Building Your Personal Communications Plan, Part 2

Building Your Personal Communications Plan, Part 2Building Your Personal Communications Plan, Part 2Start spreading your personal brand message through these three communications tools.Welcome back Last week, we learned how important it is for you to have a unique, clear message to share with people who can help you reach your goals and achieve success. To build your personal communications plan, you must first articulate what youd like to say and to whom youll say it.Your message should demonstrate your unique promise of value. It should be authentic, differentiated, consistent, compelling and aspirational. Then, identify your target audience. These are the people who can help you find success. Once youve figured out what to say, and to whom, you can start spreading your message through these three communications tools.Standard career absatzwirtschaft materials Your standard career marketing tools are essential to your success. They include your resume (CV), cover letter, bio and pr ofessionally taken head shot. Keep them up to date, make them reflect your uniqueness and ensure that they are compelling to hiring managers and executive recruiters. The content, format and delivery must reinforce your personal brand.Online communications As the world becomes more virtual, your on-line identity becomes more important to your success. So face it, youre going to be googled. 61 percent of recruiters say they google candidates and 23 percent of professionals in the workplace google their colleagues, managers, clients, etc. You need to ensure your zugnglich identity is consistent with your personal brand, compelling to hiring managers, executive recruiters and other members of your target audience and current.The best way to ensure your online identity is congruent with your off-line identity is to build your own Web site or blog. This gives you control over the message that is being communicated about you. If you are not quite ready for your own space on the Web, you c an build your online identity through existing Web sites. Posting comments to blogs that address relevant topics and posting online book reviews are great ways to build your virtual identity.Your standard communications and online communications tools are essential. Without them, you wont get in to see an executive recruiter and you wont be considered a candidate for a job. But those are just the table stakes that get you into the game you need to layer other expressions of your unique value that will separate you from the pack. These advanced communications tools are your executive brand communications.Executive Brand Communications As a career-minded executive, you need to make a proactive plan to build your executive brand through all forms of communications including writing articles, delivering presentations, writing white papers, authoring books, taking on board positions with organizations, etc.The key to effective executive communications is to build your annual media plan. Just as companies and organizations of all types have annual media plans, so should you. You can then pursue all of these communications activities to ensure your message is heard and appreciated by all the members of your target audience.Heres an example of a media plan for one of my clients who is a senior director of marketing in a healthcare companyDeliver a presentation at the healthcare marketing conferenceWrite two articles for MarketingProfsWrite one article for Brandchannel.comDeliver a presentation to my local AMA chapterContribute comments every week to my two favorite marketing blogsWrite a white paper about the role of viral marketing in the field of pharmaceuticalsPublish an article about marketing on my favorite healthcare portalUpdate my resume to reflect the recent project I will launch in AprilGet updated professional head shot takenDecide on the topic for my blog and initiate the blog by mid-year. Prepare at least 12 posts before launching.Run for the board of the local healthcare communications societyFind a co-author for my bookUpdate the look and feel of my career marketing materials so they reflect my brand attributes of visionary, futurist and creativeIf you havent built your communications plan yet, nows the time to do it. Remember, before you put pen to paper or finger to key, think about what you want to say and who it is who needs to hear your message. Then go off communicating clearly and consistently and watch your success expand.

10 Reasons to Choose a Career in Law

10 Reasons to Choose a Career in Law10 Reasons to Choose a Career in LawA career in law can be intellectually challenging, personally fulfilling and financially rewarding. Below are tenreasons to choose a career in the legal profession. 01Diverse Legal Career Options andresr / Getty ImagesThe legal profession is continually changing and evolving, bringing new challenges and rewards. Legal professionals must be problem-solvers and innovators, willing to assume new responsibilities, tackle new challenges, master new technology and navigate an ever-evolving legal system. This dynamic legal landscape makes each day unique and fosters an enjoyable, fulfilling work experience.

These are the best practices for leaving early

These are the best practices for leaving earlyThese are the best practices for leaving earlyA well-defined plan for leaving early today will facilitate many additional hours of time away from work where you can optimize doing absolutely anything else. Hone your leaving early today skillset (LETS) with unterstellung best practices to help you slip out undetected nearly every day of the week.1. Craft a story, tell no oneMake a mind map to generate ten unique yet believable reasons you need to leave work early. Challenge yourself beyond the usual not feeling well, or my kid needs me. If you are going to really be a practitioner of leaving early you need an arsenal of stories along the lines of The rash on my thigh is bleeding again. Tell no one this story. Honesty and transparency are for the accounting department. You can only speak these stories if you are caught in the act.2. Leave undetectedYou might be tempted to say good-bye to your coworkers and tell the story you so carefully co nstructed in 1. But you cant. People seeing you leave is evidence you are not there. So, to leave undetected make sure to park away from any windows, slip out the back door and leave your coat on your chair. Who cares if its cold outside, this is about leaving early. Extra credit goes to leaving your purse at your cubicle too, just grab your wallet and GTFO.3. Set the stageDont pretend your degree in theatrical stagecraft is useless. Use your desk to show that you must have just stepped away to the restroom. Leave a pen uncapped, notebook open and a half cup of coffee waiting for your return. Keep your computer on, even better create a screensaver that looks like your desktop. Leave a half-eaten sandwich out, who cares if it attracts mice, youre not there.4. Know your enemiesDo your due diligence. Be proactive and observant. Does the Executive staff meet offsite once a month? Do you have access to your supervisors outlook calendar? Is there a Tuesday 5th grade soccer game your CEO l eaves early for every week? Any time you leave after the anfhrer has already left counts as a full day even if he left at 10am to go have that vasectomy.5. Pretend youre still thereKeep yourself on the hard at work radar by scheduling an email to be sent out at 515pm. Not only will it look like you are on task but it also shows that you are working late, which means you can also leave early tomorrow.Heather Meyer is a comedy writer, playwright, and performer. Shes onTwitterandMedium.Thissatire piecefirst appeared onThe Cooper Review.

Get Answers to Tough Reporter Questions

Get Answers to Tough Reporter QuestionsGet Answers to Tough Reporter QuestionsSome people make their mark in media by asking tough reporter questions. In days gone by, it was Mike Wallace or Sam Donaldson. These days, you expect hard-hitting reporter questions from people like Bill OReilly or Rachel Maddow. fruchtwein reporters will be confronted with situations requiring them to make an aggressive push for information.Know how to prepare yourself so you can be polite, yet persistent in getting the answers you want, especially in a combative nachrichten situation. Uncovering Your Motivation When a news reporter prepares to ask tough questions in an interview, she should ask herself about her motives. To be fair to the person being interviewed, the motivation should be to get answers, not an argument. A TV reporter faces an additional challenge. A person who feels ambushed by overly-aggressive reporter questions will often say hes the victim of caught on camera journalism that sim ply seeks to record him squirming when the red light comes on. If youre accused of unprofessional behavior, plan your response. A politician may claim you have a political bias in attacking him. Decide how you will refute that phony defense. Planning Your Interview Youre just a few hours away from seeing the mayor face-to-face to ask about the city scandal that everyone in town is talking about. That is everyone but him. Decide now when in the interview to ask the tough questions and how. Timing is critical in getting information. If you think youll have a 20-minute interview, asking about the scandal can wait until after youve asked some harmless questions about the future of the city, his leadership plans and other items that will put him at ease. If you barge into his office demanding a response about the scandal, you might be asked to leave before you even sit down. Its not worth jeopardizing your long-term relationship with the mayor. But there are times when the tough ques tions cant wait. Your shot at talking to the mayor may come as hes walking down the hallway. In that case, you need to get him to stop briefly and ask your question. If youre doing a live TV interview, you may only get two minutes of airtime. That might allow for one set-up question before you are forced to ask about the scandal. Visualizing how you want the interview to proceed is key. A TV interview is sometimes easier than one for print because any politician should know that the camera is recording his every move. If he puts his hand over the lens, that video will be shown endlessly to the towns viewers. Phrasing What You Want to Ask Be careful in the wording of your tough questions. That can make all the difference in whether you get answers. Did you take bribes? will immediately put a person on the defensive. If he thinks you wont treat him fairly during the interview or in writing your story, he will be less likely to engage you in conversation. Instead, you can ask, Your critics accuse you of taking bribes. What would you say to those people? removes you personally from the question. Youve asked for the same information but in a less threatening way. The late Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes established himself as a TV personality for his blunt interviewing skills, which occasionally made him sound more like a district attorney than a journalist. While that put him on the list of the 10 TV legends, its often much easier to get answers when you take a softer tone. Defending Yourself From Attacks The easiest way for a person being interviewed to deflect your tough questions is to attack you. Be persistent in pressing for answers. One response is for the person to say, Ive answered that question many times. I cant believe you think thats news. Quick research before the interview will help you say, Youve talked about the scandal, but you havent said whether youre involved. Thats what Im asking now. Heres another response. You people should be out reporti ng the real news that goes on in town, instead of just criticizing me. Im trying to make our city better and you dont care. You can say, We covered your groundbreaking of the new park just yesterday. This is news because people in town want to know how youre spending their tax dollars. Now a final common response you may hear. Its obvious you want me to lose my re-election. You and your lousy paper have always been against me. But the people at home know youre biased. Thats why a lot of them stopped subscribing to your horrible news rag. It will be hard to reason with someone whos that upset. If you think hes listening, you can say, Were not biased. Were giving you the chance to speak. People are talking about this scandal and are hopeful youll say something about it. Its crucial that you stay calm, even if youre boiling with rage inside. Getting the answers you seek is more important than venting your personal frustrations. Ensuring That Youre Fair Youve planned out the mechani cs of the interview. Now is time to run through a checklist of media ethics to make sure youre being fair to the person wholl be faced with your questions. Before you set off on an ambush interview, give the person reasonable opportunities to sit down with you in a professional setting. Strive to set up an appointment at the persons office before jabbing a microphone in his face while hes coming out of a church. If the mayor is accused of a scandal, its likely that everyone in town has jumped to the conclusion that he must be guilty. People like to gossip, especially about those in the public eye. As a journalist, you cant get caught up in that buzz. Remember, the mayor could be the victim of a smear campaign and may be innocent. Be open-minded in seeking information. Just because youve confirmed the mayor once played golf with a powerful businessman whos accused of bribing him doesnt mean he took a bribe. Perhaps he was assigned to be golf buddies with the business tycoon at a char ity golf tournament. Seeking a smoking gun can often blind you to facts that contradict your assumptions. Some reporters can build their entire news careers on conducting compelling interviews. Master the art of asking tough reporter questions so you can join them.

Six Types of Promotional Brochures

Six Types of Promotional BrochuresSix Types of Promotional BrochuresJust as there are many different fonts of TV ads, websites, direct mail packs, and radio ads, there are also different types of brochures. Knowing the different incarnations of brochures, and when to deploy them, can make the difference between a sale, an enquiry, or a lost customer. Brochures usually come into play so you can make a smart buying decision. As someone whose business depends on selling a product or service, knowing what type of brochure you need to advertise your products and services is critical. So, get to know the following five brochure types, and use each according to your sales strategy. Leave-Behinds This type of brochure is self-explanatory its literally the one you leave behind after meeting a potential customeror client. You will already have had a conversation (hopefully a successful one) with the customer, talking about the benefits, pricing, and availability of your product or service. Now, as you exit the door, you want to leave an excellent impression, with a brochure that gives as much information as possible in a convincing way. Summarize your sales pitch to echo the one you just gave. Mirror what you said, concisely, and the elaborate on the more complex details that are hard to memorize. This is where you can do side-by-side comparisons of price points, especially between your product and your competitors. Long after you have said goodbye, the leave-behind has to keep up the work you started, so make it a good one. Respond to Inquiries You have sparked the customers interest, either through a radio or TV ad, an outdoor campaign, or even something on social media. The first step, the hardest, is done. You got their attention, and they actually want to know more. Now is the time to wow them. This brochure is a hybrid of the Point-Of-Sale and Leave-Behind, and goes out to people known as qualified buyers. Why qualified? Well, theyre a warm prospect, as opp osed to a cold one. They have expressed an interest in you, as opposed to someone you have to contact. Since they clearly know a little about you, write this brochure to take your prospect to the next step the buying process. Hammer home all of your sales points andpack your brochure with factsto convince them they cant live without your product. Handouts Sometimes, you will leid have access to a physical location, like a showroom or countertop. But, you also wont have a customers contact information, so in that case, you cannot email them a PDF, mail them a brochure, or leave them a brochure after a meeting. When you come up against this problem, you will need to design a handout brochure that can do a lot of heavy lifting. This kind of brochure is not easy. It has to attract people to look inside, so it needs a lot of the wow factor. You may have to spend some money on good paper stock, special printing techniques, and a top-notch designer. However, getting a complete strange r not only to take your brochure, but open it, read it, and hold onto it, is a challenge. Thats when a skilled copywriter is invaluable. You need to hold the prospects attention, from the front titelseite to the final contact us page. Make sure the brochure tells a story concisely, and fill it with powerful imagery and compelling facts and figures. Also, blank space is your friend. Pages bogged down with a copy will only make your prospect feel like they have a mountain to climb. Its possible you may want to combine elements from some of the brochures on this page to create this handout. A Point-of-sale brochure, combined with a leave behind, will be an effective handout if done correctly. And of course, if you get the chance, employ skilled salespeople to hand out the brochure and engage the prospect in a conversation. Point-of-Sale Also know as point-of-purchase, this brochure is the kind you will encounter as you enter a building, trade show, or store. It is placed at a conv enient, eye-catching height, and is designed to draw you in and make you want to know more. This brochure is not a tell-all story. Its more like a trailer for a movie. It gets you interested, but its a conversation starter. For example, you might encounter several of these brochures, or pamphlets, while standing in line at the bank. They will tell you about free business checking, home loans, auto loans, or special offers for opening credit cards. They are designed to get you to ask a teller more about the services, and they will then turn you over to a specialist who can open a specific account for you. You want these brochures to stand out. Pay close attention to the cover design. Write an enticing headline.Your goal is to get potential customers to see your brochure, be curious enough to pick it up and, most importantly, go on to purchase the product or service. Direct Mail For cold prospects, a brochure sent with a direct mail pack is ideal. This is the type of brochure has a lot of work to do. You are talking to someone who has no current interest in the product or service you are selling. It has to work hard to convert people into qualified buyers, and then customers. You want to concentrate on breaking through the clutter. Whats on the envelope? Whats on the brochure cover? Do you have something to send that could spark an interest, or make you more memorable than anyone else? And, when it comes down to it, a great direct mail letter can make all the difference, so learn how to write one. If you cant, employ an experienced copywriter. And whatever you do, dont send junk mail. It will not help your cause. Sales Support Tool Here, you are working in a similar zone and a leave-behind. The difference is, this type ofbrochurecan be used as a selling aid.Your salesperson uses these brochures to guide them through their sales pitch. They have larger pages, larger photos and larger headlines. They are designed to work hand-in-hand with a salespersons co nversations, and should not be overly-complex, or bare bones. They can also be used as a leave-behind, so if you are on a budget, consider how you can combine this and the leave-behind to do both jobs well. You could also use a handout in this situation, although it may be a touch copy-heavy. Ideally, your sales support tool will complement your sales persons pitch beautifully.

The Hidden Truth About Teachers Assistant Resume Exposed

The Hidden Truth About Teachers Assistant Resume Exposed The function of any teaching assistant is typically a highly responsible one. If you wish to turn into a graduate teaching assistant, you will want to register for a graduate degree program usually from an accredited university that provides a masters or doctorate. Furthermore, youre able to learn about education careers and search for teaching assistant jobs on Monster. By joining a masters or doctorate plan, you will discover graduate teaching assistant jobs available to assist teach undergraduates at the university. Or it may be that teaching is something that youve always wished to do. Dont forget your education is truly significant in a teaching resume. Special education students greatly gain from the usage of teacher assistants in a classroom atmosphere. Teachers also have to do the same if they need to get hired for a teaching job. Writing a good resume is key for landing work in the area of your selection. T here are 2 most common sorts of resumes. Writing a resume from scratch may be daunting job, no 2 ways about it. Your pals at Resume Companion are here in order to aid you with your transition. Creating an expert CV demands work, but its much easier to do when you have the correct tools and knowledge. Resumes dont have to be long. All About Teachers Assistant Resume Your line manager will normally be the man who will evaluate how youre progressing. For students that are just beginning, the assistant ensures they are conversant with numbers by taking them on numerical classes to allow them to make basic calculations. If youre seeking to use your previous career and techniques in your new job for a teacher, its worthwhile to remain in touch with former colleagues as a means of keeping current with whats happening in your industry. Or maybe youre just prepared for a fresh start in a new career. The Appeal of Teachers Assistant Resume Because your employer will request a dupli cate of your license once youre made an offer, you do not have to include your licensing number on your resume unless otherwise requested. Your resume actually decides what kind of questions youre going to be asked at an interview, which means you must make sure you create a resume that will gradually work in your favor. If youre, then you want to produce your objective statement highly compelling. Therefore, its important to compose a compelling objective statement that hits the target and creates a superior impression instantly. Even experienced teachers are needed to renew their licenses every certain number of years, and several enroll in supplementary training or greater education programs to advance their career. Assistants commonly offer additional instructional support to students with special requirements and students who require more aid in completing class work. Teaching assistants have to be excellent communicators that are patient, understanding, and compassionat e. Your objectives and strong points that youre willing to donate to the school or institute. Theres always a way for an excellent teacher to talk about their talents beyond the classroom. As stated by the BLS website, paraprofessionals play an essential role in special education classrooms. Whichever career direction you decide to go, you will need to reveal your qualifications and strengths in a clear, concise, and simple to read format. An overview of your overall abilities, achievements, and goals can certainly help your prospective employer to find a general part of you as an individual and as a prospective employee. The peak of your resume should includecritical keyword phrases and a fast snapshot of your core strengths, Leavy-Detrick states. Also, make certain that the projects and technical skills you include are related to the job youre applying for.

What NOT To Do With Your Small Business Social Media Strategy - Spark Hire

What NOT To Do With Your Small Business Social Media Strategy - Spark HireSocial media strategies can seem easy. You send a bunch of tweets, you make a bunch of Facebook friends, you become the master of social hiringright? Maybe not. When it comes to your social media hiring strategy, more is not always better. In fact, there are a few important donts when it comes to social hiring. Heres what NOT to do with your small geschftsleben social media strategy.Small business hiring can benefit greatly from social media. Its free, and it reaches a large audience when used appropriately. However, not all social media is right for your business. DONT skip the research on what social media outlet will work best for your business. Facebook is great because it allows your small business to have a conversation with fhigkeit candidates. However, LinkedIn is great for creating professional contacts with people who are interested in your company. Pinterest and Instagram are good choices for busines ses with graphic design interests, and Twitter is a great way to promote all of your small business hiring strategies.Once you have all of these social media outlets at your disposal, your small business hiring strategy depends on being proactive. DONT just react to negative comments about your company or its products. Use social media to attract followers who appreciate or enjoy your companys work. These fans are the greatest potential for future employees who care about and can contribute to your companys success.By being proactive and using the right social media tools for your small business hiring strategy, youre on the right track to some great social hiring. However, this advice also brings us to the biggest dont of all. DONT wing it. A good social hiring strategy involves choosing the right social media outlet for your small business hiring, and then setting a schedule that you can live with. Tweet, Facebook, Pin, etc. regularly, and respond to interaction from your follower s promptly. A good social media strategy can build a great talent pipeline for your small business, so DONT wait any longer to get startedWhats your biggest small business social media DONT? What annoys you the most about other small businesss social media? Or, do you know any other small businesses with a social media strategy that works? Leave a comment below, or send us a tweet sparkhireIMAGE Courtesy of Flickr bymkhmarketing