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What Does Your Online Reputation Say About You

What does your online reputation say about you?

Have you “Googled®” yourself lately?

Perhaps there was a time you did a search for someone that you were or have been close to.  Were you shocked at some of the information you turned up?

The internet is an amazing source of information, but the internet also doesn’t forget much.  It’s like that saying, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,” unless it was put on Facebook®, Twitter®, YouTube®, etc.  Nothing at all seems to be private anymore.

So, what does the internet have to say about you and why should you care?

If you are reading this it means, perhaps, that you are considering a career change.  Most hiring managers, recruiters, or human-resource managers will do a search for you on the internet to see what comes up, good or bad.

Most people have no idea what is out there about one’s self on the internet, but running a quick search and then managing that information to make sure you are perceived as professionally as possible is crucial if you are going to land that next job.  It is becoming a near certainty that if you are working with a company that employs an HR manager, background checks will be done.

1.       The first step is to know what is currently out there.  If you have a pretty common name it may be hard to sort through all the “David Smith’s” out there, but get specific, add your city and state, and also search your email address.

·         Key point - Our name, city, and state will turn up a lot of information but the email address is something people overlook.  Every online application seems to want your email address, so do a quick search of those as well to see what turns up.

2.       The next step is to determine if what is out there could help or hinder your job hunting efforts. 

·         What do your results say? Are the results that come up professional?  Or, do the results scream, “My life is a big party”?  If you are not sure, find someone that you would consider a “peer” to evaluate your results with you.

3.       Now that you have found what your “online reputation” looks like, even if there’s nothing bad out there about you, no incriminating pictures, etc, what can you do to improve it?  Just like your resume, you can utilize the internet to improve your online presence and make a good impression.

·         Utilize LinkedIn®.  LinkedIn® is a professional networking tool.  It’s free and it’s a great place to lay out all of your experience and credentials.  By keeping your LinkedIn profile up to date and active, it helps build credibility for you and your field.

·         The same with Twitter®, utilize it.  This may not be a tool you’ve explored often, but you can make use of Twitter® to network with others in your industry and provide professional and useful information.  Twitter® is fast becoming a valuable way to network.

·         Facebook® – If you have to, change your image.  More than 50% of the population is on Facebook®.  Do you really think that the HR manager you are planning on interviewing with is NOT on Facebook®?  Take down pictures that don’t show you in a professional light.  If you have a habit of doing so, stop posting defamatory statements about others.  Everyone needs to vent sometimes, but if you are seeking a job, this is not the place to do that.  Also, whomever you “Like” will show up on your profile and that may say volumes about what you believe in.

·         Trade Associations – Some of this will depend on where you are in your career, but if you are a member of Trade Associations or have participated in many trade meetings or shows these will show up online.  Again, it can improve your credibility and present you as more of an expert in your field.  The same is true with articles you may have been quoted in at one time or another.

First impressions are still very important today when submitting your resume or meeting a hiring manager face to face, but you have to be aware and manage your online reputation as well.  It can help to boost your credibility for a job, or it can make your opportunity go from having a great interview and overall outstanding first impression, to falling out of favor for the job after a brief search online that shows you bashing your former employer on Facebook® or Twitter®.

The bottom line:  Know what’s out there about you, manage it, and work towards improving your online reputation to that of an expert and “go-to” person in your field.

Article Written By:  Ag 1 Source Consultant – Rhonda Caughlin-Werner

Improve Your References!!

Why are references so important to a candidate referral? 

Occasionally, I run across a candidate that is a reluctant to share references until there is certainty an offer is going to be forthcoming.  Or, they may provide references, but ask that they not be contacted because they are very busy professionals and the candidate is uneasy about having someone contact them regularly.   Perhaps, there is a fear that the call will be a “dirt digging session” or a means to disqualify the candidate from a position.  Reference checks aren’t a means of finding out the down and dirty of a candidate, rather they are a means of getting a complete picture of what the best fit would be for them. 

In the talent search industry, we are assisting clients find the best match for their company and their position.  In that process, we are also helping you, the candidate, make a good career decision and find that job that is truly a good fit for your long term goals.  This may be the position you have applied for, or it may be something completely different than where you thought you were headed.  Those who have worked with you can provide some great insight into the areas where you excel and those where you struggle.  Is this a bad thing?  Absolutely not!  Let me provide an example…

I was working with a candidate that had been in sales for 10 years, and was adamant that he wanted a sales position.  Yet, over the last 10 years, he had changed companies 4 times because he was frustrated with his progress.  He wanted to blame the product, the support, the territory, the price, the company, etc.  You get the picture.  I really saw something in this candidate though, so I asked him for some references that I could contact.  He supplied me with some customers, ex-bosses and co workers.  What I discovered about this gentleman was that he was the following:

STRENGTHS:

·       Technically very strong. 

·       Excellent work ethic – put 200% into his job

·       Team player

·       Had no problem travelling the territory and meeting with his customers

·       Cold Calling Machine!

·       Easy to get along with

·       One of the most knowledgeable people I have met

·       Very organized, great follow up

AREAS WHERE HE COULD IMPROVE:

·       Couldn’t close the sale

·       Had a hard time connecting with growers because he was so technical, had a tendency to lose them!

·       Verbal communication was not his strong point, but he was very strong in written communication.

After talking to his references and further interviewing my candidate, it was easy to see that he was struggling in sales, because he wasn’t a salesman!  This individual loved to learn about the products, was probably one of the most knowledgeable people in his area of the industry, had a tremendous work ethic, and had generated a great deal of respect from his colleagues.  Through his diligent research and data collecting abilities, he could find the value in a product and develop a valuable sales tool with his technical bulletins.  Although he felt that he was a good salesman, actually, he was more suited in a product development role!  When we explored this, it made more sense, and ultimately we were able to help him find the right career move. 

Who are the best references?

When preparing a candidate for a referral, it is essential to provide a complete picture of the candidate’s background.  This may include the “how” and “why” of a candidate’s successes, but also the character of the individual.  Think about the people you associate with in your professional life. 

·       Who are the individuals that you admire and respect?

·       Who has been a part of your team and has seen how you achieve your goals?

·       Are there individuals who you have helped achieve their goals, or who you have made an impact to their job?

·       Who has seen you overcome challenges in your professional career and build a success out of it?

·       It is best to provide a supervisor or boss that can provide insight into how you work with others and how you have taken direction and instruction

·       Direct reports, peers and colleagues are also great references.  They will be able to discuss how you engage others to work toward a common goal.

“I have worked for my family most of my career.  Should I provide my dad, uncle, brother, etc. as references?

Although a family member may have the most experience working with you, they are the ones you should stay away from as references.  It is difficult for a relative, neighbor, college buddy, etc. to provide an unbiased report of your true skills.  In situations like this, there are always people that you have dealt with in the industry.  Look for a supplier that you work closely with, or a co-worker that isn’t related.  If you are on a farm, there are equipment repairmen, salesmen, crop advisors, etc. that you have most likely dealt with.  These would be great references as they can provide input on how you approach the business. 

Final Thoughts!!!! 

You should always check with your references first.  When you visit with them, ask them what kind of feedback they would provide about you to a prospective employer.  This might be good information for you to process as well, because you may learn some things about yourself that will help you in your career search. 

Respect the fact that your references are busy, so be sure to get their approval to provide their information.  Ask them if there is a preferred time of day or number that would be best to reach them on.   Make sure that they will also respect your desire to look at career opportunities and ask that they maintain discretion in discussing this with others. 

As human beings, our greatness lays not so much in being able to remake the world -- that is the myth of the atomic age -- as in being able to remake ourselves.

- Mohandas K. Gandhi

Article Written By: Ag 1 Source Consultant - Margaret Jensen

Setting Goals

We know it’s important.   So why do many people think the act of setting and successfully achieving goals is so difficult?  It is an extremely powerful skill to have.  The key to setting an important and long term goal is to break it down into smaller, do-able action plans and work your plan.

Basically we all set goals to achieve what we truly and internally want to accomplish.  Often times we set these goals without much thought.  For example, this morning I needed to simply get to work.  I knew where I wanted to go…to the office.  By experience, I knew how I was going to get there.  I accomplished my goal by successfully arriving at work, mundane, yet simple enough.

Most of the time setting and achieving goals really isn’t that simple.  Long-term, meaningful goals require quite a bit of thought, action, encouragement, assistance and adjustment along the way.   In spite of the added complexity and work, even kids can do this.  So you should be able to do this with your career!

Let me give you an example of how a kid can set and achieve significant long term goals. I have worked with a lot of boys and young men in the Boy Scouts of America as a Scoutmaster.  In our Boy Scout Troop, boys usually cross over from Cub Scouts at about the end of their 5^th grade year.  As brand new Boy Scouts, our older Scouts and I talk to the new recruits AND their parents about the importance of achieving Eagle Scout rank.  We talk about the fun camp outs, summer camps, merit badges, leadership activities and service projects the boy will need to accomplish to become an Eagle Scout.  By the time we’re done talking, everyone is excited about becoming an Eagle Scout!  “Yeah”, they say, “I’m going to set a goal to be an Eagle Scout.”

Well, if a 5^th grade boy was even capable of grasping the concept that achieving this goal was going to require a minimum of 5 to 7 years of continual achievement  to earn his Eagle Scout rank, he and his parents might be overwhelmed and may not even attempt to achieve it.  Here’s the perfect time to break the bigger goal into smaller, do-able goals for them to accomplish through various “rank” advancements.

In Boy Scouts, there are six ranks for the Scouts to earn on their trail to Eagle Scout which allows the Scouts to build their self-confidence and goal setting skills.  They progress through the ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class Scout and First Class Scout, mostly in their first year of Boy Scouts.  This is done in a step by step approach.  They’ll learn things like knot tying, cooking and first aid, then complete fire building, camp out planning and flag ceremony activities, and the list goes on.  By this time, they are now experienced in setting and achieving goals and are looking forward to conquering more challenging goals.

Many merit badges, meetings, and experiences later, if the boy stays on task and keeps their goal in mind, soon the Eagle Scout rank is getting closer.  By now they can demonstrate leadership skills AND plan and execute.  They had learned to break down their activities into smaller, do-able action plans and work the plan.  By the time these guys have achieved their Eagle Scout rank, they have accomplished a very LONG-TERM and WORTHWHILE goal.  

We can all learn from the process.  If a Boy Scout can set goals and achieve them, it should be no problem for all of us.  We just need to learn to break the big and wildly important goals into attainable portions at a time.  It’s not a hard concept to understand at all.  It’s executing the plan that takes the effort.  

Here are two good examples of how to use goal setting:

1.       Let’s say that you’ve been given an opportunity to earn some special commission on selling a new product.  You’re given a week as an exclusive.  The commission is compelling.  Are you going to plan and set a goal for how you’re going to do that?  Most people would jump all over that.  So, the quick steps;

a.       Map out your potential

b.      Plan your attack

c.       Get out there and execute

d.      After the week, look back and evaluate how you did and what you could change to improve.  If you were given another week to do it all over again, you’d go through the exact same process.

2.       If your career goal is a promotion, then first find out what you have to do to get there.  Are there some skills to learn yet?  Do you need to get some experience in a different department or division to get there?  I don’t know of many supervisors that would be anything but pleased if an employee requested time to help develop a plan so that a valued employee achieve a long term goal of a reachable promotion.  Most would probably say that it will takes some time and maybe some hard work, but the simple act of asking shows commitment and loyalty to the company.  Setting goals means that a plan for productivity is being put into place. 

It’s a small wonder that, armed with the learned life skills and significant amount of practice in setting goals and the action plans to accomplish them, Eagle Scouts end up being test pilots, astronauts, business people, physicians and leaders in almost every conceivable discipline.  To achieve big things in life, keep it simple.  Break down goals into smaller, do-able action plans and work the plan. After all, even a kid can do this!

Do You Need More Training?

If you feel as if you've looked at every job posting on earth and you still can't find one your skills match up with, then it's time to develop some new skills. This may be the perfect opportunity to go back to school, or at least add some challenging night classes. 

Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough we must do. - Goethe

Building career skills:

Look internally first. Are you currently employed, but are just not challenged in your current position? Do you really like the company you work for, but just feel stagnant in your current role? Is there another position in the company that you’d love to have, but just don’t have the required skills, experience, or abilities? If this is you, you owe it to yourself to look for answers internally before going outside your current employer for a new career opportunity.  A great way to do this is request a meeting with your supervisor or company mentor with the topic of goal planning.  You can also simply go to your boss and ask for on-the-job training or opportunities to do projects that develop new skills. See if your employer will pay part of your tuition costs for going out an acquiring the necessary skills that would qualify you for that next career advancement. 

Identify resources in your community. Find out about programs in your community. Junior colleges, community colleges, or libraries often offer low cost opportunities to strengthen skills such as computers, basic accounting, or how to start a business. Local Chambers of Commerce, Small Business Administrations, or state job development programs also are excellent resources.

If you are a college student today and haven’t finished your degree, consider volunteering or working as an intern. Some awesome career skills can be acquired by volunteering or doing an internship. This has the added benefit of putting you in contact with people in your chosen field.

Take night classes. Some career fields require specific education or skills, such as a specialized degree or specific training.  You shouldn’t automatically rule out more education as impossible. Many career fields have accelerated programs if you already have some education, or you may be able to take night classes so that you can continue to work. Some companies even offer tuition reimbursement for current employees to continue their education or for future employees looking to join the organization.

Something to consider:

When deciding whether to go back to school, one of the major factors in your decision should be future job security. Today, many jobs are being outsourced to other countries for cheaper labor, or are being eliminated through technological advancements. People without a college degree are more likely to work factory jobs, manual labor, and other jobs that are becoming increasingly more obsolete. Therefore, it is important to realize that while a certain unskilled job might be in high demand today; this is not likely to always be the case. Individuals with college degrees or even more advanced degrees such as a Master’s or an MBA may experience more job security because they take positions that fewer people are qualified to fill.

Conclusion:

Often people assume that simply getting a degree or continuing their education will solve all their financial problems; the reality is that in order to profit the most from education and training, a strategic plan is required. To benefit from the cost of more education and the hard work of acquiring new skills, make sure you have specific goals in mind. What do you hope to achieve in the long-term? If you think of continued learning and training as an investment in your quest for financial independence, its true value becomes quite clear.  The bottom line is, we all must continuously learn.  If you’re not learning new skills, you may someday lose out on that new job to someone else that did.

I hated every minute of training, but I said, "Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion."

Muhammad Ali

Check out the article published in Crop Life-written by 3 Ag 1 Source consultants

Why Employees Leave

http://www.croplife.com/clmag/?storyid=3217

Know What You Want Out of a New Job

What do you really want out of a job?  Have you ever asked yourself that?  It’s one of the first steps each prospective job searcher needs to understand.  In this current economy, most employees are just happy to have a job, but at the very basic level of any new or potential job search is understanding what makes us happy in our work.  We all know people who say they wake up each morning excited about the work day ahead because they love what they do.  It’s as if their work has become more of a hobby versus a job.  So how do you get that?  The key may be in writing down some specific goals.

What would your dream job look like?

What are you passionate about in life?  Is there a specific product or service you are passionate about? Look around yourself and identify roles that appeal to you in your own work place.  You may not even know what the job title or descriptions look like, but the key in this scenario is to dream a little.  I worked with one individual while I was in banking who knew he wanted to develop business in the non-profit sector.  He was passionate about helping non-profits succeed financially and is now one of the area leaders in banking related to non-profits.  Another friend who is passionate about saving the earth’s environment recently landed a job with a firm that consults with businesses about going green.  Make sure that whatever the work produces, you enjoy it. 

List out your skill set and personality style

It’s time to look into the mirror and be completely honest with yourself.  Take off the blinders, even ask some of your closest friends and family members.  Think in terms of your skill set, style and how you like to communicate in the work environment.  List out items that best describe what you bring to the table in terms of skills, talent, and personality traits.  Are you a driver, extremely goal oriented, with the need to push for success?  Maybe you like to analyze situations further before making the next step?   Do you play better within a team focused environment, with a strong need to have relationships, and seeking consensus before coming to a conclusion?  Do you like recognition, someone who thrives in a spontaneous environment with high energy?  Knowing something about your style up front will help you figure out which environment best suits your personality traits.   

Know what you want in terms of compensation and work environment

This can sometimes be a dream killer if you find out on the back end the job you are passionate about doesn’t pay the bills.  Don’t have regret.  Do the research up front and make a calculated decision about what it’s going to take to move your talents.  Sometimes a job’s benefits can make up for compensation, so keep an open mind.  In addition, knowing your own personality style is going to play a huge role in the type of environment you thrive in.  Do you want to work from home?  Do you need flex time?  Is there a desire for travel?  Do your research ahead of time and then ask key questions in the interview.  Getting answers to those questions will help you understand the work environment and what you really want.  The key is a little research and writing down your goals.

Written by Steve Grant, Recruiting Consultant with Career 1 Source (affiliated with Ag 1 Source)

Your Ag 1 Source or Career 1 Source recruiting consultant can help you reach your goals and reach your potential.  Call them today.