Good Afternoon,
I am requesting that the T.A.P. experts look at my Personal Brand.
You requested the following...
LinkedIn
Facebook
Twitter
Thank you in advance...
Michael D. Lewis
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Michael,
I was surprised to see your request to be part of the 'Am I Money' program. As a recruiter, I would assume you must have your own opinions on what makes a great personal brand. And yet, I admire you because it shows you are interested in gaining others' perspective. (A sign of a great recruiter!)
Moreover, it didn't surprise me that you:
A) have such an extensive number of networking connections, and
B) have a large number of recommendations as well.
Overall, I'm going to say you have incredible "money" potential, but there are a few things that would be worth tweaking. So, I'm going to give you a 4.0 to start and offer these observations and suggestions for you to consider:
RE Pictures - An on-line brand needs consistency visually. Your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn photos are all different. I'd suggest finding one picture that works for all three. Also, if you must use different photos, it's best to use headshots from the same angle and with you looking directly at the camera so viewers can be certain you are the same person. Make it easy on HR/hiring manager looking at your candidacy by letting them visually validate they are looking at the right profile. Picture consistency achieves that goal.
RE Twitter - It looks like you are researching and finding people to connect with successfully. I see a lot of acknowledgement of that in your feed. I'd start adding your own thoughts to the mix. I have to assume you read a lot of great articles that would be of value to your followers. If you want to capitalize on your brand as a recruiter for logistics/supply chain marketing, then it's time to prove you know what you are talking about by serving up some content to back it up.
RE LinkedIn- I love that you have over 500 connections and 11 recommendations. You've also made sure you have recommendations from your most recent roles. That is fantastic! I also think the photo you are using in this profile is top notch. What I do worry about is the wording/writing of the 'Summary' section. It's pretty long and covers a lot of different topics. Most people aren't going to bother to read something that long. I think you should decide who the audience is that you are trying to impress upon and cut down your Summary to 1-2 short, concise paragraphs. Personally, I'd also consider not doing the 'hard sell' in this section. Sticking to the facts and listing quantifiable accomplishments seems to be the most successful approach to leveraging a LinkedIn Summary. While our profiles are marketing pieces about ourselves, something gets lost in the translation when you say in all caps, "TO DOMINATE THE RECRUITING SPACE ALL OVER THE GALAXY." My guess is good friends and colleagues that know you read this and know it is you displaying a great sense of humor, but strangers may not take it the same way.
RE Resume: My favorite part about your resume is the bullet points under each of your jobs. I'm always stressing to job seekers to keep bullets short and to stick to the quantifiable facts. Your bullets are exactly that! They really prove your expertise and make it easy for the reader to validate your experience. That being said, I'd make two suggestions.
First, I'd get rid of the Objective Statement. These days, everyone I know says it's a waste of valuable space. People should share their objective in their cover letter.
Second, I'd suggest you revamp your 'Strengths' section. The way it reads now is too subjective. You claim you are accomplished in all the areas listed, but that is your opinion. Unlike the bullets under your jobs, you don't quantify your experience as effectively in your 'Strengths' section. I'd suggest you replace the sentences with skill set listings and the number of years of experience you have in each one instead. Something like this:
10+ yrs - Account Management & Sales
15+ yrs - Candidate Screening, Interviewing & Hiring
12+ yrs - Client Research & Customer development
13+ yrs - Employee Training & Talent Relations
This simple summary immediately draws the eye in and tells the hiring manager you've got the depth of experience they need. It's easy to read and make a strong, positive impression.
I hope the above suggestions are helpful. It's great to see a recruiter who is passionate about their work and has the online profile to prove it!
JTJuly 08, 2009
Good Afternoon,
I am requesting that the T.A.P. experts look at my Personal Brand.
You requested the following...
LinkedIn
Facebook
Twitter
Thank you in advance...
Michael D. Lewis
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Michael,
I was surprised to see your request to be part of the 'Am I Money' program. As a recruiter, I would assume you must have your own opinions on what makes a great personal brand. And yet, I admire you because it shows you are interested in gaining others' perspective. (A sign of a great recruiter!)
Moreover, it didn't surprise me that you:
A) have such an extensive number of networking connections, and
B) have a large number of recommendations as well.
Overall, I'm going to say you have incredible "money" potential, but there are a few things that would be worth tweaking. So, I'm going to give you a 4.0 to start and offer these observations and suggestions for you to consider:
RE Pictures - An on-line brand needs consistency visually. Your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn photos are all different. I'd suggest finding one picture that works for all three. Also, if you must use different photos, it's best to use headshots from the same angle and with you looking directly at the camera so viewers can be certain you are the same person. Make it easy on HR/hiring manager looking at your candidacy by letting them visually validate they are looking at the right profile. Picture consistency achieves that goal.
RE Twitter - It looks like you are researching and finding people to connect with successfully. I see a lot of acknowledgement of that in your feed. I'd start adding your own thoughts to the mix. I have to assume you read a lot of great articles that would be of value to your followers. If you want to capitalize on your brand as a recruiter for logistics/supply chain marketing, then it's time to prove you know what you are talking about by serving up some content to back it up.
RE LinkedIn- I love that you have over 500 connections and 11 recommendations. You've also made sure you have recommendations from your most recent roles. That is fantastic! I also think the photo you are using in this profile is top notch. What I do worry about is the wording/writing of the 'Summary' section. It's pretty long and covers a lot of different topics. Most people aren't going to bother to read something that long. I think you should decide who the audience is that you are trying to impress upon and cut down your Summary to 1-2 short, concise paragraphs. Personally, I'd also consider not doing the 'hard sell' in this section. Sticking to the facts and listing quantifiable accomplishments seems to be the most successful approach to leveraging a LinkedIn Summary. While our profiles are marketing pieces about ourselves, something gets lost in the translation when you say in all caps, "TO DOMINATE THE RECRUITING SPACE ALL OVER THE GALAXY." My guess is good friends and colleagues that know you read this and know it is you displaying a great sense of humor, but strangers may not take it the same way.
RE Resume: My favorite part about your resume is the bullet points under each of your jobs. I'm always stressing to job seekers to keep bullets short and to stick to the quantifiable facts. Your bullets are exactly that! They really prove your expertise and make it easy for the reader to validate your experience. That being said, I'd make two suggestions.
First, I'd get rid of the Objective Statement. These days, everyone I know says it's a waste of valuable space. People should share their objective in their cover letter.
Second, I'd suggest you revamp your 'Strengths' section. The way it reads now is too subjective. You claim you are accomplished in all the areas listed, but that is your opinion. Unlike the bullets under your jobs, you don't quantify your experience as effectively in your 'Strengths' section. I'd suggest you replace the sentences with skill set listings and the number of years of experience you have in each one instead. Something like this:
10+ yrs - Account Management & Sales
15+ yrs - Candidate Screening, Interviewing & Hiring
12+ yrs - Client Research & Customer development
13+ yrs - Employee Training & Talent Relations
This simple summary immediately draws the eye in and tells the hiring manager you've got the depth of experience they need. It's easy to read and make a strong, positive impression.
I hope the above suggestions are helpful. It's great to see a recruiter who is passionate about their work and has the online profile to prove it!
JTLearn how to land a career you love
How Job Seekers Should Respond To Recruiters
@j.t.odonnell Reply to @mss_jammeh HOW TO RESPOND TO A ##RECRUITER ABOUT A ##JOB ##jobtips ##jobsearch ##findajob ##jobs ##careeradvice ##careertiktok ##PUBGMOBILE ##joblife
♬ Stuck in the Middle - Tai Verdes
As a job seeker, if you get a message from a recruiter about a job, when you respond is more important than how you respond. Respond fast—as fast as you possibly can. Do not wait and think about it. Do not try to find the right words. Email or message the recruiter ASAP and say, "I would absolutely love to talk to you about this. Here is my phone number. Text me. Call me any time."
Why is it important to respond to a recruiter quickly? Well, that message you got from a recruiter—20-30 other people got the same one. It's only the first five or six candidates who respond and say, "I'm totally ready to talk to you. You name the time," that get a phone call from the recruiter. They're the ones who make it to the phone screen.
Remember, recruiters are being evaluated on how quickly they can find candidates who are a match for the job. The longer you wait to respond, the less likely you will ever hear back from them.
A lot of job seekers get confused when they respond to a recruiter and never hear back. This is why. If you're not one of the first five or six potential job candidates to respond to a recruiter's message, you lost out on the job opportunity.
So, make sure you respond to a recruiter quickly if you're interested in the job they're hiring for. Give them your phone number. Tell them they can text and/or call you. Be prepared because you need to jump on that message or you're going to miss your window of opportunity.
Want To Stand Out To Recruiters?
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Here's what you need to know about the hidden job market, and how you can find more job opportunities in your job search.
Why Are Jobs Hidden?
Jobs can be “invisible” for several reasons. One reason is that it takes time and costs money to advertise a position. If an employer knows that the job can be filled internally or from a pool of candidates already on file, by headhunting, or via word of mouth, they’re not likely to advertise. Some companies don’t post open positions because of the deluge of applicants they receive. It’s impossible for them to sort through the 700+ candidates who apply for a job. Another reason why a position might not be advertised is that the employer is looking to replace the person currently in the position.
Should You Look For Hidden Jobs?
If you don’t take the time to look for hidden jobs, you’re only touching the tip of the iceberg. There will be a great deal of competition for those jobs, and because of that, your chances of securing an interview will be dramatically reduced. If employers have work available, but haven’t yet advertised, the pool of potential candidates narrows to your advantage.
How Can I Find Hidden Jobs?
The more people who know that you’re looking for work, the more likely someone will have information about a job that isn’t advertised yet, or that may become available in the near future. You might be able to get the name of a good contact, or even a recommendation or referral. The best strategies for finding hidden jobs are to build your professional network and make an interview bucket list to target specific companies.
Here are other ways to find hidden jobs in your job search:
Social Media
Take advantage of social media sites to promote your brand. LinkedIn is, of course, the most commonly used professional networking site. In fact, your chances of getting a job without having a LinkedIn profile are fairly slim. Make sure you're optimizing your LinkedIn profile so recruiters and hiring managers can find you. Also, be aware that whatever you share on social media is in no way private, and potential employers can access it. So, be smart about your social networking.
Informational Interviews
Another way to access hidden jobs is to set up informational interviews with companies you’re interested in. Find someone who currently does what you want to do and ask to set up a time to have a quick chat to learn more. This is something that’s often done by people just starting out in a particular field, but it can actually be helpful at all stages of your career.
Consider Contract Work Or Consulting
If you’re in a career slump, you might consider taking temporary, contract, or consulting positions. Many contract jobs have led to full-time employment, and if nothing else, they create more opportunities for you to network.
Career Fairs
Career fairs can also be great networking opportunities. You might not get an immediate job offer, but that's not really the goal. The goal is to get your name and brand in front of more employers and find new people to network with.
Go Find Those Hidden Jobs
Now you can see why employers don’t always advertise employment opportunities or post to job boards (especially at the executive level). If you want to find the hidden job market, follow the tips above! You'll find the right job for you in no time.
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
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Check out these five career paths if you love to flex your creative muscles.
1. Fashion Designer
As a professional in fashion designing, you will enjoy studying different fashion trends and creating sketches of your imaginative clothing line. Once you are done with your designs, you may choose different buckles, fabrics, and other bits and bring your creative visions to life. Formal education is not compulsory for fashion designing but many individuals take it up to learn more about fabrics and textiles.
If you do, it’s important for you to take up the right fashion merchandising program. If you are worried about the scope of this program, well, here is a piece of information for you: as long as men and women have to wear clothes, there will be designers to make them.
2. Animators, Multimedia Artists, And Web Designers
The never-ending demand for multimedia artists is predicted to grow as demand for television and movie special effects, 3D movies, websites, and video games grow. The demand is also increasing in other fields like scientific researches and mobile technologies. Today, most employers look for practical knowledge rather than a degree in this field. Art directors and other clients have various metrics to measure your skills and talent. However, if you wish to develop your knowledge in this area, the doors are open for you.
With everybody needing websites today, creative web designers have always been in demand. And with the introduction of new designing software and many resources that help you make your own website, web designing is more popular today than ever.
3. Chef
If you are an artist who loves coloring with chocolate sauce instead of paints, then a chef’s role could be best for you. You must love food and treat every meal as a masterpiece of culinary. A chef’s job is typically spent in a kitchen creating recipes, ordering ingredients, making the menu and, of course, preparing the best ways to present the food. While a lot of chefs learn from work experience, an equal number of them also take up culinary programs in technical schools, colleges, and art academics.
4. Advertising Manager
If you are a team player who loves to collaborate with people and work on major creative projects, the role of an advertising manager may not be a bad option for you. Your role would require you to work with sales agents, art directors, and other members in the team to make advertising campaigns for different organizations and products. You could be working for popular websites, billboards, television networks, and radio stations.
Many employers prefer candidates who have relevant degrees or marketing certifications to make sure they have the right knowledge and skills.
5. Film Director
Probably the toughest one on the list, but definitely the most rewarding one, a film director’s career involves running the production unit, selecting cast members, taking care of the auditions, interpreting scripts, and getting the cast and crew going. The demand for film directors is predicted to grow in the coming years and that is a good sign for interested candidates.
Directors simply need talent, business acumen, and creativity. If you are interested in taking up formal education in the film industry, check out these programs.
Many people don't know that by being creative, you can simply make your own career and change the world. So, dream big and check out one of the five careers above if you want your job to spark creativity, not discourage it.
Need help finding the right career for you?
Check out our FREE resources page!
Or, join our career growth club today and get access to one-on-one career coaching, resume and cover letter reviews, online tutorials, and unlimited networking opportunities—all in your back pocket!
If you want more FREE career advice, follow us on TikTok!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
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