3 Career Management Lessons for a Social Media Age I Learned From My Dad

Happy New Year!

 

 

I made a 2014 resolution to publish an eBook / presentation.

This presentation / eBook describes three (3) career management lessons I've learned from my Dad and applied to my own career:  

1) Learn From the Best  

2) Get Published  

3) Get Back Up — Fast!  

My Dad inspired me to apply each of these lessons in a digital marketing and social media context (e.g., blogging, participating in Twitter, reading books of marketing strategy thought leaders, connecting directly with marketing strategy thought leaders, etc.).  

These lessons describe the opportunity for online self-publishing, personal brand / personal reputation management, and the teachings of different marketing strategy authors.   The marketing strategy authors (and their books and blogs) that have inspired me include Seth Godin, Ann Handley, Mitch Joel, Tom Peters, and David Meerman Scott.  

It's my way of showing my Dad how much I admire and respect his individual achievements (and the obstacles he overcame).  

Thank you and I hope you enjoy and benefit from reading it. If you find the content helpful, please feel free to share this presentation with others. 

Have an Amazing and Blessed 2014!

 
Tony Faustino is a marketing and corporate strategist.  He writes about how The Internet reinvents marketing strategy for organizations and individuals in his marketing strategy blog, Social Media ReInvention.  Follow his tweets @tonyfaustino  or circle him on Google+.

4 Questions Our Futures Depend On from CTRL ALT Delete by Mitch Joel

Mitch Joel CTRL ALT Delete Book

Do You Want Want to Be Employable in the Next 5 Years?

If Yes, Grab Some Coffee (Because This is a Long Post).  Social Media ReInvention Community Members know of the tremendous respect I hold for Mitch Joel.  His books and art have tremendous influence on my marketing strategy and creative perspective

CTRL ALT Delete Is a Gift on 21st Century Career Leadership and Opportunity Management.  Mitch frames and delivers his compelling arguments in two (2) sections:

1.  Reboot: Business – The 5 Massive Movements

2. Reboot: You – The 7 Triggers

Yes, his book describes corporate and marketing strategy opportunities impacting organizations (big or small).  Yes, his book contains important personal branding / personal reputation implications.

But, all twelve (12) principles focus on individually identifying and framing opportunity (and having the collective or individual courage to pursue it).  

We All Have the Opportunity to Differentiate Ourselves and Lead.  CTRL ALT Delete's resounding themes are to:

  • Take the Initiative
  • Take Intelligent Risks (i.e., Embrace the Squiggle)
  • Differentiate Yourself (because the opportunities are highest in THIS era)  

That's why our futures depend upon studying and practicing CTRL ALT Delete's teachings.  Others with vaster audiences and authority than mine share that opinion.  

Invest in Yourself and Buy CTRL ALT Delete. Here are four (4) important questions Mitch Joel asks about building competitive advantages to reboot our organizations and individual careers: 

How Are We Building Direct Relationships with Our Customers, Fans, and Connections?

Creating a Unique Competitive Advantage.  Direct relationships as a competitive advantage (versus price) is best described by these CTRL ALT Delete quotes (page 11) on how Apple executes its retail strategy:

The solution for Apple was to create a "cradle to the grave" business model where the customer is–at every touch point–directly speaking with Apple's brand.  A true, direct relationship–in every sense of the word.  Apple could not win on price (their computers and other devices are usually much more expensive than their competition's), so they had to win by being there for the consumer and by making these consumers a part of a more complete brand ecosystem.

At the time that Apple first launched retail stores in 2001, the common practices among retailers was to cram each nook and cranny of space with merchandise to maximize the sales per square foot.  Sadly most retailers (and businesses) still hold on to the traditional thinking.  For Apple, it was less about every square foot of retail space and much more about evey square inch of the direct relationship. Apple didn't start in the retail business to compete with other consumer electronics stores; they went into retail for the direct relationship with their customers.  Apple's attitude was: "Why give that power to Best Buy or anyone else?"

Apple Hired Angela Ahrendts Because of Her Ability to Build and Nurture Direct Consumer Relationships.  Angela Ahrendts hiring as Senior Vice President of Retail is Apple's signal to re-engage its devoted following.   Her retail philosophy is grounded on the ability to feel, empathize, and become a brilliant brand ambassador.  That's the foundation for direct and strong consumer relationships (from Austin Carr's October 15, 2013 Fast Company article):

"My dad used to always to say that he could teach anything but he couldn't teach how to feel.  That's the hardest part when you have 11,000 people: How do you teach them how we feel?"  

"The thing is, I don't want to be sold when I walk into a store to be welcomed.  The job is to be a brilliant brand ambasador.  Everyone is welcome. Don't be judgmental whatsoever."

"Don't sell! NO! Because that is a turnoff."

 

 

 

 

 

Converse Directly With Your Connections and Followers. Don't just tweet out links and "like" stuff. Mitch's observations about building direct relationships highly applies to our personal social network connections.  For example, participating in Twitter by sharing links your followers find helpful is a starting point for establishing authority and reputation.  

But, if you want to "own and nurture" a long-term direct relationship, you have to directly converse with your followers.  Mitch talks in depth about this concept throughout the book.  These types of direct conversations are powerful and solidify lifelong loyalty and relationships:

Twitter Conversation Mitch and Tony

How are You Building Competitive Advantage in a One-Screen World?

Check Out Mitch's Video Sharing Several Factoids on Mobile Trends:

  • In 1999: 38 million people had broadband Internet. Today: 1.2 billion have on their mobile phones.
  • Facebook has half of its nearly 150 million daily visits from mobile.
  • More people have a mobile subsciption than access to safe drinking water and electricity in our world today.
  • 200+ million tablets will be sold in 2013.
  • 23.1% of U.S. internet traffic comes from mobile devices.

 

Real-World Case Example: Apple Acquires Topsy.  The rationale for the Apple-Topsy acquisition comes straight from this section in CTRL ALT Delete: The One Screen World – The Shift From Four Screens Down to One (pages 90 -109). 

The entire chapter describes how consumers operate in a mobile, one-screen world. The only screen consumers care about is "the one currently staring them in the face."

Mitch further makes a compelling argument: The most important consumer screen resides on our smartphones.

Twitter Is Mobile, Untethered, and One-Screen Savvy.  It's a social media platform focused on telling Apple WHAT We're Thinking WHEN We're Thinking AND WHERE We're Thinking It.  This November 2013 Bloomberg-Businessweek article describes how the Twitter API, its meta data, and tweets provide rich consumer data

Here are Mitch's thoughts on Twitter and the one-screen world (from page 99 of CTRL ALT Delete):

"Twitter's metoric rise and continued success have less to do with how many followers Lady Gaga has and much more to do with the fact that it was the first-ever online social network that worked better on mobile than it does on the Web.  The sheer simplicity of those 140 characters of tweets makes it that much more workable and easy for consumers.  Twitter's focus (from day one) was on connecting people as they were on the go.  To this day, everything that Twitter does — from acquisitions to business strategy — is driven by a one-screen-world philosophy." 

Consumers, Followers, and Connections Expect and Demand Immediate, Real-Time Responsiveness.  Communicating and responding with our respective audiences with real-time immediacy is now a competitive differentiator (in both our professional and private lives).  According to the eMarketer article: Key Trends for 2014: Always On Means Always Social, mobile, social networking via our smartphones and tablets will continue driving our "real-time" communications:

 

Key Trends for 2014  Always On Means Always Social - eMarketer

eMarketer: Key Trends for 2014 – Always On Means Social

Whether we like it or not, consumers (and personal connections) expect us to be there in real-time with the right message, at the right time, in the right place.

How are We Differentiating Ourselves as Critical Thinkers?

A Personal Blog = Personal Competitive Advantage. The Internet affords anyone with a laptop and broadband access an opportunity to stand out.  But, we often allow ourselves to be defined by our current job titles and bullet points on our resumes.  That's a mistake.

Mitch thinks strategically and critically.  In a social media age, when most tweets or Facebook status updates provide diminishing returns on our attention, the opportunity to differentiate ourselves as entrepreneurial, credible, forward-looking strategic, critical thinkers has never been higher.

Writing a personal blog allows you to maintain an identity separate from your employer (i.e., it's a portable asset).  Dorie Clark, in her great book, Reinventing You, defines a personal blog as valuable, intellectual property showcasing individual expertise by:  

1. Showing how you think

2. Demonstrating your individual creativity

3. Making it easy for a potential employer / great connection to find you (e.g., SEO benefits)

4. Giving you practice in an important and portable business skill set — writing

5. Proving you're technology and Internet savvy  

6. Informing people first-hand how you're driven to learn new skills

Isn't Blogging Supposed to be Dead?  Hardly.  As Mitch points out in the section, "Your Life in Startup Mode," a personal blog describes important aspects about ourselves that a resume fails to represent:


(page 227) "You're writing to exercise your critical thinking skills."

(page 225) "But for the purpose of this book, I'll define a blog as an online journal of your work.  The spirit of the blog is to create a living and breathing resume and portfolio of how you think and work."

(page 224) "I still believe that a blog is a canvas that allows you to think, share, and connect with an audience." 

(page 228) "Because if you care enough to blog, it means that you have something to say.  If you have something to say and you're blogging it, it means that you want to share and connect.  Ultimately, the world needs more people like that."


Seth Godin and Tom Peters on Why We Should Blog.
 This classic video from two great marketing teachers on why blogging matters deserves viewing:

 

 

What is the Legacy and the Value You are Ultimately Delivering and Leaving?

Pages 190 and 193 from The Marketing of You explain the ultimate goal for connecting (online or face-to-face):

(page 190) "There's nothing wrong with asking for help, but you will always see a more positive result if you start by delivering value first—by being valuable to others before asking them for favors.  Give abundantly and be helpful."

(page 193) "True influence comes from connecting to individuals, nurturing those relationships, adding real value to other people's lives, and doing anything and everything to serve them, so that when the time comes for you to make a request, there is someone there to lend a hand. Worry less about how many people you are connected to, and worry a whole lot more about who you are connected to—who they are and what you are doing to value and honor them (in their spaces)."

That sounds like a great philosophy towards achieving professional and personal fulfillment.

 

Did You Enjoy This Post?

If yes, please share it with your friends and subscribe to my blog. Many Thanks!

 

Tony Faustino is a marketing and corporate strategist.  He thinks and writes about how The Internet reinvents marketing strategy in his personal blog, Social Media ReInventionFollow his tweets @tonyfaustino or circle him on Google+. 

 

15 Minutes of Fame: I’m a Top Influencer in The Start Up of YOU LinkedIn Discussion Group!

15 Minutes of Fame Andy Warhol Quote

15 Minutes of Fame Quote by Andy Warhol

 

Please Let Me Enjoy My Fleeting 15 Minutes.  This post is purely self-promotional.  But, I don't know if another similar event will happen again (or how long it will last).

Social MediaReInvention Community Members know I am a huge fan of the book, The Start-Up of YOU and The Start-Up of YOU: A Career Strategy LinkedIn Discussion Group.

A month ago, I posted a discussion topic and poll titled: Parents: Is your son/daughter graduating from college in Spring 2014/2015?  Please describe your confidence level for your child to land a full-time job after graduation.

I monitor this discussion forum daily to see if other Start-Up of YOU group members submitted new comments or votes.  Imagine my pleasant surprise when I read this:

 

Tony Top Influencer Start-Up of You  Screenshot 1

November 30, 2013: Tony Faustino is a Top Influencer in Start-Up of YOU LinkedIn Group

 

Here's the question and poll I submitted to The Start-Up of YOU: A Career Strategy Network Discussion Forum:

 

Tony Top Influencer The Start-Up of You Screenshot 2

Tony Faustino's Question and Poll in Start-Up of YOU: A Career Strategy Network Discussion Group

 

The Start-Up of YOU Top Contributor Recognition

Updated December 6, 2013: Tony Faustino is a Top Contributor in LinkedIn The Start-Up of YOU Discussion Group

I know this isn't a big deal to a lot of people.  But, it is to me.  I always wonder if the discussions I participate in and the content I contribute makes an impact.

I must be doing something right.   And, the clock keeps ticking …

Update 1:  When I recently visited the discussion group site, the website described my  "Top Contributor" status.  I captured the screenshot on December 6th. 

Update 2:  I visited the discussion group site on the morning of December 27th.  I also received a "Top Contributor" status for this question / discussion.  Here are the screen shots from that day:

 

The Start-Up of You  A Career Strategy Network   LinkedIn 12-27-13

December 27th Update: Top Contributor Status in Start-Up of YOU Discussion Group

 

The Start-Up of You  A Career Strategy Network   LinkedIn 12-27-13 p2

December 27th Update: Top Contributor Status The Start-Up of YOU Discussion Group

 

Tony Faustino is a marketing and corporate strategist.  He writes about how The Internet reinvents marketing strategy for organizations and individuals in his marketing strategy blog, Social Media ReInvention.  Follow his tweets @tonyfaustino or circle him on Google+. 

 

Photo Credit by Lynn Friedman via flickr

 

3 Ways to Show Appreciation for Others in an Uncertain Job Market

High 5 on a Bike

High Five on a Bike

 

Do You Hate Your Job?  Americans Do — A Lot.

15% of Americans Surveyed Hate Their Jobs — The Highest in a Global Survey. According to research and the following infographic by Yahoo Finance, Monster Worldwide, and GFK, American workers are the most dissatisfied among seven (7) global countries.  31% of Americans workers rated themselves as "satisfied."

Yahoo Finance Infographic - Americans #1 in Hating Their Jobs

Yahoo Finance Infographic: Americans #1 in Hating Their Jobs

The following image from Sydney Brownstone's Fast Company article highlights describes the seven country respondent breakdown:

 

Fast Company - Americans Hate Their Jobs the Most

Image from Sydney Brownstone's Fast Company Article: Everyone In The World Hates Their Jobs–But Americans Hate Theirs The Most

Have We Forgotten How to Show Our Appreciation for Others?

Possible Root Causes Americans Hate Their Jobs Compared to Other Countries.  Ms. Brownstone cites these facts:

Is There More to This? Here's one more item for consideration:   

The American Worker DOES NOT Feel Appreciated

205 Million Google Search Results.  The following search phrase: "do americans feel appreciated at work?" delivers sobering results.    

Do americans feel appreciated at work  - Google Search

Google Search Results: Do Americans Feel Appreciated at Work?

 

3 Ways to Show We Appreciate Others 

Using Technology to Say "Thank You" and "I Appreciate You."  In a 24/7, always-on, Internet Age, the power of direct relationships matter more than ever.  Let's not forget to use that technology (and some olders ones) to let people know we appreciate them by:  

1. Picking Up the Phone.  I'm guilty of this more than any one (because sending an email is fast and convenient – more on that in a moment).  But, actually hearing someone's voice and genuinely telling them how he/she makes a positive difference IS MEANINGFUL.  

When did pleasant, I wanna give you a high-five, non-confrontational conversation become a dying art form?  Thank you caller ID.  How many times have have you seen a certain number flashing on your mobile phone, and you default to not picking up.  Why do we automatically assume: "What's wrong this time?"

Let's gradually address that negative trend in our own minds (and our colleagues).  Why not call her to say, "The only reason we're at this point with XYZ client is because of you.  Thank You. I couldn't get to this point without you."

The positive impact and reaction may surprise you … 

2. Using the Email CC: to Praise Versus CYA.  Email was the first social network.  Warner Bros. released this hit twenty-two years before The Social Network

 

 

Thank Teammates AND Inform Their Bosses of How Much We Appreciate a Job Well Done.  How about using email to:

  • Let others know the important difference they made during an important client pitch
  • Acknowledge the extra efforts made to craft a simple storyline to a complex, final deliverable
  • Show gratefulness when another teammate opens doors to contacts relevant to our sales and business development efforts

AND, inform that person's boss and other key management team members of this teammate's significant contribution via the email CC:.  

A subject line stating: "Thank You for a Job Well Done" isn't half bad either.

3. Spreading Kindness Via Twitter's #FF #FollowFriday.  Twitter isn't considered much of a "bright and shiny object" anymore.  But, I'm still a believer (as are others).   

#FF or #FollowFriday Is a Great Way to Acknowledge People / Organizations Who Give Versus Take.  Take time to personalize a tweet stating why you think others should follow other helpful individuals or organizations.  On The Internet, random acts of kindness equal great karma: 

 

Twitter #FF #FollowFriday Example

#FF #FollowFriday

 

Something to Think About as We Approach the Thanksgiving Holiday


Am I Doing My Part?
  After reading the aforementioned articles, I questioned if I'm consistently letting my colleagues, clients, and online connections know how much I appreciate their contributions to my professional success.

I'm Not.

I'm an Account Director in a management consulting firm.   My job is to build relationships and directly connect my clients to talented team members who I believe can address challenging problems.  How well my teammates and I collectively build these relationships and collectively address these problems is the final and only relevant success metric. 


"It takes a village" is a reality in my business. 


This Goes Beyond Thankfulness for Having a Job.
  For the past four (4) Thanksgivings, one of the many blessings I'm grateful for is being employed.  But, that's not enough.  I need to do a better job of thanking every teammate who helped me and our clients succeed in a challenging year.

Thank You Kantar Health Teammates.  My success is yours.

Thank You to my clients who stuck with me and our team.  I know the daily financial pressures confronting you.

Thank You to the wonderful people I connect online with everyday.  YOU show me why the power of The Internet and direct relationships matter.

 

May You and Your Families Have a Safe & Happy Thanksgiving.

 

Tony Faustino is a marketing and corporate strategist.  He writes about how The Internet reinvents marketing strategy for organizations and individuals in his marketing strategy blog, Social Media ReInvention.  Follow his tweets @tonyfaustino or circle him on Google+. 

Photo Credit: by sfbike via flickr

57 Resources to Help College Graduates Land that First Marketing Job

 

The Number 57

57 Resources to Help College Graduates Land that First Marketing Job

How CONFIDENT are YOU in LANDING a JOB After Graduation?

Low Confidence? Most college students would say things look bleak for finding full-time work after graduating.  According to the CNBC article, Job Picture Looks Bleak for 2013, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), plans to hire only 2.1% more graduates from the class of 2013 than from the class of 2012.

A Significant Gap Between Student and Employer Expectations.  Furthermore, a recent Business Insider article shares survey results from the academic services company, Chegg describing skills assessments by both college students and potential entry-level employers. In multiple skills areas (especially those relating to writing and critical thinking), college students are overestimating their skill levels and preparedness for business success in the following areas:

  • Writing to summarize results and convey information
  • Writing to communicate ideas or explain informaton clearly
  • Incorporating information to develop strategic insights


57 Resources to Land that First Marketing Job

There's Hope, If You're Willing to Put in the Work.  These various resources are categorized to aid recent college graduates who majored in marketing and communications (or current students majoring in these fields) during their full-time job search (or an internship search for current students).

These resources (along with resources from previous posts in this series) can give recent graduates ideas, strategies, and tactics providing a competitive advantage not only in the job search but also in developing several of the requisite skills and knowledge employers say recent graduates lack.

The categories are listed below with a make-shift table of contents:

  • Resource 1: Your Online Portfolio, Evan Kirsch and FolioMatch.com
  • Resources 2 – 9: Resources / Ideas from Tom Peters, Seth Godin, Mitch Joel, and David Meerman Scott
  • Resources 10 – 18: Career Success Ideas from Dan Schawbel for Young People and Millenials  
  • Resources 19 – 20: Job Search 101
  • Resources 21 – 28: Interviewing 101 (and Beyond)
  • Resources 29 – 30: Using Twitter's Real-Time Capabilities to Power Your Job Search
  • Resources 31 – 46: 21st Century Marketing and Communications: Walk-the-Walk and Talk-the-Talk
  • Resources 47 – 49: LinkedIn
  • Resources 50 – 51: Preparing Your Resume
  • Resources 52 – 57: Inspiration on Demand

Resources 2 – 57 are in no particular ranking or order. I included numbers to track the number of items and subsequently group them with some logic.  

Plus, having a high number for list-type blog post titles is scientifically proven to attract more readers.

 

Start Here — Number 1: Your Online Portfolio, Evan Kirsch and FolioMatch.com

1. FolioMatch.com. FolioMatch.com is the Kansas City-based brainchild of its President and CEO Evan Kirsch.  I met Evan during the 2012 UMKC Regnier Family Foundation Venture Creation Challenge.  UMKC's Henry W. Bloch School Management honored him as its 2012 Student Entrepreneur of the Year.  

Why Evan and FolioMatch.com are Number 1.  Evan created this company for an honorable mission and intent: To Put America's Young People To Work by Helping College Graduates Land that Ever-Elusive First Job.

Addressing Unmet Needs. FolioMatch.com fulfills HUGE unmet needs for young people who may have recently graduated, will graduate in Spring 2014, or are current college students seeking internship opportunities while in school:

  • Providing a living/breathing, on-demand online portfolio capturing all relevant projects, class assigments, internship deliverables / work products, accomplishments, awards, etc. throughout a college student's four-year college career
  • Devoting a career-focused, portfolio-centric, social network for a narrow audience (college students AND ambitious high school students)

I Think the World of Evan Kirsch and FolioMatch.com.  About a year and a half ago, I remember having lunch with him and listening to him passionately describe what drives him to make FolioMatch.com successful (at the time of our lunch the company was orignially named Folioboy.com):  

  • It isn't money
  • It isn't glory
  • It isn't fame

Evan founded FolioMatch.com because he genuinely believes:

Helping Others is THE HONORABLE WAY to Lead One's Life.  

I'm admiringly jealous of his guts to accomplish so much at young age.  20+ years ago, I lacked Evan's unshakeable vision, heart, passion, and resolve.  But, I'm working on that (because it's never too late to commit to becoming a remarkable artist).

Here's a video describing FolioMatch.com:

FolioMatch Introduction from FolioMatch Team on Vimeo.

Here's a video Evan and FolioMatch.com created to inspire talented, hungry, and go-getter millenials to embrace their call-to-action to create something remarkable via entrepreneurship:

FOLIO MATCH and MO CHALLENGE from FolioMatch Team on Vimeo.

From the Video.  "We started FolioMatch to be a one-stop resource for a student to keep track of all the projects they've completed over the years. Since then we have started sponsoring educational challenges so that we could help boost the content of students' portfolios."

  

Required Full Disclosure / Am I Receiving Any Money / Am I Receiving Any Equity / Am I an Advisory Board Member and other Boilerplate B.S. I Have to Write For Speaking So Highly of Evan and FolioMatch.com. I receive zero, nada, nothing, and any other cliche, etc. in financial compensation for talking up Evan and FolioMatch.com.  

I'm writing about Evan/his company because he leads a committed/dedicated tribe who rightfully deserves it.  I'm spreading the word about Evan and FolioMatch.com because it's THE RIGHT THING TO DO.  

And, that makes me feel good …

… please spread the word about Evan, his company, and FolioMatch.com's honorable mission.

If you're a college student (or an ambitious high school student), go to the FolioMatch.com site and register.

If you're a parent who's worried your son/daughter who graduates from college in Spring 2014 may face difficulty in this brutal job market (because the odds are he/she will), go to the FolioMatch.com site and register.

If you're a Spring 2013 college graduate and you're still actively looking for that first giggo to the FolioMatch.com site and register.  Learning how to leverage LinkedIn to your advantage during your job search is important.  But, it takes more to win an interview slot AND stand out among thousands of applicants.

 

Resources / Ideas from the Best Marketing and Communications Teachers:  Tom Peters, Seth Godin, Mitch Joel, and David Meerman Scott

Common themes running through the resources 2 – 9 are entrepreneurial hustle and creativity. Standing out in an unfavorable economy within an ocean of candidates requires the courage and true grit to aggressively market yourself.

2. Tom Peters / Fast Company: The Brand Called YOU: This August 1997 article is the original classic highlighting the rising importance of personal branding.  Mr. Peters was ahead of his time in publishing and describing these timeless career management principles.

3. Seth Godin: Graduate school for unemployed college students

4. Seth Godin and Inc.com: 5 Ways to be Known as a Groundbreaking Thinker

5. Mitch Joel: 8 Ways to Score that Elusive Entry Level Marketing Position

6. Mitch Joel: 20 Best Marketing Books of All Time: Mitch literally posted this article a few days ago. He's often asked what are the best marketing books he recommends studying.  If you go to the comments section of his article, you'll see four (4) additional recommendations I suggested.  I would also add Six Pixels of Separation and Ctrl Alt Delete to this list (because the author of these classics is a pretty cool dude).

7. David Meerman Scott: Lindsey shows how to market to millenials and how to get a first job: David's blog post describing how Lindsey Kirchoff aggressively and uniquely marketed herself personifies her entrepreneurial hustle an creativity.

Here's a great video David filmed with Lindsey Kirchoff (who started working full-time with HubSpot's Content Creation & Blogging Team in September 2012):

 

 

8. David Meerman Scott: Tough love for marketing & PR job seekers

9. David Meerman Scott: 5 ideas for marketing and communications professors' success in the classroom

Bonus. David Meerman Scott — Inbound Job Search: David published this video on December 2nd. He shares five (5) inspiring stories about people publishing creative and remarkable content to win dream jobs.  One of the stories is how his daughter, Allison Meerman Scott, leveraged her personal blog to differentiate herself from thousands of outstanding Columbia University undergraduate applicants to win admission!

 

Dan Schawbel: Have the Courage to Promote Yourself (Because It's a Good Thing)


No one understands more about personal branding for young people than Dan Schawbel
. It's why I literally carved out a "Dan Section" highlighting his work.  The man knows what he's talking about so take his advice seriously.

I do. And, even though he's 20 years younger, I believe his teachings apply to any age group or professional experience level.  He's the epitome of entrepreneurial hustle

10. Dan Schawbel and Forbes.com: My 10 Best Pieces of Career Advice for Millenials

11. Dan Schawbel: Top 5 Job Search Tips for Millenials

12. Dan Schawbel and Time.com: Somebody's Gotta Get Hired, Right? 6 Tips to Help New Grads Land Job Offers  

13. Mitch Joel and Dan Schawbel (from Six Pixels of Separation – The Podcast): SPOS #379 — Dan Schawbel Wants You to Promote Yourself  

14. Dan Schawbel and Time.com: How Recruiters Use Social Networks to Make Hiring Decisions Now  

15. Dan Schawbel and Forbes.com: How Globalization and Social Media has Impacted the US Economy

16. Dan Schawbel: Millenial Branding and Student Employment Gap Study

17. Dan Schwabel and Forbes.com: 5 Reasons Why Your Online Presence Will Replace Your Resume in 10 Years

18. Dan Schawbel and Time.com: The End of the Full-Time Salaried Job

 

Job Search 101

These Mashable articles do a great job in describing the basics AND the things to do to stand out. The common theme here is "put in the work." No magical formulas. Just get to work.

19. Mashable: 35 Surefire Ways to Stand Out During Your Job Search

20. Mashable: How to Nail Your Entry-Level Job Search


Interviewing 101 (and Beyond)

The common theme throughout these articles: Prepare. Prepare. Prepare. Do this and you'll eliminate 50% – 60% of your competition before walking in the room.

21. Fast Company: How to Nail Your Next Phone Interview

22. Lou Adler and LinkedIn Today: Moneyball for Job-seekers: How to Increase Your Interviewing Odds

23. Lou Adler and LinkedIn Today: Five Things You Must Not Do in an Interview and Five Things You Must Not

24James Caan and LinkedInToday: The 3 Questions People Always Forget to Ask During Job Interviews

25James Caan and LinkedIn Today: 5 Ways to Avoid Losing Out on that Dream Job

26. Mashable: INFOGRAPHIC — Top Job Search Mistakes Millenials Make and How to Fix Them

27. Mashable: 6 Job Interview Questions and Answers to Avoid

28. Lea McCleod, M.A.: 5 Big Reasons New College Grads are Failing the Job Search

 

Creative Ways to Use Twitter in Your Job Search 

When it comes to real-time news and responsiveness, there's Twitter and then there's everybody else. Leverage its real-time capabilities to your advantage. Finding out about that open, entry-level position before other candidates is a competitive advantage.


29.
 Mashable: How a 140-Character Twitter Resume Could Land Your Next Job

30. 20 Twitter Resources for Job Hunters

 

21st Century Marketing, Communications, and Public Relations Knowledge

Talk the Talk Like Seasoned Marketing Pros. The interviewing team will deem you credible only if you "speak their language."  Therefore, learn how to speak it.  Learn about the movements impacting marketing now (and in the future).

You don't have to memorize vocabulary lists by rote. But, you have to credibly demonstrate your awareness of how marketing, communications, and public relations are constantly changing.

Walk the Walk Like Seasoned Marketing Pros. The following resources provide ideas and suggestions for developing skills in writing, storytelling, and critical thinking.  Remember, the Internet turns every moment before, during, and after a job interview into a show-me you're different opportunity — Take the Initiative and Take the Advantage.

21st Century Marketing and Communications Fundamentals Bootcamp


31
. HubSpot Inbound Marketing Blog: You Were Too Embarrassed to Google (But Should Definitely Know)

32HubSpot Inbound Marketing Blog

33HubSpot Academy 

Content Marketing

34Marketing Profs Daily Fix Blog

35Content Marketing Institute Blog


Online, Digital, eCommerce Future Trends and Patterns

36The Mitch Joel Six Pixels of Separation Podcasts on iTunes (and their free)

37eMarketer Articles

Blogging

38Copyblogger Blog

39. Darren Rowse: PROBLOGGER Blog


Measurement and Analytics

40Occam's Razor Blog By Avinash Kaushik

41The Future Buzz Blog by Adam Singer

42Google Analytics Blog

43Google Analytics Academy

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

44Rand Fishkin's MOZ Blog

45The MOZ Blog

46Danny Sullivan's SearchEngineLand.com Blog

 

LinkedIn

47. Forbes: 7 Ways to Make LinkedIn Help You Find a Job

48. Forbes: 5 LinkedIn Strategies You Haven't Thought of Before: the suggestion to use LinkedIn showing you've researched a company's competitors and the point of "sales reinforcement" has powerful applications in a job interview

49. Lou Adler and LinkedIn Today: Networking Rules for Job Seekers — The Good, The Bad, and The Almost Perfect

Preparing Your Resume 

50. Mashable: Why You Need Several Versions of Your Resume

51. LinkedIn Labs Resume Builder: This handy app transforms your LinkedIn Profile into a PDF resume. Therefore, fill out your LinkedIn profile with as much detail as you can. 

Inspiration On Demand 

52. to 55. LinkedIn Influencers — My First Job Job Series: If you're getting down on yourself during the process, GO HERE IMMEDIATELY. Everyone had to start out somewhere. That includes some of the world's most influential movers & shakers in every industry.  

Don't believe me?  Here are some samples how:

My First Job. I started out as an unpaid, summer laboratory tech intern / dishwasher at The Washington University School of Medicine.  Luckily for me, the department's head researcher paid me that fall because my boss said I was a good guy.

56. Jonathan Fields — The Good Life Project: Jonathan is an A-List entrepreneur and a person driven to help others succeed personally and professionally via entrepreneurship.  His video interviews are inspiring.

I subscribe to his free podcasts on iTunes and listen to them repeatedly.

Check out this video on overcoming and reframing risk and the fear of failure and judgment.  Pure Gold.


 

 

57. Video: Best Day of My Life (Dog Version) by American Authors: Trust me, this video will make you feel soooooo good after watching it no matter how bad you feel. And, it's probably why American Authors are my new favorite band and why this song is now my all-time favorite.

 

 

Closing Thoughts

This is post five (and the final one) in a series to help new college graduates and current students land full-time jobs or internships.

Here are the respective links for posts 1 to 4:

Your Turn

If you're a college graduate looking for work, a concerned parent, a worried relative, or a current college student, please let me know in the comments if the content here helped (or if it didn't).

What should be kept on this list?  What should be taken off? What resources did I miss?  What should be added?

Please help me in continuously improving this page as a helpful resource to others.

Tony Faustino is a marketing and corporate strategist.  He writes about how The Internet reinvents marketing strategy for organizations and individuals in his marketing strategy blog, Social Media ReInvention.  Follow his tweets @tonyfaustino or circle him on Google+. 

Photo Credit by STV Photos via flickr

A Visual Metaphor for Mitch Joel’s Reboot: You from CTRL ALT DELETE

 

 

 

Members of the Social Media ReInvention Blog Community know I'm a HUGE Mitch Joel Fan.  I'm currently studying his latest book, CTRL ALT DELETE.  I love this book because it's typical Mitch Joel:

  • Visionary / Forward Thinking
  • Entertaining / Great Writing
  • Thought-Provoking / Cites Tons of Other Great Books I Need to Read

I still need to finish Part 1 of the book describing five (5) current/future business drivers. As soon as I get the "story structure" better organized, I'll ship and publish the full book review. Until then, here's a glimpse of what I've learned from studying CTRL ALT DELETE:

CTRL ALT DELETE'S Seven (7) Reboot: You Triggers 


1. A Digital First Posture
(as defined by Mitch Joel, page 124 of CTRL ALT DELETE).  "A digital-first posture means that the first place your consumers go when making a business decision is to their computers, smartphones, and/or tablets.  This should be your default posture as well.

2. The Long and Squiggly Road (e.g., Embrace the Squiggle)  Career paths are forever-changing because the "career escalator is jammed up" especially in large, Fortune 500 companies. Careers no longer follow a linear trajectory. If you want to continue developing valuable and marketable skills, you have to embrace the squiggle and adapt to pursuing multiple careers (not just multiple jobs) during your lifetime.  It's permanent beta personafied.

3. The New Way We/You Work.  The key to the survival and career success now is "standing out," "being differentiating," and "making yourself indispensable." You want to be THE MAN | THE WOMAN that everyone in your organization views as "The Linchpin." And, that process begins with making a conscious choice to pick yourself and ship your art.

4. The Marketing of You.  Beef up your skills in pitching, selling, storytelling, and thinking critically.  Why? Because Corporate America has already started shifting to resources to a free agent / freelancer nation. And, that trend won't stop — we're in Generation Flux (whether we like it or not). Start building the skills that will help you adapt in the ever-increasing Gig Economy.

5. Your Life in Start-Up Mode / The Start-Up of YOU.  You were born an entrepreneur. Actively manage your career like you're a lean start-up.

6. Work the Space.  We are mobile workers and can work anywhere.  All we need are:

  • A laptop / tablet
  • A smartphone
  • High-speed internet connectivity 

7. Embracing the Next.  Longevity in a productive, rewarding career requires a continuous ability to adapt, iterate, and spot game-changing trends.  Mitch lists and describes six (6) of these trends in this chapter.  If you want to learn what they are, buy his book.

 

Please click here for my full book review of Mitch Joel's CTRL ALT Delete.

Tony Faustino is a marketing and corporate strategist.  He writes about how The Internet reinvents marketing strategy for organizations and individuals in his marketing strategy blog, Social Media ReInvention.  Follow his tweets @tonyfaustino or circle him on Google+. 

LinkedIn’s Grad Guide Videos: 13 Pearls to Help Recent College Graduates Find Jobs

 

 

How Confident are You in Finding a Job After Graduation?


This is the second post in a series to help recent college graduates and current undergraduates get jobs.   "Should Recent College Graduates & Current Undergraduates Learn LinkedIn?" is the first in this series.

I reviewed the six videos in the LinkedIn Grad Guide Video Series.  The six (6) LinkedIn Grad Guide videos are in post #1 of this series.  Here are my favorites videos with their key points summarized.

 

LinkedIn Grad Guide Video 2: Building Your Professional Brand

 

 

 

1. Grad school admissions officers and recruiters Google you before deciding to meet you in-person.


2. 70% of employers rejected a job candidate because of information they found on online.


3. 85% of employers say a candidate's positive online reputation influences their decisions.


4. "It's no longer enough to simply have a resume. Students now need a professional online presence."Holly Paul, former US Recruiting Leader, PriceWaterHouse Coopers (now Chief Human Resources Officer, Vocus).

 

5. Ask you professors, campus job managers, and internship supervisors for LinkedIn Recommendations.

 

LinkedIn Grad Guide Video 4: Building a Professional Network

 

 

 

6. 70% of jobs are found through networking.


7. Write a brief, polite, and personalized "connection request" when asking someone to be part of their LinkedIn network.

  • Don't Use LinkedIn's Generic Invites. The generic invitation message "I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn" isn't enough.

LinkedIn Grad Guide Video 5: Turning Relationships into Opportunities

 

 

8. A 4-Step Template for Asking Someone to Network with You

This template doesn't guarantee acceptance of your invitation.   But, following these steps helps differentiate your LinkedIn invitation from the generic "I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn" requests.

  • Use the Subject Line Wisely. Mention your connection to the person in the subject line.
  • Write a Concise Intro. Keep your introduction to who you are and your reason for connecting.
  • Make Your Ask. Never directly ask someone for a job; Ask for general career advice on a particular industry or company.
  • Say Thank You. Politely thank the person for considering your request.

 

9. Ask Your "1st Degree Connections" for Introductions to "2nd Degree Connections"

Look for mutual connections to a job opening or a person within the targeted company. This is especially important when you don't have a direct link or "an in" with someone connected to an opportunity you're want interested in.

 

LinkedIn Grad Guide Video 6: Researching and Prepping for the Interview

 

This MUST WATCH video is required preparation for informational interviews (e.g., someone who might not be directly connected to a job opportunity), and the all-important first, formal interview.

Why?  Recruiters say knowledge about their company is one of the most important factors in landing a job.

 

10. The 4 Types of Information to Know When Preparing for a Job Interview

  • General Company and Employee Information: the company's mission, products, services, and markets
  • Industry / Competitive knowledge: the company's industry and its competition
  • Insider Secrets: knowledge about the company's culture / mindset that only "an insider" (usually a current or former employee) can provide
  • Ongoing Updates: keeping up-to-date on company news (and its relevant competitors)

11. LinkedIn's Company Pages Can Identify Potential Interviewers

 

 

LinkedIn: Overview | LinkedIn

LinkedIn's Company Page

Along with general company information (what the company does, number of global offices, available jobs that may interest you, etc.), Company Pages can identify important information about your potential interviewers:

 

  • Educational Backgrounds: the interviewer's college major(s) and alma mater
  • Company Career Paths
  • Common LinkedIn 1st Degree Connections Shared with the Employee
  • Social Media Participation (do any of your potential interviewers use Twitter or publish personal blogs)
  • Things You and the Interviewer Share in Common

Demonstrate you did your homework by not only researching the company but also by learning about the people participating in the interviewing process. Identifying things you and your interviewer(s) have in common (and tactfully discussing them at appropriate points during the interview) can positively differentiate you among other applicants.

 

12. LinkedIn Groups Can Help You Learn Important Industry Knowledge

 

 

The Start-Up of You: A Career Strategy Network | LinkedIn

The Start-Up of You LinkedIn Group

 

During the interview, you'll want to be conversant in a number of key topics about the company's industry such as:

  • The "industry lingo" used by people working in that line of work
  • Relevant news events affecting the company (and its competitors)
  • Key people within the industry

Demonstrating your industry knowledge is HUGE.   Leverage LinkedIn Groups to your competitive advantage and further differentiate yourself!

 

13. You May Have a 1st Degree LinkedIn Connection (or a 2nd Degree LinkedIn Connection) Who Can Share Important Insider Secrets

 

 

Connections to LinkedIn

My 1st & 2nd Degree Connections to LinkedIn

Remember, a 1st degree connection is someone you're already directly connected to in LinkedIn. A second degree connection is someone you are not directly connected to (but one of your 1st degree connections may be connected to this person).

2nd degree connections are vitally important because your 1st degree connections may be able to provide a "warm referral" to them. And, that provides you another competitive advantage over other interviewees competing for the same position.

More importantly, 1st and 2nd degree connections can reveal important "tribal knowledge" available only to current or former employees (e.g., valuable "insider secrets") like:


  • Company Culture
  • The Employee Traits the Company Values
  • Company Leaders You Should be Familiar With

 

Conclusion

Reviewing the six (6) videos in the LinkedIn Grad Guide Series can give you a competitive advantage. You'll learn how to fully leverage LinkedIn's features and content.  

Remember, it requires a lot of people "to say yes" during the hiring process but only one "to say no."

Therefore, minimize your risk and maximize your opportunity by investing 30 minutes investment to study these videos. 

Please stay tuned for post #3 in this series (around 2 weeks from this post's publication).   I'll summarize books by marketing gurus that can help recent college graduates or current undergraduates build a professional online presence.

Your Turn: What do you think of the advice in the LinkedIn Grad Guide Videos?  How well do you think the LinkedIn Grad Guide Videos can help recent college graduates (or current undergraduates) find full-time jobs and internships?  Let me know in the comments.

 

Tony Faustino is a marketing and corporate strategist.  He writes about how The Internet reinvents marketing strategy for organizations and individuals in his marketing strategy blog, Social Media ReInvention.  Follow his tweets @tonyfaustino or circle him on Google+.   

 

Photo Credit: by MAURO CATEB via flickr



Note: This is post two in a series sharing resources to help new college graduates and current students land full-time jobs or internships.  If interested, here are links to other posts in this series:

Should College Graduates and Current Undergraduates Learn LinkedIn?

 

 

College Students are LinkedIn's Fastest Growing Segment

 

It publicly signaled college students are a critical growth driver by announcing its College Pilot Program in July 2012. At that time, LinkedIn cited 20 million college undergraduates as members of the online service. Even more importantly, college graduates and students represent LinkedIn's fastest growing demographic. The company recently announced two (2) new portals serving this fast-growing customer segment:

In parallel with the release of LinkedIn Student Jobs and LinkedIn University Pages, LinkedIn also launched their "LinkedIn – Now For Education" landing page. The landing page is "a buyer-persona friendly" site serving and targeting the following audiences:

  • Students: Recent Graduates, Current Undergraduates, and effective September 12th, high school students
  • Parents: The Alumni Section can help parents locate their 1st degree connections who may be able to help their child gain valuable insights (or even more valuable connections) during the application or research process
  • Academic Institutions: Top universities can be even more aggressive and selective in the students they target and recruit for admission
  • Prospective Employers: Self explanatory

 

 

35 to 54 Year Olds are LinkedIn's Biggest Membership Base

This Business Insider infographic shows LinkedIn's smallest membership segment is 18-24 year olds (e.g., college students and recent undergraduates). 18% of LinkedIn members's are 18-24 year olds versus 40% who are 35 to 54.

 


 

The LinkedIn Grad Guide Video Series

Want more proof LinkedIn wants to attract and grow this important market segment? Check out this video series — classic, targeted content marketing:

 

LinkedIn: Your Career Starts Here

 

LinkedIn Grad Guide Video 1: What is LinkedIn

 

 

LinkedIn Grad Guide Video 2: Building Your Professional Profile

 

 

LinkedIn Grad Guide Video 3: Finding Your Career Passion

 

 

LinkedIn Grad Guide Video 4: Building a Professional Network

 

 

LinkedIn Grad Guide Video 5: Turning Relationships Into Opportunities

 

 

LInkedIn Grad Guide Video 6: Researching & Prepping For Interviews


Conclusion

I smiled when the "youthful-sounding" voiceover in the LinkedIn: Your Career Starts Here video refers to the predominance of LinkedIn's older members:

"It's (LinkedIn) not just for top executives. It's not just for old people with heavy briefcases. It's (LinkedIn) for you. And, it's the perfect place before you start your professional story."

35-54 year old professionals recognize and understand LinkedIn's value in building and maintaining careers. I would love to find some statistics proving/disproving if this demographic comprised most of the service's first-movers and early adopters.

This is a brutal job market for all ages. Unemployed workers over 50 and recent college graduates are especially impacted by the current economy. 50 year-old executives have to work extra hard to find employment. And, the power of a college degree is dwindling.

Thoughtful, savvy personal branding positively impacts careers. Whether we like it or not, an online world accelerates the competitive pressures shaping our professional lives (including our children in their early high school years).

In about 2 weeks, please stay tuned for my next post in this series. I'll summarize my favorite "pearls of wisdom" LinkedIn shares in the six-part Grad Video Series.

Your Turn:  What do you think of LinkedIn's marketing strategy to grow its membership base?  Is opening their service to younger members a smart move?  Let me know in the comments.

 

Tony Faustino is a marketing and corporate strategist.  He writes about how The Internet reinvents marketing strategy for organizations and individuals in his marketing strategy blog, Social Media ReInvention.  Follow his tweets @tonyfaustino or circle him on Google+.   

 

Note: This is post one in a series sharing resources to help new college graduates and current students land full-time jobs or internships.  If interested, here are the respective links for posts two and three:


Photo credit: chrisinplymouth via flickr

 

If You’re An Over-50 Worker, Are You Too Old For Personal Branding?

Next Pink Slip Might Be Yours

A Strong Personal Brand Has No Age Limit

But Over-50 Equals The Danger Zone If Your Personal Brand Is Weak.  The AARP Public Policy Institute published this recent Fact Sheet: The Employment Situation, March 2012: Unemployment Rises for Older Workers.  The concluding findings are sobering for people age 55 years to older.

  • The unemployment rate for the aged 55 and over workforce rose from 5.9% to 6.2% 
  • More than half of workers aged 55 and have been looking for work at least a year
  • The long term unemployed are at risk of skills erosion (which decreases the probability of finding work)

Table 3 of the Fact Sheet highlights important statistics for both and average duration of unemployment and the long term unemployed for the 55+ and older group:

AARP March 2012 Long Term Unemployed Over-50

It Gets Harder Every Year for Unemployed, Older Workers
 

AARP March 2012 Long Term Unemployment for Over-50 Graph 2

Last year, AARP Senior Vice President, Jeffrey Davis, released this video statement:

 

 

Older Unemployed Workers Must Overcome Multiple Hiring Perceptions

This Phenemenon Has Been Increasing Since 2005.  I still have the original May 2005 Fortune Magazine issue to this article: 50 and Fired.  The article states how over-50 unemployed workers battle these common hiring objections, perceptions, and responses when searching for jobs:

  • Out-of-touch with today's technology
  • Too expensive to hire (a pheneomenon referred to as tenured compensation)
  • Unable to work for or work with team members half their age (e.g., less flexible)
  • Over-qualified (which is code for you're over-50)
  • Younger workers are less expensive  

Unemployed Status = Uphill Battle.  For whatever reason, companies favor "passive employment candidates" (e.g., currently employed workers who may not be actively looking for a new job).  For older, unemployed workers, it's as if hiring companies deliberately promote a "no unemployed need apply" rule. 

Invest in Your Personal Brand WHILE YOU'RE EMPLOYED

The Rise of The Temporary Gig Economy.  But, it's not all gloom and doom.  There's an emerging trend to hire older, over-50 workers (particularly in the white collar executive segment).   The Huffington Post published an article titled, Patina: Experience Trumps Youth in This Economy.  This Wisconsin-based placement firm specializes in placing older experience executives in temporary global assignments.  Patina Solutions recognized an unmet need and opportunity for older executives:

  • Baby Boomers might approach retirement differently – they prefer to keep working but not necessarily in a part-time job
  • Older experienced executives are a senior management asset when it comese to overseeing projects
  • These executives have no desire to be tied down to one company (though many of their clients lost their jobs do to the ongoing recession)
  • Established firms are moving to on-demand employment models (which allows them to forgo paying health care benefits and vacation packages)

Read These Forbes Magazine Articles By Josh Bersin On Employment Trends.  I follow Mr. Bersin because he identifies important patterns in 21st century career management.  After reading these articles, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand how The Temporary Gig Economy will become the norm versus the exception:

Start Differentiating Yourself (Especially Online).  This means competitive differentiation is vital for older executives.  The competition for these temporary assignments will increase.  

Make It Easy For Company Recruiters and Executive Headhunters to Find You.  The Internet is your friend.  Whether you like it or not, older workers have to deal with extra baggage in a job search.  The key is understanding what you're up against (and a course of action).  

For over-50 workers, use LinkedIn to your advantage by:

  • Emphasizing you passions
  • Showing your tech savvy
  • Networking across generations

Concluding Thoughts

Building a Personal Brand Involves a Significant Time Investment.  I'm entering my third year in blogging.  I love writing (which is why I do it for free).  And, my passion for writing and sharing is yielding returns in important professional and personal opportunities.

The Paradox of Digital Media Is It's Slow (Not Fast).  The results don't happen overnight. Despite a real-time Internet, digital content is an asset that becomes more valuable over time because:

  • Search engines will index it
  • Social media sites will share it and spread it
  • Other websites (including social media networks) will link to it — which increases your Google Authority

This is the In Praise of Slow Factor Mitch Joel refers to in his book, Six Pixels of Separation.

 

Start building your personal brand NOW.  

 

Tony Faustino is a marketing and corporate strategist.  He writes about how The Internet reinvents marketing strategy for organizations and individuals in his marketing strategy blog, Social Media ReInvention.  Follow his tweets @tonyfaustino or circle him on Google+.   

  

Link to Photo Credit by Timothy Krause via flickr

Start-Up of You Book Review, Part 4: A Note to the Critics

The Start-up of You Book CoverNote: This is the third post in a series reviewing The Start-Up of You: Adapt to the Future, Invest in Yourself, and Transform Your Career by Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha

Post #1 introduces why the principles and values shared in The Start-Up of You are important in today's ambiguous and uncertain economy.

Post #2 dives deep into my five (5) favorite career management and leadership principles shared in the book.

Post #3 highlights five (5) very smart people I've met throught The Start-Up of You LinkedIn Discussion Group.

I'm concluding this series with my perspectives on the common criticisms of the book:

* The book is a 270+ page LinkedIn advertisement

* Too many success stories about Silicon Valley technology entrepreneurs (versus examples from other professions)

* Really! Another Sheryl Sandberg Success Story 

The Start-Up of You Reveals How To Use LinkedIn for Personal Competitive Advantage

A Far Different Value Proposition Than an Advertisement.  Wade Roush published this review in Xconomy, LinkedIn: The Missing Manual Worth Reading.  He describes The Start-Up of You as:


"a guide to the mindset you need to adopt if you want to make successful use of LinkedIn."

That's a Fair Statement.  The Start-Up of You bridges the gap for customizing and optimizing your LinkedIn usage beyond copying/pasting your resume into the profile template.  

A 100% complete LinkedIn Profile is the bare bones minimum for competing in today's job market. 

On The Start-Up of You website, Hoffman and Casnocha provide free content on advanced tips for using LinkedIn.  Here are a few of these helpful suggestions:

  • Adding descriptive tags to your connections so it's easier to identify people with specific expertise
  • Benchmarking your personal skills by reviewing the profiles of your connections at other companies
  • Studying LinkedIn Company Pages to understand the skills of their new hires

LinkedIn Novices Versus Power Users.  Deep Nishar, LinkedIn's Senior Vice President of Product, described the difference between LinkedIn's Novice Users and Power Users in a December 2011 Fast Company article:


"The novice users of LinkedIn use it to find a job. The power users of LinkedIn use it to manage their careers."

Here are a few ways to differentiate your LinkedIn profile or manage your career using key features:

12 Examples of Non-Technology, Non-Silicon Valley Success Stories From The Start-Up of You

Each of these examples provides several pages or a few sentences to explain a key principle.  Either way, they demonstrate how the book's principles extend beyond Silicon Valley and the technology industry.

  1. James R. Gaines (Chapter 3: When to Pivot – To Pursue Upside or Avoid Downside)
  2. Mary Sue Milliken (Chapter 4: Professional Allies)
  3. Susan Feniger (Chapter 4: Professional Allies)
  4. Benjamin Franklin (Chapter 5: Connect to Human Networks – Groups and Associations of People)
  5. Paul Harris (Chapter 5: Connect to Human Networks – Groups and Associations of People)
  6. "Iris Wong" (Chapter 7: How to Pull Intelligence From Your Network)
  7. Eric Barker (Chapter 5: Do The Hustle – Be Resilient: When the Naysayers are Loud Turn Up the Music)
  8. Joi Ito (Chapter 2: Your Assets)
  9. Howard Schultz (Chapter 2: The Market Realities)
  10. Tony Blair (Chapter 3: Adaptive Careers, Adaptive Start-Ups)
  11. Ron Howard and Brian Grazer (Chapter 4: Professional Allies)
  12. George Clooney (Chapter 5: Introductory Section of Pursue Breakout Opportunities)

There's No Such Thing As Too Much Sheryl Sandberg

I'm The Father of Two Daughters.  And, I think Sheryl Sandberg's a tremendous role model for young women.  She's an influential Silicon Valley power player and important business leader.  I love her personal mission to convince more women to pursue technology careers, target the C-Suite, and adopt the attitude to:

  1. Sit at The Table (e.g., the Executive Table)
  2. Make Your Partner a Real Partner 
  3. Don't Leave Before You Leave (e.g., starting a family doesn't equal ending your professional career)



 

What Father Wouldn't Want His Daughter(s) To Professionally Succeed?  I admire how Sandberg "picked herself" to bring more attention to advancing women in business leadership. That takes guts because she's received criticism for taking on this role (see articles below).  

But, she sticks with it.  And, I crave to see more.  Here's more inspiration about the brains, resourcefulness, and chutzpah of Sheryl Sandberg:

* (Money.CNN.com) Facebook COO: Men Run The World – Sheryl Sandberg's May 2011 Barnard Commencement Speech


 


* (New Yorker Article by Ken Auletta) A Woman's Place: Can Sheryl Sandberg Upend Silicon Valley's Male -Dominated Culture

* (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) Why Facebook Needs Sheryl Sandberg

Closing Thoughts

This concludes my blog post series on why The Start-Up of You is an important book in career management and leadership.

Buy This Book.  Don't miss out on a great personal and professional opportunity.  

The global economy will continue to challenge and influence our respective professional prospects and choices for several years.  

And, the timely advice to invest in yourself, invest in your network, and invest in society couldn't come at a better time.

 

Tony Faustino is a marketing and corporate strategist.  He writes about how The Internet reinvents marketing strategy for organizations and individuals in his marketing strategy blog, Social Media ReInvention.  Follow his tweets @tonyfaustino or circle him on Google+.   

 

Your Turn

Please let me know if you agree or disagree with my thoughts in the comments. I would love to hear from you. I’m here to read, listen, and learn from YOUR PERSPECTIVE.   Comments are open. So let’er rip!

 

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