Joey, quit. He quit with a marching band, on YouTube and to his employer’s great dismay, he cited that they, “treated me like sh*t.” After seeing this video for the first time, all I could do was shake my head and wonder if Joey realizes how his actions might be perceived for an entire generation that tires of the label videos and tirades like his give them. Millennials are in the fight of their lives to add-value to workplaces and tear off the labels of their cohorts.

They tell me,  I’m part of the “X” Generation.  About.com cites that we are, independent, resourceful and self-sufficient. In the workplace. I think we’ve lived through tremendous change and appreciate getting our hands dirty. But, not all generations are what they seem.

I watched my parents work very hard, with my father rising up the corporate ladder of a Fortune 500 company to a position with an Executive chair that he worked hard to claim. I also saw, firsthand the stress that came with long-hours, weekday travel and my dad’s ability to keep work and life separate. He won the war as there was always delicious food on the table, gifts on birthdays and enough hugs to keep me beaming. My work ethic comes from him, and my guilt over wanting to be the perfect parent comes from him as well. I’ve long-agreed with the Generation “X” examples, but I’m also aware of a booming generation of people my age moving home to their parents. All generations are multi-faceted. However, I’ve not seen a backlash against one generation like I’ve watched with the Millennial.  Often cited as “lazy” and “selfish,” this generation is going to have to start reclaiming their labels to win their PR war.

Joey is the 23 year old featured in the video above. He worked at the Renaissance Providence Hotel in Rhode Island for a few years and after unionizing his workplace, he decided to quit in a very immature, and ridiculous way. Joey is one of several million Millennials.

“I hated them, and they hated me,” DeFrancesco tells HuffPost, speaking of management at the Renaissance Providence Hotel, where he worked in room service. “It was this big drawn-out war we were having with management … I knew I had to get one last shot at them.”

Although Joey has gall, the rest of the Millennials I’ve spoken to are annoyed that he is giving their generation a bad name. In fact, most Millennials I’ve discussed generational divides with don’t want to be labeled as Joey comes across, “rash, rude, defamatory and selfish.”  Ouch. What I find so disturbing is not that some YouTube videos and Millennial blogs are living up to their labels, but that the positive and inspiring examples of the same generation, are often forgotten.

Sife.org is one of my favorite organizations, not only for their incredible purpose and passion, but for the face they are giving an often-slighted generation. The GOOD often goes unrecognized. While there are millions of “Joeys,” they are also millions of Millennials that encompass the spirit of “SIFE” students. Secretary Clinton recently spoke to SIFE students, commending them on their ability to create a better world.

The ultimate question remains, why do we glorify in temper-tantrums gone horribly, horribly, viral while we ignore such positive impacts by the same generation?  Joey’s fame will fade as his hits on YouTube do, however; other young adults are cultivating greatness across the globe. They are the ones who deserve the media attention.

“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.” – Anatole France

After four years, it is here. As you cross the stage and are handed your diploma the late night cram sessions and stale pizza will quickly begin to fade from memory. At the end of the ceremony you meet up with family who offer their congratulations. Suddenly, out of left field someone musters the question, “so where are you going to work?” “Yeah! When do you start the new job,” asks uncle Ed. You can feel the blood drain from you face.

In a challenging job market, it’s more important than ever, especially for new grads, to plan and take a strategic approach to the job hunt. Landing that first job is critical, but how do you get there when competition is high and you feel like you’re lacking on experience? For new or upcoming grads, here are a few tips to help you land that first job.

I call the approach RND, (Research, Network, Differentiate.) The first thing you need to acknowledge, is job hunting is time consuming no matter your career level so be prepared to commit.

Research

I have a personality that tries to stay one step ahead in every area of my life. I’m apprehensive about surprises so anything I can do to turn the tide in my favor is a bonus to me. In the job hunt that means researching. Always research the next job. So, if you’re in college start researching your first job early. You can dream a little here but be realistic. If you have little to no direct experience you should research entry level jobs. Here’s what you’re looking for.

Make mental notes of job descriptions.

Well written job descriptions are a job hunters holy grail. When you find one that is direct and thorough it gives you a strong understanding of what your target job will be like, and you can make assumptions on what to expect from the job and start maneuvering your experiences to prepare you for it.

Look at skills and requirements

Those experiences you are maneuvering may come in many forms. Look at the skills and requirements and let them help you develop a work/life experience road map over coming months. To do this you’ll need to correlate the skills to your current environment and capacity.

Correlate back to your current situation and coming months.

In that job description we looked at will you be managing outside vendors? Now you know you can look to take on opportunities to gain that experience, volunteer for a local non-profit and take on an active role in working with outside vendors for an upcoming fundraising event. Will you be analyzing data? Check your schools psychology or political science department, often schools conduct surveys and research and look to students to process and understand the results. Seeing a trend? You should look for skills that will support the job description of your target job and start finding ways to develop them. Even as a student, there are ample opportunities on campus and off to garner many of those coveted skills employers are looking for.

Network

It really can’t be said enough and today networking is easier than ever. Take part in industry chats and discussion boards through Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Quora etc. Just make sure you follow it up in real life (IRL). Networking with an influencer across the country is good, but meeting a recruiter in your local geo is more likely going to land you that first gig, across the country might be your next step however, so both are pertinent. There are a lot of good resources for on networking out there, get Googling.

Differentiate

If all you have is a traditional, boring resume, it’s not enough. Find ways to make yourself stand out. Some industries and functions provide more latitude but just because you’re a law student, it doesn’t mean you can’t make yourself stand out. Here’s a great example of a former law student who developed his own brand while still in school. When I moved from small to medium market radio I sent my demo tape in a Hot Stuff pizza box, I got a call the day they received it.

When I moved into PR I retired the Hot Stuff pizza box but leaned on what set me apart, my passion for technology and I strive to own that space. Even in medicine, do what you need to stand out; are you passionate about a certain type of cancer research? Blog about it, make an impact and it will help you get noticed. The area of hiring someone who looks good on paper is quickly fading, companies hire people, not resumes.

Start now, and if you already graduated, it’s not too late

All of these tips will help drive a successful job search. It’s important to give it time so try to start early. As we grow our experiences will impact what we want to do, I make it a rule to at least once a year go through this process to help push me to the next step, position, opportunity etc.

Happy hunting and congratulations!

Ryan Ruud is a Twin Cities communications executive, cancer survivor, guest speaker and educator with more than a decade of experience from broadcasting to public relations. Ryan leverages web, mobile and social technologies to achieve marketing, communications and public relations objectives that support organizational goals in both for profit and not for profit settings. Follow Ryan across the web.

Editor’s Note: Did you see that #JobHuntChat got a mention in Forbes? I’m humbled and proud. Great work, team!

According to a recent YahooNews article: LinkedIn changed the privacy settings, again.  The headline, “LinkedIn opts 100 million users into sharing private information with advertisements,” is very reminiscent of recent Facebook debacles.

With these 4, easy steps, you can change your settings and secure your brand from being used without permission. Sign into LinkedIn and come back to this screen as I’ve put short-cuts in for you to opt-out of each of the settings. Ready?

Advertising: (These links are located under the “Settings” –> “Account” Tab):

• Social Advertising: Click HERE.  LinkedIn wants to sell your face and data for social advertising, without paying you. If you prefer to keep your personal brand to yourself, that link will opt you out of their new social advertising. LinkedIn explains it like this, “your name/photo may show up in related ads shown to LinkedIn members. By providing social context, we make it easy for our members to learn about products and services that the LinkedIn network is interacting with.”

• Enhanced Advertising: Click HERE. LinkedIn wants to sell your information to their partners. They state, “This collection of partner sites is called the LinkedIn Audience Network. Advertisements shown to you on the LinkedIn Audience Network are selected based on non-personally identifiable information from your LinkedIn profile.Advertisers are only allowed to target segments of LinkedIn members, based on categories such as Industry, Job Function, and Seniority. For example, advertisers may choose to target advertisements to LinkedIn members who work in the Textiles industry. If you work in the Textiles industry and visit a site on the LinkedIn Audience Network, you may be shown that advertisement instead of other advertisements that may be un-targeted and less relevant to you. LinkedIn will not share personally identifiable information to bring you these services.” You’ve now opted-out of that mouthful.

Data Sharing (This link is located under, “Settings” –> “Groups Companies and Applications” Tab):

• Turning off 3rd Party Data Sharing: Click HERE. If you like junk emails and offers, you can leave this checked. Otherwise, protect your inbox and information by opting out.

Research (These links are located under, “Settings” –> “Email Preferences” Tab):

• Invitation to participate in Research: Click HERE. Of course you’d love to help make LinkedIn better, but wouldn’t you like the option, first? They’ve been gracious enough to opt you IN, first. LinkedIn states, “LinkedIn periodically invites users to participate in market research studies. Users are identified based on non-personal information such as title, company size or region. Participation is 100% voluntary and personal information is not revealed.” To save yourself the hassle, opt out.

Please Remember: We don’t own the platform. Once we sign up, give it our information it OWNS us. We need to be aware of what we are giving away to be a part of a network. Check your settings frequently and make sure you know what you’re signing up for online, first.

BranchOut

BranchOut boasts hidden job opportunities with top companies and over 20 million connections…

First and foremost, BranchOut has some powerful statements about their application and they want you to know their roots, backing and intention.  On their About Page they boast, “BranchOut was founded in July 2010 by CEO Rick Marini and a team with deep experience in social media, online recruiting, and Facebook applications. BranchOut is backed by some of the best investors and advisors in the world.”  ReadWriteWeb cited BranchOut as a break-out hit. Branch out certainly has the backing, but does their application incorporate 3 standards in development?

• Ease of Use: Even social media enthusiasts are now lazy. We want our programs to connect automatically via algorithm and we want it to import our information. What good is a program that has us retype our resume when LinkedIn holds our information? BranchOut understands the Ease Of Use mentality to a ‘T.’ I can either import my profile via LinkedIn or Monster.com and it uploads my already inputted information from the job descriptions and titles I have on my Facebook profile. What troubles me about 3rd party applications is that I have to disable my ‘https‘ connection.  With Facebook, the option to browse and use an ‘https‘ connection is a major factor for me. To utilize BranchOut, I have to disable my security. It’s understandable, as the application is a messenger for back and forth information, however: My security trumps what I need from Facebook. My rule is: If it needs to be unsecure, it is also unsecure and I really evaluate my decision to utilize the platform. In addition, it’s time for Facebook to re-think their ads to the right of everything. Not only are the ads distracting, they offer no real value to me as I scroll. (As a rule, I never click on a facebook ad. If I find something I like? I’ll go and type their information in Google. It saves the cost of a click!) One great thing BranchOut has going for it: Applying is a single click. I applied to a ‘Front End Development’ position at a Minneapolis company. I only had to click once for the recruiter or job poster to know I was interested in the position.  The best part? I could get an introduction, (for FREE,) and find someone in my network that would alert the poster I was interested in another single, click.  A large downside I see is that Google isn’t pulling results for people using BranchOut. I can’t type in someone’s name and instantaneously know if they are using the application. It seems too personal and one-dimensional to attract the job seekers it intends to. If BranchOut wants to be more successful, it should see about offering a tab on someone’s public profile so a recruiter could automatically click and see that the user is utilizing the tool.

This is a screenshot of my main page. Just like LinkedIn, it offers endorsements, community status updates and jobs. It's a dashboard, much alike to LinkedIn. With the way it's laid out, (complete with ads to the right side,) it would be hard to follow once a user received a large feed.

• Value: Value isn’t tangible.  What I may undervalue someone else may not be able to live without.  For me, I have a solid Facebook profile and I utilize the space given to speak professionally about my business, past opportunities and who I am as a professional.  BranchOut enables me to get ‘endorsements,’ just like LinkedIn offers recommendations.  The endorsements I’ve seen on BranchOut tend to be a less professional calibur than LinkedIn, shorter and to the point.  Will it offer value if a company ONLY posts on BranchOut for it’s job? Sure. However, I can’t imagine most companies would ONLY use BranchOut to post their available opportunities. Just like social media itself, I think BranchOut offers a new alternative to LinkedIn, but it seems very one-sided.  I’m a little cynical: If Facebook is offering a new application where you can post your company’s open positions or look for jobs, they HAVE to be making money off it, (rightfully so.)  There are two ways to look at VALUE on BranchOut.  One is from a networking perspective and one is from a business perspective.  As a networker, it’s a free tool that basically allows you to place your LinkedIn profile on your Facebook. However, it’s not easy to find. BranchOut doesn’t have it’s own tab, nor can I pull up JUST my BranchOut from my own profile. I have to utilize it as an application.  If a hiring manager wants to find me on BranchOut, they might be unsuccessful. BranchOut has this to say about people searching for your profile: From a business perspective: The job postings feature seems silly.  They will offer me a job posting for free but it will just be visually-available to those in my network.  If I wanted to post a job, I’d have to decide to pay per job, ($49) or post ONLY to my network for free. The free option is great for small to mid-size businesses with a very low budget for talent acquisition, and the paid feature is low enough that it wouldn’t stir the pot. But how many people are truly using Facebook for their job search?

“While unlocking the power of your network, BranchOut creates a safe environment to utilize your network by only showing your name, profile picture, work history, and education. By only using this information, BranchOut eliminates the possibility of employers or recruiters seeing private pictures, posts or other information, thus keeping your private life on Facebook and your professional profile on BranchOut.” In short: Recruiters and hiring managers need to know your name to find you.

You have two choices when posting a job: You can post to BranchOut for free, (while only in your own network,) or pay $49 to advertise to all of Facebook. This feature might be great for hard to source positions.

• It Has To Be Pretty: The truth of any site/application or software is that if it isn’t visually appealing, even good programming may alienate consumers from using the product.  Is BranchOut appealing? Absolutely. Because of the functionality within Facebook, it achieves the goal of acting like a website within a website. In fact, it’s self-sufficient and even has it’s own privacy settings. The downside I see is that it’s housed ONLY in LinkedIn.  I did The jobs that came up when I did a search were minimal, but it was apparent recruiters were already on top of the technology.

I did a quick search with the Minneapolis zipcode, "55403." This is what it returned.

Conclusion and Caution: For those looking to utilize Facebook as a platform to find jobs, it might be a good tool to become acclimated with while still utilizing other platforms. Since profile and photo are available, (by default to everyone,) when you give the application permission; it’s important to remember to be professional online. The world is changing and Facebook is no longer the bar it once was. By having a solid and professional presence on all networking sites you can expect greater success. For recruiters and hiring managers, BranchOut offers a less-expensive option than other leading Facebook job posting applications.  I see BranchOut being another Application Tracking System that someone needs to monitor, but a faster process to apply for open positions.  Many years ago, we had different search engines for different jobs.  I see a flow backwards to creating industry-specific ways for job seekers to apply and creating more work for both posters and job seekers, themselves.

Overall Grade: B-

“Social media isn’t the end-all-be-all, but it offers marketers unparalleled opportunity to participate in relevant ways. It also provides a launchpad for other marketing tactics. Social media is not an island. It’s a high-power engine on the larger marketing ship.” – Matt Dickman

How do you quantify what Online Media to use where? LinkedIn is a handshake, Twitter is a hug and Facebook is a kiss. Want to know why? Read on for more…

As I teach Social Media more and more for B2B, I’ve noticed a growing trend of trying to define exactly what each platform is.  In 2009, I came up with the analogy, “LinkedIn is the Office, Twitter is the Watercooler and Facebook is the Bar.“ When defining what to use where, this saying helped my audience understand the difference of each and how to best leverage the connections.  However, there is one truth: What you bring to the table, determines your success.

In the last two years, the differences have become less and less now that professionalism has adapted to Facebook and LinkedIn has become more conversational.  The worlds are colliding at an alarming rate, and my old analogy-though once it was true, seems to be old thinking. Cultures are shifting, where we used to be entirely professional, people now take off their ties or suit coats. Where we used to be personal, I’ve seen an influx of professional.  In little amounts, we are all becoming more well-rounded and less scared of online platforms.

Which platform for which?  A great tip for knowing how to adapt to your audience is to look at how your audience is actually using the platform in which you are engaging their voice.  If you’re in B2B sales, you might favor LinkedIn over Facebook.  If you’re a small business owner that offers tangible items- cash and carry, you’ll recognize the benefits of building advocates on Facebook.  Knowing your marketing medium is JUST as important as knowing how to broadcast your message in the most effective way.

• LinkedIn is a handshake. It’s no longer being treated as a one-way conversation.  More individuals have recognized the benefits of answering questions and engaging others in their professional beliefs. Where a profile was only left up to be found, now the true value has been fully recognized. I now think of LinkedIn as business casual, professional in nature, but down-to-earth in speech. The handshake is reaching out and asking for you to know me and my business value better.  I consider LinkedIn to be a business lunch, my professionalism is at it’s best, but I’m not afraid to crack a joke or to order a sundae.

• Twitter is a hug. I listen to those I believe in, or that I want to gain knowledge from. Twitter has become less obligatory in merely following and more about taking those I enjoy following to coffee, or actually picking up the phone.  It’s not quite a handshake because it’s often more intimate.  Inspiration and wisdom are my top takeaways daily and I know that to be viewed as authentic, I have to bring my entire self- quirks and all.

• Facebook is a kiss on the cheek. I’m the person who tells my friends and family that I love them, often.  Facebook is my way to communicate my beliefs, love and desire to stay connected. I try and keep it as intimate as I can and I’ve taken out anyone that I wouldn’t fully endorse in person or in writing. When I surround myself with positive people, I find I’m more positive. Facebook offers me comfort from a hard day, or photos of my nieces. It’s almost like a home cooked meal.

I often trade, Social Media, for Online Media, now.  We all understand that it’s social and also, that it’s evolving. The main three platforms: Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter are sedimentary. I’ve often been asked, “Do you think a competitor will come out and actually thrive in the market?” I always answer, “Absolutely, I hope so.” Without competition, we don’t evolve.  Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn have always been online- they just looked a little different.  Once they were an AOL chat room or a forum. In fact, we’ve seen glimpses of all three since the dawn of time. I tend to think of today’s online media as staples. We’ll always converse online, but how we get there is what is evolving most.

Everything is now integrating where traditionally there was competition, vehicles to the main three are now a PART of the main three. Since Twitter has bought Tweetdeck, we’ll see even more vehicles to the platform are now being integrated WITH the platform.  In truth: LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook are realizing their worth is not just in their site, they need to find the best DRIVERS to get the audience talking. Our social footprints will last longer than we realize and what we have forgotten is we truly are able to choose where we step. The online media doesn’t own us, we own our online media.

We now even have metrics that validate our online existence with Empire Avenue, Klout (and many more.) I believe my online relationships are merely another vehicle to meet those I value in person. For success we need a healthy combination of each platform.  The biggest success factor to any medium is simple: Be Yourself. Being authentic isn’t a buzzword, it’s now almost mandatory to having people advocate with you for what you believe. I’m online to help change the world, and I try to make my reason transparent.

It’s also important to note: That we are all individuals and although this is how I treat my online presence, it may not work for you. I think the importance lies in each of us bringing our signature DISH to the table and allowing others to taste who we are in the evolution of online media.  Find your recipe to success with a few tips in my article, “Humanize Your Voice Online.”

Free Download Click Here: {Humanize Your Voice Online: The Recipe of WHO You Are Is What Matters Most.}

“A great brand taps into emotions. Emotions drive most, if not all, of our decisions. A brand reaches out with a powerful connecting experience. It’s an emotional connecting point that transcends the product.”
-  Scott Bedbury/Nike, Starbucks

Introduction

“Personal branding is the process whereby people and their careers are marked as brands.^[1] It has been noted that while previous self-help management techniques were about self-improvement, the personal branding concept suggests instead that success comes from self-packaging.^[1] Further defined as the creation of an asset that pertains to a particular person or individual; this includes but is not limited to the body, clothing, appearance and knowledge contained within, leading to an indelible impression that is uniquely distinguishable.^[2] The term is thought to have been first used and discussed in a 1997 article by Tom Peters.^{[3]“  (Source)}

What exactly is, “personal branding?”  Anyone online has seen the term mentioned numerous times, with each time it’s true meaning becoming more and more diluted.  Wikipedia has it clearly defined, leaving no room for speculation.  For a while now, I’ve had a sneaking suspicion there was more than meets the eye.  Recently a conversation caught my attention on Twitter.

“Branding adds spirit and a soul to what would otherwise be a robotic, automated, generic price-value proposition.  If branding is ultimately about the creation of human meaning, it follows logically that it is the humans who must ultimately provide it.”
-  David Aaker

“If anyone had any doubt that most government-run jobs agencies (including unemployment offices) have no idea what they’re doing, here’s confirmation.”

Here’s the synopsis: (read the full article here.)  Some government agency green-lighted over $73k to make superhero capes for those unemployed.  Someone finally realized the huge mismanagement of the funds and said, “stop.”  They stopped.  Now the press and some snarky bloggers have taken this as another reason to bash government workforce agencies.  Because I proudly worked for the State of Minnesota and helped facilitate and author their job search curriculum, I’m a little perplexed anytime someone spews hatred about those that work long, thankless hours at less pay.  If there was a cool club, where we were able to be lazy, overpaid.. well, I wasn’t invited and neither were my coworkers.

Part of my duties were facilitating workshops, creating materials and spreading the word.  The other parts, that often yielded even better results were one-on-one meetings with those on welfare or state aid.  We tried the program with 10 participants originally.  All met with me on-time, and had interviews lined up within a month. As one participant told me, “I just needed someone to see I was something.”  It changed my entire perspective on government and those receiving government aid.  It changed my perspective on the human race.  But what do I know? I just write books and crap.

Fast forward to today, when I read the article and the snarky response by a blogger I normally rave about.  I felt the urge to reply, but only to state that, it’s true: $73k was overspent.  But those capes, weren’t necessarily a bad idea.  Job seekers often forget their worth, accomplishments and ‘superhero’ factors.  Those who are chronically un-employed or under-employed are treated much different, and NEED to be treated different than the average person out of work.  The average person out of work at a $50k or higher job needed little coaxing.  Usually higher-level job seekers respond well to reminders to network, resume suggestions and ‘out-of-the-box’ ideas.  Older job seekers, or those chronically unemployed or under-employed often hold hidden personality and self-esteem issues, larger than the occasionally-unemployed job seeker. (Which isn’t to say the occasional job seeker doesn’t need encouragement and inspiration after a devastating loss.)

So, was I really out of line for actually suggesting a paper cape with a website tie-in, (connecting to how job seekers can find their super-hero skills,) would be that far out of line?  For Minnesota, we wrote an entire chapter on ‘overcoming loss’ and finding ‘yourself’ after a job loss in the award-winning, “Creative Job Search,” book.  Spending money on real capes, (as I stated,) was insane. (Someone pointed out that desperate, depressed people might try to KILL themselves with those capes.) … and that’s when I walked away from the computer.

Apparently, the idea that ANY government agency would hand out capes, (paper or otherwise,) is utterly condescending.  And boy, did I really start a flame war by speaking, (all kumbaya-like,) about the absolute NEED to help job seekers realize and re-establish their credibility in themselves.  I apparently needed a cape to hang, myself.

What Color Is Your Parachute? Who moved my Cheese? …. All these inspirational books, (and more,) should be tossed out of the window of ANY government job search agency. (How condescending!)  We’re not mice!  We’re not people who jump out of flying contraptions? We’re accountants and CEO’s and Welders and Administrative Assistants!   And, just telling job seekers, “get back to work!” is working, so well, right now.

It’s not because I believe in positivity,  it’s because I looked into the eyes of those who sat in classes, (and still do at the ones I teach across the nation,) and their eyes tell me, “I am lost.”  A friend of mine recently wrote a manuscript on the premises of finding your inner superhero.  I read an advanced copy and loved it.  Why?  Because even sometimes, in the middle of my day, I’m too focused on tasks and less focused on the bigger picture.  Should job seekers wear the cape to an interview? Nope.  But the first thing I do when I teach a class is to have them write down three, questions that answer:

1.) Who AM I?

2.) What Am I Passionate About?

3.) What Am I Living Out-Loud?

No one ever said their answers or the questions felt condescending.  Sure, those few minutes could be spent on “RESUMES!” or “COVER LETTERS!” But the point is: If a job seeker doesn’t feel worth ANY position, the state will be paying benefits longer and more throughout the person’s lifetime than someone who is offered the opportunity to be built up, instead of made to feel like one in a mass of the unemployed.

Would a mass mailing of capes have solved the unemployment problem in Florida? Heck no.  Would it have been criticized even if the capes were paper? (Sure.)  Would it be important to reach out to job seekers and remind them that they CAN do it, to drop into their local Workforce Centers for help and enroll for classes? Absolutely. States receive and dictate their funding often by need.  For the State of MN Workforce Center System, it was important they met the numbers and projections to receive more income.  Those numbers directly aligned to people in seats and programs.  The State was ALWAYS looking at new ways to draw people in to use the free resources it offered.

One afternoon, I sat in my chair waiting for my next appointment and someone walked in, with a bundle of papers in her hand.  She was in my office for over 2 hours.  When I walked her to the front, we were both crying.  She had been living in her car, signed up for classes and had been doing all the right steps, but this was the first time anyone asked her, “How are you doing, REALLY?”  She broke down for a half-hour and we were able to locate other services for her.  Know what might have been great on a small flyer, with a superhero cape printed on it?  How are you, REALLY?

The emotional and mental states of our communities job seekers affect us not only as a community, but financially as well.

Florida state, after acknowledging they needed to withdraw their campaign, said this:

“Workforce Central Florida has listened to the public, and will be withdrawing our admittedly out-of-the-box creative campaign, ‘Cape-A-Bility Challenge’ later today,” Board Chairman Owen Wentworth said in a statement obtained by the Sentinel. “Even though it seemed to offend some, it was the farthest thing from our intention, which was to introduce our programs and services to job seekers and employers who need them.”

It makes you wonder, although it wasn’t the best way to utilize funding, their heart was in the right place.  I’m not sure the government would win at anything it tries to do.  Because it’s certainly losing the battle with even trying when the message is diluted in the atmosphere.

When we tear people down, instead of build them up, or we forget to acknowledge that there’s a barrier and reason that they are unable to discover their strengths, we might as well have fired them again and again.  Is it the State’s job to empower it’s public after corporations devalue them?  Only if they want to have a thriving and healthy community, again.  Otherwise, you have the attack that’s going on over here.  I’m not ashamed I said it, because someone had to.

http://opportunitiesproject.com/news-and-events/promotions/scholarship

So set up your Twitter account today and join one to two chats next week. Complete your LinkedIn profile and contribute to a discussion. The benefits may not come right away, but if you stick with it, you’ll feel like the confident and empowered professional you truly are in no time.

Tracy Brisson is the founder and CEO of The Opportunities Project, an organization that helps young professionals meet their career goals quickly and confidently.

Tracy Brisson
Founder and CEO, The Opportunities Project
Career Coaching and Recruitment Consulting for a New Generation
tracy@oppsproject.com | (347) 987-1490
http://opportunitiesproject.com | http://tracybrisson.com

Empowerment through Social Media

Last year, I opened my career coaching business, The Opportunities Project, to help young

professionals meet their career goals quickly and confidently. After almost ten years of

recruiting recent college graduates, and 13 years in education, I was becoming discouraged

with how higher education was preparing their students for success, working life, and

adulthood in the post-recession economy. I felt I could do something about it so I took the

leap, received my coach certification and opened up shop!

Based on everything I was reading about Generation Y, and a few candidates I encountered

as a recruiter, I believed that I’d be coaching my clients on how to “clean up” their social

media presence. After six months of coaching, I’ve found the opposite to be true- I often

have to bribe people, especially women, to be active on social media. Some have pre-

conceived notions about what it’s all about, that Twitter is nothing more than one million

people talking about Justin Bieber. But I’ve found that most avoid social media because

they feel that they don’t really have much to say and that’s where they need coaching.

I insist that my clients get active on LinkedIn and Twitter not only because of the

networking opportunities, but also because of its power to build confidence and greater

self-worth. Here are three things that you will learn on social media that I promise will be

empowering for you.

1. You will meet really smart and inspiring people, just like you. As a new

business owner, I spend a lot of time doing in-person networking. I’ve met some

great people at in-person events, but nothing compares to the people I’ve met online

and how engaging they are. I’ve found that people who use social media to learn

and build relationships are accomplished, intellectually curious and generous. My

clients who let their fears go and jump into the online conversation quickly see

these characteristics in themselves and are then ready for the great opportunities

that come to them.

2. You will build meaningful relationships despite your location. You’d be

surprised how quickly you’ll bond with people over 140 characters or looking at

their LinkedIn profile to find things in common. In the last six months, I’ve met

mentors, like-minded business partners, and friends. I’ve even hired a virtual

marketing consultant. You’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll get to know each

other and move the relationship to the phone or Skype. Even if it doesn’t result in a

career-changing move, you can’t underestimate the power of knowing more people

who mutually understand and appreciate each other, wherever they may be.

3. You realize that there is a big, wide world of opportunity out there. When

we’ve worked in a place for a long time, or hung out with the same people for years,

we get a biased perspective on “jobs” and what’s available to us. Once you join

Twitter and LinkedIn, you’ll see that people just as great as you are doing amazing

things which will give you new ideas for your career that you never though were

possible. Many of them will be open to tell you how they got where they are and give

you advice, too, which is a bonus!

So set up your Twitter account today and join one to two chats next week. Complete your

LinkedIn profile and contribute to a discussion. The benefits may not come right away, but

if you stick with it, you’ll feel like the confident and empowered professional you truly are

in no time.

Bio:

Tracy Brisson is the founder and CEO of The Opportunities Project, an organization that

helps young professionals meet their career goals quickly and confidently. One of Tracy’s

specialties is helping jobseekers use social media to build their credibility, expand their

communities and find opportunities. Before launching her own company, Tracy worked in

recruitment for more than a decade and her career advice has appeared in the New York

Post, The Star Ledger, and on Monster+HotJobs, and The Ladders. Tracy has a BA from

Syracuse University, an MPA from New York University and is finishing her doctorate in

Educational Leadership, also at New York University. She is also a Certified Professional

Coach and a graduate of the Kauffman Fast Trac NewVenture Program for early stage

entrepreneurs.

To celebrate the six-month anniversary of her company, Tracy is giving away three career

coaching scholarships. If you are a college student, recent grad or female veteran, apply

before the deadline on April 8th (http://opportunitiesproject.com/news-and-events/

promotions/scholarship/).Empowerment through Social Media

Last year, I opened my career coaching business, The Opportunities Project, to help young

professionals meet their career goals quickly and confidently. After almost ten years of

recruiting recent college graduates, and 13 years in education, I was becoming discouraged

with how higher education was preparing their students for success, working life, and

adulthood in the post-recession economy. I felt I could do something about it so I took the

leap, received my coach certification and opened up shop!

Based on everything I was reading about Generation Y, and a few candidates I encountered

as a recruiter, I believed that I’d be coaching my clients on how to “clean up” their social

media presence. After six months of coaching, I’ve found the opposite to be true- I often

have to bribe people, especially women, to be active on social media. Some have pre-

conceived notions about what it’s all about, that Twitter is nothing more than one million

people talking about Justin Bieber. But I’ve found that most avoid social media because

they feel that they don’t really have much to say and that’s where they need coaching.

I insist that my clients get active on LinkedIn and Twitter not only because of the

networking opportunities, but also because of its power to build confidence and greater

self-worth. Here are three things that you will learn on social media that I promise will be

empowering for you.

1. You will meet really smart and inspiring people, just like you. As a new

business owner, I spend a lot of time doing in-person networking. I’ve met some

great people at in-person events, but nothing compares to the people I’ve met online

and how engaging they are. I’ve found that people who use social media to learn

and build relationships are accomplished, intellectually curious and generous. My

clients who let their fears go and jump into the online conversation quickly see

these characteristics in themselves and are then ready for the great opportunities

that come to them.

2. You will build meaningful relationships despite your location. You’d be

surprised how quickly you’ll bond with people over 140 characters or looking at

their LinkedIn profile to find things in common. In the last six months, I’ve met

mentors, like-minded business partners, and friends. I’ve even hired a virtual

marketing consultant. You’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll get to know each

other and move the relationship to the phone or Skype. Even if it doesn’t result in a

career-changing move, you can’t underestimate the power of knowing more people

who mutually understand and appreciate each other, wherever they may be.

3. You realize that there is a big, wide world of opportunity out there. When

we’ve worked in a place for a long time, or hung out with the same people for years,

we get a biased perspective on “jobs” and what’s available to us. Once you join

Twitter and LinkedIn, you’ll see that people just as great as you are doing amazing

things which will give you new ideas for your career that you never though were

possible. Many of them will be open to tell you how they got where they are and give

you advice, too, which is a bonus!

So set up your Twitter account today and join one to two chats next week. Complete your

LinkedIn profile and contribute to a discussion. The benefits may not come right away, but

if you stick with it, you’ll feel like the confident and empowered professional you truly are

in no time.

Bio:

Tracy Brisson is the founder and CEO of The Opportunities Project, an organization that

helps young professionals meet their career goals quickly and confidently. One of Tracy’s

specialties is helping jobseekers use social media to build their credibility, expand their

communities and find opportunities. Before launching her own company, Tracy worked in

recruitment for more than a decade and her career advice has appeared in the New York

Post, The Star Ledger, and on Monster+HotJobs, and The Ladders. Tracy has a BA from

Syracuse University, an MPA from New York University and is finishing her doctorate in

Educational Leadership, also at New York University. She is also a Certified Professional

Coach and a graduate of the Kauffman Fast Trac NewVenture Program for early stage

entrepreneurs.

To celebrate the six-month anniversary of her company, Tracy is giving away three career

coaching scholarships. If you are a college student, recent grad or female veteran, apply

before the deadline on April 8th (http://opportunitiesproject.com/news-and-events/

promotions/scholarship/).Empowerment through Social Media

Last year, I opened my career coaching business, The Opportunities Project, to help young

professionals meet their career goals quickly and confidently. After almost ten years of

recruiting recent college graduates, and 13 years in education, I was becoming discouraged

with how higher education was preparing their students for success, working life, and

adulthood in the post-recession economy. I felt I could do something about it so I took the

leap, received my coach certification and opened up shop!

Based on everything I was reading about Generation Y, and a few candidates I encountered

as a recruiter, I believed that I’d be coaching my clients on how to “clean up” their social

media presence. After six months of coaching, I’ve found the opposite to be true- I often

have to bribe people, especially women, to be active on social media. Some have pre-

conceived notions about what it’s all about, that Twitter is nothing more than one million

people talking about Justin Bieber. But I’ve found that most avoid social media because

they feel that they don’t really have much to say and that’s where they need coaching.

I insist that my clients get active on LinkedIn and Twitter not only because of the

networking opportunities, but also because of its power to build confidence and greater

self-worth. Here are three things that you will learn on social media that I promise will be

empowering for you.

1. You will meet really smart and inspiring people, just like you. As a new

business owner, I spend a lot of time doing in-person networking. I’ve met some

great people at in-person events, but nothing compares to the people I’ve met online

and how engaging they are. I’ve found that people who use social media to learn

and build relationships are accomplished, intellectually curious and generous. My

clients who let their fears go and jump into the online conversation quickly see

these characteristics in themselves and are then ready for the great opportunities

that come to them.

2. You will build meaningful relationships despite your location. You’d be

surprised how quickly you’ll bond with people over 140 characters or looking at

their LinkedIn profile to find things in common. In the last six months, I’ve met

mentors, like-minded business partners, and friends. I’ve even hired a virtual

marketing consultant. You’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll get to know each

other and move the relationship to the phone or Skype. Even if it doesn’t result in a

career-changing move, you can’t underestimate the power of knowing more people

who mutually understand and appreciate each other, wherever they may be.

3. You realize that there is a big, wide world of opportunity out there. When

we’ve worked in a place for a long time, or hung out with the same people for years,

we get a biased perspective on “jobs” and what’s available to us. Once you join

Twitter and LinkedIn, you’ll see that people just as great as you are doing amazing

things which will give you new ideas for your career that you never though were

possible. Many of them will be open to tell you how they got where they are and give

you advice, too, which is a bonus!

So set up your Twitter account today and join one to two chats next week. Complete your

LinkedIn profile and contribute to a discussion. The benefits may not come right away, but

if you stick with it, you’ll feel like the confident and empowered professional you truly are

in no time.

Bio:

Tracy Brisson is the founder and CEO of The Opportunities Project, an organization that

helps young professionals meet their career goals quickly and confidently. One of Tracy’s

specialties is helping jobseekers use social media to build their credibility, expand their

communities and find opportunities. Before launching her own company, Tracy worked in

recruitment for more than a decade and her career advice has appeared in the New York

Post, The Star Ledger, and on Monster+HotJobs, and The Ladders. Tracy has a BA from

Syracuse University, an MPA from New York University and is finishing her doctorate in

Educational Leadership, also at New York University. She is also a Certified Professional

Coach and a graduate of the Kauffman Fast Trac NewVenture Program for early stage

entrepreneurs.

To celebrate the six-month anniversary of her company, Tracy is giving away three career

coaching scholarships. If you are a college student, recent grad or female veteran, apply

before the deadline on April 8th (http://opportunitiesproject.com/news-and-events/

promotions/scholarship/).

There are analogies for each situation of our lives.  We put up or shut up, we sit or stand, or we give all or nothing.  While each one of these has the Universe’s truth inside, there is room for one more.

Our finest moments define us by two things: Do we leave our shoes, or take them with us?

I once read a fantastic short story by Brett Pederson that explained as a woman left an abusive and controlling relationship and rode in the cab to her new life, the only thing she took out of the cab upon leaving was her running shoes.  The rest remained.  Her mindset was fixated on the fact that all she needed to survive was the determination to finally run towards what she deserved.  While she could have let go and started fresh, her running shoes were her closest companion.  Her desire to take the rubber-soled representations of freedom over books and photos always spoke loudly to me.  In some career changes, you take the very things that made you the most resilient, with you.

Tonight, I was fixated on a story in the late Elizabeth Edward’s book, “Resilience.”  She speaks early on in her autobiography of “Maytaggers,” or those that had spent their entire working lives at the nearby Maytag plant.  When it closed and the community was in a debilitating shock those that left the plant for the last day, also left their workboots.  Neatly lined-up, they were silhouetted against a dark, lonely, bench.  Never to be worn again, someone must have scooped the shoes up before demolition and wondered, “Who were the people who once filled these shoes?”  In some career changes, the important part is letting go.

Sometimes, the past is a friend to us and others, it’s merely a pollutant and distraction to what we’re working so hard for.  We have very few moments in life where we are able to carve out a new path.  Take your shoes or leave them: the choice is yours.

Those that know me from my later days in college, know that I found my courage, or ‘walking shoes,’ in the form of this song.  It’s been with me for years.

“well nobody took your pride away
i said,” thats something people say.”
Back down the bully to the back of the bus,
cause its time for them to be scared of us
till you’re yelling how we’re living cause you got the ball
and then you rock on, baby, rock on, you rock on.”  - 3eb Wounded

This was taken from an excerpt from an earlier writing on February 8th, 2008: Reflection on when GirlMeetsGeek became the brand about finding yourself through solid relationships, not finding someone else.

…And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom…
-Anais Nin

What does it mean- to become? Do we drop everything that we are, that coincidentally we’re working for- everything on the ground to pick up something else?  That’s how I’ve often seen this, becoming.

It was that magic moment- the ‘decide,’ the equasion I did in my head, while my heart beat so fast in my chest at the thought of it- I could have run races.

Maybe becoming just happens. Maybe in the presence of everything else- it’s almost like our nails growing, or grabbing that second Oreo- we barely notice.  Of course, our brain is too involved in other things; that’s the beauty of it all, right?  We can look back and wonder how it all happened so fast.

There’s many things I became, some I’m increasingly proud of and others I’d like to just forget.   I want to wipe out a year.  The entirety of 2007,  I want gone.  I could be a cliche` and say, “I needed that year to be who I am now.”  But truthfull, I didn’t.  That year, I was spineless, and a coward. I am ashamed with my perception of love and genuine care.  That year? Total igorance.

I think for a while, I was afraid of success.  Success?  Meant change which only involved me.  If I had to pick during 2007, I would have given up my career to keep an engagement.  What sort of life would that have given me?

I stayed in the corporate world, just under the radar and dated increasingly pathetic men.  I limited my scope of what I viewed success as for fear, or abandonment, or just plain stupidity.  I didn’t think that I could be what I wanted without someone at my side. And that? Really brings tears to my eyes.  What. Was. I. Thinking?

But becoming and this year already almost two months in, is completely different.  I’m successful, by myself- even after all the negativity of this first month… I am successful.  I’m going to meet some pretty lofty goals this year  and by next year if I keep my heart and my mind in the right place?  I’ll be where I wanted to be and do what I only thought I could accomplish with a husband. (Note: Yes, I actually wrote that.)

And this isn’t to say, I don’t want someone because every time I see a few scenes in coupledom while sitting in a theater or they walk hand in hand? The eyeroll hits the same time as the heart-tug, but I don’t feel like at this moment? That is my only dream. It’s an amazing thing, in realizing the shoes on your feet do not belong to anyone else- they just belong to the person wearing them.  I was walking towards all the wrong things.

It’s that second Oreo that I never noticed putting in my mouth- I’m working and socializing and mommying.. and somewhere along the way?  I got in step with it all.  I’m grooving.

(2007)

“The key to change, is to let go of fear.”  - Rosanne Cash

All the scariest things I’ve done in my life, have involved an ‘overcoming.’  My biggest fear, stood in front of my face tonight in the mirror as I quietly second-guessed a large decision I made about speaking up to someone who had entirely too much power in my life.  Tonight, I had to overcome myself.

My greatest passion in life is to directly influence a positive change in our culture.  You’ll find that most of the time my value system and desire for equality often speak through blog posts or tweets.  How strange it is for me, that I have no problem standing up for others, but sometimes I have a HUGE problem standing up for myself.  I often call it the curse of wanting to please everyone around me, or not cause waves in my own life.  What I’m learning is that rough waters come directly before the calm.  The need to face fears, people or situations is an everyday decision and a decision that has to be chosen with grace and determination to always do the right thing.  As I’ve become empowered to positively affect my own life, I’ve come to a situation where I’ve literally needed a checklist in order to really see if I needed to act, or not.  (I call this reclaiming Irish-Catholic guilt.)  I wanted to share my checklist with you, because if you’re anything like me?  I overanalyze and ponder.  My goal in 2010 was to start living proactively and less reactively.  I’m going to also push it to 2011!  Below are the questions I ask myself to determine if I should act, or remain quiet.

Is the situation dire? / Will someone’s livelihood be directly impacted by my decision to speak up?

Answering these questions help me outweigh the positive from negative.  It also helps me realize how selfish or selfless a reaction truly is.  If a response is immediately needed, I always try to quadruple check my words.  (Have I spoken out of emotion, or sound judgement?  Have I offered a meaningful perspective, or simply a response?)  Sometimes, I speak from my heart, but forget to recheck with my brain.  When both heart and mind are present, I know I can offer something sincere.  Because I always try to ask, “will this affect someone else negatively,” I take seriously what I say.  My voice is no good to the world if I am silencing another.

Am I able to live a full life without worrying about whatever the situation is?

Most of the times, this answer is yes.  Throughout the past year, I’ve been teaching myself what I call, “Reactive-Integrity.”  My life shouldn’t depend on what other’s think of me.  The moment I have to react to ‘save face,’ I feel my integrity suffers.  I am trying to get myself in positions where I am able to live more fully because I have less fear and stress.  I really believe that learning to not let the outside world stress us is an adopted behavior.  We choose our level of stress, as we choose our reactions.  The more I choose to think about things that might not matter, lessens the time for me to plan for the things that really do.

Is it truly WORTH it?  If I died today, would it matter I chose to speak up?

This is always the hardest one for me to answer.  I have to look at everything surrounding the issue and think of the wake I’ll leave if I should decide to go, “full speed ahead.”  Sometimes, I look back and marvel at the movement in the water and feel proud to have caused a stir.  Other times, I am ashamed to have made a wave at all, which in all reality?  Is something I shouldn’t do.  I’m learning to stand by my convictions more and trust my gut instinct.

All my decisions are different.  Some are easier than others.  To give myself the permission to openly think about whether or not I should have a voice is absolutely empowering.  Moreso?  To give my heart the courage and my mind the kudos to actively dialog without guilt is possibly one of the best feelings known.  With each situation, I’m learning more about outcomes, responsibility and empowerment.  That is something I’m proud of!

Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.  Look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.  Think only f the best, work only for the best and expect only the best.  Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.  Give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.  Live in faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

- Christian D. Larson

I don’t mean to brag, but I make a mean chocolate chip cookie. The hint of happiness you taste, is a tiny, teeny bit of cinnamon and clove.  These cookies taste like a memory, and I’m proud to say it happened by accident; just like my resume style.  Good resumes are hard to come by.  Ask any recruiter or H.R. pro.  They’ll talk your ear off about length, edits, keywording and content.  I do things a little different and it’s proven to be a bit more successful.  The secret for resumes, sometimes, is the spice behind them.  Want to learn my secrets?

1.) Let others tell your tale. If you’re not using recommendations on your resume, then you are missing out on the value of selling yourself through testimonials.  Don’t make recruiters search LinkedIn for how much others love you.  Use a quote in your signature line of the email, your resume or cover letter to grab their attention.  A cleverly-placed quote will leave a recruiter scanning for more and back-up your claims of greatness with human touch.

2.) Keyword your accomplishments, not your work history.  Everyone can claim success, it’s the metrics that truly matter.  Solidify who you truly are by remembering that companies care more about what you actually did, than by what you know.  Look at the difference between the following:

• Conceptualized and directed large, media campaign with multiple external and internal partnerships.

Or:

• Conceptualized and directed large media campaign with the use of Social Networking, (Twitter/LinkedIn/Foursquare,) with ROI measurement in Google Analytics and AideRSS.  Campaign resulted in 72% increase of traffic and 20% increase of sales in the 3rd quarter.

It really is that easy.  Your resume is a sales campaign, pure and simple.  Why each resume has to be a page of boring ‘I did this,‘ statements is beyond me.  Results, matter more than tasks.  Show those hiring your worth through your accomplishments.  Dangle the cookie, and leave them wanting more.

3.) Throw out the template. (Really.)  Resume programs can be your worst enemy.  If you hate being put into a box, the template will do exactly that.  This is your future, don’t let a computer program tell  you how your accomplishments should look.  A few things are ‘must haves’ in your resume.

• Name, City and State, Phone Number, LinkedIN Profile address, and Twitter address.
• Bio:  Forget an objective.  It’s about what you BRING to their table.  Imagine someone is reading your bio in a newspaper or hearing about you on the radio.  The words should resonate with professionalism and wit.  Anything less is a disservice to you.
• Accomplishment statements:  Your three to five largest accomplishments should be placed first.  Tell them what you are most proud of, professionally and leave them with reason after reason to talk with you futher.
• Career History:  Under each company name, title and years of employment, list key worded accomplishment statements, just like those shown above.
• Education
• Mouth-Watering Quote.

Try it out.  Watch the reaction and pass it on.  Together, we can change the demands that a resume should have no personality.  Your personality and accomplishments will make you stand out.  #GoJobSeekersGo

There are some products I won’t go flavorite on.  Originality speaks to me much louder than a price tag.

Flavorite:  (Fla vor- ite.) The ‘store-brand’ equivalent of another product.   A brand.

It’s simple, your clients will choose the Flavorite version of who you are if it looks and tastes the same.   How do you protect your brand in a world the cheap and trendy are so easily available?

My daughter and I were walking in the grocery store recently and she pointed to the boxed cereal and picked out her selection.  She isn’t brand conscious and the difference between Cheerios and the less expensive model was unavailable to the human eye.  Both had the same ingredients, the same idea; (rounded, hollow circles of grain-deliciousness) and frankly- the difference in packaging was minimal.  Both came in boxes.  Yet, I watched as shopper after shopper chose the Cheerio brand.  The name, spoke louder.

I consider competition the key to all good business.  However, after recently acknowledging there is apparently another individual who’s main focus is on, “girl-geek, resume writing and copywriting and corportate branding,” I took a step back, smiled and said, “Bring it on, young skywalker.  Bring it on.”  After realizing that her bark was bigger than her bite and her experience and personal website just didn’t prove she knew what she did, I remarked on the cheap and trendy that seemed to be her main offering.

I discussed with friends their own experiences.  One detailed that someone copied his business model to such a striking resemblance that even the wording was eerily similar, another confessed that he almost let the fears of competition knock him out of his own ballgame.  In both cases, the competition was newer, younger, and ‘trendier’ than their models. Trendier, however: Doesn’t mean better.

When it comes to your business, the same mentality applies.  Do you want to be good enough, or breathtakingly original? If you think that piggybacking your idea on someone else’s success is sufficient, it’s time for a reality check.

Real businesses, (the types that have lasted longer than a few years; I’v e been freelancing for 7; blogging for more,) compete with smaller-scale startups daily.  Strategy separates the successful from the merely trendy.  How we portray ourselves to clients and HR managers alike, will directly influence their perception of us.

My best advice?  There’s no need to scream who you are if you’re living the model that your business portrays.  Selling social media experience?  You should have a firm handle on your craft, able to showcase without being asked.  Claiming your website designs are topnotch? Make sure your links aren’t broken.  Shouting that your resume-writing is killer?  Don’t leave yourself dead in the water by blatantly ignoring what corporations want and insisting on 3-4 page resume documents.

“The merit of originality is not novelty; it is sincerity.”  T. Carlyle

Brian Ward lost his job on a Friday afternoon. Eleven days later he had a new one. With nearly 1 in 10 people out of work and the typical job search lasting 12 weeks, how did the Cleveland-based software architect pull it off? In a phrase: online social networking….    -Time Magazine
 
I recently led a class and facilitated about job-search-strategies for the chronically and long-term unemployed. The room was bursting with discussion, passion and a vibrant energy. That is, until people started noticing that LinkedIn and Twitter were the next screen shots. It was almost as though I committed a violent online act.
 
There the logos were, and about 70% of my (40+ aged,) job seekers slumped with their heads down and completely closed themselves off. I tried to explain it like the following.
 
We are all in a huge, swimming pool. Most job seekers are getting to the point where they are sick of being wet, sick of floating and their arms are aching from treading water. A couple people have given up and are floating in the deep end- tummies down and absolutely exhausted from the mental and physical stress of the hunt. The first thing I want you to do? Is put your feet down. It’s not as deep as you think. When your feet touch the bottom, there’s no need to overuse muscles from paddling or trying to stay afloat. Asses the water. Social Media: Is a way to put your foot down, or mark your job search. Job seekers are still struggling, but they now have way to showcase their key accomplishments online- in a not-so-routine way. With your feet firmly planted at the bottom of the pool, you’re able to walk in small steps, making more progress than those who are just merely floating and waiting for someone to pull them out.
 
Social Media: Is not a lifesaver and it’s certainly not the ‘be all and end all’ of the career search spectrum, but it is- a way for you to stand strongly on your own and commend attention.
 
Honest to God: A job seeker in a recent class mentioned that Twitter and LinkedIn were just another violation of her privacy and that it would take a miracle to get her online and viewable in these interfaces. She had  been unemployed, (and still very bitter,) for quite a while. I didn’t know whether to just hug her and listen, (we all have our fears and pain that we carry,) or tell her: You’re better than this. Don’t hide behind your fear and miss a fantastic opportunity. I showed her the importance of showcasing her value in a way that was fresh and different. She only came around when I showed her specific examples, and asked her, “It’s easier floating isn’t it? You don’t know if the bottom is even there until you try, right?” She’s attending a special Social Media class next week. I’m sure she’ll be the one asking all the questions that I’m happy to answer.
 
Who really ‘get’s Twitter, anyway? You have the ‘social media guru’s’ who claim that twitter is the mostincrediblethingever that has ever hit the interwebs. You have the middle aged women who don’t want to understand and just shift uncomfortably in their seats over the thought of ‘tweeting’ anything about their life. And lastly: You have the job counselors who are calling it a waste of time. It’s the latter that makes me the angriest. I did the stupid thing: I started spouting numbers like it was no one’s business, (like a salesgirl on acid.) That didn’t work- so I spoke passionately about the value of everything at the job seeker’s fingertips, (to which my counterpart snorted.)
 
“I wouldn’t be anywhere in the whole mobile community if I wasn’t using Twitter. I received my opportunity because my future employer saw I was ‘tweeting’ about Android.” -Breon Nagy
 
The number one thing I hear about Twitter is: Who the hell cares what I ate for breakfast? And in all honesty: I care. Not because I have far too much time on my hands, or because I’m secretly a loser- it’s because if you are tweeting the value in something: I might want to know. (That’s how news started: This is oral history in our fingertips.) If you are a job seeker and you tweet: “Find me a job.” I won’t bite. There’s no value statement there- no reason for me to be connected to you besides answering your self-serving question. However, if you tweet, “Local Architect looking-  10+years experience. Check out my Linked In Here, or DM.” I might, check out your linked in. Because… you gave me a reason to.
 
Can you really ‘sell’ yourself in 140 characters or less? (If you can, please email me so that we can take over the world and help HR people conduct strategies to save time and money worldwide.) There’s no formula on how to get a job in 140 characters or less- but there is a formula to help you gain exposure within your community and that will lead to a job- simply by doing the following: Using Twitter and tweeting regularly about news in your field, expertise or job isms to help you build your network and NETWORTH.
 
Twitter is a pointer: It’s not the destination, but rather a way to get there.
 
We are only as valuable as we believe ourselves to be. Time to put those feet down and walk to your destination.