10 Ways to Use Google+ for Professional Networking

10 Ways to Use Google+ for Professional Networking Unless you have lived in a cave for a while, you cannot have missed the launch of Google Plus. This new social network managed to sign almost 100 million users inside less than a year, influencers like Chris Brogan are already reporting to get most of their blog traffic from Google Plus. I for one was impressed with the interface and innovative features of this new network. The question is Is it useful for professional networking? Google Plus is definitely useful for professional networking, to me it combines the best of Twitter and LinkedIn and possibly even Facebook. You are able to be picked up in Google searches, to show off a public profile full with information about what you do, content shared and even links to your site, blog and other places. And as always, personal branding works best online when you are selling yourself in some capacity. This could be your expertise, your training, your inspiration or creativity. The type of business person that relies on referrals for new customers will definitely benefit from using Google Plus (and other social networks). I can think of professions such as accountants, lawyers, designers, consultants and even health practitioners. Here are 10 ideas to help your business networking on Google Plus: 1. Do up that profile of yours The most logical place to start is your profile on Google Plus. If you are a heavy Google user you probably already had a Google Profile linked to your username. This profile has now become Google Plus and even more powerful. The main benefit of the old Profile was the fact that you ranked well for your name on Google the search engine (hope this isn’t getting too confusing). On your Google Plus profile, make sure you upload an image, write up a nice headline (just like LinkedIn) and a paste in your professional bio which you can add hyperlinks to. Be sure to link up your profile to your blog or website and any other outposts you have such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube etc. 2. Get your head around the privacy settings Google Plus is very useful in that it’s both private and public. You can choose what part of your profile is visible to a random search on Google and what is visible to your nearest and dearest. You are able to share posts publicly on your profile, these will appear in searches on Google. Just click on Privacy Settings and its all self-explanatory. You can also choose to download all your information provided to Google in an instant using what they call Data Liberation. They let you save a backup of your images, profile information, contacts, circles, stream posts and other stuff to your computer. My approach to privacy is that I’m not bothered about it, everything I publish on Google Plus is in the open â€" I just make sure that my posts are safe for the office as it were. 3. Categorize your network in Circles One of the key features of Google Plus is what they call Circles. It’s a very straightforward way of categorizing your contacts, just like circles of friends in real life. Google’s Circles are similar to Facebook or Twitter lists, even LinkedIn tags but they are much simpler to administrate. The first thing you want to do is import your contacts to Google Plus from webmail services such as Yahoo or Hotmail, contact files from Outlook and LinkedIn. Once they are imported you can choose who you want to put in what circle. This is when it’s time to be smart about what you do. I would suggest having a family circle, a friends circle, a business circle and any other circles relevant to your personal branding objectives. Let’s say you want to go on a dentistry speaking tour of South America, I would then add influential people in that industry from Argentina and Brazil â€" they will be notified that you have added them and hopefully interested to add you back. Once they do, you can go on sharing content and engaging properly. Before you know it you’ll be on that plane to Rio. Note that other users will never know which circles you put them into. Personally, I have four circles just to keep things simple. It’s family, friends, acquaintances and following. Family and friends are what they say on the tin. Acquaintances is where I put most of my online buddies that I have actually engaged with, following is for people who probably don’t know who I am. I might do circles for more specific purposes as and when the need arises. 4. Search for great content with Sparks Another nifty feature of Google Plus is Sparks, basically a Google Alert set up for whatever keyword you are interested in. So you tap in ‘politics’ and up comes news articles, blog posts and other stories related to politics from the last days. If you want to be more specific, just add another keyword like ‘Canadian’ or ‘local’ to narrow down the search results. With Sparks you’ll never be lost for content to share on Google Plus. One thing that annoys me slightly about Sparks is the fact that you can only share stories on Google Plus, I guess a Twitter integration wouldn’t make much commercial sense but I would have appreciated it. So yes Sparks is very useful but nothing revolutionary that you couldn’t do with Google Reader, Google News and Google Alerts (just to underline the complete Google dominance of the web by the way). Just bear in mind that others will easily find exactly the same content in Sparks so you might have to think a bit outside the box to stay original. 5. Share that great content selectively (if you have the time) Once you have found content in Sparks, go ahead and share it on your profile. Google Plus make it very simple for you to click ‘Share’ and it will go into the streams you choose. Be sure to only share  relevant content to relevant circles. If you’re sharing something about Argentinian dentistry, you’ll want to keep that to your South American dentistry circle and not friend and family. Likewise, the dentists of Buenos Aires will not take a huge interest in your holiday snaps from Blackpool. I share all my posts with everyone, just like I do it on Twitter which seems to work well. To share things selectively you will need to dedicate a lot of time and effort to Google Plus, not sure if it’s worth it at this point. 6. Use Hangouts for group video chats Remember the old chat-rooms from the 90s? Here they are again but this time they come with audio and video. Hangouts is a much talked about feature of Google Plus allowing you to have a conversation with a group of people in your circles. You could of course use this for business purposes, perhaps by giving a free webinar or offering free consultations with prospective customers. Not long after this feature was announced by Google did Facebook present their Skype integration, no coincidence there. 7. That engagement thing The trouble with Twitter is that it’s difficult to see who commented on what, there is no stickiness of posts at all. Facebook does this much better but it’s in a very closed environment and only friends can join in the discussion. Google Plus has made it very easy to engage with fellow members. Anything you post will come up in the homefeed of people who have put you in their circles, they can click Share, Comment or +1 (the Like equivalent on Google Plus). You will be notified who has done what and you can follow up and get a discussion going. The engineers at Google HQ must have worked long and hard at this as everyone I have spoken to think they have cracked it. If you use Gmail youll notice constant notifications in the top right hand corner of your browser whenever something happens on Google Plus I dare you to ignore the notifications for a whole day (we both know it aint gonna happen). 8. Get your vanity URL Right, this one isn’t compulsory but most people like to get a shorter URL than the one that Google issues us with by default. Check out GPlus.to for an unofficial vanity URL for now. Google will bring out the ‘real’ one soon. 9. Invite others to circle you in If you want people to add you on Google Plus you’ll have to start telling the world you are actually on there. You can add your URL on your email signature, stick an icon on your blog or just mention it in a blog post like this: “Hey look at me, I’m now on Google Plus â€" circle me right here”. 10. Use Google Plus in moderation The jury is still out on Google Plus. Yes it’s looking very promising and it has attracted lots of followers in a short space of time, but it has a long way to go until it catches up with Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. The early adopters are there but the long tail haven’t got there yet, meaning your target audience might not be present. If Google Plus becomes a serious contender they will get there but it will take 6-12 months I would say. So for now, explore Google Plus but only treat it as another really useful tool when you can see some results from it. Hope these 10 ideas are of use to you, please let me know how you get on with Google Plus as I am not sure myself of how useful it is â€" but will keep you posted of course! Related: 10 Ways To Use Google Plus for Your Job Search.

Writing Tutor Resume

Writing Tutor ResumeWhen it comes to writing a resume, many people find that they are overwhelmed by the task and are not sure what to do when they come across the phrase 'writing tutor resume'. In general, writing tutor resumes are resume services that provide assistance with your job application. They are skilled at writing a well-formatted resume that meets the requirements of the company that you are interviewing with.What exactly is a writing tutor? It depends on who you ask but generally speaking, a writing tutor is someone who has had experience in writing resumes as well as jobs and employment. A typical writing tutor will have his or her own resume writing service as well as a portfolio of samples. The good thing about hiring a writing tutor for your resume is that they are able to modify your resume based on what they have learned from their previous clients.The basic idea behind writing a resume is to use a professional writer. This means using professionals that can work in an organized manner and who can work with you in order to get the job done right. Here are some tips that will help you find the right writing tutor:First, look for writing tutor services that are endorsed by some high-profile professional writers. For example, if you are looking for a writing tutor for a job opening at your organization, look for someone who has written for major newspapers, magazines, and books.Secondly, ask about their writing tutor services. You want to know how extensive their resume writing services are. Is their service limited to writing resumes alone or do they also offer other resume writing services?Third, ask about their hiring standards. If the writing tutor is experienced and has plenty of experience writing resumes, then he or she should be able to write resumes for your specific skills, education, and experiences. You don't want to be filling out a resume by going through the hiring process by writing with a secretary.Fourth, ask about the credent ials of the writing tutor. You want to hire someone who has enough experience to be able to write with confidence, who has been trained in different techniques of writing resumes. It is also helpful to ask about their experience in using various templates and software.Hiring a resume writing service is beneficial if you are hoping to land a position in your chosen field. Since these services are generally limited in size, it is best to make sure that you are hiring a professional and knowledgeable professional.

Future Finance for Women 4 Reasons Healthcare Will Continue To Be A Lucrative Career - Classy Career Girl

Future Finance for Women 4 Reasons Healthcare Will Continue To Be A Lucrative Career Healthcare has always been a field that has offered stability and high wages. However, today the trend toward more intensive healthcare services throughout life has made these positions more desirable than ever. With technology and the ever-changing field of healthcare, new positions in healthcare are also being created to help patients manage their medical conditions, utilize new technologies, and contain costs. Despite the tendency for certain medical  fields to be a male-dominated, women going into all fields of healthcare will still enjoy opportunities for a lucrative career. Future Finance for Women: 4 Reasons Healthcare Will Continue To Be A Lucrative Career 1. An Aging Population According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 20 percent of the population will be over the age of 65 by the year 2030, up significantly from 2010 when this age group was 13 percent of the population. While increasing lifespan is great news, it also means that it will impact healthcare. These individuals will require increased medical services for conditions that are a result of normal aging. The future needs a variety of different types of medical personnel to ensure that these patients receive the services needed to sustain their health. 2. Trend Toward Increasing Healthcare Accessibility In previous years, access to health insurance coverage was limited because of pre-existing restrictions, price, and other considerations. However, the current trend in government policy is toward expanding healthcare access to all citizens in the United States, regarding of their current health problems or ability to pay. These measures will result in an increasing patient base, with a variety of healthcare needs. There’s also significant work being made to make treatment and prescriptions more accessible. In fact, generic drugs now make up 89% of prescriptions.The future needs physician assistants, nurses at a number of levels of training, physical therapists, laboratory technicians and other personnel to work at many types of medical facilities to provide adequate care for a growing population. [RELATED: 5 Things New Graduates are Looking For in a Job] 3. Growing Reliance on New Medical Technologies The medical device industry continues to develop new technologies that help monitor patient conditions and deliver services to patients that would otherwise be unable to live normal lives. These individuals often require ongoing care to maintain health. This reliance on sophisticated technology will require nurses with advanced training. Continued education will help ensure that these skilled nurses are available. 4. Wider Access To Health Information The Internet has made access to a wealth of information on diet, exercise and health maintenance more available to a wide audience of healthcare consumers. These individuals often seek out in-depth articles on new medications and technologies that are currently available to improve the management of medical conditions and enhance the quality of life. These patients will tend to use more health services and will increase the demand for a variety of healthcare professionals. Demographic trends in the United States signal an increased need for healthcare personnel in a variety of specialties. If you have an interest in helping people and feel the healthcare field offers the challenges you need, youre in for a lot of opportunities for a lucrative salary in a variety of healthcare work environments.

What to Answer When the Interviewers Ask Why Should We Hire You

What to Answer When the Interviewers Ask Why Should We Hire You We often go into an interview prepared to answer technical questions regarding ourselves and the job  that we are applying for. Being prepared is a good thing, but there would always be a question or two  that would catch us off guard. One of these questions would be “Why do you want this job?”. A lot of people would consider this a silly question and give a random answer such as “because I need a  job”. To an interviewer though, this is not any silly question. It asks why you want it, and gives you an  opportunity to tell them why the job attracted you, and how interested you are in getting the position. Here are a few tips to consider when coming up with an answer to this crucial question: 1) Consider the company: It would not hurt to say that you would want to be on a winning team, as this  would give the interviewer the fact that you did your research about the company. Something such as this would be able to convey this idea: I  have been following the rising performance of the company, and would want to be part of the team that  makes it to the top of the industry 2) You’re prepared for the part: By: voguemarie2010 Another good answer to this would be to talk about your qualifications  and how they compliment the needs of the company. This would let the interviewer know that you are  not fooling around with your application and the company’s need. An answer showing this would go  something like: The subjects I took up while working for my degree in management accounting have  prepared me for this particular post. My two year experience working with company x has given me the  experience that I need to deliver what is stated in your job posting. It is as if I was prepared all my life to  land this job. 3) It can further your career and you can help the company in return: One thing that recruiters want to  see is hunger. They want to see this because it gives them the impression that you are willing to go the  distance, and even further, in order to get the job done, get recognized and move up. You can express  this by saying something like: I want the job because it can give me a chance to prove myself at this  level. My plan is to do an awesome job and move up the ranks of this company, helping the company  improve and getting me the job experience in the process. It would be a win-win situation for both  parties. 4) Passion: By: @Doug88888 Of course there is always an answer that shows that this is what you want to do. A simple  statement such as below  would give a recruiter the  idea that you just want to work in this field: Since college, this has been the line of work that has always fascinated me. I have  taken quite a few jobs in this area of expertise and I still keep on learning. Conclusion: Depending on the job that you are applying for, you can mix and match. If you are applying for a higher  position than what you were previously in, then you would need to go for the stronger approaches. The  biggest mistake you can make though is just pass this question off as a joke and say something such as  you are just in it for the money. That would signify disinterest on your part, and you may very well lose  that job opportunity. Play your cards right, show your interest, and you would not be jobless for long. READ MORE:  How to Answer Why Do You Want This Job? in an Interview

Using a Professional Resume Writing Service in Las Vegas

Using a Professional Resume Writing Service in Las VegasIf you want to use a professional resume writing service in Las Vegas then make sure that you're making the right choice. You want to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to this. By following some basic guidelines you can find the best professional resume writing service in the city.One of the first things you should do is start by looking at some online forums. Most likely, you'll find a number of posts from people who have used resume writers in Las Vegas in the past. They might even be able to give you some honest reviews. By reading these reviews you can learn more about what's offered by some different writers.Another way to get a feel for the type of service you want to use is to look at a sample. Not every writer in the industry is going to offer samples of their work. They won't even offer them for free. Sometimes, though, the ones who do offer samples are pretty expensive.By reading some of the feedback you ca n get from some forums you will have a much better idea of what specific needs you have. After all, people who are willing to write resumes are not just going to be reading them. It will take some time for them to get up to speed on your career and job history.Once you know what you want to accomplish with a resume writing service in Las Vegas, the next step is to decide which of the companies you might consider using have the best price. You may be able to find a company who offers services for both complete and partial resumes. This is especially helpful if you're not completely sure of what to include.Make sure you are working with a professional resume writing service that also has some samples of their work. Some may offer only samples that have been designed for business professionals. While these may be valuable, you should still be able to find samples for any style of resume you are considering. If you want to write a resume for yourself, though, make sure you choose a comp any that has some samples of what they can do.A Las Vegas resumes writing service is usually only needed once. However, some people will need one to help them get their next job. Most of the time, though, they aren't needed unless you are planning on moving to Las Vegas in the near future.The bottom line is that you should always make sure you're getting a professional resume writing service in Las Vegas. These services are only going to cost you a few hundred dollars or sometimes even less than that. Since they can be used many times over you'll really end up saving money over the long run.

10 Commandments for Career Changers - Sterling Career Concepts

10 Commandments for Career Changers 10 Commandments for Career Changers As a member of theCareer Collectiveblogging community of resume writers and career coaches, this post is one of many this month offeringadvice for career changers. I encourage you to visit other members responses linked at the end of my post and follow our hashtag on Twitter all month long: #careercollective.Depending on your perspective and personal experience, changing careers can be exhilarating and rewarding or it stressful and feel downright nearly impossible. Ive changed careers twice myself, with much planning, research, and self-analysis, and as a careers professional, Ive also had the pleasure of workingwithmany career changers. Two recent clients who come to mind include a pension manager who returned to schooland is now working as a paralegal and a substitute teacher and part-time real estate agent whobecame a corporatetrainer.What these two clients share is that they researched and thought through their moves and worked hard to achieve their goals. Culledfrom client workandpersonal experience, the following are my top 10 recommendations,the 10 commandments for career changers, if you will: Know your skills. Identify your value, your strengths, your transferrable skillsto an employer. Be able to give examples that you can pitch and sell during an interview. Consider technical skills as well as soft skills, which can be just as important, and often times harder to teach than technical skills. Know what is realistic. Some transitions are based in logic a teacher transitioning to a corporate training role. An MD switching to a research or sales role within the pharmaceutical industry.A franchise operator looking to become a Mergers Acquisitions Associate, not so much (at least without returning for an MBA). Please be realistic as to what jump you can expect to make, especially without going back to school. Know it may require stepping stones to land in your target job. Rome wasnt built in a day. Its a cliche, but its true. The path from A to B may need to include accepting a transitional or potentiallymore junior role. Dont necessarily consider that a bad thing, either. Stepping stone rolesallow you to begin gaining industry experience and contacts. To some degree,you will need to prove yourself in your newly chosen field.Dont take it personally, but do recognize it as a requiredpart of the process. Know your story. Be prepared for your interviews and networking conversations. Realize that nearly everyone is going to ask why youre looking to switch careers.Take the time early on to develop and practice your answers and your story behind the why? Know when itsnecessary to return to school. Certain fields require certifications or specific training or schooling. It has nothing to do with you personally, its merely a function of that industry. (Im thinking back to my client who returned to school to earn her paralegal certificate.) If you find you need to return to school, plan out the how, when, and whereahead of time. Can you attend part-time or at night while you continue working in your current field?Make sure you have a plan and a back-up contingency before youdiveback into school.Working full-time and goingto school full-time is the equivalent of two full-time jobs. Make sure your plan is doable. Know that internships or volunteer work provides valuableexperience. As you build your new resume, gaining experience in your new field is paramount. It may be easier or more accessible for you to gain that experience through a paid or unpaid internship or through volunteer work. Think out of the box on this one. Offer your services to a company or a non-profit on a project or part-time basis. Its a win-win for both sides. Know that networking is critical. Gaining relevant professional experience anddeveloping contacts in your new field are themost critical factors for success.Network withanyone and everyoneyou know tosee who they know in your chosennew field as well asidentify a list of target companies inwhich youd like to make contacts.You can gain invaluable research byconducting informational interviewing.Be careful not to just collect names nurture your network as a member of yournetwork may be the person who helps youget your foot in the door. Know the difference between changing functions and industries. If youre a senior accountant working for a manufacturing company, your function is accounting and your industry ismanufacturing. Is the source of your unhappiness your function (accounting) or your industry (manufacturing)? In this example, switching industries but remaining in the samefunction (accounting) will probably be easier than switching your function within manufacturing. Its critical to identify the source of your frustration. Could a new environment improve things? Or is it truly what youre doing on a daily basis? Attempting to switch both your function and your industry at once may prove challenging and most likely frustrating. I strongly advise switching one or the other first. Know when its time to work with a professional. Changing careers is one of the top reasons people consider working with a professional resume writer, career coach, interview coach, or job search coach.There are two ways to approach this:you may want to start off on the right foot with a strategically assembled team of experts or you may want to give it a go on your own for a period of time beforedeciding to invest in a career professional. Either way, this may be anideal time to partner with a professional tohelp you achieve your career goals. Know that following your passion is worth the effort. Dont give up. It may not happen in a week, a month, or even a year, but if youve identified the field in which you want to work, you owe it to yourself to pursue it. Its a great thing when you love what you do every day. It no longer feels like work! Read below for morevaluable advice on changing careers frommyesteemed colleaguesin the Career Collective: Are You Ready for a Career Change? @Debra Wheatman Changing Careers? Ask yourself these questions. @erinkennedycprw Changing Careers: Not for the Fainthearted, @GayleHoward Career Change Isnt An Exact Science, @careersherpa The 10-Step Plan to Career Change, @KatCareerGal When it’s Time to Recycle Your Career, @WalterAkana Best Career Change Advice: Target Plan, @JobHuntOrg How social media can help you change careers, @keppie_careers Expat Careers: You Are Not Your Job Title, @expatcoachmegan Changing The Direction Of Your Career, @EliteResumes @MartinBuckland Career Changer: Can You Quell Bottom-line Ache?@ValueIntoWords Top 3 + 1 Tips for Making a Successful Career Change, @KCCareerCoach Changing Careers: Look Before You Leap, @barbarasafani Is Career Change for You?, @WorkWithIllness

Is Your Vibe Limiting Your Career Potential

Is Your “Vibe” Limiting Your Career Potential Have you noticed that some people seem to get more lucky breaks than others who are equally competent? It’s almost as if there’s an invisible force at work. When I tried to give a colleague a great opportunity, I came across just such an invisible force. It’s called the “vibe” people get about you and even though it’s intangible â€" like a colorless, odorless gas â€" it’s present and working for (or against) you. Vibes are based on the often unconscious cues and clues you transmit about your attitude, mindset and basic approach to life in what you say and do, including how you sit, stand, move and use facial expressions. So here’s the story about my colleague â€" let’s call her Clara: I thought of Clara as a highly competent banker â€" calm, measured, rational, serious about her work. Yet, when I suggested to my department head that she take over one of my key client relationships (I had just gotten promoted to a product role), he was not supportive. When I asked why, he shook his head and said, “there’s something about the ‘vibe’ she gives off that makes it hard to bond with her â€" she’s cold, clinical. I don’t think we should risk it with such an important client.” I wondered if Clara knew this about herself, or whether she would agree. But with that assessment, she was unlikely to be a serious candidate for promotion to Managing Director. I recalled the time when she walked out of a group event in a huff when the after-dinner cigars came out. And it’s true that she rarely joked around or participated in team activities. While no single event was definitive, I could see that when taken together they created a vibe. One that became career limiting. Clara ended up leaving and getting promoted at another firm a few years later. Perhaps the environment there was a better fit and her vibe either became more positive or landed more positively. Through it all, there’s no question that she was hugely competent, but that wasn’t enough. Your vibe matters If you want to be a leader, your vibe matters. It contributes to your ability to be successful. And it can drag you down and cause you to underperform your potential. If you want to be a leader, your vibe matters. It contributes to your ability to be successful. There are two aspects to your vibe: What it signals about you. For example, do people get the feeling that you are trustworthy or underhanded, confident or insecure, competent or unreliable, caring or indifferent? The effect it has on others. Basically, do you make others feel positive, energized and motivated, or do you bring them down? What’s important is that you get to know what vibe you give off, and that it matches your intention. You don’t want to be inadvertently undermining yourself. 5 negative vibes to watch out for With that in mind, here are five negative vibes to watch out for, along with the behavior that could lead others to pick up the wrong vibe, and what you could do instead. Untrustworthy vibe: when you say, “Can you cut some corners/take a short cut to make the deadline?” vs. “Is there a simpler way to do this so we can make the deadline?”. Unconfident vibe: when you say, “Uhmm…yes, I think so” vs. “Yes” or “I’m not sure, but I’ll check and get back to you”. Incompetent vibe: when you do the equivalent of an eye surgeon hovering over her instruments as she decides which one to pick up versus deciding first and then crisply executing. Indifference vibe: when you say, “I don’t care how you do it” vs. “I leave it to you to choose how you’d like to get this done”. Those three words, “I don’t care”, can inflict more pain than even criticism â€" it makes people feel they don’t matter, or that what they’re working on doesn’t matter. Demotivating vibe: when you think and therefore behave based on, “These people are idiots who can’t do anything right!” vs. “How could I help them learn, grow and improve?”. Remember, people want leaders who give out a positive vibe, so don’t fall into these negative traps. It reminds me of the classic World War II movie “Kelly’s Heroes” when one of the men starts criticizing the plan for getting out alive, and the Donald Sutherland character says, “Hey, man â€" no negative waves!” So, what kind of “vibe” do you give off to others? And is that helping or hurting the cause?