Fascinating Read from The Tipping Point on Relationship Strength

Fascinating Read from The Tipping Point on Relationship Strength Im finally muscling my way through The Tipping Point. Its an excellent concept but Ive had a problem getting past the first forty or so pages. Last night, though, I started reading something totally relevant to us on page 53 this is where the 80% of jobs come from networking quote comes from. Note that the 80% has been convoluted over the last few decades, but the concept of networking in a job search is important.  What I read, and what I share below, is the rest of the story, and its fascinating. There is a very good example of the way Connectors function in the work of the sociologist Mark Granovetter. In his classic 1974 study Getting a Job, Granovetter looked at several hundred professional and technical workers from the Boston suburb of Newton, interviewing them in some detail on their employment history. He found that 56 percent of those he talked to found their job through personal connection. Another 18.8 percent used formal means advertisements, headhunters and roughly 20 percent applied directly. This much is not surprising; the best way to get in the door is through a personal contact. But, curiously, Granovetter found that of those personal connections, the majority were weak ties.  Of those who used a contact to find a job, only 16.7 percent saw that contact often as they would if the contact were a good friend and 55.6 percent saw their contact rarely. People werent getting their jobs through their friends. They were getting them through their acquaintances. WOW!   I thought I was just going to read a little bit of the history of the 80% (or, from the book, more like 60%) of jobs are found through networking. Now I have a name, and the real stats, and the date of the study. But what blew my mind was the idea that the jobs were found from acquaintences. In JibberJobber we have a ranking system where you can say you have a one star (or two star, up to five star) relationship with your network contact. My thought has always been that you want to nurture and strengthen relationships. Doesnt that make sense? Meet someone, they start as a one star relationship (that is, the strength of your relationship), and then you get to know them better and they become a two star, then a three, etc. But what Malcom Gladwell writes is that Granovetter discovered that new jobs were found not (as often) from the strong relationships, but from the weak relationships! WHY? Lets go on on page 54: Why is this? Granovetter argues that it is because when it comes to finding out about new jobs or, for that matter, new information, or new ideas weak ties are always more important than strong ties. Your friends, after all, occupy the same world that you do. They might work with you, or live near you, and go to the same churches, schools, or parties. How much, then, would they know that you wouldnt know? You acquaintances, on the other hand, by definition occupy a very different world than you. They are much more likely to know something that you dont. To capture this apparent paradox, Granovetter coined a marvelous phrase: the strength of the weak ties. Acquaintances, in short, represent a source of social power, and the more acquaintances you have the more powerful you are. Is your mind blown? Did you realize that the weak ties in your network are actually a source of great power? Will you look at your weak ties differently now? Gladwell talks about two people who have an enormous amount of weak ties, and the power that they have enjoyed.  They are, of course, connectors. Being a connector, Gladwell argues, is part of their DNA its who they are. Its how they think. In Never Eat Alone, Keith Ferrazzi talks about power connectors, who are such because of their role in society: lawyers, real estate agents, etc. They meet people all the time because of what they do. Im excited! Im encouraged to find more weak ties! Before, I had the notion that I have a responsibility to take a weak tie relationship and make it a strong tie relationship but Gladwell (and Granovetter) have given me permission to see this differently. Dont be concerned that the weak tie relationship gives you more work, but realize that getting more weak tie relationships give you more (networking) power!  The more you have, the more worlds you have access to. Mind blown. Now, go out and network differently than you have before! Fascinating Read from The Tipping Point on Relationship Strength Im finally muscling my way through The Tipping Point. Its an excellent concept but Ive had a problem getting past the first forty or so pages. Last night, though, I started reading something totally relevant to us on page 53 this is where the 80% of jobs come from networking quote comes from. Note that the 80% has been convoluted over the last few decades, but the concept of networking in a job search is important.  What I read, and what I share below, is the rest of the story, and its fascinating. There is a very good example of the way Connectors function in the work of the sociologist Mark Granovetter. In his classic 1974 study Getting a Job, Granovetter looked at several hundred professional and technical workers from the Boston suburb of Newton, interviewing them in some detail on their employment history. He found that 56 percent of those he talked to found their job through personal connection. Another 18.8 percent used formal means advertisements, headhunters and roughly 20 percent applied directly. This much is not surprising; the best way to get in the door is through a personal contact. But, curiously, Granovetter found that of those personal connections, the majority were weak ties.  Of those who used a contact to find a job, only 16.7 percent saw that contact often as they would if the contact were a good friend and 55.6 percent saw their contact rarely. People werent getting their jobs through their friends. They were getting them through their acquaintances. WOW!   I thought I was just going to read a little bit of the history of the 80% (or, from the book, more like 60%) of jobs are found through networking. Now I have a name, and the real stats, and the date of the study. But what blew my mind was the idea that the jobs were found from acquaintences. In JibberJobber we have a ranking system where you can say you have a one star (or two star, up to five star) relationship with your network contact. My thought has always been that you want to nurture and strengthen relationships. Doesnt that make sense? Meet someone, they start as a one star relationship (that is, the strength of your relationship), and then you get to know them better and they become a two star, then a three, etc. But what Malcom Gladwell writes is that Granovetter discovered that new jobs were found not (as often) from the strong relationships, but from the weak relationships! WHY? Lets go on on page 54: Why is this? Granovetter argues that it is because when it comes to finding out about new jobs or, for that matter, new information, or new ideas weak ties are always more important than strong ties. Your friends, after all, occupy the same world that you do. They might work with you, or live near you, and go to the same churches, schools, or parties. How much, then, would they know that you wouldnt know? You acquaintances, on the other hand, by definition occupy a very different world than you. They are much more likely to know something that you dont. To capture this apparent paradox, Granovetter coined a marvelous phrase: the strength of the weak ties. Acquaintances, in short, represent a source of social power, and the more acquaintances you have the more powerful you are. Is your mind blown? Did you realize that the weak ties in your network are actually a source of great power? Will you look at your weak ties differently now? Gladwell talks about two people who have an enormous amount of weak ties, and the power that they have enjoyed.  They are, of course, connectors. Being a connector, Gladwell argues, is part of their DNA its who they are. Its how they think. In Never Eat Alone, Keith Ferrazzi talks about power connectors, who are such because of their role in society: lawyers, real estate agents, etc. They meet people all the time because of what they do. Im excited! Im encouraged to find more weak ties! Before, I had the notion that I have a responsibility to take a weak tie relationship and make it a strong tie relationship but Gladwell (and Granovetter) have given me permission to see this differently. Dont be concerned that the weak tie relationship gives you more work, but realize that getting more weak tie relationships give you more (networking) power!  The more you have, the more worlds you have access to. Mind blown. Now, go out and network differently than you have before!

Resume Objective Statement - How Does it Work?

Resume Objective Statement - How Does it Work?Your resume objective statement is a short statement that you use to describe your personal qualifications. It is one of the most important sections of your resume. This article will help you understand how your resume objective statement works and why it is essential.Your resume objective statement tells the hiring manager why you are qualified for the job. In this short statement, you state what you are looking for and what you are doing for that specific position. For example, if you are applying for a cashier position, then your statement would include things like 'I have excellent customer service skills. I have handled numerous sales tasks in a timely and accurate manner.'Your strong resume objective statement should be brief but very concise. Your resume objective statement should not read as if it were a sales letter, but instead be more of a promise.There are many reasons why you need to use a resume objective statement. One reas on is that it is part of the job interview process. During the interview, a hiring manager wants to know what you will bring to the company.Also, when you are presenting yourself to different people, you want to make sure that you are meeting their expectations. Most people will usually leave the interview feeling that they were not met. So when you give them a good reason why you deserve the job, it is going to be a nice feeling for them. Even if you don't end up getting the job, your objective statement is usually going to get them thinking about what you might do for the company.In your resume objective statement, you should also state how much experience you have with the company. A good way to accomplish this is to mention all of the jobs you have held within the company. Usually, the company will ask for three jobs before they hire you. In addition, you should talk about what is best about the position and what would be the best parts of your job that are different from others .It is also important to state what the company needs from you, or how you can add something to their company to increase their efficiency. For example, if you are applying for a job as a production assistant, you can list all of the responsibilities that the production assistant would have and make a nice list of things that they will benefit from hiring you.A resume objective statement is an easy way to get your dream job. It is important to note that you do not want to use your resume statement as your sales letter, because it is too brief and doesn't have enough detail.

Five Tips to Buying a New Travel Wallet

Five Tips to Buying a New Travel Wallet You’re an hour away from your dream vacation but you are still queuing to check in your bags. As soon as your name is called, you find yourself struggling to find your passport and printed ticket. The last thing you want is to misplace all the important documents and miss your flight just because you do not have a secure place to store them. This is exactly when travel wallets come in handy. The best wallet brands are compact and flexible to store your money, boarding pass, passport and other identification. Here are five tips if you are shopping for a new travel wallet. High Quality Wallets are something you use every single day. It is an item that you want to last for a long time. So it only makes sense to choose a travel wallet that is made of high-quality materials. When you decide to travel to another country, you tend to carry more money than you would normally. You also tend to collect receipts from the restaurants, museums, and parks that you go to. Most importantly, you will have to carry your passport and other personal identification cards just in case. A travel wallet with poor design and quality may not be able to hold and organize all these things. Pick the Right Size Size and volume are two things you always pay attention to when traveling. It is important that you find a travel wallet that is big enough to hold all your important documents but small enough to fit in your bag and not attract too much attention when you are out and about. There are security risks associated with carrying a large and flashy travel wallet. Think about Convenience and Ease of Use When you are in another country, there are a lot of unfamiliar things. You could be taking out your travel wallet often for buying tickets and confirming identification. Therefore, it is important that the travel wallet that you buy is easy to use. When you open your wallet, you should know exactly where to find what you are looking for. A good travel wallet includes a pocket exclusive for passport, card slots and a good size to keep paper bills. Lock Mechanism The travel wallet should have a proper locking mechanism for additional security. It could be a Velcro, button, magnet, zipper and so on. If the travel wallet does not have a lock, it is easy for things to fall off inside your bag. If you are in a crowded place, it might not be advisable to open your wallet and expose all the things stored in there. Some travel wallets have a dangle attached to so you can wear it if you feel like you may lose your grip due to chaos in night markets of shopping malls. Budget-friendly There are a lot of choices for a travel wallet so going with the expensive one does not seem like the practical thing to do. You can search online for brands that are commonly used by travelers as they can attest to the quality of the product.

Still On MySpace Its Time to Delete Your Old Profiles - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Still On MySpace Its Time to Delete Your Old Profiles - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career When MySpace was big, did you have a profile on the site? (Don’t be shy…I’m sure a lot of folks did!) But then Facebook came along, and a few years later, Twitter reared its headâ€"so you probably left that old profile out in the dust. Did you ever go back and delete your MySpace profile? What about your profiles on other websites, such as an old blog or photo-uploading site? Here are a few compelling reasons to spend some time deleting those old profiles: Avoid inconsistent information. If you signed up for a blogging platform in college, you probably weren’t too concerned about the information you shared on it at the time. But now that you’re a career professional looking to maintain your online brand, you probably want to take a second look at those profiles and delete ones that convey an inconsistent image of you. Even if your interests have just changed or your career path has gone in a different direction, you should either update the information (if you plan on using the site for the future) or delete your presence on it altogether. You wouldn’t want to confuse anyone looking for information about you. Get rid of inappropriate or unprofessional content. Before your professional online presence was an important part of your job search and career, you might have signed up for sites based on your interests that don’t exactly share your most professional side. For example, in the beginning days of MySpace, many people had public profiles with pictures of partyingâ€"probably not something you want a potential employer to see (no matter how old the pictures are). Tighten up your online brand. A lot of us are quick to sign up for a new website or platform without knowing how much we’ll actually use it in the future. By deleting inactive or inappropriate profiles, you can focus your online brand to the few sites you actually use on a daily basis and direct your followers to those. So, when you have some downtime in your day, search for old profiles you might still have lurking around on the web and try to remove content that may not line up with your existing online brand. After all, you wouldn’t want an employers’, clients’ or potential networking connections first impression to be from one of those profiles, would you? Have you deleted old profiles that no longer aligned with your brand? How did you find your account on these sites and was it difficult to delete your profile? Author: Heather R. Huhman is a career expert, experienced hiring manager, and founder president of Come Recommended, a  content marketing and digital PR consultancy for organizations with products that target job seekers and/or employers. She is also the author of Lies, Damned Lies Internships: The Truth About Getting from Classroom to Cubicle (2011), #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle (2010), and writes  career and recruiting advice for numerous outlets.

Tips For Checking Prices For Resume Writing Service Providers

Tips For Checking Prices For Resume Writing Service ProvidersWhen it comes to online jobs or in the computer industry, you have to be aware of the prices for resume writing service providers. The prices for resume writing service providers are very high, and most importantly it is difficult to judge the service as a true one. Most of the times, these are bogus companies who only want to rip you off.There are many places where you can get the writing service for free. The first place to check is the Internet. You can see which sites are offering the services for free, and if you can afford them, you can go ahead and avail the services.Before you decide to avail the writing service for free, you should take some things into consideration. First of all, how will you utilize it? Will it be a one time thing or will you be using it for years to come? It is important that you will get something that will be of your benefit in the long run.If you plan to use it only on your resume, then it i s a good idea to look for some of the services that are discounted. When it comes to discounts, you should not be too disappointed because there are lots of them. It is a fact that there are lots of people who have used the services of a resume writing service for years without any regrets.When you will decide to avail the services of a resume writing service, you will first have to verify the authenticity of the company. Try to see whether they are registered with the government agencies, and how long they have been providing the services. After all, you want to make sure that the company is legit, so you do not waste your time or money.Once you have checked the authenticity of the company, then you can start comparing prices. A good way to determine the prices for resume writing service providers is to go online and search the information that you want. You can find out the rates from various sources, and if there are many, then you can also compare their prices.You can also ask t he question, which price can you afford and why? Some resume writing service providers offer services for free, while there are others who offer the services at very low prices. Therefore, it is important that you get to the bottom of this question to decide what price you will settle for.It is very important that you check whether the website that offers the services for free is legitimate or not. A legitimate website will never ask for any money until you are ready to pay for the services. Thus, you should be careful about this and never give them money until they have completed the work.

How To Feel Less Stressed In A New Job

How To Feel Less Stressed In A New Job While getting selected for a new job is a feat in itself, especially in the current economic climate, a new job brings with itself additional responsibilities and fears.Whether it’s your first job or your fifth, the initial days of a new job are always filled with anxiety and stress. This post is meant to make your transition smooth and less painful.Initial days of a new job are invariably full of uncertainty and anxiety. The thought of meeting new people might excite you at one hand, but getting used to a new team and boss, and handling new responsibilities can be quite overwhelming.evalHowever, this transition need not necessarily be a stressful experience. If you practice the right strategies and have a positive outlook, donning the new role can be a very fruitful and enjoying process.Observe and AssimilateInstead of trying to impress everyone right from the day one you should observe and take a mental note of how things really are in the new place.What kind of work culture does the new place follows?How does the manager treat every team member?What are team members talking about?These are few simple observations that one should made consciously without getting too involved with others. If people try and talk to you respond well, and keep the conversation light. You will get subtle clues about how things actually work in the new office by following this “observe and act” golden mantra.Know peopleOnce you have a brief idea of how people are the new place, it is time to get acquainted with at least few of them. Make efforts to know who everybody is, in and outside of your team.evalStart with your own team members and strike conversations to know them well, what they do, and who are their bosses. This knowledge can greatly help reduce the uncertainty that one faces while adjusting to new jobs. This will also help you secretly in deciding between your potential allies and competitors you have to watch out for.Quickly augment your skill setThe most self ass ured individuals are who know that they have what it takes to be the winner, whatever be the role and environment. To be one of them, all you need to do is continuously build a strong skill set.You already have potential and that is why the recruiter selected you for that particular role, but, you have to make sure that you create an outstanding first impression through sizzling performance in the first month or quarter. This you will be able to achieve only through constant upgrade of skills and knowledge.Every new role in a new company requires some new skills to be applied and that is one reason why everyone looks forward to working in a new company. You have to just make sure that your learning phase is not too long for the patience of your new employer.Take all the help you canevalSome companies have a truly collaborative work culture where team members take proactive interest in helping out each other. If you are fortunate enough to get selected to such a company, take full ad vantage. Do not fall into the trap of a self created illusion of being “looked down as incompetent” if you accept help from others.Assistance from team members not only helps in a smooth transition, but it also creates a great bond and that too within a very less period of time. While you might want to prove that you can do it all on your own, if you want the stress with the new job to go away quickly take all the help that you can.Let it passWhether it is your first job or a new one, this feeling of uncertainty and helplessness is not going to last too long, and you know that too well.There are millions of professionals working out there with you who were in this position once, and when nothing happened to them, there is no reason it would be any worse for you.Therefore, instead of pondering over it too long, just follow the above given simple tips and let it pass. Slowly and steadily, you also will get molded in the work culture of your new employer; you also will be amongst t he seniors, and in a position to help others make their transition smoother.

Summary Sunday Be Social During Job Search

Summary Sunday Be Social During Job Search This weeks collection of articles provides tips and advice on how to be more social during job search.   Listen, you know job search takes time and effort! Rather than learn by trial and error, and miss out on opportunities because youve done something the wrong way, stay in tune with the latest and greatest trends in job search etiquette and protocol! If you like anything you read, feel free to share it on your favorite social network and follow the original author! SOCIAL MEDIA 4 Tips to Follow Companies on Social Media (and 5 Reasons Why) by Brie Weiler Reynolds | FlexJobs If you are still on the fence about using social, this article clearly and succinctly points out the reasons why you should follow companies and how to do it! 11 Reasons Youre Not Getting Traction on Social Media Ryan Erskine, Brand Strategist at BrandYourself | Entrepreneur Learn how Ryan rose from obscurity to socially-something! You can do it too! These are great lessons to help you gain momentum on social media! 13 Quick Things You Can Do on Social Media Today to Boost Your Career By Alyse Kalish | The Muse Here ya go! Begin doing these things and you will absolutely see results! Promise! NETWORKING 9 Simple Tips Thatll Make People Want to Talk to You More by  Josh Spector | The Muse Truth be told, you, like most people, do not like networking. It feels awkward, forced, uncomfortable. Please, read this article to help you ask better questions which will help eliminate those yucky feelings you have about networking. These questions will help you become more interesting! INTERVIEWING 9 Interview Follow-up Tips You MUST Use! by Esther  Myers | 3Plus International Odds are, you wont land a job for every interview you go on. BUT- how you follow-up will absolutely make a difference in your candidacy (now and for future opportunities). Make sure you are doing all nine of these! MENTIONS Top 50 Career Professionals to Follow on Twitter in 2017 for Job Advice by Ryan Kavanagh | ArtGrad: Ryans Blog on Art and Studying Twitter is a great resource for job search advice. I recommend following all these people and adding them to a list so you can easily filter/see job search and career info! It is an honor to be recognized by this site and included along side these pros.

Hit the Ground Running Upon Graduation - Hallie Crawford

Hit the Ground Running Upon Graduation This is a recent press release Shannon Cherry, my PR guru extraordinaire, created for me. And an update on this, Hometown Dekalb has posted the article on their website. I was excited to be mentioned, a thank you to them. Atlanta (January 18, 2007) â€" There’s more opportunity and more choices than ever for college graduates, but according to Career Coach , MA, CPCC, the key for students to land a great job upon graduation and be prepared for life after school is to think and plan ahead. Surveys show employers plan to hire almost 18 percent more new college graduates from the class of 2007 than they did from the class of 2006 â€" and the jobs will go to the ones who are most prepared for the transition,” says Crawford, who helps graduates and their parents create a career plan. The growing demand for new graduates is a result of an increased demand for employers products and services; in addition, employeesâ€"baby boomersâ€"are retiring or nearing retirement age, and other employees are leaving organizations for new opportunities. Indications are that employers expect the good job market to continueâ€"or perhaps get better. “Most students don’t think about getting a job until close to graduation, which is a mistake,” says the career coach. “College students so frequently graduate unprepared for life after college, and with no sense of what they want to do. Many return to live with their parents although they’d actually prefer not to.” But just like finding the best college, developing a plan of action to find a career that suits one’s personality, interests and talents about a year prior to graduating. Crawford shares the following tips to get the plan started: Discover what’s important to you in life and in a career-determine your values and priorities. “Know yourself and what you think you want to do,” she says. “Now is the time to explore what you want to be when you ‘grow up’”. Gain inspiration from others who are working in a field they love. “Find a mentor by identifying successful people in your life and talk to them about what they did to get there,” explains Crawford. Get the experience. “A college degree is important to many employers, but real world experience is even more valuable,” she says. An internship will build many of the skills employers find lacking. “And it’s not just an opportunity to gain experience, but its also a setting for you to learn professional behavior, learn what it means to work in a team, and practice interpersonal communication,” Crawford explains. Think like an employer. “I know that a lot of money has been spent on your education, but the reality is employers want to see the skills, not your college life on a resume,” she says. She suggests highlighting what you can do on a resume, before ever discussing where you learned to do it. “Young adults and their parents spend a lot of time and money at school,” says Crawford. “Don’t waste the investment by not thinking of future plans.” Young adults, college students and their parents: Contact me today and schedule your complimentary 30 minute consultation. Learn about the coaching programs I offer to help you hit the ground running upon graduation.