Empower Me! Blog
Read about the latest happenings at Empower Me! Corporation, new trends in business and career advice from Adrienne Graham.
4 Ways to Protect Yourself
Every small business owner knows that protecting their business is high on the priority list. Having an attorney to protect you against fraud, litigation and wrong doings is a given. Getting insurance protects you from damages and loss of business. Solid security software protects you from being hacked or virus attacks on your computer systems. These are all important ways to protect your business. But what I’m talking about is common sense protection when dealing with clients.
We all want to enter into business relationships hoping for a mutually beneficial experience. But at times we can find ourselves embroiled in sticky situations because we simply didn’t pay attention and protect ourselves properly. Here are four ways to protect yourself against client mishaps.
Get a contract in place. I don’t care how long you may have known someone or how honest they seem. You never enter a business relationship without getting a written contract. Back in the old days, businessmen did business based on a handshake and reputation. To hell with that. This is 2012 and we live in a shady society. Ideally, we’d all like to believe that people are honorable. But the truth is there are a lot of people who are shiesty and have no qualms about taking advantage. No matter how small seemingly insignificant, even if it’s just a one off project, you get a written contract. If the other party insists on providing their own contract, make sure you get your own legal representative to review it. And don’t be afraid to edit or modify clauses. You have a right to negotiate.
Fire clients who bring in someone else into the mix. If you have a exclusive agreement to provide services, bringing in another party is a violation of your contract. I’ve heard all kinds of stories about clients who decided that their vendor needed a little help so they brought in another party to help with the workload. Unfortunately, this cut into the revenue of the primary vendor and there was nothing they could do because they never clarified the terms of their agreement from the beginning. If a client is suggesting giving some of your work away, ask why it’s necessary. If you’re not fulfilling your obligations, perhaps you need to re-evaluate if you can really handle the work. But if you are delivering, there shouldn’t be any reasonable explanation. Cut them loose and move on. If they don’t respect you enough to trust the entire job with you, you don’t need them as a client. Theyll be constantly undermining you.
Don’t bad mouth clients or allow them to bad mouth you on social media. I’m upset I even have to mention this. But I’ve seen frustrated small business owners put their clients on blast on Twitter and Facebook. Not appropriate and definitely not professional! If you have an issue with a client, be an adult and speak with them directly. Going on social media to bitch and whine actually makes you look worse than them. Never talk smack about a client online (or in public for that matter). Always maintain professionalism and conduct yourself properly. By the same token, don’t allow clients to bring it to the web either. If you see a client complaining about or disparaging you online, contact them immediately…offline. Don’t get sucked into a war of words in public. Ask them to remove their comments from the web and handle it personally. If they refuse, then escalate to an attorney.
Lawyer up to keep yourself protected..just in case. I always tell clients that it’s wiser to invest in an attorney from the very beginning than to wait until you get into trouble to find an attorney. It always costs you more money when you wait until the last minute. Get an attorney on retainer and consult with him or her from time to time to make sure you’re above board. Attorneys aren’t really as expensive as you may think. Think of the retainer as an investment in your protection. They’ll keep an eye out for you and will advise you when thinks come up. When in doubt, call your attorney. I’d much rather know I have someone I can turn to than to sit and pull my hair out over every little thing that could possibly (but probably won’t) happen. Stop being cheap and invest in an attorney.
Til next time,
Adrienne Graham
I’d rather be safe than sorry
Check out my new book Get Recruited: Secrets from a Top Recruiter on Using Unconventional Tactics to Get Noticed in an Inconvenient Economy in paperback or on Kindle! While you’re at it, order your paperback copy of No, You Can’t Pick My Brain. Or if you can’t wait, get it on Amazon Kindle.
Do you like this article and want to reprint or share? You can, as long as you include this in its entirety:
Adrienne Graham is the Founder & CEO of Empower Me! Corporation (www.empowerme.org). She is a strategist that helps people grow their career, business or network in any economy. She is the voice behind Views from the Top Radio Show, and the creative visionary behind Empower Me! Institute and Empower Me! Magazine. Her writing and shows focus on Career Management, Networking Strategies, Entrepreneurial Success and Small Business Management. You can also find her causing a ruckus on Forbes.com.
Course Alert: 5 Days Left to Build Your Brand with Smart Self Publishing
Why would I teach a course on self publishing? Well, that’s easy. Because I want to help people see beyond the writing and focus on the business side of self publishing, and all that goes with it to create a powerful brand and a profitable book project…without losing their shirts in the process.
And before you ask, no, I’m not becoming an author or publishing coach! Self publishing stays within my theme of growth and development opportunities.
So what do I know & why should you listen to me?
I’ve written and published (and sold) 4 books and working on #5 and #6 now. Each time I take on the book writing process, I learn new things that should have been evident from the first book I published. I’ll admit, the first time I wrote a book (Go Ahead Talk to Strangers, The Modern Girl’s Guide to Fearless Networking) I had no expectations and no dreams of becoming a New York Times Best Seller. I had an idea, I had practical information to share, and I wanted to share it in something that went deeper than a blog post. I ended up selling 2,500 copies and getting reviewed in Black Enterprise Magazine. And this was without having a publishing house or any clue what I was doing. I just did my research, prayed and jumped in.
The next two books were a little different. The second book (Fearless Networking Without Asking Permission) was actually a self study course I created from the premise of the first book. But the third book (Get Recruited: Secrets from a Top Recruiter on Using Unconventional Tactics to Get Noticed in an Inconvenient Economy), was a little harder. I had put tremendous pressure on myself to do it right. Sure I made some mistakes (some I’ve since corrected) but overall, I was proud of that book. I had done everything myself and up until recently none of my creations were available on Amazon or any other online entity. I was ready to hit the ground running to promote that book at the beginning of this year. But, you know what they say, when you make plans, God laughs, then shows you His plans.
The latest book, my fourth, was actually born out of an article I had written on Forbes.com back in March 2011. Opening up this year, I had every intention of promoting my third book. Then I woke up on January 3rd to a barrage of emails, tweets, posts and comments about my article. It took a minute to focus but then it became clear. I needed to get this book out there because people clearly wanted it. I started the book last April and toyed with it on and off until October. I decided I’d get back on it some time this spring, but the masses had other ideas. No, You Can’t Pick My Brain was released on January 23, 2012 and has been on fire.
In all of this with this latest book, I learned a valuable lesson. Yes, it has been well received. But I should have struck while the iron was initially hot. That was a big mistake and I hope my course can teach you to avoid it too.
Let me help you avoid some of the traps I fell into during the publishing process.
There’s still time, but only 5 more days! Writers, authors if you’re looking to learn the business side of self publishing, you really should register for this course: Building Your Brand with Smart Self Publishing. This course is for entrepreneurs, consultants and authors of non-fiction books.
It’s not a writing course. It’s about teaching you methods that save you time (and money) and avoiding the common pitfalls of publishing many authors encounter. Self Publishing is a business and it’s more than just writing books.
Each week we’ll have a successful self published author as a guest to share their tips and success secrets with you. So hurry up and sign up NOW. Otherwise you’ll have to wait until May for the next class.
The class is $299 and books are included! How’s that for value?
Did I mention that this class will be LIVE. Yes, you will be able to join the class, see and be seen via live web video streaming. You’ll be able to interact with me, your classmates and guest speakers in real time, and not by chatting either. So get those webcams and speakers ready!
If you want to learn a little more about the course here you go: http://bit.ly/zAp902 But if you’re ready to sign up NOW, here you go!
If you’re still on the fence, here are two blog posts you may find helpful:
Writing a Book is Easy, Self Publishing is a Full Time Job- http://bit.ly/wV5TMu
Be an Author, Don’t Just Write Books- 6 Ways to Make Money as an Author & Build Credibility-http://bit.ly/rEJZ2n
See you there!
Adrienne Graham
Self Published Author…and Businesswoman!
Check out my new book Get Recruited: Secrets from a Top Recruiter on Using Unconventional Tactics to Get Noticed in an Inconvenient Economy in paperback or on Kindle! While you’re at it, order your paperback copy of No, You Can’t Pick My Brain. Or if you can’t wait, get it on Amazon Kindle.
Do you like this article and want to reprint or share? You can, as long as you include this in its entirety:
Adrienne Graham is the Founder & CEO of Empower Me! Corporation (www.empowerme.org). She is a strategist that helps people grow their career, business or network in any economy. She is the voice behind Views from the Top Radio Show, and the creative visionary behind Empower Me! Institute and Empower Me! Magazine. Her writing and shows focus on Career Management, Networking Strategies, Entrepreneurial Success and Small Business Management. You can also find her causing a ruckus on Forbes.com.
4 Strategies to Turn the Job Search Odds in Your Favor
As of January, the unemployment rate in the United States was reported as 8.3%. With the economy not really making any progress and the unemployment rate still scary (double digits in some states), it’s time for people to stop waiting on a savior (or the government) to come rescue them. It’s a fact that many of the jobs of the past won’t be returning. That ship has sailed. So it’s time to dig deep and figure out what you need to do to move on with your life and bury the past. No need to stay in mourning over something you can’t bring back. It’s time to jump back into action and take control of your job search.
As I peruse the various news sites and blogs, I see an ongoing sentiment of anger and despair from a whole lot of pissed off people. I admit, people have a right to be angry and I don’t take that away from them. But you can’t wallow in anger indefinitely, blaming Republicans or Democrats. It is so much deeper than that. At some point you have pull yourself together and start seeking other options. In other words, GET OVER IT. Hey I tell it like it is. We are all responsible for our own lives. Your life is what you make it to be and no government or corporation has an obligation to help you figure it out.
Everyone needs to understand that in this age of change and ever evolving technology, you have to gain additional skills. There’s just no way around it. It’s mandatory and nothing new. Look at what happened to the steel industry, auto industry, manufacturing industry, airlines industry, and on and on. Every year or so, another industry takes a big hit. It’s inevitable. Before I understood that, I felt a deep sympathy for people who were ousted from their jobs. I would think, “wow, who’s going to hire all those people and save them?”. But as I got older and more fluent in how things work, I realized that you have to stay versatile. It’s great to have that one special skill set that is bankable. But you always have to be mindful that skills (and people) become outdated or replaceable. We can’t afford to rest on one or two skills. You are responsible for securing your future. So get up, get over it, and get strategic.
Here are four strategies for turning the job search odds to your favor.
Educate yourself continuously. So how do I propose you do this? Well for starters, make sure you educate yourself by any means necessary. Sometimes education doesn’t have to come from a college or university. A whole new industry and set of jobs were created by social media. People didn’t go to school to learn how to maximize social media. They used their current skills and learned social media as they went along. With the onset of new gadgets (iPhones, iPads, Blackberry, Android, etc) a whole segment of jobs opened up in App development. Take an inventory of the different things you like, what you’re good at, and what you would like to do. Then you need to figure out how you can gain the skills that will pave the way for you to do what you love.
There are tons of websites and books out there to help you learn just about anything. But let’s look beyond that. In the early 1900′s there were no gadgets or technology. It was survival of the fittest. If you had an idea, you could start a business or hire yourself out to proprietors. People had survival skills. So today, with all the luxuries of technology, there is no reason why people can’t switch into survival mode like our ancestors and find new things to do. Not everyone is meant to be a business owner, but you can take your skills and market them to companies who are willing to pay top dollar for your knowledge. Look to continuing education and certification programs. If you’re currently employed at a company where they will reimburse for professional training or in a state where the local Department of Labor is able to pay part of all of the expense, take advantage of it. Also look into scholarship or waiver opportunities to help with the expense.
Instead of growing, discriminate with your network. You should be networking with people who are where you want to be. Tap into your human resources to help you gain the knowledge you seek. People are more likely willing to share with you if you show a real interest. Be respectful of their time and don’t push them too much for knowledge. Many people won’t share everything, but will share as much as they can. How you approach them and how you ask will determine how much they will share. Also look for a few mentors. A lot of people will limit themselves to one mentor. But no one person can be all things to you. Diversify a bit. And also ask to shadow for a day or two so you an get the hang of the day to day aspects of their job. You pick up a lot by observing someone in their professional environment. By keeping a smaller circle or network, you can maximize the return by surrounding yourself with people who can help advance your job search and possibly your career. You can’t really do that with a big, unmanaged network. Having a big network is like trying to shoot fish in a barrel. You hope you get a good one but really anything can happen. The smaller, more personalized the network, the better your odds.
Stop looking for a JOB and start working your strategy. Or rather, stop giving off the vibe that you’ll apply for every and anything just to get work. I think many people fall short here because it becomes a matter of survival and hiring managers can sense that. A person in a desperate spot exudes just that. Hiring Managers spook easily and will think “will this person leave my position if something better comes along?”. Nobody wants their company to be a stepping stone. I agree, we are not obligated to one position or career in a lifetime. But in a scary economy, you have to do your best to assure employers that you are legitimately interested, even if it is your intention to seek greener pastures. If you approach your job search as a strategy in advancing your career as opposed to looking for a pay check, you will find yourself in the driver’s seat in interviews. This is your career. You, not your circumstances, should set the tone and the course.
What am I saying? STRATEGIZE! All positions you apply for must fit into your master career plan. Don’t just apply for a job because it’s posted, or you like the company. Make sure you can actually do the job (and have a proven track record of accomplishments) before you apply. As it is, many resumes submitted through company websites and job boards are ignored. So if you don’t have the skills or experience, not only will you be ignored, but you’ll probably be deleted. Take time to read the different job postings and get an understanding of what they are looking for. Then review your resume and cover letter to see if you address those specific needs. Then research the company. We have the power of Google, Linked In and the like to get all the information you need about your potential employer. They research you so why can’t you research them? Plus you’ll get some extra points for knowing about them before you walk in the door. Finally, tap into your network to see who knows who in your target company. Ask for introductions to key people who may have influence over who gets hired. But don’t abuse the opportunity!
Sit down and map out what you want…the go for it. Where do you want to go with your career? How do you plan to get there? Who will you need to connect with to be successful? What tools and resources do you need? What skills do you need and how will you get those skills? And what are you willing to do to create your brand and market yourself to be seen and noticed? The ball is in your court. You get what you put in. Don’t let the unemployment numbers or ratio of applicants to jobs scare you. If you do what needs to be done, you will be a survivor. But sit on your hands waiting to be rescued, and you find yourself up a creek…literally. And don’t just map it out in your head. WRITE IT DOWN. Seeing it on paper can give you clarity and make it easier for you to plan.
When all else fails, hire a career coach or strategist to help whip you into shape. Fortunately for you, I can help you do that. Call me at (866) 810-2525 for a consult. Or, you can buy my book Get Recruited if you’re a do-it-yourself type.
Til Next Time,
Adrienne Graham
Plan your work & work your plan!
Check out my new book Get Recruited: Secrets from a Top Recruiter on Using Unconventional Tactics to Get Noticed in an Inconvenient Economy in paperback or on Kindle! While you’re at it, order your paperback copy of No, You Can’t Pick My Brain. Or if you can’t wait, get it on Amazon Kindle.
Do you like this article and want to reprint or share? You can, as long as you include this in its entirety:
Adrienne Graham is the Founder & CEO of Empower Me! Corporation (www.empowerme.org). She is a strategist that helps people grow their career, business or network in any economy. She is the voice behind Views from the Top Radio Show, and the creative visionary behind Empower Me! Institute and Empower Me! Magazine. Her writing and shows focus on Career Management, Networking Strategies, Entrepreneurial Success and Small Business Management. You can also find her causing a ruckus on Forbes.com.
Failing Forward to be Successful
People often don’t want to talk about failure. You see, it’s a dirty little word that to some people means you can’t cut it. But I don’t see it that way. I haven’t always felt this way. There was a time when I thought failure was worse than death. I was always an honor student, a smart girl, so I was not supposed to fail. This crossed over from school to life to work and then ultimately being a business owner. Each time I didn’t win or achieve success at something, it was like my world ended. It meant I had to face the facts that I wasn’t the best. When you’re young, that’s a lot to carry. Thank God I’ve gotten over that!
In order to be a parent or an entrepreneur, you have to resign yourself to the fact that you won’t always be perfect. But it’s OK. You have to fail in order to move forward. Now you might be thinking parenting and entrepreneurship are unrelated, but as a Mom, I beg to differ. They are related. I wouldn’t say that entrepreneurship trumps parenthood, but let’s not get all psychoanalytical about it. Both require you to be 100% invested. Both require you to nurture and discipline. Both require you to fight like hell to make sure your baby (literally and figuratively) grow up to be successful and productive. But along the way, there will be some failures and you have to steady yourself to learn from those failures and move on after having learned the intended lesson.
If you’re running a business, here are some tips on failing forward so you can build a stronger company.
Take the time to understand the finances of your company. OK I have to start with this one because without money you can’t survive. At all times, you should know what’s coming in and out of your company. This will allow you to budget your expenses better and cut off money drainers as you spot them. By knowing what’s going on with your finances, you can better plan to avoid (or mitigate) disaster and have a plan of action to make up for losses. Now is not the time to turn a blind eye or pass the buck (pun intended). A responsible business owner can account for every penny going in and out of their business. And ask Oprah said SIGN YOUR OWN CHECKS!
Eliminate components of your business that have become a time or money suck. This is self explanatory, but let me continue. If you find yourself or your team spending more time chasing non-commital clients, promoting products and services that nobody is buying, or doing duties that can be outsourced or assigned to someone else, you’re trapped in a time suck. This time suck can cost you money because you’re not focusing on the things that actually make you money. Take a look at your daily routine. If any duties are keeping you from revenue producing tasks, dump them or assign to someone else. You’re in business to make money, not manage the administrative tasks. Learn to let go and focus on what you need to do to make your business successful.
Be ahead of bad new. OK I know this seems odd, but it really isn’t. I’m not telling you to glue yourself to the news and kvetch over each and every news report about the economy. But pay attention to your industry, your clients’ industries and the market around you. Listen to your customers, employees and God (or whatever higher power you rely on). Intuition is usually very keen when bad news is about to come your way. Read often (journals, newspapers, trades, etc) so that you’re on top of anything that might affect your business. And if something does happen,
Revisit and refresh your business plan. OK sometimes it’s unavoidable. All businesses run into that wall at some point, especially if the owner hasn’t stayed on top of the planning and shifts that occur as time goes by. A failure in your business is a signal that you probably didn’t plan well enough. Take a look at your business plan and determine in what areas you’ve fallen behind. Step back and decide if you actually want to achieve those goals or if you should rewrite and revise the plan. You can also look at the goals and milestones and break them down into more manageable smaller chunks. It could be that you aimed too high and by breaking them down, it will be easier to achieve them all. And if you didn’t get around to writing that business plan, WRITE ONE. It’s supposed to be your blueprint.
Scrap it all and start from scratch. This is very painful, but sometimes it just has to be done. Sometimes despite your best efforts, your business is a bust. Whether through poor planning, lack of finances, inability to build a dedicated customer base or improper management, companies close down. But this shouldn’t be a sign of defeat. Sometimes you have to scrap it all down to the studs and rebuild from scratch. I would say that it’s important to pay attention to the failure and use it as a learning lesson the next time around. Don’t wallow in self pity or take the failure personal. Now is the time you dust yourself on, put it behind you, and move forward with bigger and better dreams.
So don’t let failure keep you from bouncing back. As long as you learn from it, you can get over it. Failure doesn’t mean you’ll never be successful. It just means it’s not your time right now. Don’t take it personal or internalize it, otherwise you’ll find yourself stuck in a perpetual pity party. You have the power to determine which way you go next.
Til next time,
Adrienne Graham
I don’t fail, I learn
Check out my new book Get Recruited: Secrets from a Top Recruiter on Using Unconventional Tactics to Get Noticed in an Inconvenient Economy in paperback or on Kindle! While you’re at it, order your paperback copy of No, You Can’t Pick My Brain. Or if you can’t wait, get it on Amazon Kindle.
Do you like this article and want to reprint or share? You can, as long as you include this in its entirety:
Adrienne Graham is the Founder & CEO of Empower Me! Corporation (www.empowerme.org). She is a strategist that helps people grow their career, business or network in any economy. She is the voice behind Views from the Top Radio Show, and the creative visionary behind Empower Me! Institute and Empower Me! Magazine. Her writing and shows focus on Career Management, Networking Strategies, Entrepreneurial Success and Small Business Management. You can also find her causing a ruckus on Forbes.com.
Tired of not getting interviews? Take matters into your own hands
OK it seems like I’m on a jobs tear this week. Well I am. It seems as though people still don’t get it. Let me say it loud and clear for you- YOU CAN CONROL YOUR OWN CAREER DESTINY. You just have to be willing to step outside your comfort zone to make things happen.
I realize that many people are frustrated and tired. I get it that the market looks bleak. But this is when you dig deep and try things you’ve never tried before. I mean after all, what you have been doing isn’t working, so what do you have to lose by shaking things up a little? And you really don’t have to focus solely on finding a job. There are other alternatives out there.
Entrepreneurship & Independent Contracting
Can’t find a job, let alone get interviews? Well take your skills and strike out as a consultant or start your own business. If you have been successful in your career, why not consider going solo? You don’t have to start a full out business, but start operating as if you are a business. Take those skills and turn them into your leverage. You can take on small projects or do special projects for former employers or companies who aren’t looking to hire someone full time. Get in the habit of marketing yourself because that’s the only way people will get to know who you are. Use social media, networking, volunteering and good old fashioned word of mouth to get the message out about your practice. Whether you choose to service one company or several under your own banner, it all counts as experience.
I wouldn’t try to do something that takes you out of your skill set. Stick to what you know and excel at, especially if it’s only to tide you over until you do find a job. When a recruiter scans your resume or profile and they see you moved out of your skill set, a red flag goes up. You may have had honorable intentions or may be filling the time to bring in a check until that ideal job comes. But remember, you are one of hundreds applying. Your resume has 30 seconds to wow a recruiter. Don’t sabotage your chances by trying to start a business or practice in a field where you have no experience. Now I don’t say this to discourage you. I know in these tough economic times, everyone needs to bring in a paycheck. But be careful about what you choose. You want to stay as organic to your strengths as possible. Now the only exception to this rule is if you plan on changing fields altogether. That’s for another post, though.
Your network determines your net worth
Next, boost your networking. Don’t just be connected to people, communicate with them. Get involved and make yourself known. Make sure you are building a list of ‘must know’ people and not just connecting with anyone for the sake of connecting. Sounds harsh but if you’re hanging out with customer service reps and you should be hanging around finance professionals, it’s time to make a change. While it’s true anyone can be a great networking source, you have to be laser-focused when you’re looking for a job. You have heard me say time and time again to get out and build networks and relationships. You can’t just turn to people when you need work. Cultivate those relationships so that when you are in need, people are more receptive and empathetic towards you.
Get out and get known online and offline. Do something to showcase your expertise (podcasts, blogs, guest articles, etc) so people become familiar with you in advance of meeting you. Recruiters are looking at those things more than you know. Social media is very powerful and it levels the playing field not just for building your brand, but also for connecting you with the right people. Show them what you’ve got and don’t be shy about it. You want recruiters coming to you, not to chase after jobs and recruiters. Getting known and networked can increase your odds of getting in front of recruiters.
Make a way out of no way
Create a job opportunity. Yes, that’s what I said. Research companies you want to work with and identify their sore points where you know you could provide the solution. Speak to the hiring manager, department manager, etc (not HR) and ask to meet with them to network. During the conversation mention their problem and ask for clarification on what ails them. Then offer some (generic) solutions by giving them the what and the why of what they need, but not the how…that’s where you come into play. If they seem interested in hearing more, ask for an interview.
I have a feeling many of you are going to job boards and applying for everything you are interested in. Some (not all, but some) companies have no intention of filling the jobs, only building a database of candidates. It does you no good because the jobs some times don’t really exist. So here’s what you can do to circumvent that. If you choose to apply any way, find out who you need to get in front of that matters and go through them first to let them know you’re interested. Then apply online per protocol. Once you’ve followed procedure, then take matters into your own hands. Make sure you back that application up with some roll up your sleeves, investigative work to connect with the true hiring manager. Express your interest in the position, let them know you’ve applied per protocol and make sure it gets to the right people. You just never know in this day of technology and applicant tracking so it’s up to YOU to do the due diligence if you really want the job. Focus your energy on the departments you have an interest in. Find out where they are deficient and need real help. In other words, use your application for one position as a bridge to finding out about other positions that may or may not yet be available, but you are well qualified for.
Don’t take that to mean if you’re a receptionist you should apply for an engineering position (unless you have those skills). But figure out where you could fit in, then make your case to the hiring manager why they need you. This can include preparing a proposal, pitching ideas (not the full idea, just an outline to wet their whistle), and even writing a letter of intent to let them know you are interested. Don’t ever leave it at just applying for a job.
What are you doing wrong?
If you’re getting interviews but no offers, ask someone to do mock interviews with you so you can identify the problem(s) and correct where necessary. Don’t be afraid to connect with agency recruiters who specialize in your field. I have to also mention if you are applying online the hiring manager will not see that application in most cases. The recruiter will be screening out candidates and most times will not send the cover letter. You still need to include one, but don’t assume they will see it. That’s why I suggested finding out who the hiring manager or department head is and contact them directly.
And what’s coming up when you Google yourself? Make sure you’re building a strong professional brand for yourself. You want to be sure nothing negative is coming up. You don’t want NOTHING coming up about you (zilch, zero), so make sure to document your professional achievements and expertise online. Make it easy for recruiters to find you.
If you want a job you have to go above and beyond the norm. Tactics of yesterday (apply and pray) won’t work today. Make sure you are giving yourself every advantage to land that job you want.
Til next time.
Adrienne Graham
It’s a jungle out there
Check out my new book Get Recruited: Secrets from a Top Recruiter on Using Unconventional Tactics to Get Noticed in an Inconvenient Economy in paperback or on Kindle! While you’re at it, order your paperback copy of No, You Can’t Pick My Brain. Or if you can’t wait, get it on Amazon Kindle.
Do you like this article and want to reprint or share? You can, as long as you include this in its entirety:
Adrienne Graham is the Founder & CEO of Empower Me! Corporation (www.empowerme.org). She is a strategist that helps people grow their career, business or network in any economy. She is the voice behind Views from the Top Radio Show, and the creative visionary behind Empower Me! Institute and Empower Me! Magazine. Her writing and shows focus on Career Management, Networking Strategies, Entrepreneurial Success and Small Business Management. You can also find her causing a ruckus on Forbes.com.
