What resolutions should you be making in the new year?

When the calendar flipped to 2012, it ushered in a new year of potential and possibilities. As a job seeker looking to take the next step in your career, now is the time to make a resolution to turn the new year into a successful one.

As the world leader in workforce solutions, we know what it takes for professionals to succeed. So to help you, we’ve put together a list of recommended resolutions that can help you land your next great job.

Reassess your Career

Did you love your previous position? Did you want more out of your day-to-day? Is part of the reason things didn’t work out because you needed a more positive work environment?

Now is a good time to ask yourself these questions and determine whether or not you want to continue in the same line of work. John P. Strelecky, author of The Why Cafe, suggests that being unemployed is the ideal time to evaluate what you want to do with your career. According to Strelecky, 45% of Americans aren’t happy in their jobs, and if you are currently out of work, you are in the perfect position to explore a variety of options.

If you’re looking for a career change, try taking classes, volunteering or working on a contract or temporary basis to get the experience employers want to see. You’ll learn more about the industry and improve your chances of securing employment at the same time.

Refresh Your Online Profiles

Today, employers turn to social networks when evaluating candidates like you. That means Facebook isn’t just for friending old high school buddies. LinkedIn, Twitter, Google Plus and other online networking sites can also be great platforms to present and market yourself. Of course, you also need to check your privacy preferences to make sure the information you post can only be seen by appropriate audiences. You wouldn’t want a recruiter stumbling upon photos from your wild weekend getaway.

Your LinkedIn profile is especially important, as it is the most popular professional networking site. Click here for a list of recommendations to help you get the most out of your LinkedIn profile.

No matter what service you use, be sure to keep your information up to date to increase visibility and catch the eye of recruiters or potential employers.

Revamp your network

Building up a network of professional contacts – and potential references – could help you in your job search. After all, “who you know” is often just as important as “what you know.”

So how can you build a solid network? You can start by reaching out to former colleagues, bosses and associates immediately. Solidifying these relationships can take time and effort, and you don’t want to miss out on potential opportunities or potential references.

You should also be selective when it comes to building your network; don’t contact people in the hopes of getting a recommendation for a position if you have no prior history with them. Instead, start a conversation on a blog or social networking site, comment on statuses, offer advice where appropriate, and position yourself as a resource. Remember that maintaining your network is a continuous endeavor and remaining in contact with your colleagues will be a vital part of your success.

Rewrite your Resume

Without a doubt, your resume and your cover letter are two of the most important pieces of content in your job search. They are the first things recruiters and hiring managers see and a poorly written or unprofessional looking resume can cost you a job even if you are a great match. That’s why it is so important to make sure yours is up to date and appeals to prospective employers.

According to US News, there are a few steps you can take make a good first impression with your resume. First, tailor your resume to the job. Create unique resumes for each individual opportunity in order to highlight the skills that are specific to the position. Furthermore, be sure to read the application carefully and follow all the instructions. This simple step can provide you with a leg up on other candidates who are applying to jobs without taking the small details into consideration.

Lastly, keep your resume simple. Leave out any irrelevant information, personal information, and photos, etc. You want your resume to be easy to read for the employer. If it takes too much time or effort to review your application, a potential employer will likely move on to the next candidate.

Revitalize your marketable skills

The Government of Alberta detailed the three critical skills that employers are looking for:

• Transferable skills, such as computer and technology aptitude, are very flexible and useful in a variety of jobs and industries.
• Time management skills and the ability to effectively manage your workload and schedule are also paramount.
• Work-specific skills, the ones you will use every day in your chosen career path, should be continually refined. In addition to taking professional development courses, temporary positions can help you gain real world experience and bolster your skill set to appeal to future employers.

As an Adecco associate, you’ll have free access to our online skills training programs.  We offer access to thousands of courses across professional fields that will enable you to brush up on your skills- or learn new ones.

You have the power to make 2012 a truly awesome year. Take the time to enact these resolutions in order to enhance your job search and land your dream job.

But remember, these tips are just the start when it comes to putting your dream job within reach. For more tips and career advice, visit Adecco Staffing Services or contact your local Adecco office today.

And now for a Contest!

Adecco USA will be running a “New Year, New You” contest starting January 15, 2012. Check out the Adecco Facebook page for more details, and find out how you could win daily prizes throughout January 2012!

One grand prize winner will  receive an interview suit and laptop- stayed tuned, and you could be on the path to career success!

Ms. Career Girl Contest

Now that you have these great New Year’s resolutions, which one are you going to stick with? Do you have another resolution that would be great for women in the workforce? Leave a comment here and the best idea will win a $50 visa gift card!  The winner will be announced on our Facebook page on Friday January 13th at 5pm CST.

This is the fourth post in a series of 5 posts about blogging: why to start, how to start, how to get readers, how to build community and how to monetize your blog.

The title of this post is a bit misleading. Read on and you’ll understand why.

If there’s one person who I admire in social media, it’s Gary Vaynerchuk.  He’s the author of one of my favorite books, “Crush It” in addition to being somewhat of a pioneer when it came to applying social media to a regular brick-and-mortar business.  Gary took his family business – a liquor store in New Jersey that he ran with his Father- from a couple million dollars a year to $50 Million per year.  Yep, a liquor store. He did this by building community online (one channel you may have heard of is Wine Library TV), being passionate about his product and caring about every single person who emailed him, tweeted him or asked him what wine goes with fish. (Sidenote: Gary tweeted me back this morning and I am totally star struck!!!  It’s pretty ironic considering I was in the middle of writing a post about how much he cares about his community.)

The reason I said that the title of today’s post is a bit misleading is because building community is not as black and white as the other topics we’ve discussed in this week’s series and is debated by many.  I can’t make you a list, or show you a process or turn on a plugin to make community grow.

Instead today’s topic is very subjective. Therefore, I want to hear what YOU think about building community online. I also want to know what blogs and online communities you admire the most.

Gary Vaynerchuk is one of my favorite speakers ever.  Therefore I want to share this video below with you.  Gary will illustrate the concepts of building community online way better than I could in a written post.  He is so animated, so funny, so unique. Warning: he swears. A lot. If this offends you, beware.  I take his swearing as pure passion.

I hope you enjoy this video as much as I do!  I’d love to hear your thoughts.

There are many marketing consultants out there who will charge companies thousands of dollars to give bad advice on building community.  There’s not a magic bullet, an algorithm or a piece of software that can effectively build a long-term community.  There must be a genuine human element that is REAL.

Like Gary says in this video, building community is about passion, patience, caring and pure HUSTLE.

The truth is that without passion, you couldn’t really expect to have patience, nor could you care enough to pump out great content day after day and respond to all of your readers.  And if you don’t have passion, you definitely aren’t going to want to work around the clock and sometimes that’s what it takes.

I have been getting a lot of emails from people who want to know how busy Moms or those who work full-time can build their side business.  The answer is quite simple.  Do something you love and work A LOT. Yep, this means making changes in your life to accommodate your goal.  It means working really hard right now in order to change the course of where you’re going.  No one said it was going to be easy.

And another misconception: just because your business is on the internet doesn’t mean it’s any easier than a traditional business.  Don’t start an internet business or a blog expecting that you can put a few hours in and get hundreds or thousands of dollars in return.  You must be patient, you must hustle, you must have a plan.  If your goal is, “I want to get a ton of readers” it’s not enough.

Another great point Gary makes is that people have huge “bullshit detectors” these days.  Lots of the big brands are failing at social media and community these days.  Why?  Because they are trying to disguise their content as genuine, but it’s really a self-promotion.  They don’t care.  They don’t have passion.  People smell it and people run the other way.

Ok, it’s your turn.

• Which online communities or brands are you a fan of and why?
• How do you build community in your own blog?
• Does the thought of building community scare you because it requires you to put yourself and your personality totally out there?

Today is the second post of a series of 5 posts about blogging: why to start, how to start, how to get readers, how to build community and how to monetize your blog.

Step 1: Decide What Your Blog is About

Don’t over think this one.  You don’t have to have all the details figured out to start a blog.  Although marketers will tell you to pick a very niche topic, I know tons of great & popular bloggers who just write about their lives, their experiences or post pictures and videos of things they like.  If in doubt, pick a general direction and get started.  Your blog will naturally evolve over time.  For example: at different points over the last 3 years I’ve considered focusing solely on personal finance, marketing to women and job searching- all very different topics.  These days I’m writing more about entrepreneurship because that’s where I’m at in my life. And guess what?  You’re still here reading, right!? Once you start writing, you’ll start to realize what you truly enjoy writing about vs. what you thought you’d enjoy writing about.  Ideas will come to you at strange times and you’ll have more to say than you thought.

Note: if your end-goal is to monetize your blog, consider writing about products you can sell as an affiliate, topics that you could teach classes about or create e-books/information products about. Or, consider writing for demographics that are highly valued by advertisers (for example, Mommy Bloggers are huge).

Step 2: Buy a Domain Name

Anyone can buy a domain name, and everyone who is even thinking about starting a blog, business or building a personal brand SHOULD buy a domain name.  I use namecheap.com for my domain names but there are tons of providers out there that do about the same thing.  Domain names on namecheap.com currently cost less than $10/year.

Buying a domain name will also allow you to have a custom email address (yourname@yourdomain.com instead of yourname@gmail.com).  It looks way more professional and it is super easy to set up.  Once you buy your domain name, go to “manage domains” and on the left side of the screen there will be an option called “Email Forwarding Setup.”  Enter the email address you want and where it should be forwarded (your primary email address). DONE!

What if you can’t get the name you want?

You can always consider buying a domain name with an extension other than .com. For example, .biz, .me, .tv, .info and .org are also popular choices.

Step 3: Decide if you want to do a Self-Hosted Blog or WordPress-Hosted Blog

Every blog needs a host.  Here’s an analogy that may help you understand a little better.  Like your home, you can’t build a website unless you have a plot of land to build it on.  So think of the host as the land/yard, your domain name as the physical house, and the content of your website (articles, pictures, graphics) as your furniture and belongings. Make sense?

Step 4: If you’re doing a self-hosted blog, get a hosting package

I use Host Gator for all of my hosting. I really like them in comparison to GoDaddy and BlueHost.  One of the most important parts of your hosting package is customer service. I’ve always had great experience with Host Gator‘s email, live chat and phone customer service no matter what time of day.  They are always quick to respond and I’ve always had my issues resolved immediately.  I’ve heard nightmares about other hosting companies that might be a few bucks cheaper.

Often times my “issues” were simply a lack of understanding of how certain technology/processes work.  You’ll probably call your host a lot in the beginning and that’s ok. You’ll learn a lot by spending some time with customer service! Full disclosure: I’m so loyal to Host Gator that I’ve become an affiliate for them, meaning I get a commission when people sign up for their Host Gator packages through these links.

I buy at least a one year basic package so I don’t have to worry about my website not being live one day because I forgot to renew. 1 year of hosting with Host Gator currently runs $60-80/year.

Once you’ve purchased, sign into your “c-panel” (control panel) using the information in the “Welcome” email sent to you by your host.  It will include the login name, password and the URL for how to access your host.   Keep your Welcome Email with hosting info filed electronically & handy for future use!  Scroll to the bottom of the control panel and click “Quick Install” then select WordPress.  Here’s a video with instructions to give you a visual!

Step 5: Create an About page, a Contact page and Write your 1st Post!

Once people start reading your blog, they’ll want to know who you are and how they can reach you.  Be sure you’ve created an About page with your picture, and a Contact page.  Include your social media contact info too!  If you’re not comfortable posting your email address, create a contact form (for free) by using Wufoo.com.  Creating forms is so easy and all you have to do is copy and pate the code into the page you want it on.  When people submit the contact form, Wufoo will forward you their inquiry via email.

Like I said in yesterday’s post, you may feel weird when writing your first post.  That’s totally normal, and 99% of bloggers will tell you they felt the same way.  Don’t worry about what people will think, who is reading it and don’t worry about not having much traffic.   Congratulate yourself on taking a personal challenge and becoming a blogger!

Want to learn more about turning your idea into a profitable blog or small business?  Consider taking our WordPress Setup Camp or joining a Ladies Launch Pad Incubator. Both classes are taught via Skype and in-person (Chicago).

Today is the first of a series of 5 posts about blogging: why to start, how to start, how to get readers, how to build community and how to monetize your blog.

A lot of people ask me why/how I started blogging.  Let’s rewind 3 years. Like many young professionals, I was feeling lost and discouraged about life after college.  I figured blogging would allow me to exercise the creative part of my brain after my hours as a commercial banker.  I’d also get to write; something I had always enjoyed doing but never really did during college as a finance major or after college as a commercial banker.  In addition, I wanted to connect with other young professionals who were feeling the way I did.  When I started this blog at age 24, I never realized it would do so many things for me both professionally and personally.

For example, I never intended for Ms. Career Girl to introduce me to a CEO who hired me to work in a management role I had little official employment history in (marketing) but very much wanted to work in.  Nor did I expect it introduce me to a whole new world which led me to take Internet Marketing classes at University of SanFrancisco and become totally obsessed with social media.  I definitely didn’t expect it to introduce me to journalists and publishers who wanted to give me exposure, or to change my whole career path.  And although I’ve always had a little fear of being laid off, I definitely didn’t start this blog thinking Ms. Career Girl would be my savior after losing my job.

And on a personal note, this blog helped me get through so much over the last 3 years: a breakup with an x-boyfriend who I lived with, 5 moves, credit card debt, 3 jobs, a career transition, a layoff and even some bouts of depression. Oy!

I don’t think blogging is for everyone, but honestly, it has been one of the highlights of my life and has opened SO MANY DOORS for me over the past 3 years.

Here are some common objections I get about blogging:

But I am a terrible writer!

That’s nice but believe it or not, blogging doesn’t require the skills of those who author a Pulitzer prize-winning novel!  The reason so many people read blogs is because blogs are often written very casually.  Great blogs are authentic, which often times means that people write the way they talk.  In addition, so many blogs aren’t based around long articles (like this one often is).  Many are snippets of writing with mostly pictures and videos.  The pictures and videos don’t even have to be of you, but about topics that are interesting! Being a “good writer” doesn’t necessarily mean being a good blogger.

I’m just not into social media.

Ok, then maybe blogging ISN’T for you!  Just remember that there were once skeptics who said computers and email were a fad that would go away. Or, that learning the technology was such a pain that they’d rather just do things manually.  Pause: Imagine your life without a computer and email!!  Beware of doubting social media and the power of blogging because it is here to stay.  Year after year companies and PR firms are dedicating more and more of their marketing & advertising budgets to bloggers. The more consumers are inundated with traditional advertisements, the less we take them seriously.  Instead, studies show that consumers research and gain influence on purchasing decisions from those in their social networks, especially bloggers.  Don’t believe me?  Then watch this short video, the numbers don’t lie: Social Media Revolution 2011.

I don’t understand how blogging works – the technology intimidates me.

Now this I can relate to.  I knew nothing about blogging when I started either and I especially didn’t know much about technology or social media.  Trust me, they’ve made it so darn easy to blog.  I use WordPress and highly recommend it.  You can get started for free in minutes at WordPress.com. If you need extra help, stay tuned this week and I’ll provide some screen shots & tutorials on how to use WordPress.

Who would read my blog?, What would I even say or write about?, or I wouldn’t know how to get my first reader.

You’d be surprised.  There seems to be a “tribe” or niche for everyone out there.  While you may feel you’re the only one who loves collecting snow globes or reading about the history of kithchen appliances, there’s probably a whole slew of readers out there who would be interested in these topics.  Don’t forget, there are also companies out there who would be interested in reaching these communities too. More info on how to get your first readers is on its way to you this week!

If you’re feeling a bit dissatisfied in your life, have a passion, want a project, need to do something for yourself or just like exercising the creative half of your brain, consider starting a blog.  You never know what your blog will lead you to whether it’s a new job, a new career path, a fall back plan in the event of a layoff, personal satisfaction, media attention, a side income, a significant other or just plain happiness.

And if in doubt?  JUST DO IT.  Everyone feels totally weird when they write their first blog post, and maybe even their second, third and fourth too. You’d be surprised at how empowering blogging can be!

 Are you a blogger?  Why did you start?  

What opportunities and personal growth have you gained thanks to your blog?

Want to learn more about turning your idea into a profitable blog or small business?  Consider taking our WordPress Setup Camp or joining a Ladies Launch Pad Incubator. Both classes are taught via Skype and in-person (Chicago).

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you had a fulfilling and productive week and that you have a fun weekend ahead!

What I’m really squealing with excitement about today is that I get to meet the founder and CEO of Stella & Dot, Jessica Herrin in person tomorrow!  Jessica is the kind of woman I admire: a wife, a mother and the CEO & founder of a multi-million dollar company with record breaking growth each year whose sole purpose is to empower women (WHOA- go girl!).

I’m a “Stylist” with Stella & Dot and what I love most about the company is that their mission is aligned with the mission of Ms. Career Girl.  Their tagline is, “Style your Life” which really means something different for everyone: for some it’s one great piece of high-quality, high-fashion jewelry.  For others it’s earning a whole collection of new jewelry for free by hosting a trunk show.  And for people like me, “styling your life” is about pursuing a career path that allows you to spend more time with your family or have the flexibility and independence you’ve always desired.

So, in honor of both my excitement about meeting Jessica Herrin and my serious LOVE for this company that empowers so many different women in so many different ways, I decided to show you different looks from my personal collection. Let’s be honest, it’s Friday and I know we’re all looking for some distractions today!

PS- If you are in love with any of these pieces, let me know. I can hook you up with free jewelry if you host a trunk show (home, office or virtual!).   Plus they are doing crazy awesome specials in October! You can visit my site at StellaDot.com/MsCareerGirl too.

Black & Pink Glam

I don’t care what anyone says, I’m still not over black & pink or hollywood glam.  I love this look for a wedding or cocktail party!  Pictured are 5 different pieces:

LaCoco Jet Faceted Necklace with Plume Brooch (which clips right onto the necklace)

Deco Drop Earrings (so great for brides or bridesmaids too!)

Nouvelle Ring (adjustable for all sizes)

Soho Wristlet

Black Maxi Dress & Jean jacket

I love wearing this comfy yet polished look to a casual dinner, appointments and errands.

La Coco Turquoise Beaded Necklace with Bee Brooch

Marchesa Studs (love the little pop of turquoise!)

Sloane Bangle

Spice up your white t-shirt and look like a fashionista!

How to Accessorize a White T-Shirt

La Coco Curbchain with plume brooch in purple

Clover Single Wrap Leather Bracelet and Clover Double Wrap Leather Bracelet

Estate Chandelier Earrings

Red and Gold

Chantilly Lace Chandelier Earrings and Bracelet

Aurora Cocktail Ring (also adjustable- and I get tons of compliments on it!)

Together Forever Necklace (which I refer to as “the adult best friends necklace”)

Navy and Gold Night Out

Signature Clover Necklace and Signature Clover Earrings

Casual Saturday Errands Look

Snake Orb Pendant (surprisingly, this is the piece I wear the most out of anything I own!) Serpent Bangle

Leona Pendant

Rio Chandelier Earrings

There are countless wonderful things with living in the age of social media; catching up with your mate, sharing a photo of your baby with 300 of your closest ‘friends’ and also seeing if that guy/girl is still in a relationship.

However, it’s important to remember that by posting your photos and thoughts all over the internet it goes from a bit of banter with your mates to something more serious – a potential barrier to your career. It is essential that you’re aware of your online fingerprint to avoid not getting – or even losing – your job.

Be Wary

We’ve all heard stories of how social media has gotten people into serious trouble: there was the 16-year-old girl who used Facebook to describe her new job as ‘boring’ only to lose said boring job; the woman who was fired after she threw a sickie, saying she had a migraine and couldn’t use a computer, before posting on Facebook all day; and the New Zealand rugby commentator who accidentally revealed market-sensitive information about his company’s viewer figures on Twitter before being axed by his bosses. Oops. Never forget that your future employers know how to work Google, so it’s perhaps time to change that drunken profile picture on your Facebook.

Be Aware

Oh the CV – where we all boast about our successes, talk of our dedication to our professional lives and claim that motivation is a key attribute. Then, one day in the office, you might get restless and bored so you and your workmates are playing ‘hangman’ while your boss is in the meeting room. Or go in to detail about your drunken night out at the weekend. Which I am sure your mates would love to hear but not your employer.

Be Smart

So, before you embark on your job hunt, Google yourself (for research purposes only) and see what information and imagery is freely available on there. Then tighten up your privacy settings to ensure nobody can see what you really get up to in your free time. You can lock down your Facebook and Tweets and remove blog content if you’re applying for jobs and realise there are things you’d rather keep private between you and 500 of your closest online friends. This way, you can make sure that potential employers are less likely to stumble across reasons not to hire you. You certainly don’t need any extra excuses to land yourself in the ‘no’ pile.

This post is sponsored by Total Jobs, a job search site which offers anything from charity jobs to environment jobs.

A note from Nicole: Today’s post is a MUST READ for every young female professional out there! Regardless of what industry you are in- this doesn’t just happen in business, ask your friends who are teachers- you are likely to face some pressure (if not just plain old insecurity) about appearing too young.

I’ve personally dealt with this quite a bit, especially when I was selling mortgages to people more than twice my age at my first job, and working with seasoned business owners, attorneys and bankers at my second job.

I made the same efforts that Melody did in the post below until my Mom (an experienced businesswoman/owner) said, “Who cares!  If you’re good, you’re good. Focus on doing a great job, serving your clients and getting back to them right away if you don’t know the answer to something.  Believe me people won’t care how old you’re if you’re doing a great job.”

And she was right.  As a new manager, I just finished a long round of interviewing and hiring two new marketing coordinators for my team.  In hindsight, there’s no doubt that my final choices were made largely on self-confidence (not experience or age).  Keep these stories in mind before you waste time doubting yourself or trying to make yourself look older!

Thanks for a great post Melody!

–

By, Melody Sabedra

As a young female professional with a baby face, I often find it hard to gain the acceptance of the older executives within my company. Once when I was in the process of being hired, my then boss stated that because I looked so young I should try to dress in darker colors. He claimed that only younger people wore bright colors. Being that I had just been offered a job in this down economy, I took the advice with a smile on my face. I mean, the person had just hired me so they couldn’t possibly be criticizing me, right?

Since that date, I experienced many more times when I was told how to dress, look or appear in order to be perceived as older and more professional. At first these suggestions were welcomed, as I was completely unaware that I was appearing too young to look professional. However, after a while I started to get upset. These repeated suggestions made me wonder, does it really matter how young or old I look to be successful in my career? I got my answer as I was walking into the attorneys section of a courthouse when someone inside the room said, “this room is only for attorneys young lady.” I shut the door and went to the bathroom to hide from the embarrassment of not looking like an attorney when I was one.

That statement definitely lead me to the reality that no matter what I think or how I feel, others perceive me as a ‘young lady.’ My next thought was that I had to try to do something to make myself look older so that I could appear more professional. In an effort to accomplish this goal, I tried numerous things. I first decided to cut my hair into a short angled bob style. As a result, my hair went from below my shoulders to right about the height of my chin. Although this was a drastic change, when I came into work the next day the first thing my boss said to me was, ‘I like that haircut, it is very professional.’ Apparently the haircut was a success.

Then I attempted wearing more makeup to work, as I had heard that maybe wearing more makeup would make me look older. Now, I generally always wear a little mascara, powder, blush, and eye shadow, which I thought was pretty standard. In an attempt to look a little older, I decided to wear darker eye shadows and more blush. This looked ok, but I found it kind of an onerous task for an everyday habit. I also tried to wear lipstick, which I NEVER wear. The result of my makeup extravaganza is that I ended up feeling stupid, like a young girls trying on her mother’s makeup. I started to give up trying to look older.

Then one day during a lunch conference, I noticed a ‘young lady’ that was a guest speaker at the event on the due diligence process of acquisitions (exciting stuff!). Although this woman appeared pretty young, there was something about her that made her appear very professional. While I was at the conference I couldn’t put my finger on just what it was about her. When I got back to the office I sat and thought about why that woman caught my attention. At first I thought it was the fact that she was speaking at an event, which would make anyone appear professional. Then I came to the conclusion that it was not that she was speaking or that she was wearing a nice suit, she looked professional because she had an exuberant amount of confidence. This confidence made her look and appear older and more professional than I am sure she was.

From that day on I realized that persuading others to trust you in business is not always about what you look like. Sometimes all it takes is just a little bit of confidence. Through my experiences of being an extremely fresh faced attorney, I have learned that I need to portray confidence to my client in order to be respected. Obviously a client is going to trust an attorney who appears to know what they are doing over someone who stares at them like a deer in headlights.

Just think about it, when you are in any type of a business meeting with people who have been in your field longer than you, what draws you into listening to some people and not others? I did this one day at a meeting. I looked around the room as everyone talked and I took notes of who I actually paid attention to and who I caught myself day-dreaming to. The result was that the people with the loudest voice and the most charisma caught my attention more than the quiet wallflower type who was only speaking because he was forced into doing so. It was their confidence that made me listen to them. It is confidence that can turn you into a true professional, not a haircut or a fabulous suit.

So next time someone tries to tell you that you should look a certain way to appear more professional, don’t take offense to it. Rather, think about how you are presenting yourself to other people. Ensure that you are always portraying an image of confidence, even in your weakest moment.

Hello to Ms. Career Girl readers everywhere!

It has been quite a while since I’ve written a post on my very own blog.  Time for an update!

Ever since I got my Kindle several months ago, I’ve been in a personal and career growth spurt of sorts.  I’ve been totally hooked on books like The Tipping Point, The 4 Hour Work Week and A Woman’s Guide to Successful Negotiating.  In addition to reading career development books, I’ve given several presentations to college students about online marketing  and personal branding.  And it is perhaps because of getting out of my comfort zone and utilizing the tips I’ve been reading about that I’ve had two VERY awesome career opportunities presented to me (neither of which are remotely related to my college degree). More on that stuff later though.

Why am I telling you this?

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know that I believe that the more one puts into their own career and personal development, the more they get out of it. I’ve always believed this, but now I’m SEEING it.  Those little seeds eventually bloom into very exciting opportunities. And in an economic environment of selective hiring and easy firing, young professionals need to set themselves apart.

Are leaders born or made?

We’ve all heard this question before.  Each of us would probably answer it differently, but there’s no doubt that learning from successful leaders, authors, professors and entrepreneurs can fast track a young professional’s ability to lead, think, communicate and make decisions.  If there’s ever a time in your life to focus on soaking up as much leadership training as possible, it’s now.  Your twenties sets the tone for the rest of your life. What are you doing to make yourself a more intelligent, efficient and valued professional?

Well, I’ve found a fun, cheap and no-travel-required way to get direct access to the world’s best selling authors, professors and Fortune 500 vetrans. And I love this platform so much that I pulled a few strings and negotiated to get you a free YEAR if you sign up by March 31, 2011.

Enter G5 Leadership: live, interactive 90 minute webinars taught directly from the source (not by cheesy speakers on their behalf).  Download workbooks, ask live questions and engage live with the professionals you idolize and want to learn from.   If you haven’t heard about G5 yet, you probably will soon: they’ve been praised by Business Week, AOL, Bloomberg and US News.  G5 Leadership is also one of the top “leadership training companies to watch in 2011.”

Check out G5′s Upcoming Event Calendar to see what subjects and presenters you could most benefit from.

THEN USE COUPON CODE: MSCAREERGIRL UNTIL MARCH 31, 2011 TO ENJOY G5 FOR FREE FOR ONE YEAR, COMPLIMENTS OF MSCAREERGIRL.COM.

The price of an annual membership to G5 starts at $129/year or $49 per live event so I hope you’ll take advantage of getting high quality leadership training for FREE over the next year, because a lot can happen in one year!

Tell your friends to check it out too and then let me know what you think!

Thanks for reading!

Nicole

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT G5′S WEBSITE.

By, Norma Tassy

In order to get questions answered, learn about resources, get to the next level, or secure a new position, one thing is essential: a solid network. Take a moment- whether you are in a position that you enjoy or are managing a transition- to evaluate your network. Your network consists of people who will return your phone call and act on your behalf when called upon. Network contacts are people that you have worked with and are willing to affirm your status. The people in your network are all types of professional associates, acquaintances from the industry you are in as well as friends and family members.

For your network to be able to provide you with the support you will need as you move through your career, it will need to consist of all types of individuals. However for your network to be effective it is imperative that it includes 3 types of people.

The Industry Insider

The industry insider is characterized by a long time spent in a particular field of endeavor. And a level of expertise and distinction in that area. An industry insider is important to your network because of their vast knowledge of trends. Their ability to relate where the industry has been and where it is headed is invaluable. The insider is also likely to know lots of people who perform many functions within the field.

The Mentor

A mentor is defined as a wise and trusted counselor or teacher. In terms of networking a mentor is a person who can help to guide your career. A mentor provides valuable input into important decisions. The mentor guides his or her mentee from experience gained in all fields of endeavor. Someone in sales is certainly able to guide someone in billing in terms of how to handle situations with management or with customers. Having a mentor is especially important to someone new to a field or a person who has recently changed industries.

The Power Networker

A power networker helps connect people. The power networker has relationships across multiple industries at all levels. But most of all the power networker is happy to connect people. They make calls, facilitate introductions and host events. It is so important to have a power networker in any network because they act as a bridge and help someone in telecommunications interact with someone in financial services.

A network that can support your goals, provide insight and information is critical at all phases of professional development. These contacts can be made almost anywhere: at social events, industry associations, on your intramural sports team, inside your office and sometimes even at networking events. Be sure to ask yourself which role you are able to play for those in your network. Be a mentor, an insider or a power partner for someone else. Try it.

Remember the Will & Grace episode where Will said “Wearing glasses is the intellectual equivalent of stuffing a sock in your pants.” to Jack? While the quote is fantastic, it begs the question: can glasses make you look smarter? Can it help you in a job interview? People used to wear glasses because they HAD to – they needed vision correction. Now, people don eyeglasses as a fashion accessory because they WANT to. The stigma of looking “dorky” seemed to end somewhere around 2005 when geek chic started becoming “trendy”.

According to “the Telegraph” – a British newspaper, nearly one-third of British adults believe wearing eyeglasses makes you look more professional and a whopping 43 percent believe it makes you look more intelligent. Looks can be deceiving and wearing eyeglasses may make you look smarter but we all know that that deception can only last so long. So, when you’re interviewing for a new position, is it wise to wear a pair of frames to get more respect? According to Cary Cooper, Professor of Organizational Psychology and Health at Lancaster University, “It is not surprising that businesses want to employ intelligent staff but the idea that intelligent people wear glasses is an old stereotype that has not gone away.It comes from the belief that you develop bad eyesight by reading a lot and that reading makes you more intelligent.”

A study conducted by the British College of Optometrists found that a polished appearance may help more than wearing prescription glasses but it’s pretty safe to say that there’s confidence found in wearing eyeglasses and the confident look is what may help win over a potential employer.

If you’re a believer that glasses make you look smarter but you don’t necessarily need a prescription, you may want to head online.Order glasses from a reputable site that also sells prescription eyewear. You want to look your best during your interview because confidence is key so if glasses make you feel more confident – go for it! There’s no doubt that glasses are becoming more fashionable but the stereotype seems to be fading.

This article was sponsored by GlassesUSA.com.