Is self-employment right for you?

DEFINITION OF SELF-EMPLOYMENT: An individual who operates a business or profession as a sole proprietor, partner in a partnership, independent contractor, or consultant.

Of course, it seems like there are a lot of benefits to being self-employed–no boss to report to, you can set your own hours, the credit for your hard work belongs to you and so does all of the money that you earn.

Let’s take a further look at the advantages of self-employment.

1. Capacity to set your own hours so the rush hour traffic commutes may not be a part of your life anymore.
2. Freedom to take vacation time or sick time.
3. No boss or supervisor to answer to. You get to set the rules.
4. Freedom to create your own work environment.
5. You choose the projects to work on.
6. Ability to directly determine the value of your own work.
7. As a self-employed person, other than freelancers looking for clients, you don’t have to worry about searching for a job. You already have one!
8. With the exception of face-to-face interactions with clients and customers, you can work in your pajamas if feel like it.

But here is a flip side to self-employment that many people aren’t aware of.

1. When you chose to become self-employed, you are taking a substantial financial risk and you assume ALL the liabilities.
2. You lose the safety net of a guaranteed paycheck and benefits such as health insurance.
3. If you need start up capital, you may need collateral such as your home.
4. If you are used to living “large,” you’d better be prepared to change your spending habits.
5. If you are not working, you are not making money. If you are working by yourself there is zero money coming in when you take vacation or sick days.
6. You have the freedom to set your own hours but it is almost certain that your work hours will increase, possibly dramatically.
7. Because you’re working for yourself, you’re going to have to take care of everything yourself!
8. If anything goes awry, it’s your complete responsibility. The buck stops with you!

So what is the bottom line? Discipline and Commitment!

If you are disciplined enough to work long hours, able to tolerate risk, cope with the stress, handle the potential of failure, work well alone and figure out all of it on your own, then self-employment may be right for you.

©2009 – 2010 Cultivating Careers

~ If not, then maybe you should keep your current job or continue your search to work for someone else.

Taking Charge Of Your Career

Unless you’ve been living on a deserted island, you know that we are in an economic crises and the job market has been affected.

News Flash! The steps to taking charge of your career haven’t changed.

The first thing that you need to realize is that YOU are responsible for your career. It is all up to you to consider your objective, develop a plan and then follow through. In order to successfully reach your career goals, you have to take charge over them. Start to think of your career as your own private company and see yourself as the boss. As the boss, you make all of the decisions. On the route to building your “company” hopefully you will seek out the advice of people who have knowledge and experience. But, bottom-line, the decision and responsibility towards achieving your career goals is yours alone.

Right about now, you might be asking, “Where do I start?” (Unless my writing has bored you to sleep.) The answer is actually really simple. You start to begin creating a plan.

Take some time to think about your ultimate goal. At this stage, the most important thing that you need to realize is where you want to land. It may seem backwards but you can’t get to where you want to be until you know where that is. What do you want to achieve with your career? The answer to that question becomes your objective.

With your objective, you have now started your long-term plan. Take a pen to paper and write down your objective. Think about strategies towards achieving this goal. Do you need to overhaul your resume? Who do you know that is already established? Will you need to further your education? Incorporate those answers into your strategy. At this point you have your goal and direction towards it. Begin to set the priorities within your plan. As you move towards your goal, set time aside to review your plan. Review it regularly and prioritize your strategies.

Taking charge of your career is a job in itself. You have your plan to keep you on track but that alone isn’t going to get you to your objective. Remain informed of changes in your chosen career; maintain your professional self-presentation and network!

©2009 – 2010 Cultivating Careers

Geolocation Technology’s Latest Use

Although geolocation technology has been around since 1999 its use has recently exploded into the social networking scene. Not familiar with this technology?

Geolocation software is used to figure out the geographic location of another party. For example one geolocation approach is to identify a subject’s IP address. Then determine who the IP address has been assigned to, and finally locate the physical address of that person or persons. GT’s use in this manner can be extremely helpful to law enforcement agencies and protect consumers from fraud. But as always, there’s the flip side.

Geolocation isn’t used exclusively by law enforcement. Since geolocation software can get the information of user location, companies have long used geomarketing. Advertisements and content on a website are tailored to specific users. Have you ever noticed when you go to sites like Google or Yahoo, that the advertisements are targeted for your specific location?

Now this technology has crept its way into social media sites. The rise of Twitter has made it possible to share your up-to-the-minute location with the world. Taking Twitter one step further, location-based networking websites such as Foursquare and Gowalla have turned the process of sharing where you're at and what you're doing into a social game. Recently, even Facebook has gotten into the geolocation trend, announcing that it will unveil geolocation technology next month.

So why is location such a big deal? Considering that advertising is what makes social networking profitable, it's easy to see why location is the next big step for social media companies. Thanks to the rise of mobile phone technology, most social media users can now access the Internet 24 hours a day from practically any location. Because of this constant access, advertisers are in a unique position to connect with potential customers in a intensely personalized way. However, while there is great excitement over location-based technology from a marketing perspective, we as consumers need to be extremely concerned about our privacy and furthermore our safety.

If you're going to tweet that you're not at home, maybe you should invest in a good security system. One of the biggest criticisms of location-based social networking websites like Foursquare and Gowalla is that when users "check-in" at a destination, they are also unintentionally notifying the world that they are not at home. While this may not seem like a big deal at first, when you consider the possibility that criminals could monitor your status updates, the danger of over-sharing online becomes much more real.

If you use Twitter or Facebook with regularity, there is already a strong chance that your friends know your schedule and have a good idea on where you are throughout the day. When you factor in geolocation functionality, however, you may be taking your social networking one uncomfortable step too far. By allowing individuals to see where you are with precise geographic coordinates, you are practically asking the world to meet you while you're out. While it's unlikely that you have a stalker to worry about, there are bound to be people that you'd rather not bump into during the day. So why give them a chance to seek you out by sharing your exact location?

Ultimately, as with most Internet technologies, the value comes in location-based technology is how you choose to use it. Before you share your location maybe you should ask yourself why you are doing it. Is there a practical purpose for sharing your precise global coordinates? Think about sharing your location in the context of other information available about you online. Is your home address listed anywhere online? Have you shared anything online recently that might make you a more attractive target? If you just tweeted "Got paid today. Money is burning a hole in my pocket, so I'm going to XYZ bar on Main Street," you could be setting yourself up for trouble.

Sources: Wikipedia and ReputationDefender

©2010 Cultivating Careers

Job Sites by Industry

Creative and Tech: 

Krop

Dice

Executive:

The Ladders

6 Figure Jobs

Vault

Finance

Career Bank

eFinancial Careers

Government

USA Jobs

Healthcare

BioSpace

HealthCareerWeb

Hospitality

HCareers

Non-corporate

Snag A Job

Employment Guide

Nonprofit

The Nonprofit Center

Idealist

Regional

Jobing

Retail

Work In Retail

Spanish/English Speakers

LatPro

Veterans

VetJobs

©2010 Cultivating Careers 

10 Networking Sites for Jobseekers and Entrepreneurs

With the growing use of social networking by independent contractors and job seekers, there are a growing number of social networking sites refocusing toward that market. Many of us already utilize sites like Twitter and FaceBook to promote ourselves and LinkedIn to network with other professionals but there are a multitude of other sites that are worth checking out.

Biznik: A community of entrepreneurs and small businesses dedicated to helping each other succeed. Basic membership is free.

BrightFuse: Employers or clients can get an honest feel for a potential employee or contractor. Members are offered one-stop shopping to show off their talents. Membership is free.

Fast Pitch: A business network for professionals to market their business and make connections. Basic membership is free.

Networking For Professionals: A business network that combines online networking and real-life events. Pay to join.

PartnerUp: A community connecting small business owners and entrepreneurs. Basic membership is free.

Plaxo: An enhanced online address book tool for networking and staying in contact. Membership is free.

Ryze: A business networking community that allows users to organize themselves by interests and location. Basic membership is free.

StartupNation: A resource community for entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners. Basic membership is free.

Upspring – A social networking site for promotion and social networking. Membership is free.

Ziggs: Focused to the independent contractor or job seeker who wants to market themselves. Members can also develop or participate in private online communities with colleagues, friends, club members or charity teams. Basic membership is free.

©2010 YP Mazzulo

Your Good Name?

Heads up!

Your reputation is the best asset you have!

An excellent reputation is not something that is achieved overnight. It is the product of consistently good behavior, over time, and it is earned. Whether you realize it or not, you started to lay the groundwork for your professional reputation the day you began your very first job. You began to build that reputation through your actions. A good reputation is important no matter what kind of career you have or are working toward. What people think about you is frequently based on what they have heard even before they have met you.

Opportunities can come as a result of establishing and maintaining a good reputation. Your good reputation can help you to receive a recommendation for a job you want or an introduction to those who can help advance your career. The bottom line is that most people want to help and be associated with those who have good reputations.

However, one major mistake can significantly damage your reputation, leading to missed opportunities and making it difficult to restore other people’s confidence in you. Why am I writing about something that seems so obvious? Because I have seen how basically decent people can suffer after making some poor, often uncharacteristic, decisions. These mistakes are damaging. It takes a significant amount of time to rebuild relationships and repair a damaged reputation. Being cognizant of the potential mistakes and attempting to avoid them is well worth the effort, versus wasted time on damage control.

Each and every person that you interact with, online or IRL, is an opportunity to enhance your professional reputation. Insure that your interactions with people, online and IRL, are professional and responsible. You will be remembered based upon those interactions. The connections you make now, if they are positive, can last throughout your career.

To avoid reputation-damaging actions, here are a few pitfalls to pay attention to:

Be Conscientious About Your Online Activities

You need to be diligent about maintaining your Internet profiles and online presence. We all have diverse backgrounds. Opinions and actions will differ, misunderstandings will happen, and debates will occur. I have seen discussions, particularly those in online forums, that go awry when people are passionate about a topic. I’ve also seen actions online that would insure that I would never associate with certain people. Your best bet is to steer clear of those situations. You never know who is lurking online. Even though they may never post a message, important contacts could be forming impressions about you as a result of your actions and posts.

Do your online profiles and actions convey what you want employers to know about you? Search your name on the Internet to find out what is out there. Search for information about yourself on Google. Take a look at what is posted and ask yourself, “Would I want an employer to see this?” Remember that every piece of information that you post or that someone else posts about you, on the Internet, can last in cyber-space forever and employers are checking up on you online! Invest in setting your social networking profiles to private!

Honor Your Obligations And Balance Them

Over-promising, overextending, overestimating and overdoing do not allow you to show your best to others. Live a balanced life, take care of yourself, and develop a positive professional identity. Carefully selecting your activities and opportunities is one of the most important skills to master. Saying “no” and respectfully declining enticing opportunities will serve you much better than taking on a project only to end up quitting and letting people down once you are involved.

Be Genuine, Trustworthy and Loyal

Genuine people are credible. Credibility breeds trust and trustworthy people are loyal. A credible person is an expert due to his or her experience, qualifications, intelligence and skill set. Someone who is trustworthy is honest, fair, unselfish and caring. Loyal people are valued because they are faithful to a cause, ideal, custom or institution. The possession of these characteristics will enhance your reputation, while exclusions of the same are observed and damaging.

Give Credit Where Credit Is Due

Allowing others to shine when they’ve given you a helping-hand enhances your integrity. After all, nobody is successful without the assistance of others. It is important to acknowledge those who have had a part in your development and achievements. Reputable professionals understand that they never lose credit when they share the fame of their accomplishments with those who have helped them along the way.

In the end, a solid reputation cannot save you from your worst mistakes, but it can buy you understanding and time to respond properly so that others know that your mistake was out of the ordinary.

© 2009 YP Mazzulo

Online Networking Basics

Online networking is similar to face-to-face networking. Both situations have the same objective. They are simply executed differently.

In both situations the objective is to identify and approach individuals with whom you can cultivate beneficial professional relationships. Verbal communication and physical presence are the missing components in online networking. However, you still have the capacity to present yourself professionally. Furthermore, your network is not limited to a singular group of people. The prospects for your network reach across the globe.

The first step, even before you even begin to engage others, is to think about how to present yourself in the best professional manner. Begin with your profile! Sites such as BrightFuse, LinkedIn and Facebook, have tips to improve your profile. Keep in mind the people that you are looking to network with want to see the same professionalism from you. Be consistent on each individual site and watch the content of your tweets.

At this point, you will have your profile fairly well finished and you can begin to seek out members to invite into your network. Online networking is not always easy to start because it makes us vulnerable to others and pulls us out of our comfort zone. It doesn’t matter whether you are naturally outgoing or extremely shy. Acceptance and or rejection are as much a part of networking as is job interviewing.

As a beginner, you have lots of people to choose from. Be patient and be prepared to spend time developing your network. Set goals that work for you. You must realize that although most people will accept your contact request, not everyone will. Remember that it’s better to reach out to a handful of people than nobody at all. It’s better to focus on the quality of your network versus quantity.

As you build your network, you also need to maintain it. Keep in contact with those in your network and do not be afraid to disconnect with a member that doesn’t fit in with your goal. This is not a social situation! It is business! You need to conduct yourself as you would in a real life professional environment.

Groups are an excellent place to network and gather information. Before you join a group, ask yourself a few questions. Does the group fit in line with my career objective? Am I going to gain knowledge from this group? Will sharing my experiences be beneficial to the group?

Get rid of the “all about me” mindset and realize that there is no magical formula for finding a job. No matter how many people are willing to advise you or give you “leads”, the work towards achieving your goal is your responsibility.

Happy networking!

©2009-2010 YP Mazzulo

Top 5 Job Search Mistakes

1. Limiting your job search to the Internet.

After all is said and done, it is people who hire people. In our current economic situation, you cannot afford to limit your efforts to any singular place. The newspaper still has a classified section and face-to-face networking allows you the opportunity to meet potential employers/clients.

2. Expecting someone else to do the work.

Okay, so you’ve signed up for every job site that you can find, signed with a recruiter, and registered at several temp agencies. You cannot expect that employers/clients will seek you out or that your recruiter will have you at the top of the list and neither will the temp agencies. You have to be 100% proactive each and everyday. Set a specific time each day to check the job sites, call your recruiter, and the temp agencies. Don’t forget to follow up on leads and send a thank you note after an interview.

3. Overlooking networking opportunities and not being prepared for them.

Wherever you go you, is a potential opportunity to network! Have you heard of the “elevator speech?” Don’t be shy about telling people that you are looking for work. You don’t have to be obnoxious or sound desperate. Work it into a conversation and convey it in a positive tone! If you mention the fact that you’re seeking employment and you get a response, have an “on the spot speech” ready. Be specific and say what it is you are looking for. Remember to always carry your résumé with you! If you don’t have a business card, make a “calling card.” If you have software like Microsoft Publisher, make a “calling card” that has your name, phone number and email address on it. If you don’t have publishing software, Vistaprint is an inexpensive way to get cards made. A “calling card” makes it very convenient to exchange your contact information.

4. Hitting the launch button on a massive scale.

Blindly sending out your résumé in hopes that someone, somewhere will see it and call you for an interview is to say least, illogical. Most job sites utilize ATS (applicant tracking software). Read here to find out how ATS works. The bottom line on this one is that your résumé will end up “pigeon holed.” Also, you cannot customize your résumé to a particular employer/client or job.

5. Sending the wrong message.

You’ve joined a networking site and made a profile. Congratulations! Your email address is hotbunny@xyz.com or migthymuscles@xyz.com, your bio reads that you’re a single parent, have a cat named Twinkie, you enjoy long walks on the beach… Try to remember that it is a professional networking site. Create an email account specifically for your job search and keep your personal information, personal!

©2010 YP Mazzulo

Interview Killers

In today’s job market if you’ve won an interview, no matter your credentials, it was probably a hard win. So why blow the interview by committing a thoughtless mistake? You may believe that you’re aware of the obvious mistakes but it never hurts to double check.

~ Inappropriately dressed and groomed.You would think that most people would have a common sense approach towards dressing for an interview but you would be amazed. No matter what level of position you’re interviewing for, attention to your attire and grooming speaks volumes about your attention to detail. The first thing that I look at is a person’s nails. It may sound crazy but well-groomed nails are an indication of detail. How many of you just looked at nails?

~ Having a “you need me attitude.”Confidence is good—a dose of reality is better. Like or not it is an employer’s market. There are at least 100 other people just as qualified as you. Balance confidence and humility.

~ Having a “I need this job attitude.”Stand in line. So does everyone else. Desperation is hardly likely to appeal to anyone’s sense of philanthropy. You probably will leave a lasting impression but not the one you were hoping for.

~ Crickets.No matter how much research you have done about a company, it is impossible to have zero questions. When you leave that interview you probably are going to be remembered…as the idiot with no questions.

~ Horrible body language.Anxiously sitting forward as if you’re about to lunge on the interviewer or lounging in the chair and making yourself appear “way too much at home.”

~ Spilling it.Guess what? The Interviewer doesn’t care about your personal problems. Of course, if you start to “trash talk” your former employer or colleagues and just happen to share sensitive company information, the Interviewer might be interested in that, for their own use, but you won’t be getting an offer.

From my own archives:

Interviewing for an Administrative Assistant:

One candidate arrived 20 minutes late, dressed in a filthy sweat suit.(Impressive) I scanned a candidate’s resume as I was interviewing them and I saw that the candidate was currently employed. It was 10 a.m. in the morning and I wondered why this person wasn’t at work. So I asked, “Why aren’t you at work today?” Their answer, “I needed a day to myself.”( Yeah, don’t we all??? )

Next candidate. The very first words out of this person’s mouth, “How much does this job pay?” And then they proceeded to tell me,” I have a baby and I’m fighting with the father. Is there anyway for you to pay me under the table?”(Yes, I took the 2-martini lunch after that one.)

A recent graduate from the local Secretarial school was recommended to me. They had no previous experience and that was okay. The candidate arrived on time, perfect resume, well dressed. The first words out of the candidate’s mouth were, “I can’t work for less than $18/ hour.”(I have to give myself credit for waiting until after the candidate left, before I broke into uncontrollable laughter. )

Interviewing for a driver:

Clearly stated criteria: Valid Driver’s License and clean driving record is a must. I asked this candidate for their driver’s license and their response, “Oh, I don’t have a driver’s license. It got suspended because of a DUI but I’ll be getting it back in a few months.”(It goes without say, this person wasn’t hired.)

You may wonder why I shared a few stories with you. The interviews took place over 4 years ago and I can still remember the candidate’s names.


©2009-2010 YP Mazzulo

Have You Ever Searched Your Name In Cyberspace?

I have several blogs and contribute to a few others. When I log into my blogs, stats pop up and I’m always curious to see how people find my blog amongst the abyss of blogs. The stats list search terms that have been used. What caught my attention with this was finding that my name was in the search terms. Honestly, I’m not that interesting but this left me wondering why would anyone bother and what is out in cyberspace about the infamous me?

So I hit one of my favorite places online…Google! It’s very easy to google your name just make sure that you put your name in the search like this, “Your Name”. Amazing the amount of information that you will find. Every tweet, petition, online associations, almost everything that you have done online is there. You can research even further. Go to Pipl and the information that you’ll find there is just plain creepy. I found a list of items that I had purchased on Amazon.com., an old Ebay account and even a website that I’d built 9 years ago.

Cyberspace is continuous as are your activities and most people don’t have the time to continuously search themselves. Google offers a free service called Google Alerts. It’s very easy to set up, you can choose the terms to search for and the amount of times you want to have alerts emailed to you.

What can you do if you find something online about yourself that is erroneous or more then you’d like the world to read? You can write to the source, request that the information be removed and hope for the best. If you are really done with the cyber world and wish to make an exit, there is a service called Wed 2.0 Suicide Machine that eradicates your online existence.

Ultimately its probably best to just monitor yourself by using commonsense online.

©2010 YP Mazzulo

Expand Your Network And Join A Professional Association

International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)

Founded in 1970, The International Association of Business Communicators provides a professional network of over 15,500 business communication professionals in over 80 countries.

Travel Industry Association of America (TIA)

National, nonprofit association that serves as the unifying organization for all components of the U.S. travel industry.

Institute of Directors

Non-political business organization providing executive coaching, professional development, business advice, and information for directors, CEOs, and managers.

Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals

SCIP provides educational and networking opportunities to competitive intelligence professionals around the world.

American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)

ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership are two organizations linked together by a common belief and a common passion. We believe associations have the power to transform society for the better.

WorldatWork

Not-for-profit association dedicated to knowledge leadership in compensation, benefits, and total rewards.

Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply

An international education and qualification body representing purchasing and supply chain professionals.

United States Council for International Business

Addresses policy issues to promote an open system of world trade, finance, and investment in which business can flourish and contribute to economic growth, human welfare, and protection of the environment.

Association for Corporate Growth

For and about professionals involved in middle-market corporate growth, corporate development, and mergers and acquisitions.

National Black MBA Association

Involved in the creation of economic and intellectual wealth for the Black community.

International Association of Administrative Professionals

Official site for the nonprofit professional association promoting excellence among administrative professionals.

National Contract Management Association

Fosters the professional growth and educational advancement of its members and others in the contract management/procurement field.

Council of Logistics Management

Professional business organization information on programs, annual conferences, research publications, membership benefits, and professional development opportunities.

Business and Professional Women (BPW)

Advocate for working women.

International Customer Service Association

ICSA is dedicated to promoting the development and awareness of the customer service profession through networking, education and research.

National Association of Legal Secretaries

Providing accreditation, certification, training, education, seminars, accredited and certified examinations. Non-profit 20/20 Foundation.

LeTip International

Professional business leads/tips/referrals exchange organization.

Association of Contingency Planners (ACP)

The largest, most established organization of its kind in North America, ACP has become a unifying force for practitioners in the rapidly evolving field of business continuity.

National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries

Features a quarterly report of property indexes and several hot links.

National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents

Representing agents who do not take listings of any kind and provide services only to buyers.

National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA)

NSHMBA fosters Hispanic leadership through graduate management education and professional development in order

Open Source Solutions, Inc. (OSS)

International public information clearinghouse covering virtual intelligence, information peacekeeping, information strategy, and more.

Awards & Recognition Association

Organization for recognition specialists. Includes dealer directory, trade shows, and monthly journal.

International Society of Six Sigma Professionals

Organization dedicated to promoting the advancement of Six Sigma methodologies.

American Society of Corporate Secretaries, Inc.

Promotes and assists in the voluntary exchange of information and experiences relating to the duties, problems and practices of corporate secretaries and their companies.

International Publishing Management Association

Provides certification, publications, conferences, benchmarking studies, and research for in-house graphic design, print and mailing professionals.

C12 Group

The C12 Group helps Christian business owners and CEOs balance spiritual guidance with solid business advice. Join us if you are looking for like-minded people.

Paper Industry Management Association

Develops the management and leadership skills of pulp and paper industry professionals.

International Guild of Professional Consultants

IGPC is a global consulting organization and consultants' network offering services worldwide.

Chemical Resources & Management Association

Serving the chemical industry by promoting marketing management skills through education and professional interaction.

PEBA

Provides educational programs and opportunities to benefits, compensation, and human resource professionals.

National Association of Personnel Services

Represents permanent placement and temporary staffing firms.

American Management Association

membership-based management development and training organization.

©2010 YP Mazzulo

Maintaining Your Online Network & Professional Presence

Now that you’ve learned how to navigate an online business/social network site and you’ve begun to build contacts, how do maintain your online presence and relationships?

At the risk of being repetitive, be careful of what you post into cyberspace. Can this be said enough? I see seemingly intelligent professionals, post things online that I’m positive they would not want an employer or professional contact to read. If you are marketing your skills as a professional in a certain field then you need to stick to that objective and insure that your online actions reflect your objective.

The online connections that you make may run the gamut, as do mine. Each contact is important, even if the contact is not a member of your chosen profession. You’ve probably heard of the fictitious 6 degrees of separation theory, but it is not so far fetched. Make sure to take time to maintain your professional relationships and do not just let them sit there on your list. Send them a brief message and inquire about them. Do this on a consistent basis and cultivate those contacts.

©2009-2010 YP Mazzulo

Basics of Professionalism

I believe that it would be fair to say that most of us were taught some form of manners when we were growing up. From “sir” and “ma’am” to “please and “thank you.” These are little bits of etiquette that are deemed essential for proper social behavior. Unfortunately, sometimes these manners are dropped as we age or worse, deemed unnecessary. This attitude has trickled up to the business world and it seems that adherence to a professional atmosphere is being abandoned in favor of relaxed standards. I have put together a few things that I believe lead to a more professional approach.

Be Punctual. Sure it may seem basic, but arriving on time is a way to show your employer, co-workers and yourself that your appreciate and respect your job.

Address With Respect. Always show those around you that you recognize their accomplishments and positions in the company. You can easily do this without being a suck up; it never hurts to notice other’s achievements.

Keep A Neat Work Area. It is easy to get caught up in the “organized chaos” mentality by telling others that your work area is fine and YOU know where everything is, but a neat desk shows that you take pride in your self-presentation.

Work On Pronunciation. It may sound odd, but improving your speaking skills is a great way to sound like you know what you are talking about. Communicating correct information poorly still sounds incorrect. Speak Clearly.

Be Confident. This one is big. Being confident doesn’t mean act like you know everything. Rather be confident. If you are unsure of information, you are sure that you can get it. “I will get you that information,” sounds better than, “Um, I don’t know for sure” or “It is this way I think.” Be sure to convey it in your voice as well.

Listen Attentively. When someone is taking time to speak to you, or you are being given instructions, give them full attention. Be it your boss or the custodian telling you to watch a slippery floor, do them the courtesy of simply paying attention.

Dress Properly. I could write a novel about this one! You should adhere to dress code; the outfit that you wore to the nightclub is not appropriate for the office. Make sure that your shirt is tucked, all button/snaps fastened, zippers zipped, and flaps secured. Looking sloppy and unkempt projects that you are a sloppy employee.

Embrace Constructive Criticism. Yes this one is tough for all of us, but learning from mistakes is the best teacher. Hearing that you have made a mistake from others is often harder. Remember though, if the opinion is only for your benefit, you’ve nothing to gain but success.

Remember, no one is going to take you seriously if you don’t!

© 2009-2010 YP Mazzulo

Office Party Etiquette

The annual office holiday party or any office party for that matter is a business function. In spite of a “holiday cheer” wrapping, the annual office party is still a business function and those rules apply. People who are observing your behavior at the party will remember your actions. If you use it is an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to handle business situations of the social nature, you may be remembered when it’s time to choose someone to represent the company. You can just as easily use the annual office holiday party to advance your career as you can to cripple it. The number one way to ensure that you’ll be remembered in a highly negative light? Consume too much alcohol!

Be smart and take the opportunity to meet the owner or CEO and other executives within your company that you might not have met before, or have seldom had the opportunity to speak with. You don't have to spend all night at the event, but you do have to attend. Plan to arrive soon after the event is scheduled to start, everyone will be at the beginning and they won't have repeated the same small talk a million times yet.

First things first, find your host. Thank them and take advantage of the opportunity to chat, but don't monopolize their time. Socialize and introduce yourself to someone you don't know. It may turn out to be someone who can help you on that next project or just someone who turns out to be an interesting person. If you haven't eaten yet, go ahead and sample a few items from the buffet. Be sure to select things you can eat neatly, with one hand, while standing up. If you are consuming alcohol, choose foods high in starch and protein that will help slow the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream. Be mindful of the amount of alcohol you consume! It is a business event first and a party second. If there is a particular individual that you’ve been interested in meeting, do your homework ahead of time so you can speak with them about their division's newest release, or their favorite sports team, or the play you saw last week. You can talk business, but don't "talk shop". After an appropriate interval, excuse yourself and move on.

When you have spoken to all or most of the bosses, coworkers, and new people you planned to, gracefully leave. As you leave, thank your host for the enjoyable evening.

Most importantly, if you made any verbal commitments to any of the people at the holiday party, make sure to follow up on them. Write them down as soon as you get in the car or taxi.

©2009 –YP Mazzulo

Staying Positive During Your Job Search

After months of unemployment it is natural to feel frustrated and overwhelmed. The important issue is not to remain in a mental state of negativity and although you may not have control over your employment situation, you do have power toward your emotional well-being.

While job seeking is an obvious part of your daily routine, incorporating time for other interests is vital. How many times, while you were employed, did you say, “I wish that I had time for…?” View this period of unemployment as an opportunity.

Volunteer! It is rewarding for you and the recipient of service. Realizing that looking for a job can be a fulltime job in itself, making an effort to volunteer somewhere with in your community is multipurpose. You’re helping your community but you’re also receiving the benefit of sharing your skills and keeping those skills sharp. In regard to benefiting your employment, employers do look at your volunteer work and the availability to network through volunteering is huge.

Learn a new skill or brush up on your current ones. There are free online courses available such as GFC Learn Free, as well as, low or no cost courses available through your local community college.

Take the time to make face-to-face connections. You’ll probably find a section that lists all sorts of groups in your local newspaper. Quite a few of them are business oriented. Meetup.com lists every type of group that you can imagine. Don’t limit your networking solely to business-focused groups. If you have a hobby, join a group. You may just meet someone who can lead to your next job.

©2009-2010 – YP Mazzulo

Company Research Resources

I have always believed that if you want a job in a particular industry or company, you better do your research. Why do I believe this? First hand experience! It also senses to reason that with information about an industry or job, you’ll be better equipped to make appropriate career decisions.

Below is a list of resources to research companies and industries courtesy of About.com. Just a note, I had to try out each site before I could recommend it plus admittedly I like to play on the Internet.

About.com states that Newslink contains over 8,000 links to the Web sites of newspapers, magazines, T.V. and radio stations. I can’t confirm 8,000 but I spent at least an hour on the site and found not only general news but also industry specific news.

On the American City Business Journals site you can search for company information from cities across the U.S.

About.com states that Businesswire updates business news on the hour and that free registration is required. Although I did find some information the site is overrun with ads.

CNN. Obviously you’ll find current business news and if you’re disciplined enough to not click on the gossip, you’re safe.

Corporate Financials Online has up to the minute information and that’s the good news, the bad news, U.S. Unemployment Rate in February, the number of unemployed persons, at 14.9 million, was essentially unchanged, and the unemployment rate remained at 9.7 percent.

Ci - Corporateinformation advertises “free reports.” Pass on this one.

Edgar Database of Corporate Information. All companies, foreign and domestic, are required to file registration statements, periodic reports, and other forms electronically through EDGAR. Anyone can access and download this information for free.

©2009-2010 YP Mazzulo

Thoughts On Resumes

Everyone seems to debate over a particular format of resume. Each debate never ends with a clear answer.

Attempting to take a logical approach and looking at the facts:

1. There are more people then jobs.


2. Hiring Managers get inundated with resumes.


3. There average time spent scanning a resume is 2 minutes.


4. Hiring Managers scan for key words.

(Keep those 4 things in mind.)

You, the unemployed person, is spinning your wheels by sending the same information (no matter the format of resume) to 100 different employers.

How about researching each and every company for their style? It might lead to a clearer perspective of what key words the Hiring Manager is seeking.

Yep, you’re going to invest time into a bit of research. During that time spent on research, you may find out that you don’t want to work for a particular employer or you lack what the employer is seeking. Maybe that’s a better investment into your job search versus killing trees on wasted paper.

©2009 – 2010 YP Mazzulo

360° View Job Search

Financial issues aren’t the only ones that go along with unemployment. Feelings of frustration, inadequacy, isolation and depression can also begin to emerge. You can head off some of these emotional issues by being self-aware and proactive. As with any stressful life issue, it’s paramount to make sure that we surround ourselves with family and friends. It is also helpful to seek out others experiencing the same issue. Groups, such as the ones found on LinkedIn, are a good place for those dealing with unemployment and job searching.
The Internet is an excellent avenue in which to set a professional presence. Investing time in a professional profile and seeking online contacts set the stage but those things alone will not get you employment. You need to approach your job search from several sides.

First, take a look at yourself. Make sure that the licenses and certifications that you have are up to date. Do you have any transferable skills? What was applicable in your previous employment may not currently be useful. If you are seeking to brush up on or learn new skills, check out GFC Learn Free. Getting a little insight about your personality is also useful. Take a mini personality test.

Gather information from multiple sources. The Internet is good but what about reading the business section of the newspaper or listening to business programs? Companies that are hiring utilize multiple outlets and so should you. The newspaper and business programs will feature companies that are doing well and industries that have new ideas and projects.

Be prepared at all times. Don’t be shy about telling people that you are looking for work. Wherever you go you, tell people that you are seeking employment opportunities. Don’t say, “I’m looking for work right now.” Give it a spin, “I’m looking for my next best opportunity.” Work it into a conversation and convey it in a positive tone! If you mention the fact that you’re seeking employment and you get a response, have an “on the spot speech” ready. Be specific and say what it is you are looking for. Remember to always carry your resume with you! If you don’t have a business card, make a “calling card.” If you have software like Microsoft Publisher, make a “calling card” that has your name, phone number and email address on it. If you don’t have publishing software, Vistaprint is an inexpensive way to get cards made. A “calling card” makes it very convenient to exchange your contact information.

Networking is essential to job seeking and one’s career. I have done this throughout my career and am fortunate to have some awesome contacts to call upon. Take the time to make face-to-face connections. You’ll probably find a section that lists all sorts of groups in your local newspaper. Quite a few of them are business oriented. Meetup.com lists every type of group that you can imagine. Don’t limit your networking solely to business-focused groups. If you have a hobby, join a group. You may just meet someone who can lead to your next job.

Volunteer! It is so rewarding for both the volunteer and the recipient of service. Realizing that looking for a job can be a fulltime job in itself, making an effort to volunteer somewhere with in your community is multipurpose. You’re helping your community but you’re also receiving the benefit of sharing your skills and keeping those skills sharp. In regard to benefiting your employment, employers do look at your volunteer work and the availability to network through volunteering is huge.

Employers/Hiring Managers can receive hundreds of résumés for one position. This makes it difficult to get noticed. Get a little creative. Experiment with different styles of résumés and ways to deliver that résumé.

In a tough economy, no one can afford be passive about their job search. Our current job market is tight but not necessarily hopeless.

©2009 Cultivating Careers