Forums And eLists For Networking and Personal Branding

Forums And eLists For Networking and Personal Branding Time to give up one of my personal marketing secrets. Ive kind of written about it here and there, but today Ill lay it out in a simple post. This last year Ive been networking and branding JibberJobber in the same way that you can to benefit your career aspirations (if you are a business, even a small business, I consider this to be guerrilla marketing). In April, my The National Networker article is titled How to be Visible Virtually where I talk about what to do and how to get started. In this post Ill share some specific resources that have proven invaluable to me (Jason is giving up the secret sauce). Ive found two local lists that are worth my time. One is in Atlanta and another is in Houston (I found both via Yahoo Groups). These are not really interactive its mostly job announcements, network events, etc. that I get regularly via e-mail. No one replies and there is no discussion but its excellent to stay current on local opportunities. Heres a taste of what youll get from Trey DeNinas list from Houston: Looking for a CANDIDATE or JOB? This is a great place to go! The Craigs List of Texas -Gary Deen, Recruiter Trey DeNinas Personal Networking Group as heard described on Employment Radio with Rick Gillis. TreyTech@YahooGroups.com TreyTech@yahoogroups.com A Place to Network (FREE). This group was started as a means to help keep Trey and his friends employed†¦.A sort of â€Å"Pay it Forward† type setting†¦No money is generated by this, it just helps keep contacts networked†¦It is mainly for the Houston and Texas regions, but reaches nationally and internationally. Please send an email to Subscribe to: TreyTech-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or search Yahoo groups for TreyTech. HNN Testimonial: It is difficult for me to condense my great experiences working with Trey Denina and being involved in his network. His pay it forward philosophy is not only his thoughts, it is his practice. I was stuck in a company that was not a good match and had worked with several staffing agencies to try and make a change with no success. Thanks to Trey and his TreyTech network, I am now working at a great company, doing what I love, and I am literally minutes away from my home and my sons day-care. Not only has my professional life improved, my quality of life has greatly improved. I love my new job and I love the extra time it affords me to spend with my family. I dont know where I would be if I had not signed up to participate in his network and seen the posting for my new position. The professionals involved in Treys network really care about recruiting and matching quality candidates with quality companies. I look forward to finding more great candidates for my new company through his network of professionals. Thanks so much, Trey you have changed my life!!! Amy Freeman PHR Recruiter for Fluor Corporation Added bonus? Trey actively posts to lots of lists, so getting on his radar (or getting his news) can get the word out to LOTS of people. I frequently see people passing resumes on, which gets in front of lots of recruiters and HR. You should look for something similar where you are (Salt Lake doesnt have one, as far as I can tell) here are some others to get an idea of whats out there: Atlanta Seekers http://groups.yahoo.com/group/atlantaseekers/ Houston TreyTech http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TreyTech/ Southwest States (FL/GA) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/refocusoncareers Here are some lists that are more interactive, not geographic and where you can develop your brand amongst the group members. While you wont see many job opps come through Ive found these to be very valuable in my branding efforts and know that people are developing relationships, getting new business, getting jobs and all that other utopian stuff that we all like to think is still alive. MyLinkedInPowerForum if you are interested in LinkedIn at all, you should be on this list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MyLinkedinPowerForum/ LinkedInBloggers if you blog and want to take it to the next level come learn from some experts (Im not a teacher here, I soak it all in): http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LinkedinBloggers/ AskLizRyan she transitioned from Women In Technology (WIT) to this new venture and has over 30,000 members on her list. Thats huge. The discussion varies from everything to everything but its been a valuable forum (and a great place to ask questions). http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/asklizryan/ YoungPRPros Im almost to old to be here, and Im not a PR Pro but Ive learned a TON from this group, seen a number of leads get passed along and even contributed a bit. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/youngprpros/ Heres a tip you can get a LOT of e-mails from any of these lists. You can set up a rule in your e-mail client to automatically route them to another folder. But Id suggest you get on at least one list and try it out for a couple of weeks you dont have to post anything, just listen and learn and if you can post something intelligently go for it (but try not to look like a dunce). If its too much, simply unsubscribe. So there you go. Simple, really. But Ive seen small miracles happen on these boards for peoples businesses and careers. And this strategy has done wonders for JibberJobber. It takes time! It takes effort! It can be distracting! But its paid off for me and countless others. What lists/groups work for you? Forums And eLists For Networking and Personal Branding Time to give up one of my personal marketing secrets. Ive kind of written about it here and there, but today Ill lay it out in a simple post. This last year Ive been networking and branding JibberJobber in the same way that you can to benefit your career aspirations (if you are a business, even a small business, I consider this to be guerrilla marketing). In April, my The National Networker article is titled How to be Visible Virtually where I talk about what to do and how to get started. In this post Ill share some specific resources that have proven invaluable to me (Jason is giving up the secret sauce). Ive found two local lists that are worth my time. One is in Atlanta and another is in Houston (I found both via Yahoo Groups). These are not really interactive its mostly job announcements, network events, etc. that I get regularly via e-mail. No one replies and there is no discussion but its excellent to stay current on local opportunities. Heres a taste of what youll get from Trey DeNinas list from Houston: Looking for a CANDIDATE or JOB? This is a great place to go! The Craigs List of Texas -Gary Deen, Recruiter Trey DeNinas Personal Networking Group as heard described on Employment Radio with Rick Gillis. TreyTech@YahooGroups.com TreyTech@yahoogroups.com A Place to Network (FREE). This group was started as a means to help keep Trey and his friends employed†¦.A sort of â€Å"Pay it Forward† type setting†¦No money is generated by this, it just helps keep contacts networked†¦It is mainly for the Houston and Texas regions, but reaches nationally and internationally. Please send an email to Subscribe to: TreyTech-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or search Yahoo groups for TreyTech. HNN Testimonial: It is difficult for me to condense my great experiences working with Trey Denina and being involved in his network. His pay it forward philosophy is not only his thoughts, it is his practice. I was stuck in a company that was not a good match and had worked with several staffing agencies to try and make a change with no success. Thanks to Trey and his TreyTech network, I am now working at a great company, doing what I love, and I am literally minutes away from my home and my sons day-care. Not only has my professional life improved, my quality of life has greatly improved. I love my new job and I love the extra time it affords me to spend with my family. I dont know where I would be if I had not signed up to participate in his network and seen the posting for my new position. The professionals involved in Treys network really care about recruiting and matching quality candidates with quality companies. I look forward to finding more great candidates for my new company through his network of professionals. Thanks so much, Trey you have changed my life!!! Amy Freeman PHR Recruiter for Fluor Corporation Added bonus? Trey actively posts to lots of lists, so getting on his radar (or getting his news) can get the word out to LOTS of people. I frequently see people passing resumes on, which gets in front of lots of recruiters and HR. You should look for something similar where you are (Salt Lake doesnt have one, as far as I can tell) here are some others to get an idea of whats out there: Atlanta Seekers http://groups.yahoo.com/group/atlantaseekers/ Houston TreyTech http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TreyTech/ Southwest States (FL/GA) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/refocusoncareers Here are some lists that are more interactive, not geographic and where you can develop your brand amongst the group members. While you wont see many job opps come through Ive found these to be very valuable in my branding efforts and know that people are developing relationships, getting new business, getting jobs and all that other utopian stuff that we all like to think is still alive. MyLinkedInPowerForum if you are interested in LinkedIn at all, you should be on this list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MyLinkedinPowerForum/ LinkedInBloggers if you blog and want to take it to the next level come learn from some experts (Im not a teacher here, I soak it all in): http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LinkedinBloggers/ AskLizRyan she transitioned from Women In Technology (WIT) to this new venture and has over 30,000 members on her list. Thats huge. The discussion varies from everything to everything but its been a valuable forum (and a great place to ask questions). http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/asklizryan/ YoungPRPros Im almost to old to be here, and Im not a PR Pro but Ive learned a TON from this group, seen a number of leads get passed along and even contributed a bit. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/youngprpros/ Heres a tip you can get a LOT of e-mails from any of these lists. You can set up a rule in your e-mail client to automatically route them to another folder. But Id suggest you get on at least one list and try it out for a couple of weeks you dont have to post anything, just listen and learn and if you can post something intelligently go for it (but try not to look like a dunce). If its too much, simply unsubscribe. So there you go. Simple, really. But Ive seen small miracles happen on these boards for peoples businesses and careers. And this strategy has done wonders for JibberJobber. It takes time! It takes effort! It can be distracting! But its paid off for me and countless others. What lists/groups work for you? Forums And eLists For Networking and Personal Branding Time to give up one of my personal marketing secrets. Ive kind of written about it here and there, but today Ill lay it out in a simple post. This last year Ive been networking and branding JibberJobber in the same way that you can to benefit your career aspirations (if you are a business, even a small business, I consider this to be guerrilla marketing). In April, my The National Networker article is titled How to be Visible Virtually where I talk about what to do and how to get started. In this post Ill share some specific resources that have proven invaluable to me (Jason is giving up the secret sauce). Ive found two local lists that are worth my time. One is in Atlanta and another is in Houston (I found both via Yahoo Groups). These are not really interactive its mostly job announcements, network events, etc. that I get regularly via e-mail. No one replies and there is no discussion but its excellent to stay current on local opportunities. Heres a taste of what youll get from Trey DeNinas list from Houston: Looking for a CANDIDATE or JOB? This is a great place to go! The Craigs List of Texas -Gary Deen, Recruiter Trey DeNinas Personal Networking Group as heard described on Employment Radio with Rick Gillis. TreyTech@YahooGroups.com TreyTech@yahoogroups.com A Place to Network (FREE). This group was started as a means to help keep Trey and his friends employed†¦.A sort of â€Å"Pay it Forward† type setting†¦No money is generated by this, it just helps keep contacts networked†¦It is mainly for the Houston and Texas regions, but reaches nationally and internationally. Please send an email to Subscribe to: TreyTech-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or search Yahoo groups for TreyTech. HNN Testimonial: It is difficult for me to condense my great experiences working with Trey Denina and being involved in his network. His pay it forward philosophy is not only his thoughts, it is his practice. I was stuck in a company that was not a good match and had worked with several staffing agencies to try and make a change with no success. Thanks to Trey and his TreyTech network, I am now working at a great company, doing what I love, and I am literally minutes away from my home and my sons day-care. Not only has my professional life improved, my quality of life has greatly improved. I love my new job and I love the extra time it affords me to spend with my family. I dont know where I would be if I had not signed up to participate in his network and seen the posting for my new position. The professionals involved in Treys network really care about recruiting and matching quality candidates with quality companies. I look forward to finding more great candidates for my new company through his network of professionals. Thanks so much, Trey you have changed my life!!! Amy Freeman PHR Recruiter for Fluor Corporation Added bonus? Trey actively posts to lots of lists, so getting on his radar (or getting his news) can get the word out to LOTS of people. I frequently see people passing resumes on, which gets in front of lots of recruiters and HR. You should look for something similar where you are (Salt Lake doesnt have one, as far as I can tell) here are some others to get an idea of whats out there: Atlanta Seekers http://groups.yahoo.com/group/atlantaseekers/ Houston TreyTech http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TreyTech/ Southwest States (FL/GA) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/refocusoncareers Here are some lists that are more interactive, not geographic and where you can develop your brand amongst the group members. While you wont see many job opps come through Ive found these to be very valuable in my branding efforts and know that people are developing relationships, getting new business, getting jobs and all that other utopian stuff that we all like to think is still alive. MyLinkedInPowerForum if you are interested in LinkedIn at all, you should be on this list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MyLinkedinPowerForum/ LinkedInBloggers if you blog and want to take it to the next level come learn from some experts (Im not a teacher here, I soak it all in): http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LinkedinBloggers/ AskLizRyan she transitioned from Women In Technology (WIT) to this new venture and has over 30,000 members on her list. Thats huge. The discussion varies from everything to everything but its been a valuable forum (and a great place to ask questions). http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/asklizryan/ YoungPRPros Im almost to old to be here, and Im not a PR Pro but Ive learned a TON from this group, seen a number of leads get passed along and even contributed a bit. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/youngprpros/ Heres a tip you can get a LOT of e-mails from any of these lists. You can set up a rule in your e-mail client to automatically route them to another folder. But Id suggest you get on at least one list and try it out for a couple of weeks you dont have to post anything, just listen and learn and if you can post something intelligently go for it (but try not to look like a dunce). If its too much, simply unsubscribe. So there you go. Simple, really. But Ive seen small miracles happen on these boards for peoples businesses and careers. And this strategy has done wonders for JibberJobber. It takes time! It takes effort! It can be distracting! But its paid off for me and countless others. What lists/groups work for you?

Esthetician Job Description - Algrim.co

Esthetician Job Description - Algrim.co Esthetician Job Description Template Download our job description template in Word or PDF format. Instant download. No email required. Download Template Using Your Template Follow these instructions to use your new job description template Step one: Fill out all details in your job description template using the provided sample on this page. Step two: Customize your requirements or duties to anything special to your workplace. Be sure to speak with team members and managers to gauge what's required of the position. Step three: When the census of the team has agreed on the description of the work, add in a Equal Employment Opportunity statement to the bottom of your job description. Step four: Check with your legal department, management team, and other team members to ensure the job description looks correct before creating a job advertisement. Choose a job board that's specific to your needs. Related Hiring Resources Esthetician Resume Example Esthetician Cover Letter Sample

Revitalize the Prison to Attract Audiences - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Revitalize the Prison to Attract Audiences - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career The idea was brilliant! The decision makers in San Francisco agreed to transform the famed Alcatraz prison into a space for promoting local artistic talent. No doubt, with the success of the first show, many more events will be held at that location. Whereas the prison was once a dreaded place to be, Alcatraz now attracts many tourists. It has become a unique adventure to board the ferry, and cross the water, in order to get to the island, and see the prison that holds an incredible history. Are you feeling as if your endeavor is holding you prisoner?  What can you do to revitalize the feeling you are  currently experiencing?  Which wishes are yours that just never seem to happen but somehow they are still firm in your mind? Set Yourself Free Review everything you have done up until now. Which elements of your work do you most enjoy, and have had the best reception by others?  Are you able to turn the experiences into new products and/or services?  Do you need partners to help you move forward, and do you have someone in mind that might be the right fit? Reflection on the past usually sparks ideas of where you should be headed. Should you not feel satisfied with your current situation, you have nothing to lose, but everything to gain, with trying something new. That something new may not work exactly as you thought the first time out, but with willingness to tweak and improve, you will get to where it should  be. As others see you taking action on moving business development up a notch, they will be impressed by your dedication and take a keen interest to follow your progress. Three steps are required for successful change: Recognizing the change to be made Call higher ups who hold  greater influence.  The conversation becomes a mini brainstorming session with ideas forming and coming into being.  Then alone time should be spent deciphering which would be the best route. This includes noting required steps, investments, and, listing the perceived outcomes plus your fondest wish list. Implementing the needed change(s) Once the best idea is refined, a leap of faith is necessary due to the unknown factors. A lot of hard work including some trial and error will be necessary to find the better direction. As all of this begins to take place, you will recognize momentum building due to your excitement in communicating the transformation to audiences.   An underlying note to this is that the more you let others know about your endeavor, to be revealed publicly in the future, you become more confident about the reality of it happening. Your confidence builds, which increases further interest in your work.   This is a key mindset shift for business development and audience attraction.   And, this is the point where your personal brand recognition builds as well. Tracking results As your new idea develops into reality, keen interest will be shown by connections and sales to follow. It will be important to track where the most success is found and the “why” behind it.  This is where further new ideas are to be found. The described focused activity will lead you to  the  Smooth Sale!

11 and I am still surprised

17 years after 9/11 and I am still surprised I have been writing a post about 9/11 every year. Maybe because 9/11 comes right around the Jewish High Holidays, I treat my archive of posts a little like a prayer book. I read my favorite the first one because its still incredible to me that I was at the World Trade Center when it fell. I read some of the ones from the years right after that. The blog posts about the trauma of that day are also the posts that remind me of the most intimate times with my Ex. We were both changed people after that day. My Ex started a career in social justice. He risked his own safety to protest false imprisonment. We took in a young kid of a Palestinian activist who was on the run. I stopped being a reliable breadwinner and started writing career advice from my kitchen counter because I was too traumatized to go back to an office and have a career. And we had kids. That moment when I could not breathe. I am not clear, even today how long it was. It was long enough for me to have so many thoughts. First I thought to myself, I should have shut my mouth sooner. You have so much less time to live if your mouth is coated with rubble. Then I thought, I am not going to help the person who is touching my hand. I can barely help myself. Then I thought I am going to die. Its okay. Im okay to die. Then I thought, wait, I should die trying to live. I should just move or do something, anything, to find a place with air. So then I started moving. In pitch dark. With no idea at any given moment what I was touching or standing on. And in all this, still, so many thoughts, an unbelievable number of thoughts, I also had my most vivid, memorable thoughts: That I am so disappointed I would not get to see my life unfold. I was so excited to start a family with my husband. I wanted to see what would happen. Now I know: the gift of life is to get to be part of it. Thats all. Its a joy to see what happens. The best story in the world. But my story is not anything like I expected. I know this is true for everyone. But its still true. I am just so surprised. And I feel guilty to say this I am disappointed. I am so grateful to have lived. Even 17 years later, I cry now. Remembering the feeling when I decided it was okay to die. I would be okay. Thats just how it is. You get that feeling. I know. I had it. I got to live. But I thought I would live a perfect little life. I didnt realize it. I just guess I just assumed. I mean, I think everyone thinks thats what they are missing when they die. I didnt die, so I know what happens. We take family pictures. For the boys. Because even though their dad only lives with us one week out of every five, the boys deserve to feel like a family. I look at that picture and I think of 9/11. This family is what has emerged from 9/11. And its broken. And Im sad. And Im sad that I dont feel more gratitude. I always imagined telling the boys about 9/11. I saved so many things. I saved books full of high-resolution photos. I saved the wastebasket I carried with me for miles and miles. I saved letters school children wrote to me after they read my story. Its good that my shirt and my shoes from that day are somewhere safe at the Smithsonian. Because this year I threw all the other stuff out. We are in a very small apartment in Swarthmore. And the move away from the farm was very difficult. We kept only what we wanted most of all. And what I want most of all is the family. I wanted it most the day I thought I would die as well. So in that respect, not much has changed. I dont want to talk to the boys about the details of 9/11. And to be honest, I dont think they care. They remind me of me, when I was a kid, walking out of the room when someone started talking about Vietnam. Not because it was sad, but because it was annoying; grownups back then never could shut up about Vietnam. My sons sense that 9/11 is an undertone to every memory, every photo tucked safely into the pages of an album. But my sons dont need to look at pictures of the World Trade Center to remember it. We were a family during those early, raw years right after 9/11 and they ask all the time about what that was like. Trauma is genetic. I have read that before. Now I understand how it happens. This is not how I imagined my life would unfold, but I still feel so lucky to be here for it.

Learn About Resume Writing and Cover Letter Techniques From Auburn, AL

Learn About Resume Writing and Cover Letter Techniques From Auburn, ALIf you have ever attended a resume writing and cover letter workshop in Auburn, AL, then you probably know that there are plenty of ways that the information on your resume can be made to look better. Writing a cover letter can take a real load off of your resume, but it's important to know what the types of resume writing and cover letter techniques are available.One of the major influences on what is included on a resume is the use of fonts. When you attend a workshop in Auburn, Alabama, you will be able to learn about the different types of fonts that can improve the appearance of a resume. Learn about some of the more common fonts you can choose from.Sound, Rhythm, and Style: If you want to stand out from the crowd, then you need to make sure that your resume and cover letter are all about sound, rhythm, and style. These three things make up the heart of a resume, but they can also serve as an opening to your c over letter. Attend a workshop in Auburn, Alabama and you will find out what the most important things to think about when it comes to building your resume, covering letter, and overall presentation.The importance of rhythm is often overlooked, but it's something that is vital to anyone who has ever listened to rap music. It's very important that you highlight the best points of your resume in an interesting way, and it's also very important that you learn how to write in a way that makes the points seem effortless. This is very similar to rap music, but it's easier for non-musicians to understand. For this reason, it's a good idea to consider learning the basics of rap music in a workshop in Auburn, Alabama.Remember that even though hip hop is a musical genre, it doesn't mean that it has to have words. There are many rappers who are rapping about specific problems in their lives, but they're not talking about it using any type of language. They're just letting the words come out of their mouth. That makes it easier for those who want to write a cover letter.Rhythm is the key elements of any kind of writing. For example, it's easy to learn how to sing a song. But it's very difficult to learn how to rhyme, as the true skill lies in combining words and phrases. During a resume writing and cover letter workshop in Auburn, Alabama, you will learn about the importance of combining words and phrases that fit together, in a way that makes sense.Learning how to use rhyme to create rhymes is much easier than combining words together in order to rhyme. Many times, if a person is trying to develop a single line of rhyming, it's not a real success. It takes a lot of practice, but it's worth it when you come across a rhyming scheme that works. If you can take a simple word, such as bathroom, and turn it into words like cake, fridge, or bathroom, then you can greatly enhance the impact of the first rhyming word.After attending a resume writing and cover letter workshop in A uburn, AL, you will be surprised at how easily you can master the art of rhyming. After learning the basics of rap music, and mastering the basics of the art of rhyming, you'll be ready to give a presentation in Auburn, AL.

The value behind professional resume writing - Sterling Career Concepts

The value behind professional resume writing The value behind professional resume writing I read aQA post in this past weekends Sunday Journal debating the value of professional resume writing, and I wanted to walk through six scenarios (out of many) where hiring a professional resume writer is worth the investment: Career changers who need to identify,highlight, and draw parallels to transferrable skills. People who have a tough time identifying their own successes. The process of developing your resume with a qualified professional resume writer will help you identify your strengths and accomplishments. This in turnhelps you prepare for interviews. People who arent good at expressing their thoughts in writing. This can include more artisticpersonalities,sales professionals, or those who focus more on the big picture, not the details. People who preferto partner with professionals for their expertise onspecific projects. I discussed this concept in an earlier post, but examples include working with an attorney on your will, a tax accountant to complete yourtax return, a financial advisor for your financial planning or on a more personal scale,an interior decorator, home stager, or wedding planner. The point is yourecognize the value in partnering with experts in specific fields formaximum efficiencyand results. Resume developmentand job searching is an intermittent activity for people. You cant be expected to bean expert in something you last did 3, 5, or 7 years ago, but weare. Its our job to stay on top of trends andbest practices. Someone who has neverneeded a resume for earliercareer moves, but is now faced with the daunting task of creating one from scratch after 10, 15, or 20 years.This can include entrepreneurs, employees of family-owned businesses, or professionals who successfully networked into each of their past positions. Someone whos existing resume is not securing interviews and has tried to make their own improvements. It may be time for a professional second opinion. If you find yourself in this scenario, you have to consider what its costing you to not work with a professional resume writer. What you dont know about resumestrategy may be hindering your job search efforts. One rather large caveat does apply: Not all professional resume writers are created equal. Do your research. Speak to several writers. Review their qualifications. Are they a member of one or more professional associations? Are they certified? What does their background experience include? Do you feel comfortable speaking with them? Are you able to develop a rapport with him/her during your call? The bottom line? Do your research. Tread lightly until you feel comfortable with who youre hiring, but realize that not hiring a professional to help you with your career marketing documents may be leaving you at a disadvantage and extending your job search unnecessarily. Why do that to yourself when you can tap into a writers expert knowledge base. Related posts include: How much will my professionally written resume save me? Free resume critique froma large job board: Proceed with caution

How to Show Culture Fit to a Potential Employer - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

How to Show Culture Fit to a Potential Employer Research shows that 43% of employers view culture fit as the most important factor when assessing a job candidate. Unsurprisingly, you’ll find quite a bit of advice online which claims to reveal how you can show culture fit to a potential employer. However, it seems to me that most of this advice steers you in the direction of being someone you’re not. “Act this way”. “Look this way.” “Demonstrate the company’s values.” “Don’t forget to speak the company’s language.” This type of advice might help you get a foot in the door. it might even help you fit into a company’s culture. However, it’s also likely that you’ll be quite miserable once you’re at that company because you’ll need to put on a mask for as long as you work there. Let me suggest that there’s a better way. In this article I’ll show you how to: find a company where you fit in with the company culture demonstrate on your resume that you’re a good fit for that company’s culture prepare for the culture fit interview So, What Is ‘Culture Fit’? In its simplest sense, it’s an alignment of your values with those of your employer. For example, if the company believes in democracy and loose oversight, it would have a flat hierarchy, with no (or few) line managers; it would give you a lot of autonomy and expect you to be personally accountable for producing results. A culture like this is a dream come true if you tend to be entrepreneurial in your approach to work. However, if you’re used to rigidity, process, oversight and rules, you’d feel quite uneasy in this kind of culture. Why Is Culture Fit Important? Remember, culture fit is as important for you the employee as it is for an employer. You could be the best engineer in the world, but if you believe that fossil fuels are evil, then you’d never be happy at BP, regardless of the position or salary. In other words, your core values must align with the company you want to work for. If they don’t, then no matter how much you want to work there, there’s a good chance you’ll never feel you fit into the company’s culture. Showing Culture Fit In Your Job Application. Now that you understand why you need to show culture fit to a potential employer, it’s time take a closer look at how to do it. Below is a breakdown of 7 key strategies that will help you. Do Your Homework. Step one is simply about developing a better understanding of the company you’re applying to. Here are some ideas to guide you. Company website: Pay special attention to the language used on the ‘about us’ and ‘our team’ pages. Is the tone friendly and relaxed? Corporate and smart? Social Media: What is the tone on Twitter? What kind of articles can be found on Facebook? LinkedIn profiles: Look at the LinkedIn profiles of existing employees. Do they mention the work they do at the organisation? If so, what is said about it? Get experience as a customer: Try to get into the sales funnel if you can (e.g. newsletters, blog subscriptions, website membership) as you’ll get a good insight into how they treat potential customers. Browse Company Reviews on Glassdoor: A kind of TripAdvisor for employers, this review site displays reviews from real staff on thousands of organisations. Don’t simply listen to opinions pay close attention to what kinds of people leave which opinions. Talk to employees: If you can, have a coffee with a current employee. Ask them what the management think is important. What are the core values and do they live by them? Be Sceptical About The Company’s Propaganda. It’s time for a reality check. Be open to the idea that most of the information you’ve uncovered in the step above is false. Company websites tend to be aspirational in nature. In other words, they tend to describe how the company wants to be seen, rather than what it is. Social media activity is not necessarily a sign of a progressive culture. Look between the lines do you see signs of a robust, intelligent social media and content strategy? Or are you looking at results of a “tick-the-box” effort? Be Sceptical About People’s Opinions. When you meet people from a company you’re interested in, make sure you meet more than one. When you meet them, go deeper than polite chit-chat. Your aim is not to get a person’s opinion (those will vary); the real value is in figuring out what kind of people succeed at the company and what kind of people fail. Here are a few questions that will allow you to dig deeper: “What’s your story? How did you end up at XYZ Company?”. This is a useful starting question which can provide you with some insight about the pathways that people take. “What’s the recruitment process like?”. This can give you a heads-up about things you need to prepare / look out for. “Why have you stayed there for this long?” This question allows you to look deeper than “this company is good/bad” analysis. If someone works there because “the company is, like, so cool” and you want to work with people who challenge you intellectually, this could be a red flag. “What is the company up to?”. If a company is not clear on its direction, then the employees won’t be. Do you want to work for a company which isn’t sure why it exists? Also, do the employees genuinely care about the company’s mission, or are just paying lip service to it? “What is annoying/frustrating about XYZ?”. A sign of annoying/frustrating things is not a problem in itself (every company is imperfect). A sign of a culture of complaint is. With this question, you’re essentially inviting the person to complain. Watch their response closely. Do they gossip? Do they blame? “What have you learned / how have you developed since starting at XYZ?”. This will give you insight into how the company develops its people. “If you could rewind time, would you take the job at XYZ again?”. This can provide you with insight into the gap between the company’s promises and realities. This is not, by any means, an exhaustive list. For more ideas, check out this excellent piece about testing for culture fit. Write Your Resume. Once you have figured out what the company’s culture is, and you believe that you and the company are a good match, it’s time to fine-tune your resume. Now, I highly recommend that you begin by having your resume written by a professional resume writer (make sure you read this  guide to choosing the best resume writer), or you spend a considerable amount of time learning how to write a resume and then follow the advice closely. It means you’ll already have a solid resume which communicates your value to an employer. However, some tweaks may be necessary to ensure that your resume is perfectly tuned to each job you apply for. For example: In the ‘Professional Profile’ section of your resume, ensure that you emphasise the values that match the organisations and, if possible, how they tie in with your value proposition as a professional. Make sure your ‘Key Skills’ section succinctly summarises those skills that demonstrate your fit within the culture. For example, are you an empowering leader, entrepreneurial or process-driven. In your ‘Previous Employment’ section, make sure your positions are described using the same language as your potential new employer. Depending on the companies you’ve worked for previously you may need to shake off some of the corporate jargon or lose the creative ‘fluff’. Seriously consider using a different resume for each position you apply for so you can truly align your values. We’re talking subtle variations a full blown realignment would call into question your overall cultural fit. Prepare Your Cover Letter. Your covering letter is another great place to emphasise how well you would fit into a corporate culture. For example, you can use sentences like: “The role of XXXX really caught my eye because [demonstration of a core value].” Or if speculative: “I am now looking for a role in an organisation that aligns with my [demonstration of a core value].” Use the covering letter to reinforce why you’re a great fit. Ensure That Your LinkedIn Profile Echoes Who You Are. Don’t forget about your LinkedIn profile! Ensure that it communicates that overarching narrative of who you are, what you do and how you do it. My advice here is to think about you, rather than the organisation. For example: What are your core values? How do your skills and achievements align with those values? What causes do you believe in and advocate for? What characterises your leadership style? Prepare For The Job Interview. So, you’ve bagged that interview! What now? If you’ve done your homework, this should be the easy part. Remember, your job is not to fit in with the company’s culture (that’s what we all tried to do in high school how did that work out?) it’s to find a company where you’re a cultural match. Therefore, if you remember anything, remember this: avoid the temptation to pretend someone you’re not at all costs. However, do spend some time reflecting on who you are, what you stand for, what you care about and what you oppose. I personally find that going for a long walk in a park or along a beach is the most conducive way of doing this. Carry a notepad and take down insights as they come to you. (Ah, who are am I kidding who carries a notepad these days? Just bring your phone). Finally, prepare yourself for some interview trickery. You’ll find plenty of advice about this online, or hire an excellent interview coach. Think about how you’d answer competency questions angled toward culture fit, e.g. “tell me about a time that your belief in [VALUE] was challenged” or “how would you react if your job role suddenly changed?” Key Point To Remember. Culture fit is as important for you as it is for them. In any interaction, you’re assessing your suitability just as much as they are. There’s little point in getting your dream job if it turns out to be in an organisation that gives you nightmares.