Utilizing Your Local Library in Your Job Search (Pt. 1) Building Your Future Now

Utilizing Your Local Library in Your Job Search (Pt. 1) Building Your Future Now Libraries arent just for taking out books or reserving computers to surf the net anymore. Modern libraries have become places where you can learn languages, take free online business courses and help you in your job search/career development. There are so many awesome resources to help with your job search at the library it might be a great idea to start there. Job Career-related Books Your local library has a slew of great books that can help you along on your job search. Try using Amazon first and gauge what books have high ratings and what people are saying about them. Create a list and check out if those books are available at the library. Although a lot of great information is found online, books offer many bonuses: the author is usually an expert, and books often reference other material that could useful. Some books also can found as ebooks in the library database. Workshops Sometimes the library offers workshops headed by career consultants from local career resource centers. Workshops can dev into resume writing to aceing your next interview. These types of workshops can give you practical tips that you can apply immediately to your job search. Be sure to connect with other job seekers after the workshop as well as the career consultant. Online resources Along with finding helpful ebooks, the library offers you many online ressources. A popular resource is Career Crusinga great site that can help you in your job search and career development. Other online resources include: industry related magazines, resume writing programs and online learning courses. Take some time to check out what great online resources that your local library hasyou will be blown away by the helpful and free resources open to you. Image: Kilm Kin

Directory of Seattle Nonprofit Organizations - VocationVillage

Directory of Seattle Nonprofit Organizations - VocationVillage I created this list of Seattle nonprofit organizations as a service of VocationVillage.com. While many of these organizations offer multiple programs so they could correctly be listed in several categories, for the sake of brevity, I chose ONE category for each one, so please carefully review the list if you are interested in a particular type of Seattle nonprofit.If you would like to suggest additions or changes to this list, please contact me.Arts (Music and Theater have their own categories) Art Guide Northwest Art With Heart Artist Trust Arts Corp Arts West Central District Forum for Arts and Ideas Community Arts Create Emotion Literacy Advocates Gage Academy of Art Henry Art Gallery IMAGE Kirkland Performance Center Northwest Screenwriters Guild Seattle Architectural Foundation Seattle Arts and Lectures Seattle Folklore Society The Vera Project Three Dollar Bill Cinema Town Hall Seattle Velocity Dance Center Washington Commission for the Humanities Whim Whim Seattle Contemporary DanceBallet Evergreen City Ballet Pacific Northwest BalletBusiness 501 Commons Business Impact NW Community Capital DevelopmentCareer / Employment / Work Centerpoint Institute for Career and Life Renewal Goodwill, Seattle Mainstay Nonprofit Leader Pioneer Human Services YearUp Puget SoundChildren and Youth Amara Parenting and Adoption Services America Scores Seattle Atlantic Street Center Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound Boys and Girls Clubs of America Broadway Bound Camp Ten Trees Casey Family Programs Child Care Resources Childhaven Childrens Home Society of Washington Committee for Children Friends of Youth Girls on the Run Puget Sound Northwest Adoption Exchange NPH USA PEPS (Program for Early Parent Support) Pure Food Kids ROOTS Young Adult Shelter Ruth Dykeman Childrens Center Ryther Child Center Seattle Childrens Home Skully Serves TeenTix Wellspring Family Services Wheels for Wishes World Association for Children and Parents (WACAP) World Vision YMCA of Greater Seattle YouthCare Youth in Focus YWCA of Seattle / King County / Snohomish CountyClothing Dress for Success The Ruby Room Community Services Acres of Diamonds Asian Counseling and Referral Service Canine Companions for Independence Catholic Community Services of Western Washington Crisis Clinic of Seattle / King County Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) Eastside Domestic Violence Program FaithTrust Institute FamilyWorks FareStart HopeLink Latino Community Fund Lutheran Community Services Northwest Marys Place National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Seattle Neighborhood House New Horizons Ministries Northwest Center Northwest Compassionate Communication Northwest Federation of Community Organizations Plymouth Healing Communities Pomegranate Center Red Cross, Seattle King County Chapter Refugee Womens Alliance Salvation Army Sea Mar Community Health Centers Seattle Indian Center Seattle Indian Health Board Seattle Works Seattles Union Gospel Mission Society of St. Vincent de Paul Seattle / King County Solid Ground Sound Generations Sound Mental Health Statewide Poverty Action Network The Compassionate Friends The Northwest Network The World Is Fun Transitional Resources United Way of King County University Churches Emergency Fund University Heights Center Victim Support Services Volunteers of America Western Washington Wallingford Community Senior Center Washington Healthcare Access Alliance Washington Women in NeedConservation and Environmental Climate Solutions Conservation Northwest Dunn Gardens EarthCorps: Seattle, WA Environmental Coalition of South Seattle Facing the Future Forterra Futurewise Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden IslandWood Kruckeberg Botanic Garden Mountaineers, The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust North Cascades Institute Northwest Horticultural Society NW Seed Orca Conservancy Peak 7 Adventures Seattle Aquarium Sierra Club Washington State Chapter Sightline Institute Student Conservation Association University of Washington Botanic Gardens Washington Environmental Council Washington State Trails Association Washington Wild Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition Weed Warriors West Seattle Garden TourDisabilities (Developmental and/or Physical) Alliance of People with disAbilities AtWork! Boyer Childrens Clinic Full Life Care Northwest Access Fund Plus One Foundation PROVAIL The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. Trillium VadisEducation Communities in Schools | Washington Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program, Seattle Office League of Education Voters NorthWest PBIS Network Puget Sound Association of Phi Beta Kappa Teach for America, Washington State Washington Alliance for Better Schools (WABS) Washington Green Schools Washington STEM Yellow Wood AcademyFood City Fruit Food Lifeline Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance Northwest Harvest Pike Market Senior Center Food Bank Seattle P-Patch Community Gardens True Life HaitiGlobal The Alliance Française of Seattle Associates in Cultural Exchange Casa Latina Cross Cultural Health Care Program Global Visionaries One by One Pacific Islamic Cultural and Community Services Peace Corps PeaceTrees Vietnam Ten Thousand Villages Village Volunteers Water for HumansHealth Allen Institute for Brain Science Art of Living, Seattle Alzheimers Association, Western and Central Washington State Chapter American Cancer Society, Washington State Division American Heart Association American Lung Association of Washington Cancer Lifeline City Garden Acupuncture Community Health Plan of Washington Easter Seals Washington Entre Hermanos GambiaHELP Greater Northwest Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society Lifelong AIDS Alliance March of Dimes, Washington State Chapter Malaria No More Medical Teams International Northwest Kidney Centers One Nurse At A Time Open Arms Perinatal Services Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands Prevent Blindness America Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) Puget Sound Blood Center Sea Mar Community Health Centers TB Photo VoiceHousing Habitat for Humanity, Seattle/King County Low Income Housing Institute Plymouth Housing GroupLeadership Chief Seattle Council | Boy Scouts of America Girl Scouts of Western WashingtonLegal Washington Lawyer for the ArtsLibraries and Literacy King County Library System Literacy Source Page Ahead Childrens Literacy Seattle Metaphysical Library Seattle Public Library University of Washington LibrariesMedia Knok StudioMilitary and Veterans Boots to Shoes Operation Homefront, Washington Pets for Vets The Seattle Stand DownMuseums Bellevue Arts Museum Frye Art Museum Pacific Science Center Seattle Art Museum Seattle Childrens Museum The Wing Luke Asian MuseumMusic Bellevue Chamber Chorus Emerald City Music Flying House Productions Seattle Chamber Music Society Seattle Choral Company Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra Seattle Opera Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra Seattle Symphony OrchestraPeace Washington CeasefirePhilanthropy Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Philanthropy Northwest Technology Access Foundation Washington Womens Foundation Womens Funding AlliancePolitics, Civics, and Social Justice ACTION Northwest American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Borgen Project Congressional Hunger Center Corporate Accountability International Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Washington El Centro de la Raza NARAL Pro-Choice Washington Northwest Immigrant Rights Project Project Pilgrimage Seattle City Club Social Justice Fund Northwest Washington State Democrats Washington State Republican Party World Affairs CouncilTechnology ChickTech Code.org InterConnection.orgTheatre 5th Avenue Theatre ACT A Contemporary Theatre Book-It Repertory Theatre Intiman Art Theatre Seattle Childrens Theatre Seattle Repertory Theatre Seattle Theatre Group Theater SchmeaterTransportation Feet First Transportation Choices Coalition Washington BikesZoos Woodland Park Zoo. Seattle Community Network is also a terrific Seattle nonprofit resource. ..Back To Seattle Careers

The secret underbelly of blogging; why Im done with linkbait

The secret underbelly of blogging; why Im done with linkbait I am a columnist for the Boston Globe, so when I first started blogging, I was in the enviable position of being able to get advice from any top blogger I wanted. I called them up, interviewed them about some topic or another, and at the end, I asked them for advice about blogging. The universal advice was to write posts that big bloggers would link to. Before I could even figure out how to do that, something happened. I posted one of those Boston Globe columns on my blog, and one of the bloggers I interviewed, Gina Trapani, linked to it. The result was absolutely breathtaking: 10,000 page views in one day. And 40 bloggers linked to it. At this point in my blogging career, I need more than 10,000 page views just to get a normal day of traffic. But as new blogger, this level of traffic was astounding. I was still in the mode where I answered every single email, and after that day, it took me a week to catch up. Then I thought, Im gonna write another post that Lifehacker will link to. Of course, I couldnt. They didnt pick up any of my specially tailored-to-Lifehacker posts. So I gave up. I went back to just posting. Then I was at the South by Southwest Conference and I was exhausted. I didnt post for two days and felt like I absolutely had to post. No matter what. I wouldnt let myself go back to the conference until I posted. So I banged out a post on how to do a phone interview. Ive done a million of themon both sides of the conversationso I just wrote it off the top of my head. I hit the Post button and went to the conference, and then I worried the whole time that the quality of my blog was going downhill and that I need to do more research and that the post sucked. Lifehacker linked to it. To this day, its the third most popular post on my blog. It was a great lesson: Ill never know what people will link to. In general, I have found that its easy to know when something will be sensationalist big scoops, hot sexand very hard to know what will be popular just because the content is good. Also, while Nick Denton is rewarding his bloggers for traffic based on numbers, which encourages linkbait, I have found that not all traffic is equal, and linkbait doesnt garner the best traffic. When Reddit was sold, and I had a scoop on an earlier offer Google made to buy Reddit, I posted it. Of course, the post shot to the top of Reddits most popular list. But most of those readers didnt stay long term on my blog. In contrast, many posts on my blog that did not get as much traffic ended up attracting more people who returned to the blog over and over again. So heres something I do know about links. The posts I spend weeks and weeks writing, and I put my heart right on the page, and I give advice that I really know is true, those posts do well. They get lots of links and lots of traffic. Which means the real linkbait is an interesting, useful, well-written posts. And one more thing. I have found that if I am nervous to post somethingif I think I might look bad or reveal too much or give advice that people will hatethese are the posts that people care about, because they further my connection with people and further the conversation were having, and connection and conversation are the crux of linking. Theres one thing about linkbait that I do think works, though. Turning posts into lists. People like to scan posts and find one thing they like, and then they call it out on their own blog. And its a gift to the reader anyway, to parse a post into lists of bullets for an easier read. So I thought of turning this post into a list so that more people would link to it. But how embarrassing to create linkbait in a post about why I dont like it.

9 Ways Brands Can Find the Right Social Platform - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

9 Ways Brands Can Find the Right Social Platform - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career With so many different social platforms, and often not enough time in a day to have a strong presence on every one of them, how do you identify which venues are the most appropriate for your audience and  branding  needs? The following answers are provided by members of  Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the worlds most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, YEC recently launched  BusinessCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses. 1. Look at Your Competition   Which platforms have competitors established themselves on? What are they doing on each platform? Can you compete? Can you do something better? And most importantly, which platforms are your competitors not on? By doing a thorough analysis of the companies youre competing with, youll get inspiration to improve your social presence and get insight as to where to establish yourself.  Brett Farmiloe,  Markitors Digital Marketing Company 2. Talk to Your Customers   The golden rule of social media is to meet your customers where they are. Talk to past, current and potential customers to see how they use social media, and then build a customer persona. We have found our customer persona uses Twitter to make purchasing decisions, while our employee persona uses Facebook more when accessing potential employers. This allows us to easily adjust content for the audience.  Christopher Swenor,  East Coast Product 3. Use Embedded Social Buttons   We ask our customers where they like to visit and get information. Also, we have social buttons embedded on our site, and can track who clicks on which button. Then we compile that information and understand where they are going and why. That becomes our focus.  Andrew OConnor,  American Addiction Centers 4. Understand Your Demographics   Do your research on the demographics of your business. If your business targets more of the mature, older crowd then Facebook would be the best platform, compared to the younger with Twitter or Snapchat. Twitter would be a quick-and-easy platform to keep your consumers up to date quickly, as well as an easier way to answer questions or concerns in real time.  Stanley Meytin,  True Film Production 5. Use Social Media Listening Tools   Use social media listening tools like Social Mention to track where people are posting about your brand and your competitors. With that information, you can fairly easily work out which social media networks are worth a significant time investment.  Vik Patel,  Future Hosting 6. Outsource a Social Media Manager To Do It All   Instead of worrying about how to divide your time between social media outlets, hire a professional to do it for you. A social media manager will be able to assess your presence on all current platforms, and from there identify which venues are most appropriate. They can also devote their time to focus specifically on building your brand via social, instead of you having to do it yourself.  Dave Nevogt,  Hubstaff.com 7. Use Site Ads to Test Engagement   There is quite a bit of information and research about what social platforms work well with different business verticals floating around the internet. However, if you are still not sure, most major social platforms offer advertising, which is a great way to get your content out in front of lots of people quickly to test the engagement or conversions, to see if it is worth investing more time and money.  Justin Faerman,  Conscious Lifestyle Magazine 8. Find Out Where the Top Influencers in Your Industry Are   Different social media platforms serve different purposes and attract different audiences. If you really cannot figure out where to most effectively invest your time, consider where the people you and your desired audience respect most are highly active. You want to contribute meaningfully to the online conversation in your industry, so go where the most vibrant one is taking place.  Ryan Wilson,  FiveFifty 9. Use the Platform You Enjoy the Most   Youre always going to be better at networking on the platform you enjoy using the most, so you should figure out a business strategy to capitalize on utilizing that platform. Set aside 20 minutes a day to utilize that platform strictly for business needs. When you dedicate time to do this, you often come up with creative ideas to use that platform to grow your business.  Cassie Petrey,  Crowd Surf

If You Dont Protect Your Career and Finances, Who will CareerMetis.com

If You Don't Protect Your Career and Finances, Who will â€" CareerMetis.com evalPhoto Credit â€" Flickr.comYour career is a journey, and you’ll almost certainly encounter some difficult moments along the way. The important thing here is that you bounce back in the most productive fashion. As one door closes, another opens. So don’t let one disappointment knock your confidence.Those disappointments could take multiple forms. Learn to keep your options open, because the average person goes through seven career changes during their life. You don’t want to take a new pathway without reason. But if this situation becomes necessary, you should embrace it.1. Make First Impressions CountevalWhether you’re trying to climb the ladder or increase your sales figures, first impressions are everything. The harsh reality is that people in business are judging you almost immediately. Therefore, you need to look the part.It’s not all about your dress sense and grooming. Creating a stronger Resume or CV, or a portfolio website can work wonders too. Give those busine ss people an extra reason to be confident in you as a person and as a candidate, and you won’t go far wrong.2. Get What You DeserveLife is difficult enough without suffering injustice. Therefore, any financial issues should be fought until you get the result you deserve. Experts like Martin Chitwood can help you securities class action cases. With the right representation, the dishonesty of another party should hold you back from financial justice.Likewise, if you suffer an injury at work, you shouldn’t pay for someone else’s negligence. You already have enough to contend with before worrying about problems caused by others. Learn to stand up for yourself, and you will see a noticeable difference.3. NetworkUltimately, you are the only person that can take responsibility. However, that doesn’t mean other people can’t help you along the way. Whether it’s your career or outside investments, the quality of your contacts can have a telling impact on your opportunities.With th is in mind, attending local business seminars and other suitable events is crucial. Once again, going that extra mile here will bring rewards. If you’re serious about realizing your potential, you cannot underestimate communication for a second.

Career Girl Chat

Career Girl Chat Career Girl Chat || The Finance Girl With a Fashion BlogCareer design, Corporate Life February 23, 2018 2 CommentsGuys, it’s the return of Career Girl Chat!! It’s been a hot minute since I last interviewed and wrote an episode. The very last career girl we chatted was Jennie Yoon from Casetify and Kinn, and before that, it was Amanda Weiss from Poshmark. And speaking of Poshmark, I actually met today’s Career Girl, Paulina Mo at a local San Diego Poshmark in May of 2015.   Paulina, aka Lil bits of Chic, was one of the local OG fashion bloggers that Poshmark invited to the event, and I was a newbie Poshmarker that wanted to meet other Poshmarkers. We didn’t exactly connect at the event, but I started following Paulina on her Instagram account.Related: Career Girl Chat || From HR Intern to Director of Biz Dev at Casetify â€" How did she do it?! Career Girl Chat || Work hard, stay humble, and be kind. Opportunities will followFast forward to 2018, with me cranking up my blogging efforts and Paulina being on her maternity leave (Paulina and her husband recently welcomed this little bundle of joy into their world), we had the chance to catch up and I decided to learn more about her professional career in finance, and invited her to share her career experience with Cubicle Chic readers.Rapid fire questions â€" what was your 1) college major, 2) your first job, and 3) how many resumes you sent out before you got your first current job? Paulina:   My college major was Management Science (Economics), my first job was a cashier at a water park, I only sent one resume to my old boss as a courtesy because she had already recruited me, and for my current job I sent one resume in to be considered for an open position and received a call back shortly thereafter.When you first graduated from college, did you know that you’d end up where you are today, why or why not?Paulina: When I first graduated, I knew that to be financially secure I would be doing some form of a job like the one I am in today- in the financial services industry, working with finance.Are you happy with where you are in your career? If you were to name three things you have to have in your career/employment, what are they? Paulina: I am satisfied where I am in my career, I also feel like starting a family has had me rethink my priorities and requirements in a job. Now I like flexibility (work-life balance), a good workplace culture and great benefits. What’s your experience with mentorship like, who were your mentors and are you mentoring anyone now? Paulina: Mentorship was vital to my success. I had great bosses and mentors who believed in me, but there was one who really invested in me. She recruited me as her assistant when I was a college student and had seen my work ethic when I worked in a bank branch. She mentored me, pushed me to get my securities licenses, went so far to sponsor me in them and opened my eyes to the career track I’m on. I’m currently not mentor ing right now but it is definitely something I would like to pay forward in the future.If you look back in the past 5-10 years, what were the most important experiences that propelled you to where you are today? These could be lessons you learned from failures, being part of a special project, or pursuing (or not pursuing) a passion you really have.Paulina: I learned very important lessons from failures as they taught me not to repeat the same mistake, one of them being my relationship with credit cards or living outside of my means. Once I paid off every cent of my debt and student loans (which took me 3.5 years) I felt so unburdened and I vowed never to let that happen again. I live within my means, I have a good relationship with money and feel financially secure.Now the dreaded “what do you want to be in 5/10 years” question…how do you typically answer questions like this? Paulina: In 5 years, my son would be 5 years old, I would hopefully (God willing) have another child and be happy in my full-time career and blogging career. I’m sure blogging will have evolved by then but hope that I can continue utilizing it as a creative outlet.   Professionally, I would like to still be challenged and (for lack of better words) kicking butt!If you have experience in interviewing/recruiting new employees, what do you look for in candidates for positions that don’t require years of experience? Paulina: I look into their track record, or some sort of indication of their work ethic, either by checking on their references or if they were referred by a colleague. I think work ethic and attitude is essential especially in positions that don’t require years of experience because there is a lot of continuous learning so a go-getter attitude is better than an experienced whiny worker!Lastly, what’s your go-to office outfit, and what is one piece of clothing you can’t live without? Career design, Corporate Life February 23, 2018 2 CommentsGuys, it’s the return of Career Girl Chat!! It’s been a hot minute since I last interviewed and wrote an episode. The very last career girl we chatted was Jennie Yoon from Casetify and Kinn, and before that, it was Amanda Weiss from Poshmark. And speaking of Poshmark, I actually met today’s Career Girl, Paulina Mo at a local San Diego Poshmark in May of 2015.   Paulina, aka Lil bits of Chic, was one of the local OG fashion bloggers that Poshmark invited to the event, and I was a newbie Poshmarker that wanted to meet other Poshmarkers. We didn’t exactly connect at the event, but I started following Paulina on her Instagram account.Related: Career Girl Chat || From HR Intern to Director of Biz Dev at Casetify â€" How did she do it?! Career Girl Chat || Work hard, stay humble, and be kind. Opportunities will followFast forward to 2018, with me cranking up my blogging efforts and Paulina being on her maternity leave (Pauli na and her husband recently welcomed this little bundle of joy into their world), we had the chance to catch up and I decided to learn more about her professional career in finance, and invited her to share her career experience with Cubicle Chic readers.Rapid fire questions â€" what was your 1) college major, 2) your first job, and 3) how many resumes you sent out before you got your first current job? Paulina:   My college major was Management Science (Economics), my first job was a cashier at a water park, I only sent one resume to my old boss as a courtesy because she had already recruited me, and for my current job I sent one resume in to be considered for an open position and received a call back shortly thereafter.When you first graduated from college, did you know that you’d end up where you are today, why or why not?Paulina: When I first graduated, I knew that to be financially secure I would be doing some form of a job like the one I am in today- in the financial servic es industry, working with finance.Are you happy with where you are in your career? If you were to name three things you have to have in your career/employment, what are they? Paulina: I am satisfied where I am in my career, I also feel like starting a family has had me rethink my priorities and requirements in a job. Now I like flexibility (work-life balance), a good workplace culture and great benefits. What’s your experience with mentorship like, who were your mentors and are you mentoring anyone now? Paulina: Mentorship was vital to my success. I had great bosses and mentors who believed in me, but there was one who really invested in me. She recruited me as her assistant when I was a college student and had seen my work ethic when I worked in a bank branch. She mentored me, pushed me to get my securities licenses, went so far to sponsor me in them and opened my eyes to the career track I’m on. I’m currently not mentoring right now but it is definitely something I would lik e to pay forward in the future.If you look back in the past 5-10 years, what were the most important experiences that propelled you to where you are today? These could be lessons you learned from failures, being part of a special project, or pursuing (or not pursuing) a passion you really have.Paulina: I learned very important lessons from failures as they taught me not to repeat the same mistake, one of them being my relationship with credit cards or living outside of my means. Once I paid off every cent of my debt and student loans (which took me 3.5 years) I felt so unburdened and I vowed never to let that happen again. I live within my means, I have a good relationship with money and feel financially secure.Now the dreaded “what do you want to be in 5/10 years” question…how do you typically answer questions like this? Paulina: In 5 years, my son would be 5 years old, I would hopefully (God willing) have another child and be happy in my full-time career and blogging career. I’m sure blogging will have evolved by then but hope that I can continue utilizing it as a creative outlet.   Professionally, I would like to still be challenged and (for lack of better words) kicking butt!If you have experience in interviewing/recruiting new employees, what do you look for in candidates for positions that don’t require years of experience? Paulina: I look into their track record, or some sort of indication of their work ethic, either by checking on their references or if they were referred by a colleague. I think work ethic and attitude is essential especially in positions that don’t require years of experience because there is a lot of continuous learning so a go-getter attitude is better than an experienced whiny worker!Lastly, what’s your go-to office outfit, and what is one piece of clothing you can’t live without?Paulina: My go-to office outfit tends to be a fit and flare dress (that is not short of course) with a fitted blazer. I alternate between high heels and black flats. After working in Corporate America for so long I have discovered that this combination is a comfortable yet stylish option! Career Girl Chat Career Girl Chat || From HR Intern to Director of Biz Dev at Casetify â€" How did she do it?!Career, Career design, Development February 2, 2017 0 CommentsFirst of all, thank you SO much for all of your responses to my last interview with Amanda from Poshmark. I love how some of you asked her more questions and we had more insightful conversation even after the article published. It’s such an incredible honor that I get to chat with these ambitious career women who are doing incredibly challenging but amazing things in their field. I hope to bring you more in the future!This week’s #GirlBoss on Career Girl ChatThe second Career Girl Chat features Jennie Yoon, who heads up US Europe Business Development and Marketing at Casetify, a hip lifestyle brand with a focus on tech. Jennie and I actually went to high school together, and reconnected over a blogger conference last year in the Fall. Jennie’s current role at Casetify revolves around maximizing growth and revenue through new distribution channels and strategic partnerships. Jennie’s totally OG in influencer marketing, and has been doing this for years before influencers were publicly acknowledged as a marketing channel. Casetify’s past collaboration includes celebrity endorsements (Hilary Duff, Snoop Dogg), TV placement (Good Morning America, Today Show) and brand collaboration (American Apparel, Pepsi) to name a few. As one of Casetify’s main strategy drivers, Jennie’s role at Casetify has evolved from digital marketing and story-selling in the beginning, to brand building and strategic marketing to her current role. She describes this job at Casetify and herself as a match made in heaven and it’s clear that every fiber of her is dedicated to the success of Casetify. So, let’s get into the question and find out how this #GirlBoss went from interning at a Law Firm’s HR department to holding this much coveted position at Casetify!Rapid fire questions â€" what was your college major, your f irst job, and how many resumes you sent out before you got your first current job? I majored in Psychology and Human Behavior, had a minor in business. After working for a few years I went back to school and got an MBA from Pepperdine University which was the pivot point that ultimately led me into marketing.My first job was at a law firm, I had an internship in Human Resources. I took the job because I saw the the stability of this career path. With my Asian upbringing, stability and access to climbing the corporate latter was important. HR made sense because it’s relevant to every company across different industries. My boss at the time saw my potential interacting with people and reading people, so I focused on recruiting and built the department from scratch for the next 4 years. I found myself enjoying building something in an unknown environment, and mainly, enjoyed the people I got to work with.Before I landed this job, I probably sent out 10-15 resumes before I got the po sition in the Law Firm in HRâ€"but the time was probably different. My most recent position with Casetify came out of opportunities I got through traveling, networking, and it was such a match made in heaven so everything just came together within a short time (more on that later).1)         When you first graduated from college, did you know that you’d end up where you are today, why or why not? Not at all. I always knew career was important, and I wanted to be part of something where I can make a difference. My mantra is that if you choose something, go all inâ€"if it doesn’t work out, at least you won’t look back because you know you gave it all. People have told me to ‘find my passion’ but honestly, I don’t know what I was doing when I graduated. I just knew whatever I chose, I wanted to get my hands dirty and somewhere along the road, passion is something you figure out as you see more things and experience more things (goodness, I sound old).TIP: Look for role-mode ls, and surround yourself with people who are smarter than you.If you’re in college, do take multiple internships to help find out what you like and don’t like. Study abroad if your school lets you. My realization came a bit later in my life, but I got a chance to study abroad during my MBA program to Hong Kong. Through a few networking events, I found my way to connect with Wes Ng, the Co-Founder and CEO of Casetify. I instantly connected over our common interest: Instagram.   I positioned my talent in content building and my interest in Instagram as help, and offered to just help him out. And the rest was history!2)         Are you happy with where you are in your career? If you were to name three things you have to have in your career/employment, what are they? I abso-fucking-lutely love what I do. This is a dream job that anyone could’ve wanted. But this position didn’t just land on my lap â€" I’ve earned it by working hard and pressing on through difficult times. Here is what I think are important for me to be happy in my career:1)           A good mentor. I always talk to people that are more experienced than me. This could be your boss, your boss’s boss, your colleague, or someone outside of your office. If it’s someone outside of your organization, ask for an introduction through your contacts.2)           A good team. In any company (startup or corporate), the work we do is very much a team effort. Everyone has a role to play and they’re the best as a team, in a way, it’s like a football team. You win as a team, never as an individual person.3)           Growth. Personal growth. As long as you’re learning and you have a boss that’s interested in your growth, it’s a good environment.3)         What’s your experience with mentorship like, who were your mentors and are you mentoring anyone now?I have both work mentors and life mentors. Work mentors have always been my direct boss (maybe I got lucky with my bosses haha), and I ha ve some in the industry that I’ve asked my friends to connect me with. In terms of people I mentor, I welcome with open arms to anyone who wants to chat.4)         If you look back in the past 5-10 years, what were the most important experiences that propelled you to where you are today? These could be lessons you learned from failures, being part of a special project, or pursuing (or not pursuing) a passion you really have. Travel. Traveling exposes you to see things you’re not necessarily comfortable with. It’s very true in business that you won’t find growth in comfort zones. Traveling forces you to meet people that are not like you and don’t operate like you.As an extension of the same point, do things that are foreign to you, like going to networking events. Talk to people you don’t know. You just don’t know what opportunities will come from a contact you made, a trip you took, or a conversation you had because you stepped out of your comfort zone.5)         Now t he dreaded “what do you want to be in 5/10 years” question…how do you typically answer questions like this? I’ve never loved this question because so much can change in just a year. I’ve never thought in million years I’d be where I am today. Professionally, I’m confident that Casetify will be a huge brand, and I hope to continue to grow with it. Running my own company doesn’t sound too shabby either. I also do hope that I can be a great role model and a mentor to people and pay forward the fortune I’ve been blessed with here at Casetify.6)         If you have experience in interviewing/recruiting new employees, what do you look for in candidates for positions that don’t require years of experience? Their attitude. It’s one of those things that a good leader can sense right away. I prefer to hire people with willingness to learn, and someone who is genuinely excited about the brand, rather than a know-it-all. Many times, the technical skills are trainable, but the attitude isn’t. Secondly, I’d see if you’ve done your homework. In order for you to stand out, make sure you’re prepared, including doing some stalking work around the company and the people you’ll be meeting with. And lastly, don’t forget the thank you note after the interview. It’s a good way to be on top of the recruiter’s inbox, and to be reminded of who you are.7)         Lastly, what’s your go-to office outfit, and what is one piece of clothing you can’t live without? Career, Career design, Development February 2, 2017 0 CommentsFirst of all, thank you SO much for all of your responses to my last interview with Amanda from Poshmark. I love how some of you asked her more questions and we had more insightful conversation even after the article published. It’s such an incredible honor that I get to chat with these ambitious career women who are doing incredibly challenging but amazing things in their field. I hope to bring you more in the future!This week’s #GirlBoss on Career Girl ChatThe second Career Girl Chat features Jennie Yoon, who heads up US Europe Business Development and Marketing at Casetify, a hip lifestyle brand with a focus on tech. Jennie and I actually went to high school together, and reconnected over a blogger conference last year in the Fall. Jennie’s current role at Casetify revolves around maximizing growth and revenue through new distribution channels and strategic partnerships. Jennie’s totally OG in influencer market ing, and has been doing this for years before influencers were publicly acknowledged as a marketing channel. Casetify’s past collaboration includes celebrity endorsements (Hilary Duff, Snoop Dogg), TV placement (Good Morning America, Today Show) and brand collaboration (American Apparel, Pepsi) to name a few. As one of Casetify’s main strategy drivers, Jennie’s role at Casetify has evolved from digital marketing and story-selling in the beginning, to brand building and strategic marketing to her current role. She describes this job at Casetify and herself as a match made in heaven and it’s clear that every fiber of her is dedicated to the success of Casetify. So, let’s get into the question and find out how this #GirlBoss went from interning at a Law Firm’s HR department to holding this much coveted position at Casetify!Rapid fire questions â€" what was your college major, your first job, and how many resumes you sent out before you got your first current job? I majored in Psychology and Human Behavior, had a minor in business. After working for a few years I went back to school and got an MBA from Pepperdine University which was the pivot point that ultimately led me into marketing.My first job was at a law firm, I had an internship in Human Resources. I took the job because I saw the the stability of this career path. With my Asian upbringing, stability and access to climbing the corporate latter was important. HR made sense because it’s relevant to every company across different industries. My boss at the time saw my potential interacting with people and reading people, so I focused on recruiting and built the department from scratch for the next 4 years. I found myself enjoying building something in an unknown environment, and mainly, enjoyed the people I got to work with.Before I landed this job, I probably sent out 10-15 resumes before I got the position in the Law Firm in HRâ€"but the time was probably different. My most recent position w ith Casetify came out of opportunities I got through traveling, networking, and it was such a match made in heaven so everything just came together within a short time (more on that later).1)         When you first graduated from college, did you know that you’d end up where you are today, why or why not? Not at all. I always knew career was important, and I wanted to be part of something where I can make a difference. My mantra is that if you choose something, go all inâ€"if it doesn’t work out, at least you won’t look back because you know you gave it all. People have told me to ‘find my passion’ but honestly, I don’t know what I was doing when I graduated. I just knew whatever I chose, I wanted to get my hands dirty and somewhere along the road, passion is something you figure out as you see more things and experience more things (goodness, I sound old).TIP: Look for role-models, and surround yourself with people who are smarter than you.If you’re in college, do tak e multiple internships to help find out what you like and don’t like. Study abroad if your school lets you. My realization came a bit later in my life, but I got a chance to study abroad during my MBA program to Hong Kong. Through a few networking events, I found my way to connect with Wes Ng, the Co-Founder and CEO of Casetify. I instantly connected over our common interest: Instagram.   I positioned my talent in content building and my interest in Instagram as help, and offered to just help him out. And the rest was history!2)         Are you happy with where you are in your career? If you were to name three things you have to have in your career/employment, what are they? I abso-fucking-lutely love what I do. This is a dream job that anyone could’ve wanted. But this position didn’t just land on my lap â€" I’ve earned it by working hard and pressing on through difficult times. Here is what I think are important for me to be happy in my career:1)           A good mentor. I always talk to people that are more experienced than me. This could be your boss, your boss’s boss, your colleague, or someone outside of your office. If it’s someone outside of your organization, ask for an introduction through your contacts.2)           A good team. In any company (startup or corporate), the work we do is very much a team effort. Everyone has a role to play and they’re the best as a team, in a way, it’s like a football team. You win as a team, never as an individual person.3)           Growth. Personal growth. As long as you’re learning and you have a boss that’s interested in your growth, it’s a good environment.3)         What’s your experience with mentorship like, who were your mentors and are you mentoring anyone now?I have both work mentors and life mentors. Work mentors have always been my direct boss (maybe I got lucky with my bosses haha), and I have some in the industry that I’ve asked my friends to connect me with. In terms of people I mentor, I welcome with open arms to anyone who wants to chat.4)         If you look back in the past 5-10 years, what were the most important experiences that propelled you to where you are today? These could be lessons you learned from failures, being part of a special project, or pursuing (or not pursuing) a passion you really have. Travel. Traveling exposes you to see things you’re not necessarily comfortable with. It’s very true in business that you won’t find growth in comfort zones. Traveling forces you to meet people that are not like you and don’t operate like you.As an extension of the same point, do things that are foreign to you, like going to networking events. Talk to people you don’t know. You just don’t know what opportunities will come from a contact you made, a trip you took, or a conversation you had because you stepped out of your comfort zone.5)         Now the dreaded “what do you want to be in 5/10 years” question…how do you typically answer questions like this? I’ve never loved this question because so much can change in just a year. I’ve never thought in million years I’d be where I am today. Professionally, I’m confident that Casetify will be a huge brand, and I hope to continue to grow with it. Running my own company doesn’t sound too shabby either. I also do hope that I can be a great role model and a mentor to people and pay forward the fortune I’ve been blessed with here at Casetify.6)         If you have experience in interviewing/recruiting new employees, what do you look for in candidates for positions that don’t require years of experience? Their attitude. It’s one of those things that a good leader can sense right away. I prefer to hire people with willingness to learn, and someone who is genuinely excited about the brand, rather than a know-it-all. Many times, the technical skills are trainable, but the attitude isn’t. Secondly, I’d see if you’ve done your homework. In order for you to stand out, make sure you’re prepared, including doing some stalking work around the company and the people you’ll be meeting with. And lastly, don’t forget the thank you note after the interview. It’s a good way to be on top of the recruiter’s inbox, and to be reminded of who you are.7)         Lastly, what’s your go-to office outfit, and what is one piece of clothing you can’t live without?My wardrobe is a lot of black, white and tan. Tech founders like Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg wear outfits that almost look like uniforms. I’ve read that they stick to a standardized outfit so they don’t have to spend time thinking about what to wear. My go-to office outfit is all black ensemble â€" black jeans with black top. One piece of clothing that I can’t live without would be my black jeans.One thing I’ve learned is that you can never be overdressed for a work meeting and you don’t get a second shot at first impressions. Just because we’re in the start-up world doesn’t mean we can be sloppy. So develop a routine and minimize the time spent in putting things together.All photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse Career Girl Chat Career Girl Chat || Work hard, stay humble, and be kind. Opportunities will follow. Career, Career design, Development January 13, 2017 0 CommentsHi you! Thank you for tuning in from your busy schedule. I promise you this is a good one!!I’m launching an exciting new series called Career Girl Chat on Cubicle Chic (# CGCCC, possibly??), where I interview #GirlBoss who are passionate about their career and love what they do. Together, we’ll probe them with challenging questions and get them to spill the secret ingredient to their career success!First #GirlBoss On Career Girl ChatThis week, I’m taking you guys with me to peer into the career profile of the one and only Amanda Weiss (@theamandaweiss), Marketing Manager at Poshmark. If you’ve interacted with Poshmark in any way, shape or form on digital media (like their hilarious Facebook page), you’ve probably seen Amanda’s work. She heads up Poshmark’s social media and brand marketing team which includes influencer marketing, events and community management. She’s even Emcee’d at the annual PoshFest c onference four years in a row, if you can believe it. Yes, it’s no secret that she’s devoted to a very demanding job that blurs the line between work and personal time. Yet, if you’ve met her at Poshmark events, read her quirky and cheeky Tweets, or seen those high energy/fast pace Facebook Trend Report Live videos, it’s clear that she enjoys what she does and is absolutely passionate about it. So how does she do it??? Let’s dive in and find out how she got to where she is today, and if everything’s always been peaches and cream, as one may think.First off, a round of Rapid-Fire Questions â€"What was your 1)         Major in college?2)         First job?3)         Lastly, how many resumes did you send out before you got your first and last job offer? Amanda: I went to FIDM and got an associate degree in Fashion Merchandising/Marketing then went on to get a bachelor degree in business with a focus in marketing. My first job out of school was being a server at a restaurant to pay the bills, but I spent every minute of my down time job searching for a fashion relation position. In my free time I was also working for free at places like LA Fashion Week and steaming clothes and coordinating details at these events. Before I got my first job offer, I sent out at least 10-15 resumes every week. When you first graduated from college, did you know that you’d end up where you are today, why or why not?Amanda: I’ve always wanted to work in “fashion” since I was in high school. But didn’t understand what the industry was like and what it took to work in fashion. For a while I thought I would end up in fashion merchandising and styling because of my experience and degree. But with blogging, social media and all the changes that we’ve seen, the industry is a very different place today. So I had no idea this is where I’d end up. I have just grown and developed and rolled with the punches and using everything to my advantage.Are you happy with where you are in your career? If you were to name three things you have to have in your career/employment, what are they?Amanda: I am so passionate about what I do and it’s led me to where I am today. I love Poshmark as a company and also everything that comes with it, the people I work with but also the people I’ve met because of Poshmark. At the same time I think work/life balance is very important, even though I am a workaholic. But for me, what makes me good at what I do is the fact that I love what I do, so a lot of times it doesn’t feel like work. Along the same line, being able to have fun when you work is very important. Fun always makes work easier to do!What’s your experience with mentorship like, who were your mentors and are you mentoring anyone now?Amanda: Generally speaking I am an open book and I let my guard down very easily. As a result, I feel like people really respond to that, so I actually get a lot of people reach out to me about how I got my job, to critique their resume, or chat about their job search process. I am very community oriented, so I love connecting with and helping people.In terms of people that mentor me, at Poshmark I am surrounded by very talented people that are always elevating me. They saw potential in me early on and really value what I do personally and professionally. I’ve been given the chance to shine here so I am very appreciative of that.If you look back in the past 5-10 years, what were the most important experiences that propelled you to where you are today?Amanda: A turning point in my career was when I was laid off from my last job before Poshmark. I had already accumulated decent amount of experience, and decided to take a chance at another start-up. When they laid of me off, it definitely made me feel lost, especially when they did it right before the holiday that year and I had an apartment and bills to pay. Someone else would probably have been so devastated and just give up. For me, I picked myself back up right away and let this experience fuel me to find the next opportunity that I really deserved. And I did! Because I was familiar with Poshmark, I saw they were looking for a fashion intern â€" and although I was way overqualified for the position, I sent in my resume because I just had a feeling Poshmark was for me and that they were going somewhere and I had to be part of it.Another belief I’ve cultivated over the years is that you’re never too good for a job, and it’s important to pay your dues when you start out. In your career, things don’t get handed to you on a silver platter no matter how many followers you have on Instagram. No matter how much small the task you’re assigned to, if you’re dedicated and give it your all, it will show the kind of person you are and the potential you have.This quote may be a cliché but it is nothing but true: “Work hard, stay humble, and be kind.”Now the dreaded “what do you want to be in 5/10 years” question…how do you typically answer questions like this?Amanda: I 1000% want to grow the team I’m managing now and at the same time expand the different areas in marketing for Poshmark such as more videos, influencer programs, events, creative content, and all the new digital channels that are out there.Aside from work though, I would like to get to a point where I have a better work/life balance. I want to get to a place where I can also reward myself for all the hard work I’ve put in.Every 6 months I do a review and look back on what my team and I had done, but with all the changes like Insta-stories sometimes it’s hard to predict the future. The point is that a lot of times growth comes from unexpected places and we should embrace the unknown and dive right in!If you have experience in interviewing/recruiting new employees, what do you look for in candidates for positions that don’t require years of experience?Amanda: It’s almost funny, but I can spot a good candidate before meetin g them. It’s very important for the candidate to be mindful of the hiring manager’s time and show that they’ve really done the homework to understand their potential employer. Take the cover letter, for example. If 9 out of 10 sentences are about the candidate and nothing about the company, that’s a red flag to me.Think of your cover letter as an opportunity. Even though it’s not always required, it’s an opportunity to show your personality, connect with the person reading it, and that it could let you stand out. Just like on social media where authenticity is key, your cover letter is just the same â€" are you showing who you really are and your true interest in the position/company you’re interviewing for.During the interview process, it’s also very important to have at least 3 solid questions to ask the interviewer because it shows that you really took the time to study the company and understand what the job requires.Lastly, what’s your go-to office outfit, and what is one piece of clothing you can’t live without?Amanda: Lucky for me I’ve always worked in the start-up environment so I’ve been able to wear whatever I want. Most of the time it involves something bold, colorful, and makes a statement. Sneakers are the piece that I can’t live without. I re-buy multiple pairs of the same pair of sneakers if I know I would wear a lot. Adidas Superstars and Converse are my go-tos.

How to Write Skills on Resume, Skill Titles and Grade Distribution on a Résumé

How to Write Skills on Resume, Skill Titles and Grade Distribution on a RésuméHow to write skills on resume, skill titles and grade distribution on a résumé are topics which you will see many people asking about. They want to know how to use resume titles that will be suitable for employers. They also want to know how to write skills on resume so that they get the best job offer.One of the things you need to know is that when you're doing your skills on resume writing, you need to use skill titles. Skills titles are a good way to give your resume and CV something more than just a job title. Your resume and CV should be able to communicate what you do well and what your interests are.Let's talk about your skills for a second. Skills titles will help you communicate to your prospective employer what skills you have. Of course, a lot of people don't use skills titles in their resumes but you can. They're a great way to let employers know who you are, what you're interested in, and w here you think you can go.Skills on a resume and skills distribution on a CV both have the same purpose. They are designed to help you tell employers what you can do for them. You can use skill titles and skills distribution on a CV if you're applying for a job where skills on resume is not appropriate.However, skills on resume and skills distribution on a CV will still have the same effect because employers see resumes and CV copies, too. Skills on resume and skills distribution on a CV are used interchangeably with most jobs. It's just the way that you need to convey yourself to employers in order to get a job offer.The job title is still important, though. For resume, skills on resume are a good way to put a little personality into your CV. They can also make a resume more attractive. If you do a good job of spelling and punctuation, you can use skills titles to express the way you see yourself. This can make a resume more relevant to your qualifications and needs.Skills on resum e and skills distribution on a CV are both popular ways of using skills on resume in order to get a job. It doesn't matter what you're doing, though. Skills titles and skills distribution on a CV are a good way to write skills on resume. To get a job, you need to demonstrate what you can do. Using skills titles and skills distribution on a CV are great ways to show off your abilities.Skills on resume and skills distribution on a CV can still help you get a job. Just use them effectively.