Show Your Job Search Some Love

Jennifer Fry
Careerminds Consultant

It's been a week since Valentine's Day has come and gone, and while you can be certain that many people made sure to show some extra attention to their significant others, the question remains about showing a little extra love to their job searches. Although the time has passed to present your Valentine with flowers and chocolate, it's never too late to go above and beyond during your career transition.
Certain steps to job search success go without saying-- compose a quality resume, research and seek out employers, network, etc.-- but there are a few extra measures that you can take to really give your job search some added attention.

• Create a blog. Share your knowledge with your professional community, and show it off to your potential employers. By maintaining a blog that focuses on information relevant to your field, you can become a thought leader, or the person that everyone in your industry turns to for the latest and greatest news and knowledge. What better way to impress an employer by providing a link to your own well-kept professional blog on your resume.
• Write guest posts. So maybe creating and maintaining our own blog sounds like a tough feat. That's ok. You can build up to that, or just get your name out there by writing guest posts for other people's blogs. Find a blog that is 1) relevant to your field, 2) well-written, 3) accepting guest entries, and get in contact with the administrator. Writing for a pre-established blog will help you make connections, and may help you find a job. Be sure to include a brief bio with contact information at the end of your post, and mention that you are seeking employment. You never know who may be reading!
• Find a mentor. Utilize your own network to find a professional who is willing to invest themselves in your search. An ideal mentor is someone who is currently working in a position similar to what you are aspiring to do, and whose network is relevant to your field. A good mentor can provide additional connections, great advice, and one-on-one attention.
• Seek feedback. Make use of your network, your friends and family, and the interviewers with whom you come into contact. Sometimes the truth can be hard to hear, but if you haven't found the success you've been looking for, constructive feedback may be just what you need to move forward.

It may be too late to romance your Valentine, but a little extra effort in your job search can never come too late.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.

8 Ways Your Resume Can Hurt Your Job Search (or What Not to Do)

Jennifer Fry
Careerminds Consultant

The day has come for Punxsutawney Phil to peek his head out of his burrow and let us know whether or not spring is right around the corner before retreating back into the ground. Regardless of what his shadow tells us about the season, there is something you, the professional in career transition can take from this groundhog's annual appearance: when it comes to your resume, there are some things that should stay out of sight.
Certain elements that you think make your resume unique or at least acceptable, or even those to which you don't really pay much attention could, in fact, be keeping your job search down-- underground, even. While creating or revising your resume, take a glance at these examples of what not to do.

1. Applying to a job for which you are not qualified. With the current state of the job market, it may be advisable to seek employment outside of your usual field, but no matter how you spin your qualifications, they're never going to get you a job that you're just not trained for.
2. Not explaining how skills translate to a new position. Keeping tip number one in mind, when applying to a position in a different, yet feasible field, you can't let your past job titles do all the talking. In fact, you should never let job titles do all the talking, but in this case, it is especially important to note on your resume just how your experience as a high school English teacher translates into applicable skills as a copyeditor, for instance.
3. Using a generic resume. It's been said time and again, so I'll spare you a lengthy explanation on this one. Every position requires a resume that is tailored especially for that job/field/company/etc.
4. Ignoring the details. The content is vital, of course, but being careless with format, font, spelling, etc. can really undermind all that great experience fairly easily. If it's a struggle to read, hiring managers, who are busy enough as it is, may be tempted to simply toss your resume aside.
5. Including irrelevant information. A generation or two back, it was common practice to include personal information such as physical characteristics, marital status, age and so forth on a resume. These days, it's a pretty major faux pas.
6. Using dull language. Boring verbs are resume killers, so try to stick to as many action verbs as you can. You didn't just "do" somthing; you "achieved" it. You didn't just "make" something; you "created" it.
7. Including low GPAs. If your GPA is below 3.00 (out of 4.00), you should reconsider listing it on your resume. If you've been out of school and working for several years, you should reconsider listing your education altogether.
8. Lying. Misrepresenting your skills, experience, education, etc. is a quick ticket on the fast track out of work. Remember, if you're not at all qualified, don't waste your time or that of the employer; instead, put your efforts to greater use by searching for other positions better suited to your skills.

Take this advice and use it to your job-searching advantage, otherwise you may be left reliving this Groundhog's Day over and over until you can resolve your resume mistakes.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.

5 Tips to Keep Your Job Search Organized

Jennifer Fry
Careerminds Consultant

There is a lot to keep track of during a job search, and, let's face it, we're only human. Without a little help, chances are, something is going to fall between the cracks, whether it be forgetting which employers have already been sent a copy of your resume or where you saved that file in the first place.
If you ask us, staying organized is among the key components in a successful job search, but actually getting organized and keeping everything that way could be easier said than done for some job seekers. Here are a few helpful tips to keep you and your career transition in order.

1. Establish a work space. If you've got a home office or even a desk, that would serve as a great headquarters for your job search operation, but if not, any space inside your home would work just as well. The idea is to keep all of your materials together, whether it be in a desk drawer, an accordion folder, or just neatly stacked on a table.
2. Choose a "shift". Identifying a time of day to work on your search will help you keep organized in regards to your schedule. You're busy just like everyone else, so setting aside a regular time of day specifically for your job search will help assure that you get a few tasks completed every day.
3. Make a to-do list. Sometimes, people find themselves not doing anything productive because they simply aren't sure what to do. By writing a daily/weekly/etc. to-do list, you'll know exactly what still needs to be done (i.e.: revise resume, contact hiring manager at Company XYZ, e-mail these contacts). This also works as a great motivator-- imagine that feeling of accomplishment it will bring each time you cross something off the list.
4. Create a record. There are several ways in which to keep a clear record of your progress: a hand-written list, a Word document, an Excel spreadsheet. It's up to you how to do it, but cataloging the employers/positions you want to contact, have contacted, need to follow up with, etc. will keep your job search moving forward. Log details such as: date you applied, company, contact person, position, action taken, interview time/date, next steps to be taken. Update this record as changes occur.
5. Keep one folder. Whether you're working with pen and paper, printed pages or computerized files, you'll need to create a folder on your computer's desktop or on your actual desktop that is designated for job search materials only. That way, everything you need will always be easy to access and store.

By keeping everything organized, your job search is likely to run much more smoothly, allowing you to stay on the right track without getting too stressed in the process.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.

Social Media Master Hits BM
New hire means great news for major brands

January 30, 2012, New York, NY- Public relations giant, Burson-Marsteller announced today that Jennifer Fry, University of Delaware graduate and master of media has joined its New York brand marketing team, and brands worldwide are cheering. After bringing success to multiple organizations from local non-profits to multi-national companies, Fry intends to try her hand at some of the world's largest brands represented by BM.

Her experience in both social and traditional media is what sparked the firm's interest. "Social media is huge, there's no denying that, but television and other platforms aren't going anywhere, either. Jennifer's experience in film and video makes her a valuable member of our team, not only because she knows the mechanics of creating visual media, but also because she understands 'the visual', altogether," Burson-Marsteller Chair of Global Brand Marketing, Lisa Travatello said. "Combine that with her understanding of social media as a vital PR and marketing tool, and we couldn't resist."



"Social media is not the wave of tomorrow," she stated. "It's the wave of today, and any brand that isn't online may as well not exist."

Her

Social Media & the Job Seeker

Jennifer Fry
Careerminds Consultant

You, the professional in career transition, have been told time and again to a) create a social networking profile or two, and b) make sure those profiles are fit to be seen by potential employers. Whether you have or have not followed this advice, the question may still remain as to why. Why should my social networking profiles matter in my job search? Because, simply put, employers are looking at them, and not just those that are intended for professional networking (i.e.: LinkedIn), either.
Before you can effectively edit your profile(s) for any potentially harmful content, you should know what employers are looking for, and we are here to tell you just that. Some research shows that anywhere between 45% and 91% of employers use social media to screen job candidates on a variety of both positive and negative criteria, and here is what those employers are looking at.

The Good-- yes! Employers are not only looking for incriminating photos of you from that wild weekend in Vegas. They're looking for all the great things you post, as well.

• Display of personality and good fit with the company.
• Profile supports professional qualifications.
• Profile showed candidate as creative.
• Candidate had good references posted by others.
• Profile showed good communication skills.
• Profile showed candidate as well-rounded.
• Candidate received awards and accolades.

The Bad (and the Ugly)-- now moving on to those incriminating photos and other things that could really damage your chances of being hired.

• Misrepresented professional qualifications.
• Posted inappropriate photos.
• Posted inappropriate comments.
• Posted negative comments about previous employers.
• Demonstrated poor communication skills.
• Posted content about drug-use.
• Made discriminatory comments.
• Posted content about alcohol-use.
• Shared confidential information from a previous employer.

If you have yet to do so, clean up your Twitter feed, revise your new Facebook timeline, put some work into your LinkedIn profile; armed with this information, you have a better idea of what to keep and what to toss. Remember, it's not only about getting rid of the bad, but also showing off the good, so don't be afraid to brag a little about professional accomplishments, request a reference from a connection or just show off your sparkling personality.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.

Avoiding Typos (or Being Your Own 'Spell Check')

Jennifer Fry
Careerminds Consultant

It's happened to the best of us: you're minding your own business, typing up a storm when, suddenly, it happens. One of those pesky red lines appears, highlighting a silly little typo, and you're forced to break your typing rhythm to right-click and choose the appropriate replacement. You think to yourself, "What  a hassle," but secretly, I bet you're thanking your computer for catching that glaring mistake for you.
There exists something, however, that may frustrate you even more: misspelled words or poor grammar that Spell Check doesn't catch-- gasp! Fear not, job seekers, because there is an easy solution to this potentially embarrassing problem.
Too often, we allow ourselves to get lost in our technology and forget all about the ways of the past-- do you think your parents had Spell Check? And they somehow wrote perfectly nice resumes and cover letters, and found jobs without it. Proofreading might feel obsolete, but I can't be the only one who's accidentally typed desert instead of dessert and found that Spell Check had done me no good. Desert is still a word, and that's all your computer knows. To help break us of our Spell Check dependency, here are a few proofreading tips that will help you construct a perfectly spelled and composed resume and cover letter.

1. Read a printed copy. Even if you're planning to e-mail the document to an employer or upload the file to a job board, it's easiest to proofread when you're looking at a hard copy. Not only does it allow you the opportunity to make notes on the page, but simply viewing the words in a different format may help you catch errors you'd previously overlooked.
2. Read out loud. When you actually have to say each word, you're less likely to skim over an error. Plus, some mistakes may be easier to hear than they would be to see.
3. Give yourself a break. After you've typed up your document, print it out and leave it there for an hour before reading it. This practice allows you a little time to forget what you've written, making it easier to see the actual words, not just what you think you wrote.
4. Read it backwards. This tip probably works for spelling mistakes only, not grammar, but in order to overcome your brain's own ability to correct small spelling errors as you read, start from the end and read word by word.
5. Be careful of homonyms. Accept and except; compliment and complement; two, to and too; the infamous their, there and they're. They all sound similar to one another, and they're all real words, so pay special attention to how you use them. Spell Check can only tell you whether or not you've typed a real word, not necessarily whether or not you've typed the right word.
6. Double-check numbers and names. If you're using figures and proper names, take a moment to check your facts to make sure 1,000 wasn't supposed to be 10,000, or Steven wasn't actually spelled Stephen.
7. Have someone else read it. Even if you have already proofread it, yourself, ask a friend or family member to read it, as well. A fresh set of eyes may immediately spot mistakes that you were able to overlook.
8. Keep a proofreading list. There are some mistakes that you are more prone to make than others. So, make future proofreading ventures run more smoothly by compiling a list of your own most commonly made errors and making sure to check for them on each document you create.

As the saying goes, nobody's perfect, but poorly written resumes and cover letters may be your job search's undoing. Misspelled words and improper grammar can damage your credibility in the eyes of a hiring manager, so take these simple steps to ensure that what they're paying attention to are your qualifications, not your typos.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.

Back to Basics: The Interview

Jennifer Fry
Careerminds Consultant

The third and final installment of our "Back to Basics" series deals with the third step in the job application process: the interview. You've composed a great cover letter, paired it with a well-tailored resume, and together, those documents have earned you some face time with the hiring manager-- great! But, of course, the work isn't over, yet.
An interview is the way that employers learn a little more about who you are and how you will fit the job beyond your resume, so some preparation is in order if you want to make a good impression-- and of course you do.

To prepare:

• Conduct a self-assessment. Know your skills, your strengths and weaknesses and consider how they may help or hinder you in fulfilling the position. Then, formulate ways in which to turn those negatives into positives, and/or be able to articulate how you have improved upon them in the past or plan to do so in the future.
• Research the employer. Learn about the company's history, mission and culture, and read up on any current news. Presumably, you will have done some research already so as to tailor your resume appropriately, so take advantage of Internet resources to help supplement that knowledge.
• Practice answering out loud. It's best to practice you responses to anticipated questions out loud as opposed to on paper. While something may sound good in your head, the written word and the spoken word often differ in terms of formality, among other things, so practicing aloud will allow you to prepared without sounding scripted.
• Know your resume. Prepare specific examples of skills and experiences that will provide greater detail to those listed on your resume; be sure to provide new or more thorough information than what's already written. Prepare a few supplemental examples that may not appear on your resume, as well.

The stages of a typical 30-minute interview:

• Breaking the ice (5 minutes). During this time, introductions are made and more casual conversation gets the interview started.
• Evaluating qualifications and fit (20 minutes). This is the main portion of the interview, the time during which questions are asked to address your experience, skills and the ways in which you will succeed in the company.
• Summary and questions (5 minutes). Now is the time for you, the candidate, to voice any questions you may have, so come prepared. Bearing your research in mind, come with 3 to 4 questions to ask-- you don't need to ask them all, and don't ask anything that has already been answered during the interview or in your research. Also ask for a timeline of the hiring process if the interviewer has not mentioned it. After your questions have been answered, be sure to restate your interest in the position and thank the interview for his/her time.
• After the interview, take the time to compose a thank you note/e-mail to everyone with whom you spent a significant amount of time, and be sure to follow up, keeping in mind the hiring timeline you were given.

A few additonal tips:

• First impressions are important in job interviews, so make sure you enter the office looking impressive. Dress appropriately and conduct yourself with poise.
• Be aware of typical interviewing methods, such as the behavioral interview, and know how to answer those questions well.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.

Back to Basics: The Resume

Jennifer Fry
Careerminds Consultant

Installation number two in our "Back to Basics" series focuses on what is likely the centerpiece of you job search tool kit: your resume. This is where a potential employer can find all the important information that indicates whether or not you've got what it takes to fill a position. So it's vital that you include all of that important information, otherwise, you may find yourself out of the running for a job you are qualified for only because your resume did not accurately reflect that.
In accordance with the title of this series, we'd like to keep things basic by providing for you a list of the essentials, all of the absolutely necessary elements of a resume.

• Identification Information: This includes your name (of course), current address, telephone number and e-mail address. For students or for those intending to move to a new city for work, it may be necessary to include two addresses: current and home, or current and local. Regarding telephone numbers, include the one you're most likely to answer. For most of us, this means our cell phone, so be sure to indicate that the number provided is a cell phone number.
• Profile: This component seems to have replaced the "objective" element of yesterday, and explains, in brief, who you are as a professional, your goals, your area(s) of expertise, etc.
• Education: Depending upon your age and/or how long it has been since graduation, you may feel free to leave this element off your resume. For relatively recent graduates, though, it is a necessary component, and for not so recent graduates in career transition, any additional, more recent training or certification may take its place.
• Experience: List all relevant work experience in reverse-chronological order, making sure to include your job title, the name of your employer, the dates employed (month and year started and finished are adequate), and a brief description of accomplishments not a job description. Your expected role in a position should be evident in the title; use this space to express what made you great at it.
• Skills: This is a fairly generic heading for any skills you have that are relevant to the position. These may include technical skills, computer skills, language skills, etc. If you feel it would display the information for clearly or effectively, you may want to create a separate section for a specific skill set (i.e.: Computer Skills).
• Activities/Involvement: This section may be especially useful for recent grads who may not have a lot of real-world experience, but who were involved in several activities around campus. That having been said, anyone can include this section if there are relevant items to include. If you are involved in a professional organization/club, for instance, this is where you'd put that information. This section may also be substituted with "Recognitions/Awards" if applicable.

• Additional Tips:

• The one page rule can be thrown out the window if you have several pages of pertinent experience-- just remember that your potential employer doesn't have time to read a whole book, so be concise and willing to edit out what you can (i.e.: old positions, irrelevant experience, etc).
• Fill in the white space. If you can see a lot of empty space on the page, rearrange items, play with the format and font or maybe even add a little more detail to previous positions until the margins are minimal. Too much white at the top, bottom or sides of the page can make the entire thing look bare.
• It's a relatively well-known tip, but in case you were unaware, do not include references with a resume and do not state "References Available" on a resume. If an employer would like for you to provide references or any other additional materials, he/she will request them and you can provide them separately.
• Remember to tailor your resume to the position. Do not submit a generic resume to every opening. Your skills, what details you include in your experience and so on will likely need to be adjusted to address the specific requirements of a position.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.

Back to Basics: The Cover Letter

Jennifer Fry
Careerminds Consultant

There's a lot of talk about why you should include a cover letter, when you should include a cover letter-- which is more or less always-- and so on, but rarely does anyone tell you exactly what to put in that all-important cover letter, and we're just as guilty as everyone else. But, no longer.
As the first installation of our "Back to Basics" series, we're here to clarify just what information you should include in a cover letter, the appropriate structure and formatting.
To begin, a cover letter is typically one page in length; unlike a resume which can justifiably take up several pages depending on a person's experience, a cover letter should act as a fairly brief introduction of yourself, your interest in a position/company, and your experience and goals. Upon writing your letter, organize this information into a opening, middle and closing; the "middle" section can be broken down into more than on paragraph if need be.

Beginning:

• Hard-hitting first line-- get the reader's attention with something unique and interesting. Avoid boring and/or generic statements.
• Explain why you are writing-- keep in mind that this will be different if you are applying for a position or simply inquiring about possible openings, for instance.
• If there is a position open, or if you have a specific position in mind, include that information.
• Let the reader know where or how you heard about the company and the position.

Middle:

• Describe relevant qualifications-- expand upon what you've included on your resume.
• Detail additional relevant information that you may not have included on your resume.
• Be sure to directly relate your skills and experience to the requirements of the position and the goals of the company.
• Provide brief specific examples of how you've effectively used your skills in the past.

Closing:

• Re-emphasize your objective-- why you're writing, what position.
• Clearly indicate a desire for further communication and/or for an interview-- be flexible with times and dates.
• Choose active ("I will call you") or passive ("I will wait to hear from you") language, but regardless of which you choose, always follow up.

A few added tips:

• If you send your resume via e-mail-- not uploaded to the company website or a job board-- the body of the e-mail is your cover letter. Do not leave the message blank and attach a cover letter as a file.
• If your cover letter is sent in hardcopy form-- through the mail, delivered in person, etc.-- be sure to use proper formatting for a formal letter. Include, in this order, your contact information, the date, the employer's address, a salutation, the body of the letter, and your signature. Refer to the example below for spacing.

So, now you can't say that you weren't sure what to write, and you'll have no reason not to include a unique cover letter for with every resume you submit.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.

Effectively Reaching Beyond Your Job Description

Jennifer Fry
Careerminds Consultant

It goes without saying-- or rather, it should-- that completing the duties detailed in your job description is always an expectation. The fact of the matter is, while your work should be appreciated, it most likely will not be specially rewarded unless it shows an extraordinary effort on your part.
Think of it this way: does the mailman get a bonus on his paycheck for every piece of mail he successfully delivers? Does a teacher get a promotion every time she teaches something new to her students? Of course not-- that's what they're expected to do. But, if that mailman were to finish his deliveries faster than the others, or add more stops to his route, it may be a different story.
The key to moving up the ladder lies beyond your job description, and here's how to go about effectively stretching beyond your normal responsibilities without stepping on anyone's toes in the process.

• Pretend You Have Two Jobs: The first job, of course, is the one you were hired for, the one spelled out in your job description. You perform this job well, but that does not count towards a raise, promotion, etc. because, remember, that's what you're expected to do, anyway. The second job, however, is what sets you apart and provides that above-and-beyond status that will qualify you for special rewards. In your second job, make it a point to talk to others with whom you do not work directly and ask how you can help them achieve their goals and how they can help with yours. The idea is to formulate a real plan for how these two teams or departments can collaborate to better achieve the goals of the company, and once this plan has been created, the two of you can pitch it to your boss.

This technique will presumably facilitate the employment of several others that can be used to good effect independently, as well.

• Make Friends In High Places: This does not imply that you should start sucking up to your boss-- that probably won't go over well with him/her or with your co-workers-- but you should make an honest effort to get to know people in other departments and/or in higher positions. These new friends may be willing to provide some insight into what other responsibilities you would have in the case of a promotion and may even be willing to offer advice on how to reach that goal. Additionally, you will be able to show your boss that you've taken initiative by learning about these other duties without being asked to.

• Learn New Skills: In conjunction with the previous tip, stepping beyond your comfort zone and into new learning experiences. Again, it will show your boss that you've taken initiative to learn something that can be beneficial to the company of your own accord. Something as simple as reading a new book by an expert in your field or staying ahead of the technology curve can put you in the position for advancement.
• Ask For More Responsiblities: So maybe you're not sure about taking on additional tasks on your own; that's ok. Approaching your employer to request more responsibility is just as effective as taking it upon yourself to find more to do. Asking for larger or more complicated tasks goes to show that you are truly invested in your work (and the company), and not just in getting a paycheck-- you're not asking for a promotion or a raise, after all, just additional responsibility. If all goes well, that new title and/or paycheck will be the result, anyway.

The lesson here is this: the duties listed in your job description should be thought of as the minimum. In order to receive greater compensation, you need to produce greater work. Take some initiative by reaching outside of your basic responsibilities and showing your boss that you've got what it takes to go above and beyond expectations to help the company achieve success, and you, too, will be successful.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.

7 Tips for the First 7 Seconds

Jennifer Fry
Careerminds Consultant

When you meet a new person, it takes them only 7 seconds, sometimes less to form an opinion of you, and as they say, you only get one first impression. During a time of career transition, you'll likely encounter a number of first impression opportunities (i.e.: making new connections at networking events, meeting a hiring manager for an interview, etc), and when a new job is at stake, you want to do all you can to establish a good first impression.
From the way you look to the way you speak and act, any number of components can contribute to the impression you make. Here are several to keep in mind.

• Presentation: You know the old adage, "don't judge a book by its cover," but unfortuantely, when it comes to first impressions, appearance does matter. The solution is to present yourself appropriately. Consider the environment into which you'll be going, and dress yourself accordingly; an interview at an accounting firm calls for different dress than cocktail hour with music industry pros, for instance. Use your best judgement to determine what's appropriate based on the industry or event, and from there, remember to appear well-groomed and tidy. A clean-shaven face or a little restraint with the makeup brush is never a bad choice.
• Mind Your Manners: A little old fashioned politeness never goes unappreciated, so remember your "pleases" and "thank yous," and don't stop there. Be attentive and interested at all times. Some of the best signals that you're paying attention are making eye contact, using non-verbal indicators to respond while others are speaking, and mirroring others' body language.
• Use Names: People like to hear their own names, so once you've been introduced, be sure to call a person by his/her name. Not only will this make the other person feel great, it will show them that you're genuinely interested in what they've said, even if it's just, "Hello my name is _____." Use names repeatedly in conversation, but don't go overboard, and if you get the chance to learn/use names of spouses, children, etc., go for it.
• Be Careful With Humor: Everyone loves a good joke, that's true, but not everyone has the same sense of humor. When you meet someone new, it's hard to know what they'll find funny, stupid, offensive, etc., so you'll need to be cautious. That's not to say you should be all business-- sharing a good laugh is a great way to break the ice or to build a social bond-- just be wary of topics that could be considered off-color, too personal, etc.

**First impressions don't always happen in person.**

• Leave Thoughtful Voicemails: If you're first impression is made through a message you leave on the phone, keep in mind that some formalities apply. If you're returning a call, respond promptly, preferably within 24 hours. State your name, the name of who you're trying to reach, the time and your phone number straight away. Explain the purpose for your call concisely-- no one wants to sit through a long, rambling voice message-- and repeat you phone number once more at the end. To avoid a game of phone tag, feel free to include a specific time at which you can be reached. Be sure to speak clearly and slightly slower than usual throughout.
• E-Mail Manners: Keep correspondence timely and concise. Try to respond to all e-mails within 24 hours-- it's been said that the most successful professionals are the most responsive-- and make good use of the subject line, getting the general point across in no more than five words. Include the most important information within the first few lines of the message, and keep the rest to a minimum unless greater detail is required/expected. Don't neglect proper spelling and grammar, and remember to sign your name at the end.
• Don't Neglect Your Social Network Profile: First impressions count online, too, and the best way to make a good one is to maintain your profile, be it on LinkedIn, Facebook, etc. Profiles without pictures or with incomplete or outdated information turn people off right away, so when you set up your account, fill everything out and include a tasteful picture-- think of this as your greeting to everyone who visits your profile.

Whether you're mingling at a networking event, introducing yourself to the HR representative who's conducting your interview, or hoping to make an important connection on LinkedIn, it's important that you get it right from the start. It only takes a matter of seconds to make a first impression, so be sure that each one counts.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.