How About Some Cheese with That LinkedIn Profile Picture

How About Some Cheese with That LinkedIn Profile PictureHow About Some Cheese with That LinkedIn Profile PictureIts the burning topic on everybodys lips these days. No, its notlage about politics, or fashion, or what some superstar is naming their twins. As a senior customer success manager at LinkedIn, the question that I get asked again and again (and again) is should I smile or not in my LinkedIn profile picture?I understand that some people may feel like smiling for the camera makes them appear too laid back- maybe they think it looks unprofessional- and I acknowledge that there are differentshall we say degreesof smiles.Some examples of LinkedIn profile picture smilesTheres the classic Mona Lisa- the wry, I have a secret, and Im not telling you, whisper of a smirk.Theres the closed-lips, I dont really want to smile, but I will grimace.Theres the wonky, I wasnt ready yet grin (not to be confused with the I had a few too many martinis snicker).And then theres the natural, pleasant -faced smile.Ive seen every type of smile used on job candidates LinkedIn profiles. And Ive also heard every reason in the book that people use to justify not smiling in their profile.But heres what I would say to those straight-faced peopleJust. Smile.Heres why you should just smile in your LinkedIn profile picture Whatever your excuse or explanation for not smiling- and Im sure you could come up with a hundred reasons- I would still tell you, with all due respect, you should absolutely, 100 percent, no doubt about it, smileHeres the reason why back in the olden days, like in the 90s, it used to be that the first visual impression that you made on new acquaintances (including hiring managers) was when you met in person. And when you are face-to-face with an arm extended for a handshake, its human instinct to lock eyes and smile.Now, you could get into some National Geographic anthropological analysis and suggest that showing your teeth and engaging in eye contact are primal threats to assert dominance (think of lions and wolves and gorillas- oh my), but most humans have evolved pretty far from chest-beating and growling, so a smile and a firm handshake are perfectly acceptable human behavior these days.But heres the kicker today, in our modern era of the interwebs and social media, oftentimes, the first visual impression youre making on a recruiter or hiring manager is notin person rather, its via your LinkedIn profile or your other social media profiles, which is why you should be cautious about what you share online. But just because the first impression has gone from in-person to online doesnt mean the social norms completely change. This is the reason you should smile in that profile picture. Its the modern-day equivalent to that first handshake.So, my advice? Go ahead and show off those pearly whites and the orthodontia your parents paid for. Its the best way to make a good first impression online. Just like it says in the popsong made famous by Louis Ar mstrong, When youre smiling, the whole world smiles with you. And its trueRebecca Vertucci is a proven expert on recruiting, hiring, and all things LinkedIn. Shes vetted and placed hundreds of candidates while working for corporate HR departments and recruiting agencies before joining LinkedIn where shes a senior customer success manager. Now, as a cofounder ofVertucci Career Academy, Rebecca shares her extensive knowledge and unique perspective with job seekers and those in career transitions through her online course offerings, as well as one-on-one and group coaching programs. For more information on working with Rebecca, please email her at RebeccaVertucciCareerAcademy.com. She offers free career consultations for all members looking to work with a career coach.

Helping Veterans Ride the Wave of Hiring by Uncle Sam

Helping Veterans Ride the Wave of Hiring by Uncle SamHelping Veterans Ride the Wave of Hiring by Uncle SamHelping Veterans Ride the Wave of Hiring by Uncle SamThe July jobs report from the Department of Labor was a little bit of a letdown after strong jobs growth in June. More encouraging to exiting military in particular is a wave of hiring of vets by the feds. However, the federal application process itself remains daunting and off-putting. A certification in federal jobs coaching is available that teaches ways to explain the application process so it is not so overwhelming. A three-time attendee shares some secrets behind her 70-80% success tarif with vets she coaches who are leaving the Coast Guard, as well as tips for other federal jobseekers. The tepid July jobs report released achter monat des jahres 1st was somewhat disappointing compared to a robust June. According to the Department of Labor, just 209,000 jobs were added in July, down from 298,000 in June. Even so, the econo my remains in retitelseitey, and the report noted that Junes 6.1% unemployment was unchanged in July. Meanwhile our nations second largest employer the federal government exhibited steady numbers in July. Uncle Sam continues to employ 2% of American workers. A factor in the shadows of the employment landscape is a boost in hiring of vets by the feds. President Obama has made this a priority. For instance, of the 162,839 new hires the Executive Branch of Government brought in during FY 2013, 50,502 were veterans 31%. In general, unemployment of veterans dropped .9% from 06/2013 to 06/2014 to 5.4%.While vets are being hired by the feds, the application process itself remains confusing, daunting and off-putting. Recognizing this, Kathryn Troutman, a leading federal jobs expert, saw the need back in 2002 to establish a train the trainer program for those who coach people seeking federal jobs. Her Ten Steps to a Federal Job Certification program is one of a kind, and it covers her pro ven step-by-step application process, how to write federal resumes that clearly showcase applicants qualifications, and the ins and outs of the various government hiring programs. To date, it has trained over one thousand job counselors including university counselors of students and graduates, state employment center job advisors, coaches of disabled applicants such as Wounded Warriors, and transition specialists for separating military and their spouses around the world.People are having trouble figuring out the federal application process for themselves, says Troutman. Federal jobs are so desirable, and applying is so complicated, that professionals really do need to get specialized training if theyre going to give advice on getting federal jobs.CJ Johnson, a civilian federal employee, has worked as an Exit Strategist and TAP (Transition Assistance Program) specialist for the US Coast Guard in Alameda, CA since 1996. She has taken Troutmans certification training three times and co-taught it once. Her reasoning for returning? Laws and federal job applications processes change, and Ive wanted to make sure that Im up-to-date, Johnson explains. And her outstanding success rate shows shes a woman who thoroughly understands what she teaches. Its an amazing 70-80%.Whats her secret? Hard work, long hours and a lot of coffee, she responds, only partly in jest. Beyond that, she attributes the framework of Troutmans step-by-step process and the book Ten Steps to a Federal Job. She also emphasizes her own unique performance-based training, where separating Coast Guard work through assignments for each of the Ten Steps in class on computers. For instance, when Johnson walks them through how she set up an account in the federal jobs site, USAJobs.com, her students set up their own. Her three-day class takes students through modules that cover the entire federal application process.Here are tips for vets and other fed jobseekers from Johnsons approachTip 1 Highlight ev erything youve done on the job announcement and the USAJobs questionnaire.If the highlighting of both is 80% or more, then youre the perfect candidate, Johnson advises. Her students delete anything not highlighted, and the leftover wording is used as a basis for a resume that proves they can do the job.Tip 2 Attach your resume, rather than using the resume builder in USAJobs.The process of entering your resume into the builder can get very convoluted, Johnson notes. I recommend attaching it unless the job announcement requires use of the builder.Tip 3 In your resume, be sure to include the results and impact of the work you did.Look for numbers, dollars, percentages of increase/decrease, results, and the impact that the result caused.Tip 4 Dont be afraid to blend your personality into your resume.In her classes, Johnson gives each student a personality assessment. The result gives them a stronger sense of their strengths, adds color to resumes, and provides a framework for answer ing interview questions.Tip 5 Prepare 10 good stories to tell during the interview.They should relate to the duties of the targeted job. Stories may come to you as youre writing the resume and adding results and impact. Basically, youre preparing to give the interviewer what they need.Tip 6 Know your worth and learn how to negotiate.In the classes, Johnson spends a lot of time looking at the money angle and the best ways to negotiate salary. It comes down to seeing and showing that your knowledge, skills and abilities match the salary youre asking for. Know what you bring to the table, she urges.Johnson shares that students tell her she makes the process fun. This goes well with Troutmans goal for the Certification program. Applying for a federal job is very, very complicated, says Troutman. We teach how to coach someone on the federal application process so that its not so intimidating.The Certification training is provided through three-day in-person workshops or seven 90-minute webinars. It is in-demand training that has been given to every military base in the Navy, Army and Coast Guard worldwide. For more information, go to the Federal Career Training Institute.Kathryn Troutman is known as the Federal Resume Guru and is the developer of the Ten Steps to a Federal Job. She teaches hundreds of career counselors each year about her highly acclaimed methods of federal job search and has published dozens of titles, including the recent award-winning Students Federal Career Guide 3rd Edition.

How to Get a Job as a Nanny

How to Get a Job as a NannyHow to Get a Job as a NannyAre you interested in working as a nanny? Wages for premium nannies have been increasing steadily over the last couple of years. For many nannies, the position comes with great benefits, such as off-duty use of the car, health insurance, and paid vacation time. As with housing costs, the wages for nannies tend to fluctuate greatly depending on location, with big cities (e.g., New York, San Francisco, D.C.) having higher pay than smaller cities. Is a job as a nanny right for you? Learn more about the typical responsibilities and wages for this position, as well as where to find jobs, below. Nanny Job Qualifications Obviously, the first criteria is loving children. Experience working with children is a must (babysitting counts). For positions caring for infants, documented infant care experience is often a requirement. A degree in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education, or some coursework in either area, is a signific ant plus. The more education and experience you have, the higher your earning potential. For example, the English Nanny and Governess School offers a certificate program including courses on child behavior and development, child care, and cultural development. Several references will typically be required. Some organizations will require applicants to have CPR or first aid training and certification prior to placement. Depending on location, nannies may be required to have a drivers license and accident-free driving record. Nanny Job Listings How can you get hired as a nanny? You will find nanny job listings in the classifieds of fruchtwein majors newspapers. However, many nanny positions are filled by agencies. If you do decide to work with an agency there should be no fees charged to the prospective nanny- all fees should be paid by the employer. The International Nanny Association has published guidelines that member agencies should follow. When working with an agency, review these guidelines to make sure your agency is handling your application and placement appropriately. Dont be afraid to request references- ask to speak to nannies who have been placed by the agency you are considering using. If you are interested in working internationally, visa restrictions apply in many cases. The agency you work with and your sponsoring family should be able to help you obtain the required documentation. Escape from Americahas employment, immigration and embassy information for a lengthy list of countries. Nanny Interview Tips Whether you are interviewing for a nanny job or hiring a nanny, its a good idea to review sample interview questions so you can prepare in advance for the interview. The most important questions will revolve around the skills, education and experience that are essential to do the job well. Other questions include availability for work, the tasks that need to be done on the job, how to handle children in difficult situations and emergenc ies, and childcare philosophy. Its important that both the nanny and the parent(s) have a similar approach to raising children, so the children are treated consistently. For both nannies and parents, one of the most important criteria is that there is a good match between the nanny and the family. The more questions that are asked during the interview, the more you will learn about each other and the easier it will be to make a hiring decision. In addition, setting up a time for the applicant to meet with the children prior to offering the job to see how the nanny and child(ren) interact is another way to help determine if there is a good fit for all. Nanny Interview Questions Why have you chosen to become a nanny?What do you find most appealing about working with children (of specific ages)?Have you ever had to handle a medical emergency? What was it? How did you handle it? What was the outcome?What is your ordnungsprinzip of discipline?Would you be willing to work with the fam ilys system of discipline, once you fully understand it?Do you have CPR and first aid training?What would be your typical daily routine with an infant?What would be your typical daily routine with a pre-schooler? What would the before and after school routines be with school-age children?Are you comfortable preparing meals, and doing light housework around the house with the children?Do you prefer a live-in or live-out arrangement?Are you willing and available to travel with the family on occasion?Are you available for overnight or weekend stays?Are you willing to watch an extra child if a friend comes over?Do you have early childhood education or certification?How would you deal with a child who is physically aggressive towards you? How would you deal with a child who is physically aggressive towards other children?What would you do to draw out a shy child?What is your strategy for maintaining authority when you are out with the children? How does it differ from your strategy in th e home?How would you handle a child who has been sent home from school with a discipline problem?How would you handle a child using profanity, with you or his/her peers?How would you handle a young child touching themselves inappropriately?How would you handle a school-age child touching themselves inappropriately? How would you answer a young child who asks where babies come from?What kind of a discussion would you have with an older child who asks questions about sex?If a child was seriously hurt while in your care, what would you do first?What would you do if a child refused to go to school?What would you do if you saw a child behaving inappropriately (cheating, bullying) with his/her peers, but they werent aware that you saw? Would that be different from what you would do if they knew you were there?Have you ever bullied or been bullied? How does that color your attitude towards bullying? How do you feel about non-traditional families?Do you feel that you have any prejudices tha t could influence the way you would deal with certain situations, families, or children?How do you feel about multicultural families?What are your thoughts on interracial adoption?Do you believe that children should have age-appropriate household choresto complete?What types of chores do you think are appropriate for (pre-school, school age) children? What rewards do you find are effective for different ages? Is it more important for a child to be panzerschrank or happy?How do you try to balance playtime with chores and schoolwork?When would you be available to start?Can you provide me with a list ofpersonal references?Do you have any questions for me? Salary Information The International Nanny Association does a yearly survey on salaries and benefits for nannies. According to the organizations most recent survey, the average hourly salary is $18.77. While most nannies are paid an hourly wage, a significant percentage (27 percent) are paid a weekly rate. Wages are correlated wit h experience and education- nannies with more experience or education receive a significantly higher wage.?