to Write a Resume For CFO

Resume Writing For CFO - How to Write a Resume For CFOResume writing CFO is a job that requires experience in financial services. It is a skilled position and it has a lot of responsibilities. It is an upper management position that can be stressful and difficult but still it can be rewarding.As many jobs in the US, there are a lot of applicants who apply for the job. It is just common to have a lot of applications for a position like this. When they are qualified people will apply for that job. So, how do you manage to get a resume for the job without wasting time and effort?This is where CFO resume writing comes in. You will need to know the basics and the details about how to write a CV for CFO. After this you will need to be able to effectively identify the type of job that you are applying for. It will also help if you write the job description on your resume. The following information will help you get a resume for CFO in no time.The first thing that you should write on your re sume for CFO is your desired occupation. It will be helpful if you have some of your previous jobs on this page as well. It will help in showing your skills and interests.The next step that you will need to do is to write the details about the job that you want to apply for as CFO. This will include information such as what you do at your previous job, details about the salary you received, etc. It will also show your skills and interest and it will also be helpful if you talk about the job you are applying for.The third part of your resume for CFO is the education. This includes details about the college or university that you attended and information about the courses that you completed. It will also include information about your skills and expertise that you have acquired. You can write the details about the jobs that you held in your college and the job titles.The last thing that you need to do is to write the skills and expertise that you have acquired through your education f or CFO. This includes details such as your professional experience. It will also include details about your skill as a coach. You will also be able to include the skills that you have acquired through other career related activities that you have participated in.When writing a resume for CFO, it is important to know the details that you will need to write a resume for CFO. It will help you in saving time, effort and money.

3 Key Elements of Your LinkedIn Photograph - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

3 Key Elements of Your LinkedIn Photograph - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Your LinkedIn photograph is the first thing that most people notice when they view your profile. It also shows up next to your name and headline when people conduct searches on LinkedIn. It is often the number one factor in whether people click to view your profile. What does your LinkedIn photograph say about you? What does it say about your personal brand? Let’s discuss three key factors of your photograph to consider in establishing your personal brand. Framing and clothing Consider what you want people to see in your photograph: Do you want people to see your whole upper torso or do you want just a headshot? If you want the whole upper torso, the selection of clothing is much more critical. If you are someone who, like myself, does not have taste in colors, find a professional or a friend who can help you select an appropriate outfit. You need to understand the physical characteristic of the LinkedIn photograph. The photograph should be square and be a maximum of 4MB in size. If the photograph is not square, you will be given an opportunity to crop the photo. What do you want to appear in the photograph? A good example is the photograph in my LinkedIn Profile. The original photograph was taken of me from the waist up and was not square. Therefore, I cropped it to show with as much of the upper torso as possible. I am quite tall, 6’4” and thin. I want you to get a good feeling when you see the picture. Another example is the photograph of my friend Scott Ingram. Notice that the photo is a tight shot of Scott’s face. Also, notice the angleâ€"Scott is looking up at the camera. Scott is an expert sales person and wants to appear approachable. Another example is my friend Nando Cabán-Méndez. Nando is a creative, and his picture conveys that. Not everyone likes this photo, but it attracts those who he wants as clients. Plus, I can actually recognize Nando when I meet him in person. This is a critical factor in choosing the photograph you use on LinkedIn. Do not over edit your photograph on Photoshop! Background What background do you want? Do you want to appear to be outdoors? Do you want to appear to be in a crowd? My LinkedIn photograph was taken on a green screen. I actually have three backgrounds that can be interchanged. The background has an easily recognizable bridge in Austin Texas. Most who live in Austin will immediately know this was taken in Austin. Do you want to create a feeling that you are in some location? I also have backgrounds of concrete and wood paneling. Be careful that your outfit will need to be compatible with each background. Chin line The ultimate factor in whether you will look good in your LinkedIn profile photograph is your chin line. You do not want any double chins and wrinkles. I know, I knowâ€"you are saying, “Really, chin line?” Stay with me on this point. Watch the video Its all about the Jaw!, which is about 15 minutes in length, to learn from Photographer Peter Hurley, about how to make your chin line look great. Use your LinkedIn photograph to put yourself in a position that makes the kind of impression you want to project through your personal brand. What are you next steps? How do you want to be branded by your photograph? Marc Miller â€" Career Pivot Check out my book Repurpose Your Career â€" A Practical Guide for Baby Boomers Do not forget to follow me on Twitter or FaceBook

Make Your Business Card a Keeper - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Make Your Business Card a Keeper - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Business cards are one of the most affordable ways to get your information into a prospects hands. The problem is that most business cards end up lost in a pile on a desk, tossed in a junk drawer or worse, thrown away. Business cards only work if your prospect keeps it so he can call you when needed. Here are some tips to making your business card a resource people hold on to. Multipurpose it: Authors do this by giving away bookmarks with their book’s information. Turning your business card into something people can use, such as a bookmark, ticket, mileage tracker or score keeper, increases the odds they’ll hold on to it. Make it helpful: Realtors and mortgage often include a chart on their cards that allows people to determine mortgage costs at different interest rates. Giving helpful information related to your business on your card increases the chances they’ll be filed instead of lost. For example, a cooking store can add measurement conversions or an editor can offer corrections for most common writing errors. I have a list of common work-at-home scams to avoid on one of mine. Other options include a calendar and important local numbers. Give it value: People like a good deal. Turn your business card into a coupon or rewards card for a discount or free offer. Take it step further and give away several cards at a time letting your prospects and clients give them away for easy referrals. Add a QR code: While there is debate about the value of a QR code, for people who live mostly in a digital world, the chances of them holding on to a business card decreases with each new technological advance. Make it easy for them to hold on to your information by allowing them access your business online with a simple scan of the card. If you don’t want a QR code, consider an SMS code, in which card holders can text the code to receive information about your business via text. Once you have a card people will want to keep, give them away. Too many business owners are stingy with their business cards. But they are designed to be shared, so use them when you meet people for business or pleasure, as note paper when you give someone information or directions, and leave them in public places such as on bulletin boards.

Writing a Resume For a Career Change

Writing a Resume For a Career ChangeIf you are embarking on a career change, it's important to have a decent idea of what your career goals should be when writing a resume for a career change. Keep in mind that even though you may not currently have your career goals set out for you in full detail, this is likely to change as you move through your career path.The main thing to remember is that you don't have to have everything laid out for you before you start your career search, or even while you're looking for a new job. Instead, it's a good idea to break down what you want to achieve over the next couple of years into very simple steps, and start with that. Keep this in mind when you're looking through a variety of resumes, and take note of how many career objectives these people have in their resume.There are several areas of your career that you'll want to make sure to address on your resume when you're looking for a job, and there are several ways that you can show them off as you're writing. You should always make sure that these areas are written into your resume, but when it comes to writing a resume for a career change, you can really go as far as you want to in this area. There are a lot of career changes out there, and if you are looking for a career change you're likely to be working in multiple ones over the next couple of years.It's always going to be important for you to address your skills, especially if you're new to the field. If you haven't been in this field long enough to establish a niche, you're going to need to go back to college to prove yourself. If you are able to show that you know a great deal about the skills that are required, your chances of getting hired will be much higher than if you just said you were a self-starter.When you're writing a resume for a career transition, you'll also want to make sure that you address any skills that you are going to need as you start your career change. It is best to list these skills right at the top of your resume, and to include an area where you are particularly strong. It's good to know that you have some expertise on a specific field, and the same can be said of your ability to negotiate.A resume for a career change is never complete without strong references. Most people tend to leave references off their resumes because they feel that they don't have anything worth mentioning in them. In reality, if you are going to use references, make sure that they show a high level of respect for you.One of the reasons that references are useful is that they show that you've considered how you'll respond to career changes. You should consider who you want to provide references for and make sure that they're both trustworthy and professional. If you don't know anyone at all, don't use references from just anyone.The last thing that you will want to consider when you're writing a resume for a career change is to make sure that your writing is as clear and detailed as possible. The worst thing that you can do is to try to write a resume for a career change in a way that is confusing, and this is something that you'll want to be careful with. Make sure that you just focus on the bare essentials and get the job done, and you will be better off in the end.

What I Learned About Corporate Culture From My Cats [Updated] - Career Pivot

What I Learned About Corporate Culture From My Cats [Updated] - Career Pivot Corporate Culture and Cats Several years ago I learned a lot about the corporate culture from my cats, Jack and Rex! You are probably wondering what I could learn about the corporate culture from the cute guys in these pictures. Jack is pretty cute, but what the picture does not tell you is he is quite large. Jack is 14 pounds and, as you can see from the picture below when stretched out against a meter stick, he is quite long. Note: This post was originally written in October of 2014 and was updated in February of 2018. Jack has slimmed down since this was originally posted. Click to Enlarge Jack is that guy or gal at work who seems likes a really nice guy until… something changes. He or she then becomes a completely different person. You might say a ‘Jeckll and Hyde’ personality. Maybe you just hired someone new into your department and, suddenly, the dynamics change. Maybe your company was acquired and the corporate culture shifts. Changes in Corporate Culture Click to Enlarge We acquired Jack as a stray kitten in the spring of 2011. He just showed up on our doorstep and we suspect he was dumped there by some of the local construction workers. During the summer of 2014, we took in a stray cat who we call Rex. Rex was probably abandoned by college students who live in the apartments behind our condo unit. He is quite gentle and much smaller than Jack. We kept them separated for about a week, letting them get used to one another. What we discovered was that Jack could behave like a real bully. The corporate culture in our household changed dramatically. Jack would try to monopolize space. He was protecting his turf. Have you seen this at work? Rex figured out how to sit at the bar and watch Jack. At the right moment, he jumps down and walks by Jack. Suddenly, he runs up the stairs with Jack in close pursuit. Rex is a lot faster than Jack, and he knows it. Rex knows how to bait Jack. Just like office politics. Rex and Jack’s behaviors are slowly getting better. Four years later Jack tolerates Rex and Rex will manipulate Jack to get what he wants. Rex became very politically astute about how he could sneak up on Jack, poke him and then run away. A little hit and run tactic to get Jack to move. A definite pecking order started to appear. Jack would always enter the condo first. When they are outside and it is time to come in, Rex will wait for Jack to get in front so that he can enter first. Like I said â€" just like office politics. Life after Acquisition I have worked for two successful tech startups. The cultures of the two were polar opposites of one another but that only became apparent after there was an acquisition. In January of 2000, I went to work for a semiconductor startup that was acquired in 2001. After the acquisition, not much changed. We added new people and they seemed to seamlessly fit in. The founders were very clear on the culture they wanted to create and hired only people who fit their vision. I stayed for almost four years after the acquisition because of the corporate culture. The culture was deeply ingrained in the organization. Everyone walked the talk. In December of 2007, I went to work for an HD video startup that was later acquired in December 2009. Almost immediately after the acquisition, the culture changed. It was just like us bringing Rex into our household. Bullying behavior started Managers and their teams started to protect their turfs Hiring practices became very political Several of the executive staff would shift their positions to get others to shift theirs Are you seeing the similarities? The culture of the organization changed dramatically. Coworkers who used to be very cooperative and share information freely now would hoard information. The organization became highly political. This happened very rapidly just like bringing Rex into our household. The difference was I could not tolerate the dysfunctional behavior, the lying, and cheating that occurred. About 13 months after the acquisition, I resigned when my ethical boundaries were crossed. The similarities between what happened after the acquisition and bringing a new cat into our household were striking! What Was Different? At the first tech startup, management clearly defined the culture and their hiring practices mirrored the culture they wanted to create. After the acquisition, that culture endured for a very long time, even in very tough economic times. I credit the two company founders for great vision and execution in the hiring process. This did not happen in the second tech startup â€"the culture they created was only skin deep. The corporate culture was only a facade which they were able to maintain in good times but not bad. As long as the company grew, everyone behaved. However, as the great recession set in, people saw the possibilities of a big payoff diminish and the company was acquired for far less than management had expected, so behavior started to change.It was just like bringing in a new cat. How to Protect Yourself How companies handle a setback is a good indicator of the culture. A good litmus test for a prospective employer asks what changed in the last recession? Did the corporate culture change? How did the corporate culture change when there was a change of leadership? Ask former employees of your potential employers why they left. You can find former employees quite easily using LinkedIn advanced search and most will give you an accurate picture of the corporate culture. Have you experienced a corporate culture that can endure change? Note: Jack and Rex live in the same condo together and manage to avoid one another most of the time. However, there is the occasional 4 am dispute where we have to kick both of them out the front door. Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

How to Handle Inappropriate Attire

How to Handle Inappropriate Attire How to Handle Inappropriate Attire I’m a manager of a large team of customer service representatives. Whats the best way to address issues with inappropriate attire? If one of my employees is consistently dressing either too skimpy or too casual, what is the best way to correct the problem without causing offense? Answer from Dana: First, check with your Human Resources department and ask for a rundown of your company’s published dress code. From there, discuss the recommended protocol for addressing issues of inappropriate attire. As a hiring manager, I faced the same issues. Here are some guidelines from my experience: As the manager, it’s your job to have this conversation. Never ask HR or a peer to talk to someone about his or her clothing choices. Be direct! Discuss it in a more casual environment rather than in your office. Ask him or her to coffee and outline what separates those who are moving up and those who are “stuck” because of perceptions. In other words, following the dress code will help them succeed. All employees want promotions, money and respect. It is safest to provide attire feedback when you position it against these objectives. Try starting the conversation by asking “John, are you interested in getting promoted, taking on more responsibility, and earning more?” Ask, “Can I give you feedback about how to grow your career?” Start with something positive and then bring up the issue of attire. For example: “You have a great smile and I encourage you to use it in your interactions so people see your friendlier side. What we wear influences the perceptions that people have about us, too. Have you considered changing your work attire slightly to signal a more professional image?”

How to answer weird interview questions -

How to answer weird interview questions - If your interviewer asks you a question that is out of the world, how should you reply? Most employers dont ask crazy interview questions like these, but its a good idea to prepare for how youd address them, just in case. These strategies will help you answer any oddball interview question. 1. Never question the value of the inquiry itself. If you say, What does this have to do with the job? you might as well get up and walk out of the interview. (Unless they are looking for a contrary or difficult candidate, which is unlikely.) 2. Its OK to stop for a minute to think. In fact, its a good idea to take a deep breath before delving into your answer. You may also want to repeat the question to make sure you understand it correctly. 3. Unless the organization is overtly political, do not introduce controversial or political topics in your answers. For example, in answering the question about what state to eliminate from the U.S., dont let on that youd like to axe California because its reliably democratic, or Texas because it is always red. 4. Consider the reason the interviewer may have chosen the question. Maybe he is trying to see if you have a sense of humor, in which case you could respond with a funny answer. Petco asked an analyst candidate, How would you direct someone else on how to cook an omelet? Its likely the job requires being able to explain concepts and possibly action steps to people, which makes the question seem reasonable and not so off-the-wall. 5. Many oddball questions help the interviewer assess how you think, so be sure to demonstrate your thought process, dont just give an answer. For example, interviewers at JetBlue who asked a pricing/revenue management analyst candidate, How many quarters would you need to reach the height of the Empire State building? probably dont expect a correct answer. Replying, 500,000 isnt going to give the interviewer any insight about you. Instead, talk out your thought process. For example, Its best to stack the quarters on top of each other. A quarter is about .05 inches thick, so there are about 240 quarters in a foot. If the Empire State Building is about 1,400 feet tall, it would take about 336,000 quarters to reach the top. That doesnt include the antennae! When you answer this way, even if your specifics are not correct, you can still win points for your thought process. (And for the details you include, such as stacking the quarters and considering the antennae.) 6. Focus on the characteristics of the job, if possible. At Trader Joes (a food store), they asked a crew candidate, If we came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare for us? This is a great opportunity for the job seeker to demonstrate what he or she knows about the food at Trader Joes. I would select some of Trader Joes best, fresh vegetables asparagus is in season now, to serve with organically fed poultry. Id cook them with Trader Joes brand mole sauce and, voila a great meal. 7. No matter what, dont let any question rattle or stress you out. Amanda Lachapelle, director of HR and talent acquisition at Glassdoor, a jobs and career community said, The worst answer you can give is a short response with no explanation or say I dont know. When answering tough questions, take your time, ask the interviewer to clarify if necessary, show your personality and explain how you can problem solve out loud. Photo by Jenn and Tony Bot