My Lifestyle Career

Book Review: Job Searching with Social Media for Dummies

I read a lot of career books.  So when I was asked to review Job Searching With Social Media for Dummies by Joshua Waldman, I agreed to do so, even though I figured I wouldn't learn much that I didn't already know on this hot topic.  I am happy to report that I was wrong.  Contrary to my initial assumption, I learned quite a bit, and I think you will too.  

There are several reasons why I found this book refreshingly useful:

Comprehensive: Social Media is a BIG topic.  Waldman does an outstanding job of presenting all the major social media platforms: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Google, without overwhelming the reader. While there are already many useful books that cover each of the individual social media platforms, this book covers all the big players in one well-written reference guide.

Easy-to-Understand (Without Making You Feel Like a Dummy): I read articles about this subject all the time but I still have a hard time understanding it all.  Waldman simplified it for me.  He skillfully balances the basics with more advanced tips, strategies and ideas for people ready to ramp-up their social media activities a notch.

Balanced: People who are really into social media often forget that these tools are not the "end all, be all" of the job search process. Waldman understands the importance of having a balanced job search that successfully blends the high-tech with high-touch. While the main topic of this book is social media, the author includes lots of helpful information about the other strategies needed for a successful job search outcome.

Bottom line? I highly recommend this book for both novice and seasoned job-seekers. Practical, timely and easy-to-digest, this one is a winner!

 

Are You Playing Your Career on the Right Court?

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the US Open, a fun event that I've attended for the past three years running.  Truth be told, I am not much of a tennis fan, but there is something about being in that venue that gets me all pumped-up about the sport.  For a week or two after the Open, I find myself watching tennis on television, checking match scores in the paper and talking tennis over dinner. 

While my enthusiasm for tennis inevitably dissipates over a few weeks, I find it interesting that just be physically placing myself at a tennis match, I absorb "all-things-tennis" without expending any conscious energy on my part.  Almost by osmosis, I learn about the top players, meet people who are employed in the industry, read about tennis camps and observe the latest tennis fashion trends.  

Best of all, this learning takes place without my trying to do it. It just happens. It's easy, it's fun and it requires no heavy lifting on my part.

I remind my clients of the importance of placing themselves on the "right court", when they are considering a career reinvention, especially when they are tempted by offers of higher salaries and nicer benefits that might keep them away from the courts where they need to be. It's easy to get trapped by perks and money, but...

• If your dream is to work for Google,go figure out how to play on the technology courts, even if it is only on a part-time basis. Attend a conference, take a tech course or work at night for a computer store.  By placing yourself in the tech world - the people you meet, language you speak and skills you learn - will all revolve around technology.
• If you want to be the next Top Chef; find a way to work in the food industry, even if that means starting out as a waiter or a salesperson at Williams Sonoma. Surrounding yourself with other foodies will enable you to learn about hot new careers, food trends, and the business realities of this career.
• If you want to be an author; volunteer at your library, join a writing group or hang out at your favorite bookstore.  You'll meet other writers, hear about classes and learn helpful hints about getting published.

Change is always hard, especially when it requires you to start at a lower level than you'd like.  But when you're willing to wear a rookie uniform, volunteer at an event or work for a farm team as a means to gain a foothold in a new industry, good things can and will happen.  You'll be exposed to new concepts, meet industry insiders and learn the ropes far more quickly than you will as a mere spectator.

Figure out the court you want to play on - and then - find a way to spend time there.  Volunteer, take a class, work part-time or attend a conference. Even if you can only play for a few hours a week, that "insider" exposure will pay enormous dividends as you work towards polishing your skills, perfecting your swing and build towards creating your own championship career.

Feeling Overwhelmed? Take a Tip From Santa Claus

It may strike you as strange that I am talking about Santa Claus in August, but bear with me on this one.

I've been reading a fascinating new book, Innovation You by Jeff DeGraff, that presents tried-and-true techniques for reinventing your life.  I'll be reviewing the book in full in another post, but for now, I wanted to share one of DeGraff's observations about the importance of making space in our lives for change to occur, even when the letting-go process is painful.

In the chapter titled, "Create Capacity - Empty the Bag," De Graff writes:

"Even Santa Claus, our beloved icon of gain without pain, has to empty his sack so that he can fill it with new gifts each year."

Indeed he does.  And if you want to generate more change in your life, so should you.

It's an important lesson, particularly now as the summer closes and your inbox fills with invitations to sign up for volunteer activities, enroll in classes and renew memberships to professional associations.  Before you go into default (or is it guilt?) mode, and automatically agree to all requests, clarify your priorities and then access whether those activities will help you meet your goals in the year ahead.

If they do, great.  But if not, don't hesitate to refuse these invitations in order to create space for needed change to occur.

As DeGraff wisely reminds us,

"Remaking your life is inherently about effective trade-offs. Are you willing to give something up to gain what you seek?"

I hope you'll mull that over.  It's a great question to consider -and act upon - no matter what the time of year.