[POLL] Have You Ever Googled Your Name

[POLL] Have You Ever Googled Your Name 29 This poll was inspired by a recent talk I gave. Vote now: (and don't google your name first. Be honest…) Have you ever Googled your name? Yes, in the past 12 months (70%, 355 Votes) Yes, but not in the past 12 months (17%, 87 Votes) No (13%, 66 Votes) Started: September 25, 2011 @ 2:00 pmTotal Voters: 508 If you're reading this offsite, click here to vote.eval Why this is important In 4 Things to Know and Do Before Employers Google Your Name, I mentioned a 2008 survey that reported how 20% of American employers researched candidates' backgrounds on social networks. In April 2011, career expert Joshua Waldman â€" who sponsored the just-ended 5th Annual JobMob Guest Blogging Contest â€" quoted a more recent survey claiming that 81% of American employers google candidates.eval And in a recent talk I gave at the Jerusalem Business Networking Forum, I quoted top Israeli recruiter Morit Rozen from her 2010 Israeli Recruiting Conference when she estimated that within a few years, Israeli recruiters wouldn't even look at resumes anymore, they would just google names. Whether you're in the US, Israel or anywhere else, clearly you need to be paying attention to your reputation online, as in the way you're found by the major search engines and the most popular one â€" Google â€" in particular. So- before you read this article, had you ever googled your name? Vote now: Have you ever Googled your name? Yes, in the past 12 months (70%, 355 Votes) Yes, but not in the past 12 months (17%, 87 Votes) No (13%, 66 Votes) Started: September 25, 2011 @ 2:00 pmTotal Voters: 508 Once you've voted, read Why You Should Google Your Name Right Now to learn about how to make the results look best for you.

Three Ways to Create Luck - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Three Ways to Create Luck - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Dave didnt really want to go to the networking meeting. It was the fifth one this month, and he was getting tired of the bad coffee and the too-soft bagels. But he had promised Shannon after bumping into her at the store. She invited him, saying it was some exciting new group, and he would really enjoy it, and meet some great people, and yada yada yada. Dave slapped on a name tag and a smile, and walked in. He met Shannon at the door, who introduced him to Christy. Dave and Christy did the usual networking chat â€" What do you do? How long have you done that? Im surprised you still have all your fingers â€" and hit it off, so they agreed to meet for coffee the following week. During coffee with Christy, Dave mentioned he was looking for another job. He had one, but was ready for the next step in his career. It just so happened that Christy had a friend from her last job, Stephen, who had moved on to a management position at another company, and he was looking for someone with Daves skills and experience. Christy sent an email introducing Dave to Stephen. He checked Dave out on LinkedIn, and called him in for an interview. Three weeks later, Dave had a new job. Sounds like Dave had some pretty good luck. But where exactly did that luck happen? Was it because Christy knew Stephen? Or maybe because Shannon knew Christy. Or because Dave bumped into Shannon at the store. Or because Dave met Shannon at another networking event seven years ago, which led to a great friendship. Or because another guy invited Shannon to the event himself three weeks ago? When you go back and look at all the circumstances and relationships, even beyond the story, that happened to create that meeting between Dave and Stephen, its mind-blowing. Thats also what we call luck. Its when all the stars align, and we happen to be in the right place at the right time to take advantage of it. We create our own luck. Its not just a matter of being in the right place for the first and only time in your life, its being in the right place at the right time a lot of times, knowing that one of them will hit. In Kyle Lacys and my book, Branding Yourself, we talk about how to create your own opportunities, and meet the right people. But we only spent a couple pages on it, and Ive always wanted to expand on it more. So Im doing that now. Here are three ways you can create luck for yourself, or at least improve it. 1. Its Not The Thousandth Strike, But The 999 Before It In the book, we mention an old saying that if you hit a rock with a hammer 1,000 times and break it, it wasnt the 1,000th strike that broke it. It was the 999 before it. Translation: Do the work. If you havent had any luck, youre not done yet. It doesnt matter how great your idea is, or how much money it could make. Its a matter of how hard you work at making your idea stand out, hammering the rock. It means getting to the office at 7, not 8. It means working until 6, not 5. It means answering emails at home and listening to books during your commute. It means watching less TV, and doing more work. And, it means doing it more times than anyone else. How many people do you know who worked on a new business, tried to get a new job, or tried to launch a new product, and it failed? Did it fail because the time wasnt right, or because they werent any good at their job? Maybe so. Or maybe they stopped too soon. When Im looking for new clients, new speaking gigs, or new writing projects, I pitch ideas over and over again until I find them. I dont stop until Im done, and Im not done until Ive filled the slots Ive set aside. I dont stop after 10 meetings or 20 emails. I stop when the slots are filled. And sometimes theyre not filled until that 1,000th strike. 2. Its Not Who You Know, Its Who Knows You Networking is also considered work. In addition to doing your regular work, you need to meet people, speak with them, and drink coffee or eat lunch with them. They need to hear about what you do, so they can tell people for you. The more people who know you, the more people you have out there creating luck for you. I cant count the number of writing projects, speaking gigs, and clients Ive gotten because a friend told someone else about me. I have also seen a definite dip in the numbers when I have to make myself scarce for a couple months to get work done, so theres a definite correlation. When I first learned networking, I went to 6 â€" 8 meetings per month for a year, and I had at least two coffee meetings every week. But rarely did I land a client or new project as a direct result of one of those networking events. That is, I didnt meet a new client at a meeting. I got a new client through someone I met at an event. I met a Christy, not a Stephen. But I didnt meet the Christies of the world right away. I had to go and go and go to those damn meetings. And then I had to go again. Even in networking, its all about striking the rock over and over. 3. Sometimes You Really Do Just Get Lucky Scientists have calculated that the chances of something so patently absurd actually existing are millions to one. But magicians have calculated that million-to-one chances crop up nine times out of ten. â€" Terry Pratchett This is where all the hard work and all the networking pays off. I need to be ready when that million-to-one chance pops up. It doesnt come up with the first person I meet at the first networking meeting I go to. It comes after the 15th event, when I talk to the same person several times, and he finally knows me enough to trust me. But once in a great while, I meet that once-in-a-lifetime person. That woman who got promoted and wants some content marketing help, and I happened to be the first person she met. Or the woman I met who just left her job that week and wanted to start freelance writing, so I introduced her to another woman I had met five minutes earlier who hired freelance writers. Or the time I became a travel writer (and still am, four years later) because I just happened to see a single tweet from someone who was looking for travel writers. This is where all that preparation comes into play. Where the work pays off. Where all your meetings, your book reading, and your information gathering finally help you. You wont be caught off-guard by this new opportunity. Youll be able to do whatever it takes to take the next step. And without knowing it ahead of time, all that rock striking and people meeting is going to pay off, because you were in the right place at the right time talking to the right person. Because that was the thousandth time. Author: Erik Deckers is the owner of Professional Blog Service, a newspaper humor columnist, and the co-author of Branding Yourself: How to Use Social Media to Invent or Reinvent Yourself and No Bullshit Social Media: The All-Business, No-Hype Guide to Social Media Marketing. His third book, The Owned Media Doctrine, will be available this summer.

Are you a Good Candidate for Cosmetic Surgery

Are you a Good Candidate for Cosmetic Surgery Thanks to advances in technology, cosmetic surgery is now more accessible than ever for millions of men and women across the globe. If youre interested in taking your beauty treatments to the next level with permanent results, you may be tempted by the offer of visiting the clinic for a little nip and tuck. However, as with any surgery there are a number of factors to consider first. Primary among these is the fact that cosmetic surgery is not a viable option for everyone. So how do you know if cosmetic surgery is right for you? Your physical health, finances, and motivations must all be discussed with a doctor. Image Source: FDA/Wikimedia Commons Reasons for Surgery Before you even go in for a consultation, its a good idea to do a bit of soul searching first. What do you hope to achieve with the procedure? A breast augmentation may boost your cup size, but it wont necessarily boost your love life. A rhinoplasty will change the shape of your nose, but it wont instantly make you look decades younger. Make sure that you are realistic about what surgery can and cant do, and that youre going into it for yourself rather than for someone else. Health Considerations As with any type of surgery, the outcome is more favourable if youre in good physical health. Surgeons may not be able to operate if you have heart disease, diabetes, or are obese. High blood pressure or bleeding disorders can also be red flags for many procedures, and if you smoke or drink too much, you might need to make some lifestyle changes first. Your doctor may ask you to quit smoking for four weeks before and after the surgery, for example. If you dont think you can give up the cigarettes, surgery may not be for you. During your consultation, be sure to tell the doctor about any medications, vitamins, and supplements you are currently taking. Some may interact with medications used during the procedure. Financial Considerations Once youve determined that youre mentally and physically prepared for your surgery, its time to take a hard look at your bank account! When you receive an initial quote, be sure that it includes aftercare and medication costs as well. Dont forget to factor in the cost of recovery time, since you will need to take time off of work for major procedures. Although many patients are happy with their surgery, would you be able to afford to fix it if the results arent what you hoped for? Rest and Recovery You can expect to take at least a few days off of work for your surgery, if not a few weeks. Do you have someone to drive you home from the clinic and look after you for a few days? Would you be able to take the time off of work? Do you have a babysitter in place if you have children? Be sure to plan ahead for the recovery period. The Bottom Line Cosmetic surgery can work wonders for your appearance, provided that you are realistic about the results and choose a procedure thats appropriate for your goals and fitness level. Although theres no comparison to the glow of inner beauty, if you do decide that youre ready to take the plunge youll want to research doctors carefully. Finally, dont be afraid to interview several candidates to find the right fit!

Beliefs follow action; lessons from a pig farm bar mitzvah

Beliefs follow action; lessons from a pig farm bar mitzvah I studied rustic weddings for a year and  realized that all the rustic wedding stuff feels like a parody on a working farm. So we had a very simple bar mitzvah lunch: harvest tables and flowers from the garden. I made all the food myself, from our farm and the farms of our Amish neighbors. I told everyone to wear the nicest clothes they could imagine wearing with boots made for walking through pig pens.  This is what it looked like when people were arriving. I loved watching people traipse through the farm. And watching my son in action was just breathtaking.  I felt, for a moment, that I have the life Ive always wanted. To be clear, my son did not want a bar mitzvah. He chanted Torah beautifully and then in his speech he explained how he was only doing it for me. He also said, in his speech, that he doesnt believe in God. Earlier, when  he told me he might say that,  he had a sort of twinkle in his eye. Is that okay? he asked. I tried to be casual, like he wasnt bothering me at all: Sure. Lots of bar mitzvah kids say that in their speech. You dont need to believe in God to be Jewish. Fifty percent of practicing Jews dont believe in God. I didnt check that number. But the general sentiment seems  right. He said, What do you need to do to be Jewish? Nothing. You just are. You decide what you want to do. But while youre in my house you get a bar mitzvah. And dont eat pork. Right. And say prayers. And keep track of meat and milk dishes. And do all the holidays. Right. Yeah. All of that. You can make your own rules when you move out. The theory here is that belief follows action. Its a big tenet of Judaism, but increasingly  new research is providing us with scientific evidence of the power of action to change our beliefs. For example, if  you walk with a more upright gait you  feel happier. And if  you put a pen between your teeth it forces you to smile and then you actually become happier. The Harvard Business Review reports that our body posture can dramatically influence our ability to succeed in life. American social psychologist Amy Cuddy explains in her  exceptional TED talk on body language  that when we assume a “power posture” for just two minuteslike hands high in a V position and our chin slightly upwe increase our testosterone (the dominance hormone) and reduce our cortisol (the stress hormone). And, we are more likely to take a risk, succeed in a job interview, or get a promotion. To me thats a fake-it-til-you-make-it moment. Our ability to learn through doing is remarkable. Its why play is so important in school, and its why MIT has an  action learning  program. First we change our actions, then we change our beliefs. At the beginning of my career, I assumed Id be a writer. Before I got any sort of grown up job, I had stories published in literary journals. I thought of work as something I did just to support myself. I was increasingly embarrassed about my promotions as I marched up the corporate ladder. No one could believe I was corporate. And I assured them I wasnt. Until I was. I became a person who loves the game of business. I would have never believed I would become this person, but after going through the motions of going to work and being part of the business world for a few years, there was nothing left of my resistance to the business world. I was part of it. I imagine that will happen with my son and Judaism. I dont actually care if he believes in God. I just want him to come home to my house on Passover and Rosh Hashannah. Im pretty certain, though, that if you grow up going through the motions of Judaism, it starts rubbing off on you. Actions speak louder than words. At work it means you can fake it with actions until you feel confident with your  words. At a bar mitzvah it means  that no matter what you speech might say, your mom is just happy you made one.

How I coped with being lost and lonely on my year abroad in Naples

How I coped with being lost and lonely on my year abroad in Naples This post is written by a member of the Debut Student Publisher Network. Read on for Zakis  recount of the  most memorable moment of his year abroad in Naples: There was a month to go of my Erasmus year in Italy which, up to that point, had mostly been awesome. And then it happened. Basically, I  lost my keys and got locked out of my student flat at the worst possible time. All four of my flatmates were away for the weekend. My landlord didn’t have any other keys. What could  I do? Come to terms with what it would mean I didn’t know how to deal with it. Angry with myself for losing the keys, I was also worried that without access to my laptop, I’d get behind with my studies. Honestly, I didnt know who to call. I didn’t want to bother Erasmus friends I’d made by asking if I could stay with them for a couple of nights. Gradually, I calmed down, and told myself  these things  happen, and that my luck would turn soon. A little retail therapy I bought myself some new clothes. Usually Im pretty careful with money, and don’t spend much on my own clothing, but if there was ever an excuse to treat myself, this was it. Those were the only clothes I ever bought in Naples, so given the circumstances, I don’t think it was panic buying. The T-shirts are now among my favourites. I got to board a yacht by one of Europe’s most spectacular islands   Eventually, I sought the help of some kind family friends, and then my fortunes turned. They let me stay at theirs the first night and said that, as it happened, they were planning on going to the island of Procida the next day to spend time on their yacht (!), which they’d already mentioned I’d be welcome to join them on before. By coincidence, Procida, near the better-known and less unspoiled island of Ischia, was where the nearest of my flatmates, lived â€" the others lived over 100 miles away by road. So it was the perfect excuse to go, and kill two birds with one stone. Procida was  truly amazing! We swam in the sea, had a picnic and relaxed. Then I walked around the island, picked up the keys from my flatmate and headed back to the mainland. Crisis? Yacht crisis? I learned that responding well to difficulties is one of the key year abroad lessons In a way, my experience is what the year abroad is all about: Turning threats into opportunities.  Being locked out threatened to ruin some of my last days in Naples; in the end, it gave me the opportunity to visit somewhere I otherwise probably wouldn’t have. It also taught me to be flexible. Ideally I’d have got ahead with exam revision that weekend and made the trip to the island after I’d finished my studies, but as it was, I had to do things the other way round, and work efficiently once I’d got home. One of the worst experiences of my year abroad became one of the most memorable. Will I return to Procida? Will I board a yacht again? Probably not. Will I lose my keys again? Hopefully not, but Id know how to deal with it if I did. Download the Debut app and you could totally grab yourself a summer internship  way before anyone else. Follow Zaki  on Twitter @ZakiDogliani Connect with Debut on  Facebook  and  Twitter

Summary Sunday Get Ready For Your Job Search

Summary Sunday Get Ready For Your Job Search Preparing for job search requires some planning and making sure you are up-to-date with todays trends. Learn about interviewing blunders to avoid, where to go to look for new job, and more! These are five posts I shared this week and received attention, so Im highlighting them here! I hope youll take a minute or two to skim through these and if you do find one you like, please, share! Interviewing The Top 5 Embarrassing Errors to Avoid in Your Job Interview by  Robin Madell | USNews World Report On Careers Yes, weve all blown an interview. But if you learn from these missteps, youll do better at your next interview. Job Search Advice 18 Best Places To Find A Job (As Recommended By Career Experts) | Career Waymark 23 job search coaches, resume writers and people in the know,  chime in on where you should look to find a new job! Are you using ALL of these? Career/Workforce Trends 6 Tips to Capitalize On Todays Job Market by Nancy Collamer | Forbes This article shares take-aways from Collamers  recent attendance at the  Indeed Interactive Conference in Austin, Texas. Along with these six trends, youll also find  recommendations on how to navigate/benefit from the trends! The labor market has really, truly improved. The health care sector is red hot. Every company is a tech company. More people are seeking flexible work options. Boomers represent an important labor force going forward. The job search never ends. The Full-Time Job Is Dead  by UpWork | Medium This post didnt make the top listing, but it should! If there is ONE article you should read and ponder, it is this one! It is about how and why the 40-hour week is outdated. It talks about how Lyft, Airbnb even General Electric are transforming how they employ people. This sums it up pretty well: But technology is now changing the nature of work. The trend points to a new era in which most of us will work in multiple “micro-careers” at the same time, leaving the traditional full-time job behind. “Work” is likely to turn into a marketplace in the cloud rather than a desk and a chair at a traditional corporation. A free agent workforce will be able to make a good living layering a number of professional relationships, entrepreneurial passions and other money-making pursuits on top of each other.   Guess Who Doesnt Fit In At Work by Lauren A. Rivera | New York Times This is a longer article, yet well worth the read. Its about cultural fit, and according to a recent study, cultural fit is a top concern for 80% of leaders today.  As Rivera found out interviewing over 120 hiring managers within investment banks: professionals at all levels of seniority reported wanting to hire people with whom they enjoyed hanging out and could foresee developing close relationships with. (Right or wrong- likability is key to fitting in!) Hope you enjoy reading this! Like This Post? If you want to keep up with the trends impacting your job search and career, follow my social media accounts or sign up for my articles! Follow @careersherpa // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs'); // ]] Career Sherpa  |  Promote Your Page Too Visit Career Sherpas profile on Pinterest. Never miss the job search news you can use. Sign up now! Email Address

Tips For Writing Ehs Resume And Cover Letters

Tips For Writing Ehs Resume And Cover LettersTips for writing the resume and cover letters can be found everywhere online. It is one of the most important parts in the hiring process and since it is your life story, it is essential that you know what to say and what not to say.With an ehs job description, there are a number of things you need to know. Many people ask the following questions when they are preparing for their resume and cover letter:- What are my strengths? - Do I have what it takes to get this job? - Do I have what it takes to succeed at this job?- What are my strengths? - Do I have what it takes to get this job? - Do I have what it takes to succeed at this job?Knowing what you can't do for the job will help you choose your job description well. It will also help you decide what to include on your resume and cover letter, what to skip, and what to emphasize on.This job description can be stressful because you might find yourself wondering how exactly you will fit into this particular job. But knowing what you are good at and what you are not good at will help you decide how you will fill out the rest of the information on your resume and cover letter. Knowing how much you have to say is the hardest part but understanding what needs to be said will help you avoid mistakes that will prevent you from getting the job you want.Another thing you need to know about this job description is the pay rate, position, and hours. This can be done by going to the job description and reading it for yourself. You can also ask the hiring manager, the HR department, or the supervisor if they have any idea on what the job description is all about.The job description will be a short paragraph stating what the specific job is all about and your qualifications. So it's always best to have your resume and cover letter ready even before you start your interview process.