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One of the best things you can do when preparing your resume and prior to an interview is to research the company that you are targeting as your future employer. You can find out a number of things about a company if you use Google, but you may not find specific information that will set you apart from the crowd. I have found a site that will help direct your research and provide you with inside information and most of it free of charge. The site is Researching Companies Online. This site provides a step by step tutorial to help you in the process of researching a company.

Why should you spend the time to research a company? You will be more knowledgeable about the products and services the company offers. Having this information will allow you to ask meaningful and thought provoking questions during an interview that will give you insight to the culture of the company. You may be able to identify who might be interviewing you and this will allow you to obtain some back ground information on them and find areas of common interest that may allow you to connect and deepen the relationship during the interview process. This is your career, take control and do not be afraid to dig deep. Remember, they do not call it buried treasure when it is sitting out in the open. Set your self apart from the crowd, research the company online and find the hidden information, your buried treasure.

One of the leading providers of career advancement services for professional women nation wide, Women for Hire, has been conducting career expos and seminars in major cities across the country. If you have not been fortunate enough to attend, there are still 2 scheduled for the fall season, in Boston and Los Angeles. These events are free and offer a real opportunity for women to network and speak directly with hiring managers in a number of different fields. I have provided a link for you to click and get more information about the career expo. Take the time and attend, remember this is about your future career and you are worth it.

Why did the Boston Red Sox win the World Series? Did they have a better outfield, a better pitching staff or better hitters? The answer is no to each of these questions. What they did have was a winning attitude. They knew the goal and were determined to go after it.

When was the last time you felt like that? When were you so determined that you let nothing and no one stand in your way? If your answer is, it has been awhile, you may benefit from using my R.I.P. method to get you back in the groove.

The R is for reflection – Think about the things that you would like to accomplish and the steps you need to take to arrive at this goal. Write these things down, to make it easier to name them and find connections between them. You may find that a number of things you would like to do have a common theme or action that connect them together. Placing these things on paper will help you to reflect on these items and identify them. A good example could be goals of being confidant making presentations at the office, meeting new people and carrying a meaningful conversation, or being seen as an empowering leader by your staff and co-workers. The common themes in this list are communication and leadership. I would recommend that you join a Toastmasters Club. You would have the opportunity to improve and develop the skills that would help you met these goals on your list.

The I is for introspection – This can be difficult for some people but you have to take an honest look at yourself and the things you are currently doing. What are you doing now that is keeping you from reaching your desired goal? It could be as simple as attending a networking meeting and talking to new people. You know that you should attend but “Dancing With The Starts” will be on television tonight and you did not want to miss it. I recommend that you record the show and attend the networking meeting. That television program is not going to place you any closer to reaching your goal.

The P is for perseverance – This is a quality that anyone who is passionate about something has. If you do not have it then you are not passionate about your goal. I suggest that you repeat the R and I sections of this exercise until you identify what you seem to be passionate about. This process may be easier for some than others, but I will guarantee that the reward of reaching a goal that you are passionate about is more than worth the time and energy that you spent completing this process.

Be like the Red Sox and adopt the mindset of a winner. Let that old looser mentality R.I.P.

To many times you hear of people over 50 not being valued in the market place for the experience and knowledge that they have acquired and are willing to share. I have learned of a think tank that is working to turn these perceptions around and connect people with their passion. Civic Ventures is an organization focused on generating ideas and programs that will help society achieve the greatest return for the experience that people over 50 have to offer. Below please find an excerpt from their website describing just a few of the programs and strategies they are using to change these perceptions about aging Americans:

The Civic Ventures program portfolio includes:

• Experience Corps, a national service program for Americans over 55. Now in 14 cities, Experience Corps works to solve serious social problems, beginning with literacy. Today more than 1,800 Corps members serve as tutors and mentors to children in urban public schools and after-school programs where they help teach children to read and develop the confidence and skills to succeed in school and in life.

• The Next Chapter, an initiative that provides expertise and assistance to community groups across the country working to help people in the second half of life set a course, connect with peers, and find pathways to significant service. Local Next Chapter projects and related programs exist in dozens of communities nationwide.

• The Lead with Experience Campaign and The Purpose Prize, a three-year initiative to invest in older social innovators by recognizing outstanding achievements, creating a network of people wanting to use their retirement years for the greater good, and channeling funds and assistance to these new pioneers.

• Still Working, a documentary project that profiles people working for the greater good in the second half of life. In their own words, people share stories of the work they do, why they do it, the challenges they’ve faced along the way, and how they planned for this new chapter. The initiative is an attempt to create role models where few exist for the new generation of aging boomers, and to develop a richer understanding of work in the post-midlife years.

If these programs sound interesting to you then please click this link and connect to your passion while helping your community. Civic Ventures may be the vehicle that connects you with your next dream job.

Historically the objective section in the format of a resume was where you told the employer what job you were applying for.

For Example: “Obtain a position in customer service management where I can utilize my experience to improve customer satisfaction.”

While this is a good statement it is the same type of statement that everyone else is writing. To answer the question I posed earlier, what’s the objective? The objective is to get the person reading your resume to want to read further. You have to grab their interest. Remember you may be applying for a position in a pool of 100 or more applicants. You want your resume to stand out, be different, tell the reader why they should hire you and want to ask you to come in for an interview. You do not stand a good chance of achieving this objective by using an objective statement.

You have to sell yourself. How do you do this? You will use a professional profile instead of an objective. While an objective tells the prospective employer what you would like to do the professional profile informs the employer what you have achieved and can do for them. The top portion of your resume is prime real-estate and you have to write a statement that will encourage the reader to read more.

For Example: “Developed a department staff of 50 unionized workers with mediocre customer service scores, coached and inspired them to become the leading department in the organization.”

Compare the professional profile example above to the example of the objective statement. If you were the hiring manager which statement would encourage reading further and finding out more about the candidate whose resume you are reading? I venture to guess you would agree that the professional profile is more results oriented, and speaks to what an employer is looking to achieve in their business. I would like you to write several of these result oriented statements together to capture the reader’s attention and market what you can do for the organization. Your can place the title of the position you are applying for above your professional profile to inform the reader which job opening you are interested in. You will find the professional profile an effective tool in getting offers for an interview. After all the objective is to get the interview and your new dream job.

Social Networking Groups are all the rage, especially with Microsoft acquiring an equity stake in Facebook, but we all need to be aware of the information we share. Social Networking is fun and exciting. It provides an opportunity too share a bit of you with the world. And it is this aspect that potentially places you at the highest risk when you are looking for a job.

I would recommend that you do not share anything on a social networking site that you would not want your future employer to know about you. This would include things like but not limited to pictures of you drunk at a party, behavior that might be considered objectionable (chugalugging a beer), or photos placing you in a comprised position (half dressed and hanging out of a window) like an active participant in Marti-gars in New Orleans.

My recommendation is to be conservative when entering items, pictures or statements of your position on a cause in a social networking group. The hiring manager at the organization that are looking to grant you an interview will be on line researching any information that they can about you. Since the information that you post on the internet is always there and available for the world to see, it provides an opportunity for this researcher to discover things that you would rather remain hidden when it comes to your work life. If this is the case then make a conscious effort not to share this type of information about your self on the internet in any way shape, form or format. You will stand a better chance of being granted an interview, as apposed to being overlooked for a passing statement of photo that you posted in a Social Networking Group.

QS Leadership Career Forums offers a unique opportunity to attend a program geared toward graduates and professionals focused on promoting diversity in corporate leadership. This program is designed to identify, encourage and promote the next generation of corporate leaders among men and women and ethnic minorities across the World. The workshops are scheduled to be held in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Munich, Frankfurt, Moscow and New York.

QS Leadership Career Forums will offer workshops and seminars topics to teach you how to develop leadership skills and overcome stereotypes. Personal development sessions will also be offered from career management professionals and presentations will be made by participating companies. If think you would be interested in applying to be selected to attend this workshop at one of these cities then click here to apply at the QS Leadership web site. The first New York workshop will be given on October 26th and will not be offer again until October 2008. So, if you are interested apply right away, and best of luck to you.

How big is your imagination? Where do your see yourself in the next 5 years? How do you plan to get there? These three questions are important to your future and you must be willing to spend the time to answer them. Do not rush into it but really reflect and give deep thought to how you will answer them. Write your answers down on a piece of paper. Are you living up to your full potential? Watch this video by Les Brown and give some thought to the potential that lies deep inside you just waiting to be stirred up and put in action.

Les Brown reminds you not to let labels that people place on you or names that they may call you define who you are. “Someone’s opinion of you does not have to become your reality.” A key to discovering your dream is realizing that the dream is possible. You need to take charge of your life. Never give up on yourself. In his book Live Your Dreams Les Brown talks about the need to demonstrate perseverance, when no one is there to encourage us, then we must encourage ourselves.
Listen to the stories that Les Brown tells about his life and discover how we can establish the same principles in our lives and live our dreams.

So many of us are afraid to start a conversation with some one we are meeting for the first time. One of the best ways to conquer your fear is by joining a Toastmasters Club. Toastmaster is an international communication and leadership club. Joining a Toastmasters Club will provide you with a safe environment to practice speaking to people you do not know. In fact you will have the opportunity to write and deliver speeches to an audience. I know that so many of you would rather die than speak in front of a group of people. Do not worry; everyone who has ever joined Toastmasters at some point in their life was afraid to speak in front of a group of people they did not know including me.

You can join Toastmasters by finding a local club. Each club’s culture is different so shop around to find the club who’s culture fits your personality. I like a club culture that offers the opportunity to learn in a fun environment. I have been a member for about 4 years and have entered a number of contests. In fact I won 3rd place in the humorous speech contest in a pool of 250 clubs from New York and New Jersey. If you would like to see a video of my speech just click here and it will take you to my web site.

Can joining Toastmasters help you in your job search? Most definitely, and I will discuss the advantages Toastmasters and your job search in future posts. Check out this video by Keith Ferrazzi on how to be out going and then go join a Toastmasters Club. You will be glad that you did.

Would you like to get your resume out of the flood of resumes going to Human Resources and into the hands of the hiring manager of your dream company? You could place it in a nice resume folder, which you could get from Staples or any office supply store, and have it hand delivered by Federal Express. Sure it will cost you a few extra dollars but it will also separate your resume from the crowd. Do you think the expense is worth getting the position? If it is your ideal dream job you will. There is only one problem; you do know the name of the hiring manager. This is where good detective work and the internet come into play. I read an excellent post by Liz Ryan that I would like to share with you. Just click the link and follow Liz’s suggestions.

Have you ever lost something that was important to you in your work life, a promotion, an opportunity for a job interview or your job? How did you feel about it? If the answer is angry, upset, dejected or confused read on. Do you know that you can win by losing? I know it does not seem possible but it is.

In our culture so much emphasis is placed on winning or being number one that it becomes easy to forget about the lessons you can learn when you loose. Ever time you do not win is an opportunity for you to reflect, discover how you can improve and look at what you have learned from having that experience. Did you know that experiencing loosing places you in a position to really appreciate winning when you do?

The thing that makes a looser a winner is the loser’s ability to reevaluate the situation and their determination to persevere. The inventor Thomas Edison failed several hundred times before he made a light bulb that worked. It was his ability to preserver that made him a winner. Perseverance is a quality that most employers are looking for in their employees. Did you know that having the determination not to give up and the steadfastness to continue to move forward despite a temporary loss is one of the most important characteristics of a winner? Reflecting on the feeling of the loss does little to help improve your position but reflecting on the things and process that you experienced that brought you to the loss can be invaluable. You have knowledge now that you did not have before. Use this knowledge to correct those things that need correction and improve on those things that went well but you feel you could have been done better.

You are now in the process of developing the attitude of a winner. Reflection, introspection, and perseverance (R.I.P) will allow you to bury that looser mentality and adopt that mindset of a winner. So the next time that you loose in a work life situation smile because the opportunity for you to be a winner and learn for the experience awaits you. The decision to take advantage of that opportunity is up to you. Embrace it, and you will discover a wealth of knowledge about yourself that you never knew before. I bet you will be glad that you did.

From time to time you may have experienced people being less than genuine when they first meet someone new. When I was growing up we called it putting on airs. This is an attempt by some individuals to appear very important or accomplished in an effort to get people to connect with and like them. This is not networking and is the complete opposite of what I recommend that you do.

Be yourself. People are interested in finding out who you are. Not who you would like them to think you are, but who you really are. If you prepare yourself before hand to come to the networking opportunity with information that you may have researched or a topic that is current in the media of interest to the people in this gathering you will find it a lot easier to start a conversation with some one new. Spend the time to focus on one individual. Find out things about them. What things do you have in common? Take the time to expand the conversation and give yourself an opportunity to connect with that person. Do not rush the conversation along, or change the topic of the conversation from one thing to another. This may give the person the impression that you are not interested in talking to them or that you are not being genuine.

What is the risk of not being genuine? Connection, think about it, do you want to spend time with someone who is not genuinely interested in what you have to say? You begin to wonder, what their motive is for speaking with you. This places a barrier of mistrust between the two of you. Once this barrier is raised it is very difficult to overcome. Why place yourself at a disadvantage? Just be yourself. People will like you, if you focus on what is important to them they will want to focus on what is important to you and the connection between both of you is established. Listen to Keith Ferrazzi the author of “Never Eat Alone” provide you with additional tips on how to be a successful networker. Remember, networking is the best way to get you connected with access to the decision maker who is looking for you to fill their job vacancy, and this could be your next dream job.

As you probably know, one of the best ways to discover your next dream job is through networking. If you are not sure what Networking is than you can take a look at the post “The Value of Networking” to find out. So many of us would like to network but do not know where to start. Keith Ferrazzi the author of “Never Eat Alone” offers some how to tips in his video. He suggests that you look for any opportunity that will bring you together with people you do not already know.

The underlying idea is to frequent places that will provide opportunities to meet and collaborate with people who are currently doing what you would like to do or whom you share a common interest.

Volunteering – Provides a perfect opportunity for you to work along side a decision maker in a company or organization. It is also a way to demonstrate your dedication to a cause, or issue in the industry that you would like to work in.

Join a Community Organization – This type of position will provide you visibility to a broad and diverse group of people. You will also be in a position to display your talents and skill in an environment that benefits everyone in the community. What a great way to get your name known.

The most important aspect is to share your passion when networking. When you do you are excited and others around you will share in your excitement and enthusiasm.

Looking for your dream job? We all have dreams, big ones, small ones, and middle size ones but if you are like me, you have a problem getting started to make those dreams a reality. I found a free tool to help you get started. Keith Ferrazzi has developed a free tool to help get you on the road to achieving your dreams. You can go to: www.KeithFerrazzi.com/lifecoachtool and follow the instructions. There are 3 steps to take in completing this tool.

Step 1 – Get Focused – Become clear about what you want to achieve.

Step 2 – Diagnosis – What are the behaviors that prevent you from being a success?

Step 3 – Share – Create your dream Team, a group of dream supports that will help you
in this journey.

Listen to the video, use the free tool and you are on your way to finding your dream job.

If you happen to be age 55 and over and live in the state of New Jersey then I have a job lead that allows you to give to others and get paid as well. The New Jersey Workforce Resource Center through the National Council on the Aging has part-time employment and training opportunities in a variety of occupations. If this program sounds interesting to you then contact Ms. Barbara Hall at 908-243-0785, she is located in Somerset County. Ms Hall will inform you if you qualify for this employment and training program.

If you live in another location or state I would suggest that you contact your local National Council on the Aging. This is a national non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of older Americans. Don’t let your talents, work and life experience go to waste, share this knowledge as a trainer. It will give you the opportunity to meet new people and network at the same time and we both know networking is that fastest way to getting your next job. Even if you have never considered training others before you will be surprised at the amount of knowledge and information that you have gathered over the years. I recommend that you look into this opportunity and leave a comment to share your experience with this process. I bet you’ll be glad you looked into it.