How to Network With Important People - The Muse

How to Network With Important People - The MuseHow to Network With Important People Last month, I had the honor of being named one of Glamour magazines Top 10 College Women. The award came with all sorts of perks, including a cash prize, a three-day trip to New York, and recognition in the May 2015 issue. (Shameless plug Go pick up the magazine)It was all amazing. But perhaps, the most intimidating and awesome part of the entire experience was getting invited to an intimate dinner with a bunch of impressive women after the awards ceremony. When I arrived at the dinner, I was surprised to see that there were seating distributions-mix cards. I was even mora surprised to see that I was placed between Dana Perino, former Press Secretary during the Bush administration, and Cindi Leive, the Editor-in-Chief of Glamour. If that wasnt intimidating enough, New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner was diagonally across from me. Talk about pressure. A lot of times, when we talk about ch atting with important people, its usually about giving them our elevator pitch and getting a quick word in. Up until this point, most of my experiences with impressive people have been along those lines- saying hi to them at a networking event or asking them a question at a conference. Neither experience couldve prepared me for speaking to people at the top of their fields, in an intimate setting, for an extended period of time.So, what did I learn over the course of a two-hour dinner with some of the most powerful and important women in the nationalstaat (and even the world)? Enough that Ive got a couple of pointers for when you find yourself in a similar situation.1. Treat Them Like Real PeopleMy first thought when seeing that Cindi Leive was eating dinner two seats away from me was to scream, CINDI LEIVE, YOU ARE MY IDOL and hug her. Obviously, not the best idea. While you dont want to go in the opposite direction and play the too cool for school game, try not to spend your time openly fangirling over the part youre talking to. Its actually quite uncomfortable to have people gushing over you, and it doesnt allow for you two to talk as equals. This all sounds really obvious (and no one did this at the dinner I attended), but Ive heard horror stories about people totally losing it when meeting someone they admire. If youre worried about being starstruck, think of it this way How would you act during any other networking opportunity? Youd probably ask the other person lots of compelling questions, listen, and see what you can learn. For instance, when we first introduced ourselves, Dana Perino commented that it was cool we were all pursuing things we were interested in so early, because her career path looked so different in college. This paved the way for me to ask a natural conversation starter Did you ever see yourself doing what you do now back when you were in college? She then joked about her first college job, and it set the tone for a really great dinn er.Important or famous people shouldnt be treated any differently. Sticking to what you know really does go a long way.2. Dont Be Afraid to Get a Little PersonalTalking to important people about their professional lives is already intimidating enough, let alone when they start diving into something personal that doesnt have anything to do with their career. For instance, among groups of women, talking about careers naturally progresses into a discussion about work-life balance and the challenges that comes with it.Keep in mind that real relationships are built once you start straying away from simple small talk, so if the other person opens up that opportunity to really connect, dont shy away from it If youre afraid of asking or saying something too personal, you can just listen along and do some nodding. Again, take a page from the Networking 101 playbook Fake it til you make it.3. Dont Skip the Follow-UpAfter youve had the opportunity to talk to someone whos successful and impress ive, you might feel like youre being a nuisance by following up after the event. Dont beIf you have the chance before that person leaves, see if its okay for you to follow up (Id love for us to chat about this again), and if so, ask for the best way to get in touch. For example, during another networking event through Glamour, one of the women I met told me to get in touch with her through Twitter (she spends a whole lot more time on there than she does in her inbox). A little unconventional? Yes. But did I get a response when I tweeted at her the next day? Absolutely. And now were meeting up for coffee when Im in New York next month.If theres anything I learned from my experience, its not to be intimidated when cool opportunities like this come your way. (Oh, and yes, in case you were wondering, I did feel quite glamorous.) Photo of interview courtesy of Shutterstock.

Is Facebook Timeline the New Resume

Is Facebook Timeline the New Resume Is Facebook Timeline the New Resume What are the Changes in Facebook Timeline? The new service makes it much easier to share a wealth of information about yourself. Facebook is now no longer just about moments in time it represents the whole you. With your Facebook profile page, you are now no longer conveying Twitter-esque ruminations about what you are doing at that moment. With the new Facebook Timeline, you are saying to the world This is me.Social media sites represent a very unique difficulty for job seekers, and Facebook Timeline will no doubt add complexity. Social media in general presents a way to show yourself to the world and let others know what you are doing. Career sites like this one are full of information about what types of updates you should avoid writing, and how to convey a proper level of professionalism. However, Facebook Timeline throws a monkey wrench into the way job seekers portray themselves in social media.With Faceb ook Timeline, users are given much mora control about the graphical layout of their page. They can choose what life events to include and bring their own graphics and pictures into the Facebook profile. However, the real difference is that the new Facebook profile emphasizes life events and how you want to be portrayed static, descriptive items take priority over fleeting status updates. Its who you are, not what you are doing.What does that sound like to you? If a job seeker is given the chance to enumerate their professional accomplishments, life events, and goals, isnt that pretty close to a resume? Isnt Facebook now more like About.me, that tells the world exactly who you think you are?When people are given the option to talk about themselves, add pictures, and select what information to include or not include, it can be dangerous. Facebook always was dangerous for job seekers, but now its even more precarious.Tips for job seekers using the new FacebookChoose cover pictures wise ly Facebook profiles are now a lot like a blog, with the option to create a cover for your profile. This picture is a big part of your profile its might be said to be the most important element of your page. Pick the picture wisely make aya its not only something that you dont mind people seeing, but that it represents an idea or action that you are proud to think or be.Select your privacy options carefully Facebook privacy options change rapidly, and the introduction of Facebook Timeline will usher in a host of new privacy options. Make sure that you spend the time to go through the privacy options carefully.Choose your likes carefully Like Ron Paul or RuPaul? Know that your Facebook Likes are on your profile in a prominent manner, with pictures of the entity that you like. If you dont want employers or other people seeing what you like, dont like it in the first place. You can also check out your privacy options for options about who sees your likes.Update your professional info rmation There is a very good chance that you dont have updated career related information on Facebook. In general, people use Facebook for personal use, so they dont bother updating job titles and companies. However, the new Facebook Timeline layout does emphasize that static profile field, which highlights your current employer and job title. Make sure that your professional fields are up to date and complete.Pick who sees your updates Make sure that you are using the feature to choose who sees certain updates. If you post a lot of family related updates, you might want to make a list of your family friends and only select this group to see those related updates. Share with the world only that which you are proud for everyone to know about.Are Facebook Profiles the New Resume?Employers are increasingly using Facebook and social networks to recruit employees, and this is a trend that will likely continue. Want proof? Just look at all the technology being developed for recruiting wit h Facebook. Its becoming more important than ever to have a strong Facebook profile if youre looking for a job. The new Facebook Timeline layout certainly presents some added challenges for job seekers, buts its also an opportunity to make a great first impression.Is Facebook Timeline the new resume? Not yet, but the way you portray yourself online is getting more and more important for your career. The new Facebook profile ordnungsprinzip gives you anunprecedentedamount of control over that identity, and with that control comes more opportunity to differentiate yourself. Just make sure that you are conveying the you that really are, or perhaps the you that you want to be. Good luck out thereMaster the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their caree r.

Should You Take the Job or Hold Out for Something Better

Should You Take the Job or Hold Out for Something BetterShould You Take the Job or Hold Out for Something BetterWeve decided to make you an offer.After sending out dozens of rsums and enduring grueling rounds of interviews, these are usually the seven words job seekers hope to hear.Being offered a job is a big win, but people are hesitant to accept a job when theres a nagging doubt in the back of their minds. While experienced professionals are aware that bedrngnis every offer will be perfect, they have to weigh whether the offer is better than a current job, worth relocating or taking a pay cut for or is a good entry to a new field.So how do you decide whether to take the offer or hold out for something better? Here are eight questions to ask yourself before acceptingCan I do better?Theres a reason you were offered the standort, so make sure the job is worth your while. Is it a good opportunity based on your level of experience and skill set? If you think youll be bored after two da ys, consider unternehmensverbund out for a better offer.Do I know enough about the company?While youve likely read company reviews on Glassdoor and checked the companys social media profiles, your best bet for an in-depth look is via current or former employees. Contacting them to ask about their experiences with the company can lend insight into what your daily life might look like - and whether the quirks and perks are things youd like to sign on for.Do I feel secure going to work for this company?Has the company had a difficult time with employee turnover? Have you heard about recent restructuring? These could be red flags that the company isnt the most secure option.If youre unsure whether you should accept the job, research the company thoroughly to help solidify your decision. Google to determine whether it has recently (or ever) had layoffs or is planning to offer new products that would potentially indicate hiring or growth. If its a public company, check its stock price an d financials to assess its financial health.During the interview ask the hiring manager about the roles history and turnover rate as well as its future. Much like a hiring manager might ask where youd like to be in five years, ask about company goals and trends. Once you ask what projects youd be trained on immediately, inquire about how the role or department may grow.Of course, dont ask sticky financial questions during your interview (it may sink your otherwise shining impression).Will I enjoy the job, and will I be a good fit?Everybody has to make money, and many people will accept and endure less-than-ideal jobs to pay the bills. But if you can afford to wait, hold out for a position that will make you happy.When you interview for a job, get a feel for the other duties as assigned that may land in your inbox, and try to pick up on the culture as you walk the halls. Are you the missing puzzle piece, or does it feel like youre not really clicking with your interviewers? If you do nt mesh well with the company, your department, or your new boss, you may want to wait for the next opportunity.Am I overvaluing the opportunity?Youre drawn to the company, but the opportunity isnt a fit. How do you distinguish one from the other? Ask yourself what you really like and dislike about the job, regardless of the brand attached. Would you accept this position if it were being offered by a company without the name recognition? What does the career path look like - and how many other people are fighting their way up the ladder?Keep in mind that well-known companies can often get away with paying people less because these businesses are aware that their names will look great on a rsum.Have I negotiated the best deal?A PayScale surveyfound that 57 percent of workers have never negotiated for a higher salary. If you decide the companys a good fit, try to sweeten the pot. Salary, stocks, benefits, vacation days and insurance are negotiable in many cases, and its important tha t you dont leave anything on the table.If youre not experienced in negotiating your own packages, consider using a headhunter to negotiate on your behalf. If there isnt one available to represent you, you can also hire an interview coach to help you prepare for salary negotiations.Does this job fit my personal life?If a job will have a significant impact on your personal life, think carefully before you accept the offer. A long commute or a requirement to work weekends can be a big drawback. Make sure you weigh the pros and cons. This includes talking it over with your family or the people who will be directly affected by your new job.Do I really want to leave my current employer?Consider everything you like about your current job, from your 10-minute commute to the co-workers you meet for happy hour. Ask yourself whether youve exhausted your options at your current job - have you pursued more responsibility or negotiated for a raise, or have you just hoped that someone would notic e and offer those things? If youre leaving for perks you could negotiate for and be equally happy, you may not need to leave.Contrary to popular advice, if you really like your current employer but simply want growth or more money, letting your employer know that youre considering another offer may torpedo your chances of getting what you want - and land you a spot at the top of the expendables list.These questions are important to consider because the last thing you want to do is start a job youre not really into, only to leave a few weeks later for the job you should have held out for. This can put a strain on your relationships, and word travels fast in small industries.Carefully weighing your options will give you more confidence in your choice and help you choose the position thats best for you.Melissa Cooper is the executive vice president of the writer network atTop Rsum, aTalent Inc. company. A triple-certified rsum writer and dual-certified HR professional holding both SPH R and PHR designations, Melissa has eight years of executive recruiting experience and over six years of professional rsum-writing experience.