Free #SHRM #HRCI Recertfication Credits - Workology

Free #SHRM #HRCI Recertfication Credits Free SHRM and HRCI Recertification Credits Access my free on-demand webinars for HRCI and SHRM recertification credits by clicking here.   If you are a StrengthsFinder nerd like me, you might not be surprised to know that Learning is in my Top 5. I am always learning, reading, taking classes and doing new things. Its the reason I make soap from scratch, love photography, technology and gardening. I love learning new things and HR is no different. And with that learning means that I also love certifications. I love being recognized for my learning, knowledge and expertise. I took the PHR with HRCI as soon as I was eligible in 2003. My SPHR followed in 2007 which was the hardest test in my life. Of course, I took the SHRM certification pathway and am now a SHRM-SCP. Because of my thirst for knowledge, I have attended a million conferences and sat on equally as many webinars which is why I started producing webinars as part of Blogging4Jobs first in 2010. Our current webinar and webcast archives have over 30 video recordings which are available on-demand. They are accessible to anyone who is interested in watching seasoned practitioners, students and those who are looking for free recertification credits for HRCI and SHRM. Access my webinars by clicking here  or you can view a list of more valuable and free great HR and recruiting webinar resources that are credit eligible. Free SHRM and HRCI Recertification Credits I know many of you are looking for free HRCI and SHRM credits as we near the end of the year and likely when your recertification submission is due. Dont worry. Ive got you covered because Im a procrastinator too.  I have a number of on-demand webinars that 0ffer GPHR, California and SPHR (Business/Strategic) credits as well as the good old general PHR recerts. They are all free and on-demand for all your SHRM recertification and HRCI recertification needs. As far as recertification goes, you are allowed to have 20 webinar credits per certification cycle. This is true for both HRCI and SHRM recertification. The holidays are a great time to take your recertification classes. Things are slowing down. There are less meetings and more time to work on your Zero Inbox Strategy. Personally, I hate email. Id rather enjoy a webinar, webcast and online learning class instead.

How to Get a Job After Being Fired

Instructions to Get a Job After Being Fired Instructions to Get a Job After Being Fired The correct abilities? Check. Experience? Check. Demonstrable skill? Check. Training? Check. Realizing how to find a new line of work in the wake of being terminated? Uh, well, not actually. Thus, you have the capacities, credits and experience to wow any recruiting chief on paper and face to face - aside from that one time you were terminated. What to do? At the point when the remainder of your resume is great, it's baffling to realize that a hole in your business history may hop off the page and leave questions in the brains of many employing supervisors. While you would prefer not to cover up - or more terrible, lie about - such a flaw, you might have the option to transform this negative into a positive. A little arrangement and scrupulousness can go far. Here are a few hints on the most proficient method to find a new line of work in the wake of being terminated. Shake up your resume The most ideal approach to compose a resume that makes up for a business hole is to utilize a cross breed design that rundowns your pertinent aptitudes, experience and different capabilities first. At that point detail your business history in switch sequential request. At the point when you list your solid focuses first, there's a superior possibility that recruiting chiefs will be sufficiently dazzled to need to converse with you notwithstanding the hole. You may likewise consider including business related exercises you took part in while you were jobless - maybe taking on the web classes or volunteer situations at nearby charities. Treat these as you would some other position: Note the dates and rundown your obligations. The equivalent goes for your introductory letter. Depict your humanitarian effort or coursework as things that make you a solid match for this opening, much the same as important work understanding. The fact of the matter is to show that you utilized an opportunity to accomplish something gainful that upgraded your capabilities for the position. Regardless of what you do, however, don't make a special effort to clarify holes in your business history at this stage. Spare that for the meeting, as it's consistently simpler to clarify these sorts of circumstances eye to eye. Present YOUR RESUME Have your answer prepared In case you're brought in for a meeting, you can basically ensure the recruiting supervisor will get some information about your business holes. Be set up with a solid reaction. Most importantly, it's imperative frankly. In the event that you give a not exactly honest purpose behind finding employment elsewhere and get an offer, the business could undoubtedly get the data about your end while performing reference checks to confirm your experience, and that could make the organization pull back the offer. Second, keep your underlying answer short and brief. On the off chance that you meander aimlessly and overexplain the circumstance, the recruiting chief may ponder whether you're concealing something. The best reaction is a straightforward, direct one, for example, Shockingly, the organization ended me. Third, clarify quickly the conditions, what you gained from the experience, and how you've developed in the result or made changes throughout your life to guarantee that it doesn't occur once more. For instance, on the off chance that you were terminated for execution issues, clarify that you might not have had a full handle of the organization's desires for the position, at that point depict how you've created and sharpened the territories where you were more fragile - particularly in the event that they're applicable to the position you're applying for. Also, be cautious that you don't abuse the administrator or organization that terminated you. It never makes a difference. Introducing yourself as a constructive, responsible individual who gains from mishaps is a key piece of seeing how to find a new line of work in the wake of being terminated. Request proposals Your manager may have terminated you, however there are presumably other previous partners who might address the numerous expert aptitudes or positive ascribes you bring to the table. Approach previous associates for LinkedIn suggestions or to fill in as references as you search for a new position, as long as you left those connections on positive standing. Having a proposal or two from previous partners can exhibit to future managers that your work was esteemed by those other than the person who fired your business. Simply remember that a few organizations don't permit workers to offer proposals for lawful reasons. Tending to other work history imperfections Getting terminated from a past activity isn't the main work-history issue that can be trying to depict in an introductory letter, resume and meeting. Different hiccups can be disclosed to a potential new boss simply. Occupation bouncing - Employers have customarily considered holding an excessive number of various situations as an indication of profession insecurity. Fortunately perspectives are evolving. In a Robert Half overview, 58 percent of respondents felt that activity bouncing could be valuable to their professions, particularly on the off chance that it helped them increase new aptitudes. Make certain to feature the development openings you secured by exchanging positions, and stay away from remarks like, I was offered more cash. It may cause the recruiting administrator to accept that you'd leave any situation for better wages. Staying excessively long - Having a similar activity for a long time shows some alluring attributes, similar to steadfastness, reliability and consistency. Nonetheless, it may likewise make an employing chief think you oppose change. In the event that this is your issue, utilize the introductory letter, resume and meeting to portray how you developed in your job. For instance, on the off chance that you were an official partner for a long time, maybe you increased progressively administrative duties throughout the years, beginning with one representative and in the long run overseeing six, which permitted you to create administrative abilities and a profound system. Try not to be threatened by work history imperfections. Attentive answers that show your development, improvement and readiness to acknowledge obligation may really work in support of yourself and assist you with finding another line of work in the wake of being terminated. Labels

14 Stay at Home Mom Jobs

14 Stay at Home Mom Jobs As per Mom Corps, 75 percentof working grown-ups concur that adaptability for work-life balance is one of the most significant components they consider when choosing where to work. The pattern toward remote working is proceeding to enhance as innovation takes into consideration better availability, and top organizations are advancing to satisfy these needs so as to remain competitive.The advantages of a work-at-home occupation are engaging. In a working from home employment, regardless of whether you work low maintenance or dependent upon the situation, during that time you are allowed to characterize your hours, you dont need to drive, you can work in your night wear (if that is the means by which you roll)...and you can even a discount a little part of your home office at charge time. Be that as it may, what are the absolute generally rewarding and fulfilling telecommute work opportunities?If youre a housewife coming back to work, finding a work-from-home chance or remote, adaptabl e employments that pay well might be testing. In any case, the extraordinary news is that there is such a gigantic scope of working from home choices accessible nowadays. In this way, whether or not you are a remain at home mother or father looking for a side-hustle, a passage level worker, or somebody looking for an increasingly official position, thereareoptions!Is a stay-at-home employment genuinely directly for you and your familys needs?When considering the sort of occupation you need, make certain to factor in your money related prerequisites, how long you need to work (be it all day work or low maintenance), your kid care housing, and whether you need medical coverage or different advantages. For mothers and fathers, there are distinct advantages to telecommuting, in that you have better adaptability to think about your family. Yet, this adaptability can likewise include some significant pitfalls ensure you comprehend the pluses just as the minuses. A couple of the champions are as follows:BenefitsWork-from-home moms and fathers share a few advantages with remain at home mothers and fathers, in that they have more noteworthy opportunity to get wiped out children from school (the delights of child rearing!) and for the most part have a preferred position in having the option to organize family needs, from physical checkups, to class plays, to everything in the middle of (gave their manager does, for sure, empower this kind of flexibility).The above doesnt simply apply to those with human kids, either essential guardians of hide babies likewise appreciate advantages from remaining at home during the workday.No. Drive. Need we state more??DownsidesWithout a set beginning and stop to your work day, its simple to forget about time and structure (10 a.m.? 10 p.m.? Whats the distinction!). Youll likely attempt to keep customary working hours, at any rate before all else, yet really implementing them for yourself is another matter.People may subvert you.No matt er how often you clarify something else, in some way or another, companions may expect you have constantly on the planet and that you ought to utilize it to assist the workplace inhabitants who extremely work.Being ready to remain at home and in this way be progressively available for your family is extraordinary what not. Yet, how does telecommuting while your child is likewise home debilitated or on a break from schoolactuallysound? Not exactly perfect? Very possibly.What accomplishes work-at-home achievement genuinely require?Getting a work-from-home employment, also keeping up work-at-home achievement over the long haul, requires persistence and innovativeness, and you might need to look at a pay database to see top of the line organizations and the best organizations for ladies. Also, unfortunately, there are very numerous tricks that dont offer authentic work-at-home, working from home employments. On the off chance that you havent knew about the firm previously, make certain to see if the organization has different workers. In the event that the cash or position appear to be unrealistic, make certain to do your exploration, and consistently trust your instincts.So, what are the top work-from-home occupations for stay-at-home guardians or those with caretaking responsibilities?Creatives1. Online life managerBeing a web based life administrator can be of the best work-from-home employments if youre independently dealing with a companys web-based social networking nearness. As the voice of the association, you can deal with the methodology and the everyday help for their top social stages. This could incorporate substance creation, promoting financial plan and every day commitment. Having your own flourishing web based life nearness will assist you with getting experience and show your planned customers your ability. Online life promoting changes quicker than an infant in a diaper...so be eager to keep steady over the trends.2. Web developerWeb Developers are among the best-paid telecommuters. With some specialized preparing, engineers can offer administrations, for example, custom web architecture, coding, facilitating and ease of use testing.3. Web index evaluatorAre you searching for some additional money? As a self employed entity, a $12-$15 every hour work lets you work around your timetable and at your pace. You will give criticism on web crawler calculations, which should be assessed by people since they are frequently loaded with blunders. 4. Independent author/bloggerIf youve consistently been energetic about composition and youre now searching for adaptable work, seeking after a vocation as an independent essayist or blogger is something you ought to consider. With a limitless number of distributing outlets, its simpler than any time in recent memory to build up your portfolio and launch the composing profession youve consistently longed for. Also, itssupereasy to do it from any place you please.5. Email marketerHow numerou s limited time messages do you find in your inbox each morning? Most likely a ton - in light of the fact that a huge amount of organizations use them. In the event that youve worked in publicizing, showcasing, distributing or as a publicist, odds are you can ace the aptitudes to fill in as an email advertiser from home. The very idea of the work relies totally upon the web, so finishing the activity remotely makes impeccable sense.6. Special video makerIf you know quite a bit about film however youre prepared to adhere to independent work, think about creation limited time recordings. On the off chance that you locate the correct customers, this can be a serious rewarding career.7. Web/realistic designerIn the age of everything computerized, theres no lack of work for web and visual creators. Huge amounts of organizations normally incline toward telecommuters to fill these jobs, as they for the most part dont require much face to face correspondence. On the off chance that you have a decent eye and the correct abilities, put them to use!8. Amazon Mechanical TurkAn Amazon Mechanical Turk touts itself as a commercial center for work that requires human insight. It incorporates errands that a PC wouldnt have the option to completesuch as reviews, information section, and sound interpretations. You can take on these jobs.Financially Savvy Types1. Brand managerIf you think innovatively and exceed expectations in the business world, consider a brand supervisor position. Regardless of whether your experience is in structure, business, or publicizing, as long as you have a dream and can compose influentially, youll have the option to exceed expectations in this job from the solace of your own home.2. Low maintenance executiveIf you appreciate settling on business choices yet youre prepared to stop the 9-to-5, you might need to investigate functioning as low maintenance official. Bosses are progressively grasping increasingly adaptable calendars and holding group gathe rings over Skype - so theres a decent possibility you can discover low maintenance work that despite everything permits you to be very much associated with and powerful at a specific business.3. EcommerceEcommerce is about that e meaning, everything is done on the web (AKA you can work fromanywhere). Do you have an enterprising soul and a smart thought about an item or administration you can sell? In the event that youre liberal and proactive, it could transform into a magnificent (and adaptable) profession path!4. InvestorYou can begin by putting your cash in various business thoughts that you trust in, for example, different digital forms of money or startups.This occupations adaptability will permit you to seek after your side hustle while you do it, too.5. Securities exchange TraderIf youre great at dissecting patterns, you might need to think about a vocation in the financial exchange. A securities exchange tradermay be an operator, hedger, arbitrageur, theorist or stockbroker who investigates trends.6. Ebay SellerIf you have a great deal of stuff laying around that is in acceptable condition, consider selling it on Ebay. Similarly, you can purchase new popular stuff when it first comes out, sit tight for it to sell out and afterward sell yours on Ebay for a benefit. There are huge amounts of approaches to bring in cash on Ebay on the off chance that you know who your crowd is and gain compatibility with them as a regarded seller.Peoples People1. Virtual assistantA menial helper (VA) is a consultant who remotely offers help administrations to a business. The obligations extend from routine undertakings, similar to arrangement updates and email the board, to accounting and online networking commitment. An extraordinary VA is profoundly meticulous, wants to learn new aptitudes and is individuals arranged. 2. TutorAre you conversant in different dialects? Did you slaughter it on your SATs or would you say you are especially educated about a specific point? C onsider being an online guide! You despite everything get the fulfillment of seeing direct the distinction you have made in an understudies lifeall from the solace of your home. Guides are regularly low maintenance and are paid hourly, yet relying upon your mastery and requirements of your client(s), you might have the option to make sure about full time and very rewarding work. Its an ideal activity for stay-at-home moms.3. ConsultantConsulting is an incredible alternative for stay-at-home guardians since its reasonable something you can do paying little mind to your profession way - as long as youre especially educated aboutsomething.If youre inventive about critical thinking and youre great at seeing the image - and on the off chance that you like contribution counsel - counseling might be the best approach. Numerous experts who choose theyd like to telecommute or appreciate progressively adaptable hours will in general turn their gifts to consulting.4. Client assistance represen tativeIncreasingly, client care positions (both the all day occupation and low maintenance work assortments) are given not through concentrated, physical call community office yet through locally established workers who approach a decent telephone line and greetings

15 Skills Eveyr Project Manager Should Have on Their Resume

15 Skills Eveyr Project Manager Should Have on Their Resume The capacity to effectively execute ventures from the inception stage to culmination goes past simply specialized expertise. To be powerful, venture administrators should likewise chip away at building up the delicate abilities important to push activities to fruition. Regardless of whether you've just started your vocation in venture the executives or are wanting to turn into the field, here are 15 aptitudes that any you should try to create and feature on your resume:1. LeadershipAt the day's end, your activity as an undertaking administrator is to lead your group. You have to set the vision and move others to accomplish it - in the event that you can do that, all while approaching your colleagues with deference and thought, you'll see that gathering your different objectives as a PM is much easier.2. Industry ExpertiseYou should know the intricate details of your field and your organization. Understanding the more specialized parts of the work you're regulating will assist you wit h picking up your group's regard, and follow and assess their work all the more successfully. From understanding undertaking the board programming to monitoring developing business sector patterns, exceeding expectations in your own field is a non-debatable need for a venture manager.3. NegotiationWhen a gathering of individuals from various foundations are united to move in the direction of a shared objective, there will undoubtedly be struggle. That is the reason one of the top venture the board aptitudes is the capacity to tune in to all viewpoints and discover win-win solutions.4. CommunicationThe capacity to comprehend what should be said and how to state it is the mystery for building enduring connections and an affectionate team.5. Cost Control The extent of a venture supervisor's activity profile stretches out past human asset the board and furthermore incorporates adequately taking care of coordinations. Since spending the board is a significant piece of the activity, cost control becomes is generally refered to as a top venture the board aptitude. By the day's end, conveying a venture on schedule and under spending plan is your definitive goal.6. Group Management If you need to get work as an undertaking supervisor, you have to realize how to appoint assignments andkeep colleagues' expert objectives lined up with bigger hierarchical objectives. 7. Hazard Management Project the executives is continually developing, just like its extension, therefore, no one can really tell what sorts of undertakings or assignments may be tossed your direction. . In these circumstances, having a strong establishment in chance administration will assist you with exploring new territory and settle on solid choices.. 8. OrganizationAs an undertaking administrator, you could be directing various activities of fluctuating natures at the same time. The capacity to remain sorted out and keep your group activities smoothed out by organizing various complex assignments simultan eously is pivotal. 9. Basic Thinking You should be gifted at breaking down the advantages and disadvantages of every choice, and thinking coherently so as to reach conclusions.10. Specialized WritingFrom refreshing outside partners on tasks to inward group interchanges, your capacity to compactly and plainly clarify an undertaking with composed updates is vital. s.11. MentoringAs a venture chief, you will work with various groups in various situations, and each colleague will have an alternate range of abilities. Thinking about this decent variety, coaching is another key ability you should plan to ace after some time. It opens up a totally different lucky opening to guarantee your group arrives at its maximum potential.12. AdaptabilityGiven the assorted idea of the activity, versatility is an essential expertise for any task director. From coexisting with colleagues from assorted foundations and encounters, to rapidly adjusting to new advances, item slants, topographical areas and client socioeconomics, great PMs realize how to adjust to the circumstance they're in.13. Versatility Even however no task administrator embarks to watch a venture winding downhill, every PM in the end experiences an undertaking that simply doesn't go very right. The versatility to pivot a venture that is performing ineffectively is vital - and exhibiting this strength on your resume will help set you apart from your peers.14. Quality Control A venture director must not just oversee an undertaking from inception to conclusion, yet in addition guarantee the finished result is in accordance with the reason it has been intended for. Along these lines, investing time and vitality on the nature of your expectations is a sign of a decent undertaking chief. 15. Comical inclination Humor is a notable people aptitude. For a vocation that generally involves overseeing groups of experts, the capacity to giggle and help up the circumstance when things look dreary is urgent. An undertaking admin istrator who depends on a decent comical inclination to gain altruism is significantly more prone to have colleagues why should willing go the additional mile when necessary.Why Do These Project Manager Skills Count? Reports discharged by the Project Management Institute demonstrate that the requirement for people with various abilities in the field of task the board will develop by 87.7 million by 2027 and that the achievement pace of an undertaking is probably going to increment by 40% when the venture chief has the fundamental aptitudes to carry out the responsibility well. In the event that you are taking a gander at building a vocation in this field, gaining and sharpening these abilities - and making sense of how to grandstand them on your Project Management continue - will assist you with standing apart from the crowd.Related Articles Around the Web 7 Skills Every Project Manager CV Should Include Aki Merced

17 Job Search Stories - Walrath Recruiting, Inc.

Link Roundup 4/20/17 Job Search Stories - Walrath Recruiting, Inc. This week we have some great articles that share the stories of other job seekers.  While its great to get advice from professionals doing the hiring, sometimes having another job seeker share their own experiences can give great perspective. Below weve grabbed a few of our favorite articles and stories this week, so read on! Resume Isnt Perfect? Stop Worrying and Embrace Your Strengths This Forbes article is the story of Sarah Robb OHagan, who has had quite a fantastic career at only 44 years old. Shes been the president of both Equinox Gym, Gatorade, and most recently was appointed CEO of Flywheel sports.  Forbes Writer Jeff Kauflin was able to get her perspective on her career and job search struggles, and its surprisingly relatable. Nobody is perfect, and its a realization Sarah had when she was let go from Virgin Airways. We all make mistakes, even CEOs! That should put your mind at ease about a resume that may look less than perfect. 8 Reasons Why You Didnt Make It Past the First Interview Its easy to let your mind wander to bad places when you never get a call back after an interview. Did I dress wrong? Was I too short with my answers? Did I not ask enough questions? Many ideas will run through your mind of why the company didnt move forward with you. Recently, Glassdoor shared a blog that breaks down 7 reasons why you never received that post interview job. After you read the blog, you may recognize where you went wrong, and course correct for your next interview! Find Out If a Robot Will Take Your Job Are you worried about a robot stealing your job? If so, this link may be able to clear your head, or verify your claims. McKinsey Global Institute recently developed an algorithm to determine the likelihood of your job being replaced by automation. Once you enter your occupation, it will crunch the numbers and let you know if your job is safe or not. It also breaks down the general responsibilities that your position entails, and if a robot is capable of doing them or not. If you feel like youre at risk, its definitely worth checking out! Just Like in Sports, Preparation is Key to a Successful Job Interview In this write up Sam Roworth offers his perspective on job searching as a former international athlete. Hes noticed that there are more than a few similarities between sports and job searching. The one that stood out most to him is the necessity of preparation. Its near impossible to walk into an interview without any preparation and walk out with a job offer. It simply doesnt happen. So many companies rely on the candidate to do some digging into their organization and express genuine interest. Failing to do this severely hurts your chances of moving on to the next step in the process. Check out this reflection for some great advice and insight. A Simple Change to My Daily Routine Kept My Job Search From Driving Me Crazy Have you been driving yourself crazy with your job search? If so, Richard Moy has been there too, and found a way past it. Part of that is structuring out his job search, and the other part is knowing to let it go. For him, having a structured approach was just as important as the lack of structure on the weekends. Allowing himself to take a break let him return refreshed and ready to start the hunt again on Monday. If youre looking for an outline of a job search strategy, weve covered just that in one of our previous blogs. Study Shows That Cycling to Work Would Cut Risk of Cancer by 45% A new study carried out by the University of Glasgow found that riding a bike to work lowers the risk of both cancer and heart disease by around 45%! Obviously this option may not be viable depending on how far away your office is located, but its still worth thinking about. Never underestimate the importance of getting up and moving, especially if you spend most of your day seated behind a desk. If you can, try to go for a walk on your lunch break every once in a while! While biking to work has a positive effect on health, making sure you move around during the day can also  make a difference! The 20 Best Companies for Work-Life Balance Wondering what companies have the best work-life balance? Indeed has done their research and put together a list of the top 20 companies with great work-life balance. The contents of the list may actually surprise you as well! If youre expecting the list to be dominated by Silicon Valley tech giants, youre wrong! Click the link in the title to find out who actually made the list, and  what factors went into ranking the companies.

Curric Vitae - How to Make it Stand Out From the Rest?

<h1>Curric Vitae - How to Make it Stand Out From the Rest?</h1><p>Having a Curric Vitae isn't at sufficiently all in the event that you need to hang out in the activity advertise. It is significant that you make your CV stick out with the goal that it is of extraordinary enthusiasm for your planned manager. This can be accomplished through shrewd and sharp CV composing methods. You have to realize how to make your CV all the more engaging and to draw the consideration of the hunt engines.</p><p></p><p>Your CV must show how educated and capable you are. The stunt here is to show your insight with importance, not by making it so long that it leaves little degree for data yet rather makes the peruser hungry for information.</p><p></p><p>It must not be written so that it has every one of these components but instead center around the instructive capability alone. The point here is to keep the peruser intrigued and not give him enough of the story to stick his attention.</p><p></p><p>The first point to remember is to recall that you can't compose book audits. There is a bad situation for this in the educational plan vitae.</p><p></p><p>Instead, the educational plan vitae ought to be a truthful, enlightening piece. This is on the grounds that the web crawlers will keep your CV as a progressively common piece of your resume, instead of making your inquiry in the idea of a book review.</p><p></p><p>A great CV might have the option to make a candidate stand apart among hundreds. For whatever length of time that you do the CV composing appropriately, you can abstain from risking losing all your believability in the activity market.</p><p></p><p>Ensure that you land the position quickly by deciding on the best resume composing administrations. You should simply top off the structure on the web and with a little e xpense, you will have your records audited inside not many hours. This is the most ideal approach to ensure that you find a new line of work regardless of your Curric Vitae.</p>

Using Social Media as a Job Seeker

Using Social Media as a Job Seeker One of the most common complaints I hear from people is that there’s such a wealth of information and resources available to us that’s it’s overwhelming and difficult to get a grip on the appropriate tools for promoting and positioning your brand as a job seeker or as a small business. To avoid freezing up when it comes to optimizing your digital brand presence on the Inter-web, let’s take a look at some of the tried-and-true resources out there most commonly being used by careerists and small business folks, what works, what doesn’t work, and where will you get the most bang for your virtual buck? Even if you’re not paying for a specific service, which is often the case with your basic social media vehicles, it does come down to spending your time and efforts wisely, and schooling yourself on the tools and resources that are going to provide the most value. So what’s the deal with… LINKEDIN The professional standard for career-based networking, LinkedIn is one tool I believe everyone should be using, regardless of your industry, skill level or expertise. With millions of members, LinkedIn boasts one of the most diverse and hearty networks of potential connections at your fingertips. Its interface has improved a lot since its launch in 2003, and it’s easy to use, fairly customizable, and an overall great tool for promoting your brand in the digital space, and it’s flexible and non-formal enough that you won’t be pigeon-holing yourself into one type of job or limiting your reach to only a specific customer profile.  Plus, many recruiters are using LinkedIn as their sole recruiting and resume finding tool these days, and you dont want to be left out of the pool. Pros: Widely-adapted, fairly customizable, one of the most robust networking databases out there, companies actively use it for recruiting and finding candidates Cons: Customization is limited, and you need to be good with your words to really make your profile stand out. Good For: Job Seekers, Career Changers, Small Businesses and Freelancers who want to build visibility FACEBOOK Facebook remains a hub for individuals who want to use it for its core purpose: a “social” network. But brands are also making it their go-to space to engage with potential and existing customers, and providing valuable information and resources. While there are a number of career-based networks and tools that have a Facebook presence (Career Builder, Brazen Careerist, etc.), it still teeters on that edge of being a bit too informal to really be considered a strong tool for job seekers. Good for networking? Perhaps. Better for sharing photos of last weekend’s camping trip? Bingo. Pros: Wide-reach, easy to connect with people, most brands now have a Facebook presence, good source of up-to-the-minute events and industry trends, targeted advertising for brands Cons: Still very informal, not widely accepted as a professional tool, poor search functionality (which I hear theyre improving upon shortly) Good For: Small business brands who want to generate a following, job seekers who want to follow companies of interest stay relevant on industry trends TWITTER Twitter has a range of pros and cons from a marketing perspective for both job seekers and businesses. Similarly to Facebook, the analytics behind the effectiveness of Twitter as a marketing tool are still few. But it can be a great tool for building your online reputation as a subject matter “expert” in your field, in addition to building your network. If you have an industry-related blog, Twitter is a great space to share and promote your posts with like-minded followers, share content from thought leaders in your field, and engage in conversation with potential peers. Most companies have a Twitter presence of some sort, and will often advertise job openings to loyal followers. But be wary, what you put out there, stays out there, so be smart about the mix of professional and pleasure. Pros: Wide-reach, easy to connect and communicate with otherwise unreachable people and companies, good vehicle for building your reputation and thought leadership, access to company-specific job postings Cons: Yet to be proven effective as a marketing tool, fairly informal as a medium, often a barrage of crap to sift through before you find something of value, easy to be perceived as overly spammy, more of a popularity contest than a credibility builder Good For: Small business brands promoting products and services, job seekers promoting industry relevant content and personal blogs, job seekers to hear about company-specific job opportunities PINTEREST It was announced several months back that Pinterest actually surpassed uber-network LinkedIn in terms of membership, testing the idea of how visuals are effective in networking. The barely 5-year-old network boasts more pins than existing LinkedIn groups, and perhaps that’s due to the ease at which users can navigate and use Pinterest’s platform. What happens on Pinterest is that people see a visual of a cool tool or resource, and repin it to their entire network. And for job seekers, it can be a great tool again for thought leadership and placing yourself at the forefront of industry trends, with the ability repin interesting articles, images, products and services, and follow the boards of companies and brands that interest you. And brands can get in on the fun too, as they post attractive images of their products and services to their followers and potential customers.  Careerists should follow their favorite career blogs, thought leaders, and companies of interest, as well a s build a unique presence of their own that showcases your interests, areas of knowledge, and personal projects. Pros: Wide-reach, uses a combination of visual imagery and verbal descriptions, user-friendly interface that promotes sharing and connecting, little commitment and upkeep required, good for creating a visual face for a brand, easy to follow companies of interest and share industry-relevant content Cons: Yet to be proven as an effective marketing tool, companies don’t actively recruit off Pinterest, people are often more interested in the pictures being pinned than the person pinning them, lack of communication for real relationship building Good For: Small business brands promoting products that have a visual component, creative-based businesses/freelancers/artistic professionals who want to share their portfolio, job seekers who follow companies of interest, anyone looking to connect with other thought leaders and share relevant industry content There are so many networks and resources out there to help you create and shape your digital brand presence, whether you’re looking for a job, or looking for potential customers. And we’ll continue to take a deeper look at some of the other ones gaining traction in future posts. While you can analyze the pros and cons of each, the effectiveness of such tools for your personal or business gain really comes down to understanding who your target audience is, where they “hang out”, and what the best means of communication are to reach and engage with them. Some other great resources to check out: YouTern.com Friendly, insightful professional community for interns, job seekers and career changers of all levels and industries with loads of career advice and resources. Behance.com Widely used as a feature-rich portfolio site for creative professionals, Behance is quickly becoming a professional network in its own right. Meetup.com Whether your interest is networking with other entrepreneurs, making a name for yourself in the tech industry, or fly fishing, there’s a wealth of networking groups and opportunities for everyone. Photo by Mrs Magic on Flickr RELATED LINKS: Personal Brands that Bring Attention: It Starts With the Right Tools Read This:  Rebranding Yourself for a New Career (When You Lack Experience) .