Who Won The 4th Annual JobMob Guest Blogging Contest

Who Won The 4th Annual JobMob Guest Blogging Contest 56 Almost 2 months after its first entry appeared on JobMob, the 4th Annual JobMob Guest Blogging Contest has finally come to an end. So who won? Contest numbers As I'd hoped, this year's contest was the biggest and best one we've had on JobMob to date. Here are some numbers that tell the story: 24 guest posts were submitted by bloggers from Israel, the USA, Germany, The Philippines, Australia, Jordan and South Africa The articles were shared with 1011 retweets, 506 Facebook shares and generated 109 comments Almost 200,000 people visited JobMob during the contest Thank Yous As usual though, the numbers don't tell the full story.eval I had a great time meeting many new people and reconnecting with some old, interviewing Jason Alba, interviewing being interviewed by Keller Rinaudo, and you can tell from the comments that many of the bloggers also enjoyed themselves. And of course, the articles will live on in the JobMob archive, continuing to help people for a long time to come. So a big Thank You to all the bloggers.eval Another big Thank You goes out to all our sponsors, whose prizes promotional efforts helped get the attention of so many terrific contestants. More about them further down. And now, on to the winners: The Winners All contestants won at least these 2 prizes: 1 year subscription to JobSpice, a US$20 value. Sponsored by JobSpice. A copy of the Personal Branding Magazine. Sponsored by Dan Schawbel. There was so much effort on the part of the bloggers to promote and have their articles promoted on social media (as you saw above) that I decided during the contest to add an extra prize as a surprise for the blogger who had the most success with their article on social media. Social media grand prize winner Hannah Katsman Hannah wins: US$25. Sponsored by

Five Fun and Interesting Ways to Learn New Work Skills Online

Five Fun and Interesting Ways to Learn New Work Skills Online With technology and society evolving as rapidly as it is today, the need for new job skills is now larger than ever. From robotics to office management, there is no industry where the impacts of a changing world cant be felt. For so many in the situation of seeking employment in this market, having as many valuable job skills as possible ensures you are a marketable commodity when attempting to woo prospective employers. The same technology that is driving these changes is also making it easier than ever to acquire new work skills. In order to guide you toward a more prosperous and efficient future, lets look at five fun and interesting ways that you can learn new work skills from the privacy of your home. Udemy One of the most popular open-source educational platforms on the web, Udemy has made it easy for anybody to acquire new skills for work and beyond. Whether youre wanting to learn more about interior design or need to learn a new programming language, there is a good chance that youll find classes on Udemy that supply these valuable lessons. The platform offers opportunities for both instructors and students alike, meaning that you can just as easily teach a course through the website as you can learn something new. Because the platform requires minimal overhead and maintenance â€" along with the competitive nature of it â€" youll be able to snag expert training sessions for a mere fraction of the price youd pay in a more traditional setting (many courses on Udemy cost as little as $15). With lifetime access to the platform with any purchase and mobile accessibility, youll literally be able to learn anytime, anywhere. The fun and easy method by which people learn through Udemy makes it one of the most appealing outlets for work skill training. In-House Classrooms Many businesses and brands are proactive in teaching their employees new skill-sets. You may even work for a business where workers are incentivized to pursue additional training with a combination of better pay, select perks and preference in job promotions. Many of these businesses offer online, in-house training sessions via virtual classrooms that help employees learn new skill-sets while theyre on the job. Rather than spending your free time at home pursuing these endeavors, you can instead focus on acquiring more training while at work. Through solutions like   WizIQ, businesses can host on-the-job training sessions that can be used in real time or after the fact via recorded sessions. It is worth asking your human resources department or manager about whether these training opportunities exist. If so, then you may be able to invest in your knowledge base while simultaneously getting paid to learn new tasks thatll make you a stronger job candidate for future opportunities. YouTube The internet has made access to information absolutely paramount in todays society. While people were once willing to pay big bucks for even the most basic training sessions, the flow of information and the competitive nature of the internet has made it easy to learn even more advanced subjects without paying a dime. One of the biggest culprits behind this shift is YouTube. The worlds premier video platform for more than a decade, YouTube offers videos covering just about any topic or event you can imagine. One of the most popular types of videos on the platform is tutorials and how-tos, making it easier than ever for people to acquire new skill sets and learn more about various topics. A simple search along the lines of “how to [topic/skill]” will likely yield dozens, hundreds or even thousands of helpful videos that walk you through the basics: youll even find videos on how to make YouTube videos! For people seeking to acquire new skill-sets that can be used in the workforce, YouTube is one of the most powerful solutions available. Because its free, it is also one of the most popular. Online Internships The most marketable form of work skills is that which involves direct experience with the industry or skill-set. Because of this, an increasing number of people are seeking out opportunities as apprentices or interns with one or more companies via the internet. Internships are usually unpaid opportunities that provide critical experience and on-the-job training, meaning that youll be able to not only get a feel of things in a direct sense, but youll also be able to leverage that into future employment. With more businesses than ever seeking recruits who have prior experience in their specific fields, online internships make it possible for you to get your foot in the door more easily. While online classrooms and video tutorials can help you get a feel for things in a given industry or skill, direct experience is often the most crucial form of job training. Youll have the chance to see if you really want to pursue more training in a particular field, with first-hand experience that can be both fun and interesting. Online College If you want to pursue a new skill-set for either a current or future career, then you may decide to pursue formal education through a college or university. Thankfully, most institutions now offer online instruction and education in lieu of attending a physical campus. While certainly the most expensive option on this list, online college through an accredited university provides just as much of an experience at mastering a new skill as attending physical classes. Youll gain all of the information necessary in order to pursue a new job or promotion, but youll be able to pursue this training on your own time and terms. We now live in a world where we can do, learn and experience virtually anything through the power of the internet. With respect to job and skill training, it is now easier than ever to acquire knowledge and experience for future opportunities. Through these fun and interesting methods, youll never stop loving to learn and will be able to master any skill-set from home, work or on-the-go.

LinkedIn Allows Job Seekers to Leverage Volunteer Experience - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

LinkedIn Allows Job Seekers to Leverage Volunteer Experience - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career In a new study recently conducted by LinkedIn, 41% of professionals surveyed stated they consider volunteer work equally as valuable as paid work experience. This comes as great news to the 14 Million plus full-time job seekers. “Given the current economic climate and the hypercompetitive job market, it’s essential to include your volunteer work on your (LinkedIn) profile,” said Nicole Williams, LinkedIn’s Connection Direct and author of “Girl on Top.” LinkedIn makes it easy Thanks to a new field titled “Volunteer Experience Causes” on your LinkedIn’s profile, it’s now easier than ever for employers and recruiters alike to see that you are active in the community. This section allows you to include your specific role (e.g. committee chairperson, board member) and the organization type (e.g. humanitarian, domestic, animal causes). With this added to your profile, hiring managers can compare you side by side and possibly decide to hire someone who aligns closer with their company culture or environment. Career relevant volunteering When choosing a volunteer opportunity, it’s a smart idea to find volunteer opportunities that highlight your professional skill set. As an example, if you are a marketing professional and enjoy working with animals, you can source opportunities to work on marketing events or on a marketing community at a local zoo. This highlights your professional skill set, and keeps it fresh, while putting your volunteerism up front at the same time. Finding volunteer opportunities Where do you find these great opportunities? One great site to check out is www.volunteermatch.org which will hook you up with thousands of organizations in need of volunteers by organization type and zip code. Another site you can peruse for options is www.serve.gov, the official site of United We Serve, the nationwide service to meet the growing needs from the economic downturn. I also recommend calling local non-profits in your own neighborhood and asking if they need someone with your skill set to volunteer during the hours you have available. As a former board member on 10+ organizations from global education organizations to the Marketing Committee for the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, there’s not a time I remember that we would have turned a volunteer away. Author: Adriana Llames is a veteran career coach and acclaimed author of Career Sudoku: 9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game, released with top book seller Amazon.com. She is creator of   “HR In-A-Box,” a Human Resources software product helping small businesses across America and a professional keynote speaker motivating and inspiring audiences with her focused programs on “9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game”, “Confessions of a Career Coach” and “Nice Girls End Up on Welfare.” For more information, visit www.adrianallames.com

Millennial Women Push Progress in the Workplace [INFOGRAPHIC]

Millennial Women Push Progress in the Workplace [INFOGRAPHIC] Are women paid less for the same work? The data says yes. Im not going to argue with it. But I did have to admit to myself at one point in my past that the salary inequality I faced was  actually the result of my notoriously poor negotiation skills. As a result, I approached this infographic with minimal interest, thinking Yeah, yeah, Ive heard all that before. But I was pleasantly surprised by its content, focusing on how millennial women are advancing progress in the areas of equal salaries and growing high profile opportunities for women. Take a look and tell us what you think. Have you been driving these changes? Or seen them occurring in your workplace? Source: HumanResourcesMBA.net

How to Find Great Networking Opportunities in Your City CareerMetis.com

How to Find Great Networking Opportunities in Your City Dennis Waitley said it best when he said “If you’re not networking, you’re not working. Building long-term relationships is one of the most critical parts of success. Whether you want to launch a business or further your career, you’ll need to grow your network and beef up your reputation. Talking to the right people can unlock doors of opportunitythat you’ve never imagined.If you take a look around, you’ll find tons of ways to make connections. However, the key is to focus on quality, not quantity. Keep reading to learn five ways to find great networking opportunities in your city.1) Use social media to your advantageevalevalBecause social media is one of the main ways that event planners market events, it is a great place to start when looking for networking opportunities near you.Facebook is the largest social network on the planet, with over 2 billion users, so it is the recommended “go to” when it comes to making connections.One great thing about FB is that the p latform allows event planners to create pages to advertise any happenings.When looking for networking opportunities in your city using Facebook, just go to the Events section and click on the button that says “discover new events.”At the top of the page, you’ll see what events you’ve been invited to. The section below will show events that are popular with your friends, while the third section focuses on networking opportunities. The simple layout makes it simple to find activities you’re interested in attending without having to do a lot of searching or scouring the internet.Facebook will also keep track of the events you show interest in or attend and recommend others to you by sending out a notification when they come available. For example, an artist who frequents One great thing about this social media networking experience is that others can invite you to their events through ‘e-vites,’ making it easier than ever to get invited to happenings and attend them. The site even provides a space for organizers and attendees to discuss the event beforehand, deepening the connections made.The process of embracing LinkedIn for networking isn’t a difficult one. All you need to do is create a LinkedIn account, update your profile information, add connections, and link up.2) Check out Evenbrite.com and Meetup.comBecause they are two of the most popular networking event sites, most people have heard of both Eventbrite and Meetup. However, they are still worth mentioning since they are one of the best ways to find awesome ways to meet other professionals in your area.evalWith tons of categories to explore, Eventbrite allows networkers to post and search for events. From music and arts to classes and parties, Eventbrite offers much more than networking on a business level. Not only can you search by category, but the website also allows you to find great networking opportunities in your area. Users can zone in on their particular city or look on a whole state level. You can search for events based on dates as well, so if you are looking for networking happenings set for a particular time, Eventbrite allows for that.Both paid and free events are advertised on the site, so there are lots of options if you need a networking event that is affordable.With slogans like “we are what we do” and “the real world is calling,” Meetup connects people to local events in their area. Like with Eventbrite, Meetup’s site is set up in categories. Some of the groupings include:Outdoors and adventureTechFamilyHealth wellnessSports fitnessLearningPhotographyFood drinkWritingLanguage and culturesMusicMovementsLGBTQFilmSci-fi gamesBeliefsArtsBook clubsDancePetsHobbies craftsFashion beautySocialCareer businessAlthough the last category would probably be your ‘go to’ when looking for networking opportunities, you shouldn’t write off the others.A lot of the ways that we network is through hobbies and fun, not just ‘business.’ For e xample, connecting with other photographers could come through a nature walk meetup or an art talk instead of an event with photographers only. Also, while you’re making new connections, Meetup will also help you accomplish some of your personal goals. Have you always wanted to learn to cook? Meetup has culinary events. Maybe you want to learn a new language so that you’ll have more of an edge at work. Meetup can facilitate this too.Remember: networking should be fun. By making connections while doing things that you enjoy, you’ll be more likely to keep these relationships going and build them into something meaningful.3) Volunteer your timeA third way to connect with others in your city is to volunteer your time.evalUnlike networking events, volunteering as a way to help others is a natural process that allows you to bond with other people on a deeper level. Volunteering opportunities provide much more of a relaxed than networking events.Like with hobbies, you’ll be able to connect with people through shared interests and passions instead of just business.You’ll not only be helping an organization but also build contacts in various fields. This is an especially important networking tool if you’re trying to break into a different area.Prime Example:This was the case with Jessica, an HR rep wanting to move into technology. She started volunteering at a local senior’s center where she taught visitors how to use tablets and computers. Because she liked spending time with older people and was tech savvy, the volunteer role was perfect for Jessica and didn’t feel like a chore.Two weeks into her volunteer assignment, a department manager from a local tech company showed up with iPad donations for the center. After chatting with the man for a bit, Jessica learned that the company had several job openings that hadn’t yet been advertised. Jessica submitted her application online and with the manager’s permission, put his name down as a contact. A fe w weeks later, she was hired by the company.evalFinding OpportunitiesThere are tons of ways to find volunteering opportunities. There are online options that you can use:VolunteerMatch.orgCreatethegood.orgIdealist.orgWhat’s even more recommended is thinking about the answers to these three questions: What are you passionate about? What would you spend your time doing if money wasn’t an option? What world or community problem would you solve if you knew you wouldn’t fail?Now take the answers to these questions and find an organization in your community that has a similar mission. Ask them if they need volunteers and if they don’t currently have a volunteer program, consider being the one to start it.4) Start a group of your ownWhich brings us to our fourth way to find networking opportunities in your cityâ€"create your own event.If you’re from an urban area, there might not be a need for the starting of a new group. After all, there will be plenty of events to go to. But if you’re from a more rural place or somewhere that doesn’t have the type of networking organization that you’re looking for, you might consider branching out.This is what Debra Rasberry did when she wanted to take her permanent makeup business, Total Transformations, to the next level. Because she’s from a small city in northern Louisiana, there weren’t very many entrepreneurial groups to connect with. Instead of driving hours to network or giving up,Debra started Axen Club Monroe LA. This goals club provides unique networking opportunities, allowing Debra and her husband, James, to connect to like-minded individuals. It was also part of the boost Debra needed to introduce a therapeutic aspect (NLP) to her business model that wasn’t there before.Final ThoughtsFinding great networking opportunities in your city shouldn’t feel like work. Whether you use social media, networking websites, volunteering opportunities, or launch your own group, the process of making new conta cts and exchanging ideasshould be focused on your and your passions. By embracing networking as an opportunity for growth and making rich connections, you’ll be able to launch your career and your interpersonal relationships further than you ever imagined.

Work Life Fit - How to find yours in 2009!

Work Life Fit - How to find yours in 2009! Yesterday I had the pleasure of interviewing work life fit expert Cali Williams Yost on my radio show. In case you missed it, tune in to SIRIUS 112 and XM 157 for a replay this Saturday at 6am eastern. Also here are highlights of the tips Cali shared:First, change the way you think about work and life1) Manage your work+life fit day-to-day, not just during big life events. You can no longer afford to have your work and life just happen,. If you dont spend at least some time thinking about and organizing the things you have to do, and the things you want to do, you will get even less done.2) Understand that there is no balance, or right answer for how work should fit into your life. Your fit will not look like anyone elses. The answer is what works for you and your jobit needs to be a win-win.Now that you have the right mindset, here are some action steps to take in 2009:3) Keep a work+life fit calendar with all of your work and personal appointments/goals/responsibilities in one plac e. Ive tried every process and tool to help manage my work+life fit and what I keep coming back to is my calendar to effectively manage the way everything fits into my ever-changing work+life fit as a mother, wife and business-owner.How do you begin? Figure out what type of calendar works for you. I like Outlook for entering to dos electronically. But, because I am more comfortable working off a paper copy, I print it out and carry it around. Enter in as many personal appointments and plans as you can think of for the next six months (a year is even better but could be too overwhelming), from doctors appointments to dates with your partner. Finish by entering work related appointments including quiet time and vacation days. (Tip: for vacation more than a week, block off two days before you depart and two days after you return on your calendar. That will remind you not to over-schedule yourself so that you dont start vacation completely fried, and return immediately overwhelmed.) If there are periods when you business is busier than other times, note that on your calendar. For example, accountants are busier certain times of year than others.Then, start actively managing your work+life fit calendar. When a new work project or personal responsibility appears, go to the calendar and ask yourself: Can I do it given what else is on my plate today, this week, this month? What do I need to shift or let go of in order to manage my work+life fit? Am I leaving time for activities that keep me healthy and functioning at my best (e.g. going to the gym, shopping for healthy food, sleep)?4) Finally, set time asidedaily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annuallyto check in and answer the question, what do I want? Check in and ask yourself what you want your work+life fit to look like and compare it to the work+life fit you see in your calendar and life.Yes, times are challenging, but now more than ever its imperative that you take control of the way work fits into your life . Use these tips to make 2009 the year you start managing your work+life fit in a way that allows you to bring the best of yourself to work and to the rest of your life!More information about managing your work+life fit can be found in Calis book, Work+Life: Finding the Fit Thats Right for You (2005 Riverhead), and in her Work+Life Fit and Fast Company blogs, at worklifefit.com/blogWhats your work life fit strategy for 2009? What approach works for you in finding time for your most important priority?

Monster Certified Resume Writing - How to Make Your Resume Really Stand Out

Monster Certified Resume Writing - How to Make Your Resume Really Stand OutMonster Certified Resume Writing is the official resume builder of Monster Media. It has become an indispensible tool to successfully land a job in the online marketing business. The need for competitive resume writing has been growing for a long time and the recent marketing boom has been a great way to accomplish job searching, acquire new skills and face competition with your resume. So, Monster Certified Resume Writing is not only a cost-effective but also a simple to use resume building tool.With the help of this professional resume, the writer can easily create professional resumes for their work as well as others. This professional resume writing tool helps them prepare their resume in easy to read format which makes the application very easy to handle.The writer needs to take note that when they are writing a professional resume, they should take care that they use certain features like biography, prof ile card, resume cover, resume signature and so on to make the resume useful and interesting. But, there are some other important factors to be considered while writing a resume like the skills, experience, work history, and so on.If you are not sure about what you should include or what you should exclude in your resume, then it is better to consult a professional. Monster offers a free sample resume builder to let the clients create their own resume by simply filling the required information. Once the author is satisfied with the outcome, he can request for his resume template to copy, just like all other Monster resume builders.In addition to the free samples, Monster gives free resume writing software to its clients to help them design their own resume by hand. The process involves user instructions, sample resumes, resume templates and sample cover letters to assist the writers to draft a perfect resume.If you want to become an expert resume writer, then Monster offers a member ship for authors who are willing to share their experience and expertise in making good resumes. In order to become a member, one has to create an account with the company's website, the only requirement being that the writer has to provide his or her name, email id and so on.In addition to the free sample resume builder, the author can also check out other resources like e-books and tips on how to get the most out of the resume builder. Moreover, he can find out other free resources as well for making his resume better and more attractive.Being a proficient writer, it would definitely improve your chances of landing a job faster and easier. Therefore, if you are really interested in becoming an expert in creating professionally written resumes, you need to find out the right resource that would be the most appropriate for you.