What to Write in Your LinkedIn Invites [6 Examples]

What to Write in Your LinkedIn Invites [6 Examples] Whenever I do LinkedIn trainings or talk to people about LinkedIn, I get a few recurring questions. One of these is by business developers who want to connect with new potential customers, partners and investors. Although I believe LinkedIn is a tool for actually connecting with people you know already, it can certainly be very useful for finding new contacts. This is especially true when you are doing business in a new industry or geography. My advice is normally to connect via someone you both know, someone you are both connected with on LinkedIn. The quickest way to do this is to pick up the phone and as this common connection to make an introduction in person, on the phone, via email or LinkedIn. But what do you do when there is no common connection and you have no idea how to introduce yourself to someone on LinkedIn? You probably have to find some common ground, such as having worked at the same place, gone to the same university or know a few of the same folks. Templates for your LinkedIn invites Here is a compilation of ideas from Anthony J. Johnson, see what you think: It was nice meeting you at the ____ event. In enjoyed talking to you about ____. Lets be sure to stay in touch. I am a fellow member of the ____ LinkedIn group and I saw your comments about ____. Id love to stay in touch so we can talk more about it. Its been a long time since we talked, hope you are doing well. How are the kids? I see you are now working at ____ company, how is that going? Lets be sure to stay in touch. I was looking at your profile and I see you are a fellow alumni of ____ university. I also noticed we have some similar interests. Maybe we can chat sometime over drinks. I was looking at your profile and I am very impressed with your accomplishments. Please accept my request to connect, Id love to talk to you about how you accomplished ____. I was checking out your blog and I really liked your post about ____. Please accept my request to stay connected. Its fairly clear that the best way to do this is by either mentioning something in common or buttering someone up a bit. The more personal you can be, the greater chances you have of being accepted. Can you think of any other ideas to contact new people on LinkedIn? Please share them in the comments below, on Twitter or why not ping me an invite on LinkedIn! Further reading at 21 Ways To Build Your Personal Brand Yourself on LinkedIn.

Five Reasons Your Mother Is Hurting Your Career - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Five Reasons Your Mother Is Hurting Your Career - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career I realize I am treading on thin ice here, hoping to not get too much hate mail. After all, most people love their mothers and appreciate the many things their mothers did for them out of the goodness of their hearts. So, why would I pick on your mother? Because  she may have given you some advice that doesnt really work   for you in todays employment world. Mom (or dad, if he was a more influential parent in your life) was born in a different time. Her advice, although well intentioned, was based upon what she learned in another era.  Mom did her best based upon the information she had available. However, some of that advice may be obsolete. See if you can relate to any  of my five examples of how  your moms advice may be hurting you in your career: 1. Get a good education. High school diploma: check. Undergrad degree in something meaningful: maybe, but many people get 4 year degrees when a 2 year associate degree or training in a trade would be better. Graduate degree: probably not, because far too many people today were not taught the law of diminishing returns (or choose to ignore it when they see the XYZ University billboards that promise fame and fortune.) 2. Study something practical, like accounting or mathematics. You have a talent for working with numbers. Maybe, maybe not. Charting your life course and education by following a talent can be  misguided. Equally important are passion/motivation, income potential, work/life balance, etc. Be careful about falling into the talent trap. 3. Get a job with a well established bigger company, where there will be more security. Can you say G.E.? Their policy was cut the bottom 10% every year. And large companies continue to discover how bloated and inefficient they are little by little. This can mean four rounds of layoffs before they get to you. Why live with that looming over your head? Growing small and mid-sized companies offer more security. 4. Dont jump around between jobs. If mom meant jumping every year, then yes. But, jumping jobs every three years or so is fine in todays market. Since most jobs dont last three years anyway, no one will get nervous with this and you can make proactive job changes that get you more of what you want sooner. 5. Work hard, do a good job, and you will be rewarded. Maybe, maybe not. I discuss this last-century belief in the last chapter of my book Fast Track Your Job Search (and Career!).  Be careful. Many companies today reward hard work with increased workload and no additional compensation. Better people skills, insightful political maneuvering, and increased self-promotion tend to pay bigger dividends than hard work. Mom meant well, but we all have to live, experience, and evaluate  in order to grow. I hope that my challenges to moms  advice will get you thinking about these and other beliefs that may be holding you back in your career. If you feel any of these are not working for you in your career, examine them carefully and consider scrapping them. Good luck and best wishes!

Top 5 Back to School Stressors and How to Bust Them

Top 5 Back to School Stressors and  How to Bust Them While the start of a new school year comes with excitement for kids, it also comes with stress. It’s common for kids to feel overwhelmed this time  of year especially as they navigate the challenges that crop up with a new school year. This stress can manifest itself in stomach aches, headaches, loss of appetite, even depression. Here are 5 common top back to school stressors and how parents can help their kids to bust them. Facing the bully. For kids who are bullied, summer break also means a break from the relentless verbal and at times physical abuse that can be crushing to a kid’s self-worth. Oftentimes kids won’t tell parents that they are being bullied because they are embarrassed or fear telling school administrators will only escalate the bullying. As the school start date approaches, pay attention to your kid’s anxiety level. Communicate and ask them what they are looking forward to this school year. Ask them who are they most excited to see when they return to school. Listen for any negativity and seek to understand where it comes from. Ask if they ever witnessed bullying and what they would do if they did. If your child reveals that they don’t want to see a certain group of kids ask why and get as much information as you can. You want to show your kid that they have your support without judgement. Extra work! Kids who once did great may enter the new year and feel overwhelmed with the additional school work. Perhaps they aren’t grasping the material as quickly as they once did. This is common especially in math at the junior high level. Once parents can no longer help kids with homework, they may want to invest in tutoring.  If Your kids need  homework help  , you could use  answershark.com,    where you will find many professional tutors.  Before selecting a tutor it’s wise to have your child be evaluated to get clarity on how they learn best. Some kids are visual learners making a math tutor who helps the student to “see” how the equations play out in visual analogy are tremendously helpful. Another solution that can benefit the whole family is hiring a time management or accountability coach to help the entire family to manage schedules effectively. Tuition bills. With the skyrocketing cost of education, many kids listen to parents discussing the stress they feel about college tuition and then take on that stress themselves. Money is a stressful topic because it is usually never spoken about openly and honestly. Some students may wonder if college is even a right option for them but fear voicing this opinion. Many feel that higher education leaves them ill prepared for “the real world.” Many parents and kids question the value of the six-figure tuition price tag. There has been a slow shift away from traditional education in favor of entrepreneurship. Perhaps an internship at a small business a few days per week after school can provide them with more hands-on experience on a path that truly interests them and can be even more lucrative. Showing your kids there are many ways to achieve success, presents options they may not have ever known existed. The unknown. Whether your child is starting school for the first time or entering junior high, high school or even college; anxiety is common when we are uncertain. Anxiety doesn’t discriminate and older kids get anxious about the unknown just the same as the younger kids do. It’s common for small children to have separation anxiety at the start of school and for homesickness to strike college freshman living away for the first time. Touring the school, getting to know teachers in advance, and getting as much information beforehand helps kids to mentally prepare for what they can expect. Social status and drama. The return to school comes with the return to more kids and more social drama. Usually in the summer, kids stick to their immediate group of best friends. During the school year, they are forced to get along with everyone. The gossip and constant pressure to fit in can cause anxiety. Simple things like choosing clothing, hairstyle and over all appearance can cause a lot of pressure. Teens especially are trying to get a handle on body image and are often feel anxious about being judged by other kids. It’s important to be supportive and understanding while reaffirming your child’s strengths and larger goals. When your kids are busy focused on what they want to achieve and what they enjoy doing, they’re less likely to have time to concern themselves with the opinions of others. This guest post was created by  By Dr. Sanam Hafeez, NYC Licensed Neuropsychologist and School Psychologist Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD is a NYC based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. a neuropsychological, developmental and educational center in Manhattan and Queens.    Dr. Hafeez masterfully applies her years of experience connecting psychological implications to address some of today’s common issues such as body image, social media addiction, relationships, workplace stress, parenting and  psychopathology (bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, etc…). In addition, Dr. Hafeez works with individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), learning disabilities, attention and memory problems, and abuse.  Dr. Hafeez often shares her credible expertise to various news outlets in New York City.  She frequently appears on CNN and Dr.Oz. Connect with her via twitter  @comprehendMind  or  www.comprehendthemind.com . Bullying image credit.

How to Use Linkedin to get the Job You Want - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How to Use Linkedin to get the Job You Want - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career If you want to get a job in this economy you better lose the depression mindset and start using social media to open more doors for you. Despite all the garbage you hear on TV about job losses, some companies are hiring, but they wont come looking for you. You must go find them. In this post you will learn how to bypass the virtual gatekeeper (the companys career page) and get the attention of the recruiter you need for the job you want by using Linkedin. Here is what to do. 1. Create your Linkedin profile page. Dan Schawbel wrote a nice post on using Linkedin to promote your personal brand. Go read it for some tips on creating a good Linkedin profile. 2. Go to the Linkedin homepage and click the Advanced Link at the top right by the Search People box. 3. Type the company name in the Company Field, recruiter or human resources in the Title field and click search. 4. This will bring up a list of the registered Linkedin recruiters in that company. 5.  Use your intuition and click the link of the recruiter that looks good for your desired position. 6. Send an invitation to connect with a short, compelling message that calls the recruiter to action. The message will go to the e-mail address entered when they registered on Linkedin. Here is an example of a compelling message that worked for me. 7. If you do not have the right recruiter, the person you contacted will usually point you in the right direction. If they do not offer this information, politely ask for it. 8. Be prepared when they call or e-mail you back so you can have an intelligent conversation and impress who youre talking to. At the very least, you should know what the company does and how they make money. Using this Linkedin tip will differentiate you from the competition. It will show your creativity and social media know-how. Most importantly, it will get you noticed by a person with influence and begin a discussion that starts the interviewing process. If your wondering if this will work for you it will. This exact process worked 5 out of 5 times for me. What are you waiting for? Go connect on Linkedin and get the job you truly desire! If you know another Linkedin tip or a way we can all use Linkedin to create more opportunities please leave a comment below for all to read. Author: Chad Levitt is the author of the New Sales Economy blog, which focuses on how Sales 2.0 Social Media can help you connect, create more opportunities and increase your business. Chad is also the featured Sales 2.0 blogger at SalesGravy.com, the number one web portal for sales pros, the professional athletes of the business world. Make sure to connect with him on Twitter @chadalevitt.

Work Using Maryland Resume Writing Service Reviews

Work Using Maryland Resume Writing Service ReviewsMention resumes, and everyone will stop to ponder on it, and even if they don't think much about it, everyone will understand what you mean when you mention Maryland resume writing service reviews. But, do not think that you can leave your resume alone, but, in fact, there are so many people who make the same mistake and when you consider the efforts and time they spent on researching which company or service is best, they have actually paid money for nothing.If you really want to get good jobs or contracts, try to find a Maryland resume writing service that will take your project as a true priority, because this will help you make your work very efficient. Moreover, if you get yourself involved in a project, you are in a position to give your input and this makes your task a little easier.Make sure you compare the writing abilities of different Maryland resume writing service providers, because, it's not about them, but, it's about y our goals and your needs. The best ones will be able to satisfy both needs. This should help you decide which company to go with.You should avoid hiring a company that offers various types of resumes; what you should do is get one for just one single resume only. A company that will do this can help you save a lot of time, because, it will be easier for you to specify what is important in a resume. Also, the writing style that you will use in your own work should be the same as it was used by your prospective employer.When you contact a Maryland resume writing service, remember that you should not just let your resume get lost in the correspondence. You should also be sure that the whole company's history is listed in the letters you send. Make sure that the return address is clearly marked.There are many companies that provide Baltimore-based resume writing services, and they all offer various services; make sure that you have selected the company that fits your needs perfectly. Fo r instance, if you are looking for a professional sounding resume for a business development position, it's ideal to choose a company that has received a lot of reviews from clients.If you would like your Maryland resume to be a little unique, then you need to start thinking outside the box and not just how your resume will look like. Instead, think of your goal and write your resume accordingly.A good online Maryland resume writing service will help you make your job easier. All you need to do is select the right service, and you should be sure that you have chosen the right one.

Strategies to Help You Nail Your Next Interview - CareerAlley

Strategies to Help You Nail Your Next Interview - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. To paraphrase the 7 Ps, an old British military adage: Prior Planning and Preparation Prevents Pretty Poor Performance (you can probably guess which word has been changed). It isnt just a useful philosophy for military planning. It works with everything you can imagine: work, planning a holiday, poker and a job interview. Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash Doing your preparation beforehand will ensure that you nail whatever activity youre undertaking. For example, if youre playing poker, you need to ensure that you understand poker math. If youre preparing for a job interview, you need to understand the job, the people with whom youre meeting, the company and what benefits youll bring to the role. Here are some strategies you can take from poker that will help you nail your next interview. An interview is an opportunity to highlight your strengths and emphasize your fit for the position. However, you shouldnt expect that the hiring manager will only ask easy questions about your past wins and proud moments. Come prepared to answer the tougher questions, like ones about your regrets, mistakes, and weaknesses. TopInterview.com Understand People Understanding people is the key to succeeding in most areas of life. If youre playing poker, understanding your opponents will give you an advantage since youll understand patterns in their play, little traits they may have when theyre either bluffing or indeed holding a decent hand. If you dont know who youre going to be competing against, some prior research will help. Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash If youre going to a job interview, most people will read up on the company and the job description. So, to stand out, you need to find a competitive advantage. In other words, something that other people arent doing. One solution is to research the people with whom you are meeting. Before an interview, ask about who you are meeting, get their first and last names and preferably, their job titles. For example, find them on LinkedIn and possibly other social networks. Then do a little research to help you understand how their career progressed to where they are now, what their hobbies might be and if possible, try to find some things you may have in common with them. If youre preparing for a job interview, you need to understand the job, the people with whom youre meeting, the company and what benefits youll bring to the role. Tweet This Doing so will then, hopefully, provide opportunities to build a rapport. For example, if you enjoy playing a sport, try naturally steering the conversation that way. Perhaps by using it as an example of how you work well in a team, this may spark a conversation that will help establish a connection. Dont Reveal All Your Cards In poker, playing your cards close to your chest is critical to maintaining a winning strategy. You only want people to know what you want them to know, so if youre bluffing with a bad hand, then youll want to keep that a secret. source The same applies to an interview. If youre asked, Why did you leave your last job? the answer shouldnt be the money was good, but the boss was a horrible person, the work was boring, I hated the paperwork and didnt like my colleagues, even if its the truth. First, it doesnt show you in a good light, and youre focusing on only the negativity. Plus, youve just revealed that you would be willing to work for a similar (and possibly lower) amount of money and that you potentially arent a team player. Youve shown your cards. Instead, a better answer would be to say, I felt like Id made a positive impact in the time that I was there, which allowed me to learn and grow, but my opportunity for progression was becoming limited, and I realized I needed a new challenge. If you can also back this up with examples of the positive impact, such as a successful project you worked on or some efficiency improvements you pioneered, then youve only shared information you want them to know and have gently hinted that youre looking for a higher salary, too. In conclusion, the old saying of knowledge is power is still relevant today. If you can prepare for an interview so that you have as much knowledge as possible, and then control what information you provide so that its only positive and favorable, then youre putting yourself in a strong position. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to nail the interview and get hired. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search

Campaigning vs. Job Search

Campaigning vs. Job Search What can we learn from this years campaigning (or any election year, for that matter)? There are numerous parallels between political campaigning and job search and career management. What Is a Campaign? Your career is a campaign and so is your job search. It is an operation, a battle, a movement, a push and it is offensive! Drive and take initiative. Take a stand. Be heard! Connect, relate and be true to your values. A laissez fair (or indifferent) attitude will result in lackluster outcomes. Win or lose, just give it your best! Image Like it or not, personal appearance matters. From the color of their ties to the shoes on their feet. (And lets not forget what their spouses wear!) We judge and assess people by how they dress and how they look. Does this have anything to do with how they will perform on the job? Nope, but some how, we use this as a way to determine whether we like them and can relate to them. You better believe they have fashion consultants and advisors working with them to get it right! Experience Is there a track record of success? Is the past experience relevant to the industry being sought? The candidates are working hard to earn votes by highlighting examples of success, in case we have forgotten over four years; and connecting the dots so we understand how running a business is like running the country. So is it ever a good idea to bad mouth others? Criticism without providing specific solutions seems kinda lame. Outreach The candidates use websites, town hall meetings, social media, advertising- you name it. They are doing it all. Having an online presence is important, but so is face-to-face, one-on-one interaction. They want to build relationships and connect with as many as possible! Message What is their agenda? What do they want us to know? Well, that is predicated on who they are talking to and what is important to that audience. The candidates and their speech writers work hard to ensure the message resonates with the crowd. The candidates who connect best are the likely to win the hearts and votes. Slogan Do these slogans really represent what we need to hear? Are they solving our problems? Your Next Steps Create a winning campaign for your career. Present yourself with integrity, confidence and authenticity! PS: For the record, I despise what our politicians have become- dirty and disconnected. Let this be a warning to leaders and self-leaders!