I have read a number of articles lately about LinkedIn, and one of the most recurring themes is how to get recruiters attention on LinkedIn. Company and independent recruiters don’t necessarily wait to view the job applications they receive on their website.  Many are now searching sites, such as LinkedIn, and looking for the right fit even before the position is posted, if it is at all.

To be viewed online by a recruiter early in the process, you must make your profile easy to find, and using keywords can be the key. Recruiters can search LinkedIn routinely on their own through the Advanced People Search, through recommended LinkedIn groups, and through the LinkedIn Recruiter service.

Search engines like these will look for keywords in various parts of your profile, especially in the Summary and Specialties sections. You can also sprinkle keywords in your professional headline and in the professional experience section where you highlight your accomplishments for each role you’ve had.

NOTE: If you are not sure which keywords to use, look at several job descriptions for roles you are interested in and qualified for; see which keywords potential employers are using. If you are making a career change, you can include keywords from both the career you are leaving and the newer field in which you are getting experience and perhaps getting trained.

Make sure that you don’t use abbreviations and words stuck together with slashes or hyphens. Abbreviations, such as exec, won’t work well. Use executive, instead. And, joining identifying words, such as Marketing/Creative/Manager/Sales likely won’t be picked up, too, in a recruiter’s search. So spell out those words, and separate them with spaces or commas.

Also, be sure to use up the available space that LinkedIn allots. You have up to 500 characters, with spaces, for keywords, which is more than enough room to include skills you possess, languages you speak, industry/market experience or international experience. You can even use this section to express a passion you have for a field in which you would like to move into.

Please remember to place your email address, phone number, and other contact information, such as a link to your personal website, in your summary section. Once your profile has been found, you will want the recruiter to be able to contact you easily. 

If you did not get the opportunity at the end of the year to sit down and think about what you accomplished in 2011, now is your opportunity.

Use the first few weeks of January to put together your Victory Journal for 2011. These victories or successes can be good food for thought as you think about updating your resume. It is also a great way to overcome low self-confidence and self-esteem.

What do you put in a Victory Journal? Here are a few ideas:

• Any thing you did well in 2011. It could be something you think you did well, or something someone else appreciated (your boss, for example) and sent you a note about.

• Any time you have done something for the first time…you took a risk.

• Any time you stepped out of your comfort zone and tried something new.

You don’t have to limit your Victory Journal to work. You could add in your family, sports, hobbies, health etc. The important thing is to list out your successes and review them from time to time. They are a great reminder of what you are capable of!

Early in November, I attended a virtual career conference, in which a variety of career and branding topics were discussed over three days. One of the sessions was a recruiter panel discussing the importance of the resume versus social media profiles. It is always interesting to hear what recruiters have to say about these two very different career marketing documents:

Here are some takeaways from the panel discussion:

1. The resume is not going away yet. Hiring managers still want to see and hold this physical document, especially during an interview.
2. What is changing is that recruiters and hiring managers are pulling up social media profiles first during the hiring process.
3. Hiring managers use a resume AND LinkedIn profile together for a few reasons. Firstly, they use the LinkedIn profile to fill in gaps where they might have questions on the resume. Secondly, they also do a compare and contrast between the two documents.
4. One of the reasons that resumes will not disappear that quickly is that you can customize a resume to each individual position you are seeking; a LinkedIn profile is more generic-a broader-based view of your background that appeals to a wider target.
5. Keywords (whether in LinkedIn or in your resume) are still the primary and most efficient way for hiring managers and recruiters to comb through large databases of potential candidates.

Be sure you are reviewing job descriptions and have a clear sense of the keywords and skills someone would use to find you.

With social networking on the rise, I have been receiving many questions from clients about the importance of Facebook for job search and other career related activities.  For this post, I decided to interview my colleague, Barb Safani in New York, who is admittedly one of the most active career coaches on Facebook and who also teaches many classes on social networking.

Randi: What is the difference between Facebook and LinkedIn?

Barb:  Facebook started out as a social networking site restricted to college students. LinkedIn began as a business networking site for professionals. Several years ago, Facebook became available to everyone and its popularity soared. In recent years, it has shifted from being "just for kids" to a rich resource for networking for business and personal reasons. In the past year alone, several third party applications have been added to the Facebook platform that are conducive to business networking and Facebook currently boasts more than 7 times the number of users as LinkedIn.

Randi: Do I need to be on Facebook when looking for a job?

Barb: I highly recommend incorporating Facebook into your job search strategy. It has robust search features for sourcing people from various companies and it has become quite commonplace for employers to have a Facebook page for building engagement with current and potential customers as well as employees.

Randi: If so, how do I do this?

Barb: Here are three easy tips:

• Use the search box to find people who are employed by companies that you are targeting and see if people in your network are connected to these people.
• Regularly engage in the conversations on company pages.
• Become a fan, ask questions, comment on new products, etc.

Randi: What kind of photos are appropriate for Facebook?

Barb: Show photos that you would not be concerned with an employer seeing. These do not all have to be business photos but should be ones that represent you in the way you would like to be perceived by employers.

Randi: Can prospective employers see everything I post on Facebook?

Barb: Not necessarily. You can manipulate your privacy settings to control who sees what.

Randi: Is there a way to control what prospective employers will see?

Barb: Yes. You can change your privacy features so only friends see your posts, create friend lists and manage which friends see which posts, or you can make decisions on who sees what for each item you post.

Barb Safani of Career Solvers

http://www.careersolvers.com/

Job hunting online can be such a solitary and lonely act. You are applying for a job that you think you would like, that you think you're a well-qualified for, and that you think the employer would immediately like you. And, then ... you hear nothing. Absolutely nothing.

You have now entered the Black Hole of the online world of job hunting. Welcome to the club!

I read an interesting post by Gail Houston, the Social Media Program Manager and Senior Recruiter for Intuit Careers. She answered some interesting questions about applicant tracking systems. She also reviewed some common mistakes made in online applications, such as résumés not being attached, incorrect contact information included, and cover letters not having the proper focus.

Houston also talks about the future of online applications. And, one area that companies are now considering is allowing you to link to your social profiles on such sites as LinkedIn. This would allow you to provide more information to a potential employer. So, if you're not getting many hits on your online applications, know that you are not alone, and take a look at this post at http://timsstrategy.com/applicant-tracking-system-black-hole-or-active-candidate-database/.

 

As the work world changes, more of us are setting up shop and working from home. This includes those of us who are between jobs, free-lancers, and telecommuters.

 

There are obvious advantages to working from home, such as no commuting time and costs, controlling our own time, schedule, and environment, and better home-life balance. However, there are some drawbacks, and if you are contemplating working from home, here are a few things that you should consider first.

 

The transition can be difficult, especially for workers who are outgoing and very social. There can be a major adjustment for those workers, as they must now adapt to being in a quiet setting without much personal interaction. There always is email, telephone, Facebook, etc., through which to communicate and collaborate with your co-workers, but it's not quite the same as face-to-face connections.

 

Working from home also requires you to take the reins on a number of issues that might have been done through group or company activity. You now have to take responsibility for your own professional image, networking, and professional development. And, you must be a self-motivator if you want to keep expanding your network and visibility.

 

You also must be self-disciplined. It can be very easy to linger over your morning cup of coffee before starting to work. Or, you can be distracted by something you would rather be doing around the house, a pet project, your television, even your laundry if you aren't motivated to jump on the work you need to do.

 

As a recent report from the Wharton Business School detailed, working alone requires more than just managing your personal time, space, and motivation. What is equally important is how well you keep collaborating, networking, and advancing your career. So, keep all of these things in mind when thinking about working alone. You can do it, but you must be prepared first.

If you're looking for a new job in 2011, expect to have some company. Whether you've been out of work for a while, or currently employed but looking for a better position or a career reinvention, you won't be alone in the job market.

In fact, last year's tough economy, layoffs, and high unemployment rate have had a double-barreled effect on the 2011 job market. Not only are there many potential job-seekers still unemployed, but many others who are working have become disgruntled at their workplace and they will be looking for a new job, too.

Because many companies have been working their employees too hard during these tough times, employee engagement has fallen. Now that the economy is showing some signs of improvement, these unhappy employees will be considering leaving their companies in droves. And, that will place them right in the job market with you.

What that means is there will be more competition on the street for jobs that are available. So, if you think you'll be looking for a new job in 2011, what should you do? First, you will need to be prepared, and more importantly, differentiated from the field in a crowded job market.

You can't be just like any other job applicant. You must stand out from the crowd by accentuating your experience, your expertise, your commitment, your volunteer experience, your degrees, professional development and your Personal Brand. You will need to focus on demonstrating how your brand delivers value and ROI will align with the corporation's business goals and help the firm succeed.

I recently interviewed Sharon Teitelbaum, a Work-Life Balance and Effectiveness Coach, on setting boundaries, why they're important, and the pitfalls of not establishing them.

Sharon says boundary setting is important for the same reason that having a budget is important: your time and energy are finite resources. If you give them away to all the people and projects knocking at your door, it's likely you won't have the time and energy for what's most important to you.

Boundary setting is about protecting what's most important to you, allowing you to set your priorities and keep them. And, it is essentially about saying: No. You must learn to say no to those people and requests that distract you from your work priorities.

However, what often holds people back is their fear of the consequences. They don't want to let a friend or co-worker down, or have them get upset because you can't fulfill their needs or requests. But, being unable to say no has its own set of problems. When you can't establish your boundaries, you will be taken advantage of, and quickly learn that pleasing everyone else before taking care of yourself damages your self-esteem.

Sharon says that in order to set boundaries, you must use language that's neutral and clear. By neutral, she means that it doesn't have an emotional charge to it, and it doesn't make you or the other people feel criticized. And, by clear, she means to keep your language simple and direct.

Remember, if you can't set boundaries, then you are only hurting yourself. Once your boundaries are clear, people will understand them and respect them, and your working relationship with them will bloom rather than wilt.

To visit Sharon's website, go to www.stcoach.com, where you can read more about her expertise in work-life effectiveness and productivity.

Research can be the key element to the success of any project. It is essential to do your homework and be prepared to ensure the best possible results. This also is true for your career reinvention.

You must engage in self-reflection, and career brainstorming to dream up new possibilities. Then these phases must be followed up by some serious career research. Here are some helpful hints on how to perform this due diligence.

A good place to start is the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) at http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm. All you have to do is type in the field or job function you want to research into the search box and explore the information that comes up. This site will give you information on: the nature of the work; training and other qualifications required; employment trends; job outlook; earnings and wages; and related occupations.

Another good site is O*NET, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, at http://online.onetcenter.org/find/. This site will give you information on: tools and technology; knowledge; skills; abilities; work styles and values.

Also, good for research is to review professional association websites. You can just do a simple Google search under your desired career to find some websites for professional associations. And, www.wetfeet.com and www.vault.com can provide important information on careers and industries.

And, don't forget professional publications. These magazines, newspapers, journals, and online reports, newsletters, and blogs can help anyone seeking to enter a new field.

Don't rule out older experiences, community service, or volunteer roles for your career change résumé. Review every possibility from your life and professional experience that could showcase the skills and experience you want a prospective employer to see.

One example is: Working on a board of a nonprofit and doing fundraising and development work can help show that you have good sales or client relationship and negotiation skills.

The same works for taking professional development or training classes or seminars. These will supplement your professional experience and show a hiring manager that you are sincerely interested in and committed to this new profession or industry.

And community service can work great to supplement your résumé. By engaging in community service work, you will show commitment, compassion, enthusiasm, and the ability to collaborate with a team to accomplish goals and objectives.

Altogether, if you have volunteer, professional development, and community service experience to add to your résumé, you will show a prospective employer that you will be a dedicated worker who strives to be the best.

Bragging a bit is a key ingredient of résumé writing, whether for a career reinvention or not. Your achievements tell the story of who you are, what motivates you, and how you have added value to previous employers.

Your résumé should be populated with strong achievements and success stories that demonstrate the various skills and attributes you would bring to a prospective employer for a new job or industry. If you are staying within your industry, your many achievements will be applicable.

It you're looking to change your industry, or job function, you need to do more work. First, you must develop your career achievements or career success stories, but then translate them into a language that a hiring manager in a new field can understand.

When thinking about how to accomplish this, I suggest that you follow the Problem, Action, Result (PAR) format and construct your stories as follows: First come up with a problem your company faced, then describe the actions you took to solve the problem. And, finally describe the results of your efforts.

But, doing so in a more generic way shows your new company or industry you can adapt to their culture and help solve their problems.

What are keywords, and why are they important when writing a career change résumé? A keyword is the foundation for how hiring managers search for and identify candidates in résumé databases.

When writing a résumé for a career reinvention, you want to be sure that your résumé is sprinkled with keywords that are relevant to your career goals and how you want to be perceived in the employment market.

Keywords should be included in the summary section at the top of the résumé. You also can include them in a bulleted format in a separate section about your competencies, strengths, capabilities, and professional qualifications.

So what exactly are some good keywords? How about : client relationship management, negotiation skills, relationship building, cross-functional collaboration, time management, or new product and service launch?

Some of these are applicable to many types of jobs, some aren't. But, the point is you want to use the keywords that will work for your new industry ... keywords that will catch a hiring manager's eye and land you that new job.

Before you write your résumé for your career reinvention, you must do your homework. That means you must do your research, online and offline, about the industry, the company, and even the potential hiring manager you might encounter.

That way, you can understand the skills and competencies your new industry or company is seeking. And, it will help you learn the language of your new field. One way of doing your homework is through informational meetings. During these sessions, you can ask about the key skills and competencies they consider to be the most important for your new role or industry.

Another method of doing your homework is to locate several job descriptions online for roles in your new industry or job function. Review them and make a list of what the companies and/or hiring managers are seeking.

You also should read professional publications and/or blogs to get a better feel for your new industry. You will then begin to understand industry jargon, and become more familiar with some of the challenges faced by the industry.

Once you've completed these steps, you're ready to write your new résumé.

In fact, last year's tough economy, layoffs, and high unemployment rate have had a double-barreled effect on the 2011 job market. Not only are there many potential job-seekers still unemployed, but many others who are working have become disgruntled at their workplace and they will be looking for a new job, too.

Because many companies have been working their employees too hard during these tough times, employee engagement has fallen. Now that the economy is showing signs of improvement, these unhappy employees will be considering leaving their companies in droves. And, that will place them right in the job market with you.

What that means is there will be more competition on the street for jobs that are available. So, if you think you'll be looking for a new job in 2011, what should you do? First, you will need to be prepared, and more importantly, differentiated from everyone else in a crowded job market.   You can't be just like any other job applicant. You must stand out from the crowd by accentuating your experience, your expertise, your commitment, your personal brand, your degrees, and professional development. You will need to focus on your accomplishments and show that your past experiences are an indication that you have the potential to fill a new employer's needs and accomplish their goals.     

After a glorious summer and lots of fun family time with my daughter, it is now time to get back to writing and sharing career tips and techniques.

The Fall is often a time when individuals want to update their resume for the busy Fall job search or an impending career reinvention. I am starting off this Fall with a five-part blog series on resume writing for career change. For those of you just updating your resume, many of the tips and techniques apply, so enjoy.

Focus, focus, focus. That's what you need to do when you're undergoing a career change and want to redo your résumé. But, focus on what?   Well, before you start writing your résumé, you need to focus on your new direction. You will need to determine what position you want, what industry is desirable, what location works for you, and most importantly, how you want to be perceived by a prospective employer.

Figuring out what positions and/or industries you're targeting will give your career change résumé a focus. And, this focus will dictate what information you include, how, and where. Writing a career change résumé is all about producing an image of how you want to be perceived by a prospective employer.

For example, if you are an accountant who wants to transition to a publicity or marketing role for a nonprofit, your résumé will look different than if you were seeking another accounting role. You will need to include aspects of your current position (the marketing things you have done), volunteer experience, or professional training and translate those experiences.

More specifically, when reinventing your career, you must "reweight" the information you include on your résumé to be more relevant to your new objective. You have to translate what you have done in your past roles in such a way that a potential hiring manager immediately understands its relevancy to the position for which you are applying.   

Do Your Resume Due Diligence

In the first blog post of this five-part series on Career Reinvention resumes, I talked about the importance of having a clear focus and target for your resume. This second post discusses the importance of doing your homework before you sit down and write.

Before you write your résumé for your career reinvention, you must do your homework. That means you must do your research, online and offline, about the industry, the company, and even the potential hiring manager you might encounter.

That way, you can understand the skills and competencies your new industry or company is seeking. And, it will help you learn the language of your new field. One way of doing your homework is through informational meetings. During these sessions, you can ask about the key skills and competencies they consider to be the most important for your new role or industry.

Another method of doing your homework is to locate several job descriptions online for roles in your new industry or job function. Review them and make a list of what the companies and/or hiring managers are seeking.

You also should read professional publications and/or blogs to get a better feel for your new industry. You will then begin to understand industry jargon, and become more familiar with some of the challenges faced by the industry.

Once you've completed these steps, you're ready to write your new résumé.

Give Your Career Change Resume a Focus

Over the past 8 years as a career reinvention coach, I have written hundreds of resumes. And I have coached hundres of other clients on how to rewrite their resume themselves. I decided to take my knowledge and write a five part blog series on tips for effective career change resumes. Today's blog post is the first of five posts.

TIP ONE: Focus, focus, focus. That's what you need to do when you're undergoing a career change and want to redo your résumé. But, focus on what?

Well, before you start writing your résumé, you need to focus on your new direction. You will need to determine what position you want, what industry is desirable, what location works for you, and most importantly, how you want to be perceived by a prospective employer.

Figuring out what positions and/or industries you're targeting will give your career change résumé a focus. And, this focus will dictate what information you include, how, and where. Writing a career change résumé is all about producing an image of how you want to be perceived by a prospective employer.

For example, if you are an accountant who wants to transition to a publicity or marketing role for a nonprofit, your résumé will look different than if you were seeking another accounting role. You will need to include aspects of your current position, or volunteer experience, or professional training that will translate into the new position and resonate for the potential hiring manager.

More specifically, when reinventing your career, you must "reweight" the information you include on your résumé to be more relevant to your new objective. You have to translate what you have done in your past roles in such a way that a potential hiring manager immediately understands its relevancy to the position for which you are applying.

When Life Gives You Lemons, make Lemonade
A Personal Inspiring Career Reinvention Story

Many years ago when I worked in corporate America, I worked with George Harlem at Motorola. Fast forward a few years and I ran into George at a health club in Newton. George introduced me to his daughter, Jenifer Gershman, who worked at the club. I instantly fell for Jenifer who has the most upbeat attitude and killer smile. We became friends and remain friends to this day.

Jenifer, who has a Masters of Social Work, reinvented herself at age 28 and became a personal trainer, working in local gyms and also offering private training sessions.

When Jenifer was 36 and her son was only four years old, she was diagnosed with amyloidosis, a rare, life-threatening disease. She underwent high-dose chemotherapy and two stem cell transplants in 2007 and 2008, followed by two hip replacements a few years later. Over lunch one day, she told me of her struggles to explain all of her health issues to her son as the only books available were about cancer or other conditions different from Jenifer's illness.

The next thing I know, Jenifer has decided to reinvent herself again, post surgeries and chemo, and become a children's book writer.

Jenifer Gershman's new book, Where Did Mommy's Superpowers Go? is a heartwarming story for all parents struggling to balance a serious health crisis while caring for small children. What makes this book special and sets it apart from others is that no particular disease or medical treatment is specified, so it can be a resource for any family facing this challenging time, regardless of diagnosis. The story shows the close and loving relationship between a little boy and his mommy. When Mommy gets sick, she talks openly with her son in language he can easily understand, and does so in a positive, upbeat way that is less frightening for him. Her little boy learns what to expect, and along the way, he and Mommy still have some fun!

Where Did Mommy's Superpowers Go? is intended to support children who are coping with a seriously ill parent or family member, and is a useful tool in helping families prepare for this journey together. The story demonstrates how talking openly and honestly with children when a grown-up is sick can minimize fear, and enhance their understanding.

To purchase the book and support Jenifer's cause, go directly to: www.tinyurl.com/buymommypower

Earlier this year, in a training class, I learned of the CareerXRoads Source of Hire Report, which offers a wealth of information on how candidates are sourced in leading corporations. The 10th version of the report was released last week, and yesterday I had the opportunity to review the report. The data is compiled by through interviews with staffing leaders in large, well-branded, competitive firms.

Here are some of the highlights and findings from the report:

• 60% of the firms do NOT outsource their recruitment.

• 13.5% of their workforce is contingent and are supplied through contracts with vendors who supply hourly or part-time employees.

• 50.3% of all hires were filled from internal movement and promotion. Internal movement and promotion is the #1 source of hire for the second year in a row.

• 27.5% of all hires are attributed to referrals.

• 88.5% of all firms considered social media a part of their direct sourcing efforts.

• 39% of firms manage prospective candidates with social media tools, however, many of these firms are not tracking and sharing their results as they relate to social media.

• Job Boards are NOT dead and firms attribute 24.9% of external hires to job boards.

To read the full study, please go to:

http://www.careerxroads.com/news/SourcesOfHire11.pdf

For quite some time I've been following the blog posts and tweets of a really good colleague of mine, Meg Guiseppi. A C-level Executive Branding and Job Search Coach, and fellow Reach Certified Personal Branding Strategist, Meg frequently blogs practical advice that all executive job seekers need to know when navigating today's difficult job search landscape.

Now she's launched her first ebook, "23 Ways You Sabotage Your Executive Job Search and How Your Brand Will Help You Land . . . A practical guide to executive branding, marketing your ROI value and navigating the new world of job search" http://executivecareerbrand.com/executive-branding-job-search-ebook

What makes her ebook different from others on job search you may have seen is her approach. The colloquial chapter titles - or "23 Ways" - are things clients have actually said to her or asked her. They represent the confusion and wrong-thinking that can sabotage and undermine a successful job search campaign. Here are a few chapter titles:

• "Job search is so different than the last time I had to find a job. Where do I start?"
• "I spend 6 hours a day on the job boards. I've sent out hundreds of resumes! How come nothing's happening?"
• "I think personal branding is a crock. I'm not a brand. I'm a person!!!"
• "My resume stinks. It doesn't give a good impression of me. I'm getting negative feedback."
• "Are cover letters really necessary?"
• "I don't want to put myself out there and expose myself online."
• "I set up a LinkedIn profile a while ago, but never finished it or did anything with LinkedIn."
• "How will recruiters and my target employers find me on LinkedIn?"
• "I've heard Twitter is a big fat waste of time! Who needs it?"
• "I haven't been in touch with my network for years because I wasn't job hunting. Where do I start?"

The ebook covers all the components needed for a successful job search:

• Targeting your search
• Tapping into the hidden job market
• Defining your executive brand and ROI value
• Creating your resume and biography
• Managing your online identity and online reputation
• Leveraging social networking and social media
• Networking your way into the job
• Working with recruiters
• Branding and nailing your interviews

The book has over 100 pages, 23 chapters and 3 bonus chapters (and yes I have read all of it!), and is packed with lots of actionable advice and resources for executives in job search. She has designed the ebook as a reference resource, which you'll come back to often, as you move through the job search process.

To read more, order the ebook and download it, visit http://executivecareerbrand.com/executive-branding-job-search-ebook.

Career reinvention can be a challenging process. Often, part of the process involves going back to school to learn new skills. Going back to school could mean enrolling in a degree program, or signing up for a certificate program through a professional association. It could also mean taking classes via online education programs. For this post, I have tapped into the expertise of Brian Jenkins, who writes about a variety of education topics, including online education. Here is what Brian had to say in a recent interview.

Randi: What are some of the benefits of online education?R

Brian: Online education programs are more flexible and convenient than those provided on-campus. Also, a unique education program or set of college courses may be required for your new career and local colleges may not meet your needs. If you're uncertain about your new career field you may be inspired by reviewing the many education programs available online. Online education makes it much easier to change careers.

Randi: What are online certificate programs?

Brian: Many certificate programs offer training for specific jobs. Usually you can complete these programs in a year or less, so you get the skills you need very quickly. Online certificate programs are available in a wide variety of subjects including technology, business, healthcare, computers, hospitality, criminal justice, and the trades.

Some education programs that don't seem suited for online learning due to the need for hands-on training actually are available on the Web. Quality online programs typically include an internship or training at a business or facility close to the student's residence. For example, some online healthcare programs require the successful completion of an internship at a local hospital or doctor's office.

Randi: How are online diploma programs different from certification programs?

Brian: Short-term diploma programs are similar to certificate programs. They're career-focused; however, they typically require more credits to graduate. Many diploma programs are designed for fast-growing industries. Many regions, states, and communities provide diploma programs that are connected to current hiring needs. Learn about these programs in your area and then look for a similar one online.

Randi: What different degree options are there?

Brian: Most online associate's degrees can be completed within a year or two. Many of the degrees provide industry-specific training. A number of schools offer accelerated associate's degree programs, which take less time to complete than their standard, on-campus counterparts.

Online Mini MBA programs enhance a resume and provide essential skills in a short amount of time. It is a great option for those seeking management positions. Most of the online Mini MBA programs you'll come across include 10-week sessions that cost substantially less than a traditional MBA program. The program can be tailored to meet the needs of your new career. Mini MBAs provide a condensed overview of important topics and concepts. However, it should be noted the Mini MBA is NOT an actual MBA.

Some schools offer Mini MBAs in finance essentials, strategic marketing, strategic health-care management, biopharma innovation, biopharma entrepreneurship, and other topics.

Randi: I have heard of synchronous online programs. How does that work?

Brian: These programs require students to attend online classes at specific times in order to interact with their instructors and other students. Because of this interaction, students feel as though they're part of a learning community, and this enhances the learning experience. Networking opportunities are another benefit of synchronous online programs. Other students may have contacts who can help you enter your new career. Asynchronous programs are also available. These allow students to attend online classes whenever they want, which is especially convenient for students that have full-time jobs.

Randi: I heard you can take free online courses. How can I find out more?

Brian: If your new career requires an upgrade of your writing skills, take some free writing courses at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The institute offers some of its past courses online for free through OpenCourseWare. Free courses in non-fiction and fiction writing are available at the MIT Writing and Humanistic Studies Department website.

Online education can make the career reinvention process easier. It's definitely worth looking into if you're considering a career change.

Brian Jenkins, who I interviewed for this post, writes about a variety of education topics, including online education (http://www.braintrack.com/online-colleges/category/about-online-education), for BrainTrack.

Yesterday, I received an email altert from ChangeThis, which publishes thought-provoking articles on a variety of topics. One of their articles for the month was called "The Reinvention Imperative". By Daniel Burrus and John Davdi Mann (he wrote the "Go-Giver). Being a coach, who specializes in Career Reinvention,  I was really eager to read their manifesto.

Their article is abut how "change has changed" and that they only way to achieve stability is to embrace change as a continuous part of life. They make other very interesting points in this article, worth noting for any business owner or careerist.

Here are some highlights:

• The accelerating pace of technological change is driving the need for continuous change and differentiation.

• There is change and there is change. Change from the outside in (like technological change) is going to happen and we can not do anything about. What we can do is choose how we respond to this change.

• The other type of change is change from the inside out, which is what I call more of a transition or reinvention. This is where you take initiative and intentionally change what you do, how you do it and how your communicate.

• In this world of rapid change, new developments becomes commodities overnight; this is why it is key to continuously reinvent.

• But, reinvention is not enough. You have to be different and stand out from the crowd. You don't want to imitate, you want to innovate.

If you are in the midst of a career reinvention, or just think abut your career, personal brand and how to gain momentum. I suggest you read this article.

http://changethis.com/manifesto/show/80.02.ReinventionImperative

Research is often the key element to the success of any project. It is essential to do your homework and be prepared to ensure the best possible results. This also is true for your career reinvention.

To best prepare for a career reinvention, you should engage in a period of self-reflection, followed by a career brainstorming. These stages, however, must be followed up by some serious career research both online and offline. Here are some helpful hints on how to research your new career possibilities online.

A good place to start is the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) at http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm. All you have to do is type in the field or job function you want to research into the search box and explore the information that comes up. This site will give you information on: the nature of the work; training and other qualifications required; employment trends; job outlook; earnings and wages; and related occupations.

Another good site is O*NET, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, at http://online.onetcenter.org/find/. This site will give you information on: tools and technology; knowledge; skills; abilities; work styles and values.

Also, good for research is to review professional association websites. You can just do a simple Google search under your desired career to find some websites for professional associations. And, www.wetfeet.com and www.vault.com can provide important information on careers and industries.

And, don't forget professional publications. These magazines, newspapers, journals, and online reports, newsletters, and blogs can help anyone seeking to enter a new field.

Career reinvention requires an enormous investment of your time, energy, and finances. You might already know what you need to do when it comes to how much time and energy you will need for your career change, but managing your finances is equally important. In order to make a career reinvention work, you must do your financial homework. Without this research, you can sabotage your own best plans.

The first step is to do your research and determine how much you can realistically make in the first few years of your reinvention. There are several ways to accomplish this. There are numerous websites available with salary data; my favorites are www.salary.com, www.salaryexpert.com, and www.payscale.com.

More importantly, however, you should talk to professionals already working in your desired field, and get specific information on how much you can expect to make moving into the field and what the long-term prospects are for total compensation, job security, and advancement.

At the same time, you should create a budget for your expenses, and start tracking where you are spending your money. Are there places where you could tighten your belt? Start practicing living within your target spending level before you absolutely have to do so. This will ensure that you've developed a plan that's feasible, and help you adjust to your new budget.

Also, take into consideration that if you're working in a job you are passionate about, you are likely to feel happier and less stressed, which could result in spending less money on things to help you manage your stress. For inspiration and perspective, as well as practical tips on saving money and spending consciously, pick up the book "Your Money or Your Life: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence."

One very important factor to consider when attempting a career reinvention is your benefits. You should take a look at the benefits you have with your current employer, the benefits you might have or not have during your transitional period, and the benefits your new employment will bring.

Let's start with your health insurance. You must have health insurance. It's essential, and you can't chance not being covered. So, if your current employer provides medical insurance, calculate the costs of continuing that coverage with COBRA until you have landed your new role with benefits. Also, check with private insurers as sometimes they are less expensive than COBRA. Also, if you think your coverage might be less in the new field, consider moving up some of your elective visits and procedures while you are still employed.

Then, you should research other employee benefits. This is important because other employee benefits that can affect your total compensation and overall financial picture going forward. In particular, benefits such as employer-paid life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts (which allow you to pay for medical and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars), and employee stock purchase plans can make a big difference in your total compensation. If your new employer offers any or all of these, you can plan for a brighter financial picture.

And, while not a benefit, income taxes should be factored into your new financial outlook because there could be some tax breaks that might now work for you. For instance, if you experience a temporary reduction or gap in income, you could find yourself in a lower tax bracket and be eligible for tax breaks previously not available to you, such as Roth IRA eligibility or deduction on tuition paid.

If you're married when your income goes down, it might make sense for your spouse, if employed, to reduce income tax withholding. This way, you can have the use of those funds throughout the year, instead of waiting for your refund. The IRS website has a calculator to help you determine withholding levels, but taxes can be a little tricky. If you're unsure at all, see a financial planner or CPA.

Personal Branding is a very hot topic particularly in these stressful times of rapid change,
volatile employment, virtual workplaces, and increased demands to deliver results and be more visible. In these economic times, brand discovery is only the first step in the game. Once you have discovered your brand and begin to express it, it more important than ever to be focused, alert, calm and grounded - poised and ready for whatever comes your way.

The express phase of personal branding can be easy. But in reality, for most people there is an underlying level of stress that can undermine even the most prepared, in the heat of the moment.

In my work with clients, I have come to discover and appreciate the work of my colleague Cheryl Dolan, who is an expert in the art of masterful presence. She has worked side by side with me on several client personal branding projects, as well as having coached me personally.

For this blog post, I have asked Cheryl to share some simple tools to help you practice to prime your central nervous system (CNS) for peak performance, allowing you to build self-regulation (ability to manage oneself under stress) and communicate with confidence, ease, even joy.

Cheryl's tips are below and I hope you find them useful. If you would like to learn more about Cheryl, please visit her website at:

http://www.cheryldolan.com/

Poised and Ready

Research shows that people form impressions of you in the first 3 seconds. You ALWAYS have a presence - why not leverage it, particularly during those critical first 3 seconds. One of the simplest tools you can use is breathing: it's cheap, convenient, and you must do it anyway - make it work for you. Breathing correctly, deep from your belly, is an incredibly important tool for clarity, focus and grounding; and telegraphs poise and confidence. Shallow breathing results in just the opposite. People instantly pick up on "your state" by your breathing patterns and it can make or break trust and connection.

How to Breathe Deeply:
• Put your hands on your naval and take a deep breath in, expanding your abdomen as you fill your trunk with air.

• Breathe out, tightening your stomach muscles as you empty your trunk.

• This is the opposite of how we normally breathe when upright, but the same way we breathe when we are lying down. "Get down" and get the hang of it!

Benefits of Deep Breathing:

• Calm State, grounded, relaxed yet alert: lets our body knows where it is in space (proprioception) vs. shallow breathing during which we effectively "leave our bodies".

• Clear Thinking: rapid, shallow breathing from the upper trunk/shoulder area triggers the "fight or flight" response, which is a primitive survival mechanism. The CNS is flooded with adrenaline and stress chemicals to enable us to get out of danger as quickly as possible. Deep belly breathing interrupts the flow of these chemicals, slows your pulse rate and clears your head for rational thinking.

• Command Attention: 1st most powerful thing you can do as you face your audience, before you begin to speak is to take 1-3 deep breaths. People will rivet their attention on you and eagerly wait to see what is coming.

• Voice: provides fuller respiration for a deeper, more resonant voice, a more pleasing pitch, a slower rate of speech (ideal is less than 140 words per minute), decreases the use of fillers (um, ah): all of which commands and sustains attention and builds trust.

You'll be surprised how effective you can communicate your brand if you practice with the right tools, before you need to use them. Make it a habit to be poised and ready for anything.

If you would like to receive Cheryl's FREE tips for masterful presence, please click here:

We've all heard about Plan B or a backup plan. It's that second attempt to make something you're invested in work. Sometimes, it's thought of as a negative, following a failed first attempt, your Plan A. But, that's not the case when you are attempting a career reinvention.
In this case, having a Plan B or a backup plan makes complete sense.

One big advantage for developing a Plan B is that you'll feel much less anxious during your career reinvention. Work with your career coach to develop a time line for your reinvention as well as your backup plan, and match that up against the financial resources you have available to fund the change.

Ask yourself these questions: Is there sufficient wiggle room? What will you do if the transition takes longer than planned? And, how will you begin to generate cash?

Don't leave these numbers to chance. Develop a tracking mechanism, such as a Cash Flow Worksheet, for keeping an eye on your goals and financial numbers. Know what you are spending to reinvest in yourself, how much you are making, and how much you are spending. It is difficult to ignore the facts when they are in writing.

Before you make your career change decision, be aware that a shift to lower income can affect other financial goals, most notably retirement, in ways that may not be obvious. For example, if you haven't already built a solid income history, your Social Security benefits might be reduced. And, if you are less able to save for retirement, you could find that you need to work longer. On the other hand, you might be not only willing, but happy, to keep working to a ripe old age-as long as you've found a new career that better suits your passions.

If you're looking for a new job in 2011, expect to have some company. Whether you've been out of work for a while, or currently employed but looking for a better position or a career reinvention, you won't be alone in the job market.

In fact, last year's tough economy, layoffs, and high unemployment rate have had a double-barreled effect on the 2011 job market. Not only are there many potential job-seekers still unemployed, but many others who are working have become disgruntled at their workplace and they will be looking for a new job, too.

Because many companies have been working their employees too hard during these tough times, employee engagement has fallen. Now that the economy is showing signs of improvement, these unhappy employees will be considering leaving their companies in droves. And, that will place them right in the job market with you.

What that means is there will be more competition on the street for jobs that are available. So, if you think you'll be looking for a new job in 2011, what should you do? First, you will need to be prepared, and more importantly, differentiated from the field in a crowded job market.

You can't be just like any other job applicant. You must stand out from the crowd by accentuating your experience, your expertise, your commitment, your volunteer experience, your degrees, and personal brand. You will need to focus on your accomplishments and show that your past experiences are an indication that you have the potential to fill a new employer's needs and accomplish their goals.

Earlier this Fall, I blogged about career reinvention even when your finances are tight. I will continue this earlier blog post with a series of posts which address other issues related to financing your career reinvention.

There are many expenses that are involved in a career reinvention. And, some are obvious, such as working with a career coach, or getting help writing your résumé. But, some of the expenses you will be incurring are often hidden.

Here are a few expenses that you should determine early on that will help you with your financial projections:

• Professional association memberships: Professional associations provide ideal networking opportunities to ease your transition into a new field, but there are membership costs. It's likely you'll join one or two associations, so remember to include these costs in your budget.

• Professional conferences: Attending professional conferences during your career reinvention can be a great way to network and build relationships with senior individuals in your new industry. But, these also come with a cost. Be sure to include these in your projections, too.

• Technology: Are there any hidden technology costs that you will need to make this transition? Will it be necessary to purchase a new computer or laptop for your home? If your career change involves starting a business, the impact of these purchases could be reduced if they qualify as business expenses, so be sure to familiarize yourself with related income tax laws or consult with a good CPA.

• Volunteering: This is a method to position yourself for your reinvention so you can be hired more quickly. Being a volunteer or intern can help you gain valuable experience, which can help you land your job sooner. However, this takes time away from when you are earning money. So, take this time without pay into account when you do your projections.

I recently read a great article by William Arruda on the top branding trends for 2011. Arruda, the founder of Reach Personal Branding, came up with some trends that I thought were great, and I wanted to share them with you.

Arruda identified 11 trends and the best techniques for building your brand. He also found video to be a major factor in almost half of these trends. Among his major points is that companies will hire the best candidate, no matter where he or she is located. So, video can be a great tool here for any candidate.

Homecasting from your company's home office, video mail instead of e-mail, and more video conferencing, even for those who work from home, will be big trends, too, according to Arruda. So, how does this affect your personal brand? Well, Arruda sees companies looking to help improve personal branding efforts for key employees that will assist in their advancement.

Companies will be initiating their own personal branding training programs. And, a multimedia approach to personal branding will be replacing the current system of a variety of personal branding efforts on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc. In other words, quality will supplant quantity.

It really will be a "brand new world" for personal branding. And, these new trends for 2011 will just be the tip of the iceberg. Here is the link, if you would like to read the entire article:

http://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2011/4146/personal-branding-trends-the-top-11-for-2011