Job Search Need Some GAS Try Personal Branding

Job Search Need Some GAS Try Personal BrandingJob Search Need Some GAS?Job Search Need Some GAS Try Personal BrandingTodays deutsche bundespost is written by Melissa Cooley (pictured), a career consultant with a passion for helping people develop strategies to reach their goals and maximize their potential. As founder of The Job Quest, she assists individuals who are binnenseeking employment or facing the confusion of navigating a career path. Melissa also provides a fresh perspective and other resources on Twitter and Facebook. You can also connect with her on LinkedIn.Is your job search puttering along like a beat up old car? Inject some personal branding strategies into the mix to give it some GASGenerosity, Authenticity, and SynergyG = GenerosityOne of the hallmarks of a good personal brand is the act of giving of oneself. As you network both online and offline, show an interest in the activities of people you meet. Find out what theyre doing, then ask them, How can I help you?It seems a bit counterintuitive to step out of the spotlight to focus on another persons needs, but three things happen when you take that approachYou get the opportunity to showcase your skills and talent.You demonstrate your ability to collaborate with others.The person you helped becomes your biggest ally, and will think of you when other opportunities arise.The late author and business philosopher Jim Rohn said it best Whoever renders service to many puts himself in line for greatness great wealth, great return, great satisfaction, great reputation, and great joy.A = AuthenticityDigital marketing specialist Mitch Joel wrote a post about personal branding in which he characterized some who use it as feeling like plastic and tasting like vanilla.That points to a problem that crops up when trying to execute a good personal branding strategy Personal branding is NOT slick marketing that would have you be perfect in every way. That kind of execution lacks the stamp of YOU that would ma ke it uniquely yours. Its not authentic.Done right, no one personal brand would be like another. The process to get there can be the same, but the outcome will be different, based on interests, personality nuances, and life experiences.Say, for example, youve messed up on a work project. Thats OK Weve all made mistakes. Good personal branding doesnt try to cover up the past. Instead, a good strategy would be to acknowledge an error was made, then talk about the steps you took to make it right and the lessons you learned. That speaks volumes about your values and ability to rise from the ashes of something that can be very embarrassing.Nothing plastic-y or vanilla about that use of personal branding Injecting a proper dose of you in the mix will allow prospective employers to feel your authenticity and see the real you shine through.S = SynergyIn todays job searches, youre talking about yourself in many different places. LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and a blog are just a few accounts you may have set up to connect with others and get out the word about your job hunt. Are you sure theyre all sending the same personal branding message?Im not suggesting they all be carbon copies of each other, but each site should convey the same strengths, professional interests, and values, as well as what you can do for a potential employer. Having one strong, united message makes for a solid presence.Having a clear, consistent message across all social media platforms can boost your personal brand so that someone reading your message on different sites will be able to say I remember seeing that on another site, then make the connection that the messages came from the same person. That synergy can only make your personal brand more effective.Use generosity, authenticity, and synergy to jump-start your job search Its the GAS you need to drive your personal brand and land the job you want

18 freelance experts for you to follow on Twitter

18 freelance experts for you to follow on Twitter18 freelance experts for you to follow on TwitterIf youre a freelancer, Twitter is a great resurce to grow your network, stay current in your industry, find the motivation to get your work done and continue to learn about the freelance job market. It might even be a great way to find clientsIf youre looking to do any or all of the above, weve got a helpful list of great experts (individuals, organizations, and more) for you to follow on Twitter.Abdullahi MuhammedAbdullahi Muhammed is a writer, content marketing consultant, and a mentor to the worlds top freelancers. As the CEO ofOxygenmat, he helps people succeed at freelancing and content marketing, and is an expert on freelancing, the gig economy, and remote work.Carol TiceGetting paid as a freelancer can be quite a challenge. Carol Tice helps other freelance writers earn the income they deserve by offering tips on her blog. The author of 11 books and ebooks, she encourages others wh o might have ho-hum day jobs to pursue their dreams of becoming freelance authors.EntrepreneurIf you place yourself on the entrepreneur side of the freelance spectrum,Entrepreneurmagazine a must-follow for you. Youll learn how to multitask multiple projects, find a great mentor, and the importance of embracing change as a freelancer.FlexJobsOf course, were including ourselves on this list When you follow FlexJobs, youll get immediate alerts to our latest blog posts, including all of our100 Days on Freelance Jobsarticles, as well as flexible job news and trends, companies hiring, and more.Freelance FolderIf youre a freelancer, independent contractor, web worker, self-employed, or one of the many labels that means you work for yourself, Freelance Folder is a great resource for tips and tricks related to freelancing. It has a robust community that is a great way to bounce ideas off of fellow freelancers and get more work-related tips.FreelanceliftFreelancers can sometimes find the busi ness side of freelancing tricky. Learn how to run your business like a boss by following Freelancefit. It offers news on freelancing, including ideas on how to land better clients, create a steadier source of income, and get paid what you deserve.Freelancers UnionA one-stop shop for freelancers looking for a little camaraderie, this organization offers help with benefits, freelance resources, and public policy geared towards the freelance community. Get tips on efficiency, determining your freelance rate, and other advice, like how to handle nonpayment problems.FreelanceWritingJobsListed as the number one online community for freelance writers, FreelanceWritingJobs tweets out breaking freelance writing gigs, job hunting tips, and inspirational quotes from top writers and authors.FundboxAFlexJobs partner, Fundboxhelps you handle the financial side of freelancing. Its Twitter activity offers tips and advice for cash flow management, invoicing, and all that other fun financial stuff th at freelancers need to deal with.HomeWorkingClubBilling itself as the ultimate online resource for freelancers and home workers, HomeWorkingClub offers freelance news, tips on how to spend (and save), tools and tricks of the trade, and most importantly, how to make money working as a freelancer.Janet AttardFreelancing can be big business,ifyou know how to run it like one. Janet Attard ofBusinessKnowHow.comshows freelancers how to make freelancing fun and profitable, offering tips on everything such as the top problems freelancers face and why you might need to turn down that freelance assignment.J.T. ODonnellJ.T. is the CEO and founder of WorkItDaily, a fantastic source for job search and career advice. TheProfessional Independence Projectis J.T. and WorkItDailys latest program offering advice for freelancers. Freelancers can get step-by-step tips on how to achieve their professional goals. And you can check out J.T.s excellent advice from our freelance webinar, From Employee to Fre elancer How to Make the Leap.Katie LaneAs an attorney, Katie specializes in helping artists and freelancers protect their rights and get paid fairly for the work they do. If youre in a creative field, like gaming, design, writing, or music, Katie tweets and retweets some really helpful legal information, like learning how to handle contracts for creatives.Makeda WatermanMakeda Waterman is a freelance writer in Edmonton focused on the topic of freelancing. Her work has appeared in news outlets such as MSN Money, CNBCs Make It, Yahoo Finance, and HuffPo. She helps clients with content in banking, career development, software technology, and more.Melinda EmersonWhether you have one client or 10, every freelancer should act like the CEO of their business. Melinda Emerson (aka Small Biz Lady) has the tools to guide you toward freelancing success. The author ofFix Your Business Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months,Emerson isForbes1 Influential Woman for Entrepreneurs.Nation1099When you work as a freelancer, you know all too well the importance of getting those 1099s in reservierung to do your taxes. Nation1099 offers career and business advice for freelancers and consultants and strives to help you connect the dots from independent work to financial freedom.The FreelancerThe Freelancer (by Contently) is a site that can help those who want to make side hustles and gigging their main source of income. While the site is skewed towards writers and others in creative fields, freelancers in any field can pick up some new techniques towards creating a successful freelancing career.The Write LifeA resource for freelance writers of all varieties, The Write Life shares advice and tips related to marketing, blogging, publishing, and more for novice or experienced writers. The Write Life wrote this fantastic guest post for our 100 Days on Freelance Jobs campaign Freelancers, Level Up How to Get Better-Paying Freelance Jobs.This article first appeared on FlexJobs.

3 Ways High Performers Do Sick Days All Wrong - The Muse

3 Ways High Performers Do Sick Days All Wrong - The Muse 3 Ways High Performers Do Sick Days All Wrong I’ll be honest. For someone who’s such a big advocate of taking time off when you need to, I did a pretty bad job of it recently. In fact, when I came down with a cold recently, I tried to go to work (and made a lot of my colleagues pretty upset in the process). Sure, it makes sense that you’d want to be productive when you have “nothing more than a little cough,” but it’s important to take a sick day- and if you need to redefine what a sick day means to you to make yourself actually take one, do that! So, before you try to power through another (contagious) cold from the office, make sure you’re not making these three mistakes: 1. You’re Treating Your Sick Day as an All or Nothing Proposition If it were up to my mother, I’d shut off the internet connection from my apartment whenever I was sick so that nobody could get a hold of me until I got better. “Sick days are for being sick,” she’d probably say. “You can’t be sick and work at the same time.” However, you and I both know the reality is that even when we’re home sick, we’re awake for a good portion of the day. You might not leave your bed much (or at all), but it’s natural to start feeling restless after a while. Not to mention stressed from getting behind. For those of you who’ve been in bed for a few days and just can’t take it anymore, I bet you want nothing more than to suck it up and head into work the next day. What to Do Instead of Going Into Work Sick Depending on your boss, it might be as easy as being honest: “I’m not well enough to come in, but I can do most of my work from home today.” Or, if your boss won’t go for that (or you company has a strict policies), go ahead and take the official sick days and then do as much work as you feel up to from bed. Emphasis on feel up to- which might mean just monitoring your inbox to avoid getting restless. Yes, it sucks to “waste” a sick day working, but it also sucks to return to the office after not feeling well and then get stuck spending a few really long days in the office catching up. And if you’re the kind of person who can’t bear the thought of getting behind, try compromising with yourself. 2. You’re Trying Too Hard to Get Out of The House I took this to a bit of an extreme recently by talking myself into going for a jog. That was borderline idiotic and I would not recommend it. However, even if you’re not as dumb about this as I am, think about all those times when you’ve had a little cold and thought, “Hey, I’ll stay home from work today- and run all my errands instead!” I get that it’s tough to stay isolated for an extended period, but just as much as you’d want to keep your teammates from getting sick, you should also spare your literal neighbors from the same fate. Plus, you and I both know that you’re not helping your health by moving around. What to Do Instead of Going Out If you’re feeling up to it and have outdoor space, feel free to take your laptop outside and check in on things. Of course, use your discretion (and do not go for a run like I did). But if you’ve been home for a few days and are getting better, then treat yourself to some fresh air. However, if you’re barely able to get out of bed, spare yourself the trouble and stay indoors. The only person who’s putting this pressure on you to get up and moving is you (assuming you don’t have an evil boss). 3. You’re Working Too Hard You’ll notice that the first two ways you’re messing up your sick days include a few tips on how to stay productive when you’re feeling antsy. But here’s the thing- when you’re taking a sick day, you are sick! It’s important not to lose sight of the fact that while it’s totally understandable not to want to fall completely behind on work, you do need a little time to sit around and take care of yourself. What to Do Instead of Taking Meetings From Bed I’m not here to tell you to do absolutely nothing during a sick day, especially if you know you have a tight deadline coming up. But instead of working a typical day from home, make yourself a list of things that have to get done ASAP. Find some time to do those things, and once they’re out of the way, allow yourself to do something you need to get better. That includes, but is not limited to, watching mindless TV, scrolling through social media, and taking midday naps. There’s nothing worse than having to stay home from work because of a cold, when all you want to do is go to work and get some stuff done. However, you shouldn't always put pressure on yourself to loaf around while you're feeling less-than-stellar just because you’re taking a “sick day.” Don’t be afraid to redefine what it means to you so that you can return to work feeling better and ready to jump back in.