I have a major pet peeve and it’s probably high on your list as well.  You know exactly what I am talking about; it’s those people that you follow that bad mouth and trash talk about their company or manager or co-workers… and it is almost always during the business day and they are probably using company computers to post the message!  How does this reflect on you and your personal brand?

If you would like to see how much this is discussed, just do a Twitter search for #ihatemyjob and see all the messages that pop up.  The results are astounding., considering that not all of the whiners even put the #ihatemyjob hash into their messages about work.  But if you follow your stream at any time during the day, you are bound to see one or two (or more!) tweets sharing something negative about their day and the people involved.  Seriously?

I don’t care if you have a “private” Twitter account or not.  As a recruiter there is nothing worse than seeing a tweet with a negative message about your employer, manager or coworker.  Below are just a few helpful reminders as to what not to do and what you should do on Twitter for your personal brand:

Don’t: Tweet anything negative about your job, manager or coworkers.

Do: If you are not happy, do a Twitter search for #jobs and another hashtag that is in the field you are looking (#marketing #finance #accounting #sales #java #helpdesk just to name a few).

Don’t: Tweet anything negative during the workday, from either your work computer or your mobile device.

Do: Keep your messages during business hours conversational and engage on a topic of value to your followers

Don’t: Pretend to be something you are not.

Do: Be yourself, simple and sweet! Whatever your passion, this is the best way to tweet and add your own authentic value.  If you are a complainer by nature, maybe Twitter isn’t the best outlet for you (think about it).

Here’s a rule which you hopefully have picked up from this blog already: Don’t post something online, under your own name or pseudonym, that you wouldn’t feel comfortable saying in an interview.  Because odds are, your interviewer will find what you say online, and you will be held accountable for it.

It may seem simple and common sense, but it is something important to remember and definitely the best recommendation you will receive for what you put online and how you work to manage your personal brand.

—-

Keith McIlvaine is a Social Media Strategist within HR and Recruiting for a Fortune 500 company.  When he is not focused on leveraging social media and networking, Keith is also a personal branding coach and social media mentor.  He is passionate about his family and is a major soccer fanatic.  Connect with Keith on Twitter and LinkedIn.  The statements I have posted on this site are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.

Support me by sharing this post:

It’s no secret that times are tough, and one way employers have found to save time and money is to do initial job interviews over the phone. But just because you won’t be sitting across the desk from Mr. Interviewer yet does not mean you can chill in bed watching TV while half your brain takes the call and the other half plays Cash Cab. Although a phone interview can be less stressful for you and the recruiter in many ways, you still have to work extra hard to impress on the phone because you can’t send or receive visual clues.

This week, I compiled five of the best posts on the web about how to perform better in phone interviews.

1. Telephone Interview Secrets by hiremyparents

In this post by hiremyparents support, the author makes a phone interview sound a lot like method acting. The post suggests dressing in business attire for the interview so you will be in professional mode, practicing interview questions aloud before the call and smiling during the call. In a way you will be putting on a performance, one starring you as your best possible self.

2. Five Ways to do Better in Phone Interviews by Penelope Trunk at Brazen Careerist

Ms. Trunk’s post points out that standing up and walking around during the call can make you project a more natural and therefore more likable persona. She likens the interview to selling oneself and reminds the reader to close the sale by politely trying to get an in-person interview scheduled before the end of the call.

3. Win in Telephone Job Interviews by JobsDFW Blog

Blogger Julia Penny reminds us that the job candidate in a phone interview must overcome the lack of visual cues. For example, you must concentrate even more intensely on what the interviewer is saying so you can tell whether he or she is engaged in the conversation and you can act accordingly.

4. Don’t Say Hello in a Phone Interview by Interview Angel

Brent Peterson’s bluntly funny post underscores the importance of a professional demeanor from the first instant of the call. Answer the phone, he says, by identifying yourself . Act as though you are the receptionist for the corporation of you.

5. Telephone Interviews are as Easy as 1-2-3! by BullsEyeResumes Career Blog

BullsEyeCareers posts about what they believe are the three most important components of the phone interview: energy, tone and clarity. Especially striking is the blogger’s warning to limit sarcasm and negativity because, since you can’t see the interviewer, you don’t know how they are coming across. Remember, you won’t be able to use emoticons here.

Support me by sharing this post:

You’re a smart fella.  You worked hard in school, participated in some meaningful activities, and dutifully read the Brand-Yourself blog every day.  Fortunately for you, all of your efforts have paid off, and you have some interviews scheduled! Now, everything on your resume no longer matters.  The only thing standing between you and that dream job is a friendly conversation with a hiring manager.  You only have a limited time to impress them, so listen up! 

Here’s what to do to stand out from the crowd and really wow your interviewers:

• Arrive 15 minutes early. This allows you extra time to find parking, use the restroom, get some water or just relax.  Also, if some unexpected delay comes up, it gives you an extra cushion to make sure you’re not late.
• Dress conservatively. Do not wear the latest suit or dress from the fashion magazine you pick up at the book store or in the grocery line.  Be conservative.  Until you learn the culture of the company, it is better safe than sorry.  There are exceptions to this rule such as small start up companies or a marketing/PR firm in New York.  Remember, it never hurts to ask the HR person at the company what is appropriate if you are unsure! 
• Research your interviewers. Ask the recruiter or human resources professional for the names of the people with whom you will be interviewing.  Take these names look them up on LinkedIn and  Google/Bing and learn about their work experience.  Maybe their background will provide you with some interesting talking points: do they write a blog, participate in an organization or perform volunteer work similar to what you are interested in?  Remember, these are real people who like to engage in real conversations, not necessarily all business all the time.
• Arrive prepared. Have a classy-looking portfolio notebook to take notes.  Always have a few extra copies of your resume, maybe even bring a flash drive with you that has your resume to be downloaded easily.  You never know who may ask for it. This is simple planning and only takes a few minutes the night before to ensure you have the opportunity for the best first impression.  Also be sure to have a list of your own questions prepared.  About the job, the company, and the interviewer themselves.  This shows that you actually care about this specific opening, and that it’s not just another interview.
• Collect business cards. Ask anyone you interview with for their card before the interview session starts.  Take their business card and put it at the top of your notepad.  Now you are able to glance down at your paper, casually, and see their name very easily should you happen to forget.
• Ask about the next steps. Before you leave, ask the manager or recruiter for the appropriate way to follow up.  Do not leave with “we’ll be in touch”.  Ask for a timeline as to when you may follow up for feedback if you have not heard anything.  Make sure you let them know that you understand their busy schedule and you are happy to call at their convenience.
• Thank you notes. Always write a thank you note!  One tip I learned right out of college was to bring thank you notes with you and write them by hand in the car before you even leave the parking lot.  This allows you to have all information fresh in your mind as you write your thank you note.  Do not write a generic thank you letter. Instead, make specific points about the conversation.  Even just one sentence which references something you talked about, or something personal about the interviewer, is much better than a canned response.  Feeling ambitious?  Hand-deliver your letters to the receptionist so they arrive later the same day or the next day (alternately, FedEx overnight them.  Consider the cost an investment in getting the job).

These may seem obvious, but you’d all be amazed at how many people still show up late, dress inappropriately, know nothing about their target companies, and generally goof up this process.  No matter how good your resume is, if you can’t nail these steps, you’re in trouble.

Have some other interview tips for us?  Share your best pointers in the comments section.

Support me by sharing this post:

Part of my own strategy to build my brand, gain business, and establish myself as an expert in my field is using my blog to write about and interview other experts and companies. Through these means, I can promote them while continuing to build and strengthen my own relationships with them.  Last Friday was no exception.  Through a simple LinkedIn “invitation to connect” message (yes, LinkedIn) , I was able to secure an interview with best selling author (and one of my personal favorites) Jeffrey Gitomer.

While his followers and fans are generally sales professionals, I am a firm believer that each and every person works in sales in some form, at some time.   It may not always be obvious, but when acting as a job seeker selling yourself to a company, dating or meeting your prospective mate (the ultimate sales job), or even when making a major life purchase like a car or house, you are acting in a selling capacity.  In all three of these scenarios, solid sales, negotiation, networking, and presentation skills are very important .

Jeffrey’s three hour seminar focused a great deal on how a solid sales, marketing, and branding plan can impact your success.  The bottom line is that people buy from other people, and those that are ordinary end up in second place.  If someone wants to sell you something, and you perceive them as being just another ordinary joe, why should you be interested in what they have to say?

If you want to make an impression, and ultimately a sale, you need some way to stand out. This is why I was surprised to learn that less than 10% of the 300 or so attendees utilized social media tools as part of their sales, branding, and lead generation strategy.

Jeffrey then discussed the power of social media, and how it can help you engage decision makers (buyers) as well as hiring managers. He says, “The challenge is for you to understand that we are the bailout.  The challenge is not just about sales tips and ideas but what you do that’s pretty ordinary.”  How, then, do we become extraordinary?  Gitomer offers the following pointers as quick, easy ways to boost your image in the eyes of those you need to impress the most.

• Get a creative voice mail. Be different from everyone else.  Humor is an excellent tool to define who you are and differentiate yourself from the rest. You’re tired of that boring old recording.  Don’t you think everyone else is too?

• Schedule a three way lunch. If someone you want to meet is giving you the run-around, invite someone who you know, that they need to know, with you to lunch.   Call your contact and invite them again.  You will build instant rapport and credibility with both parties.

• Be the Best. Don’t settle for ordinary.  When you are the best at what you do, everything else shows up.

• Business cards matter. Find creative ways to keep people talking.  Your business card is a representation of yourself.  How do you want people to remember you?

• Get a flip video camera. Video testimonials and video references are extremely powerful on your blog or website, lending you instant credibility.  Use a flip video camera to interview experts and promote them on your blog or website, building solid rapport and relationships not only with the interviewee but also your blog audience.

Check out my video interview with Jeffrey Gitomer below and don’t forget to visit his website at JeffreyGitomer.com.  A special thanks to the Journal Record.

Create a Remarkable Web Presence at Brand-Yourself.com

Once you’ve built your personal brand, it’s time to create a visible web presence around it. Did you know that more than half of employers are more likely to hire you if you’ve spent time developing your personal brand across social networks? To help you do this, we built a platform to manage your online reputation from one central hub. Create your Brand-Yourself account today and see how our tools can help you build, optimize and promote a remarkable web presence that gets you hired.

Support me by sharing this post: