Three for Thursday: 3 Cs of Personal Branding

“If you don’t like what’s being said, change the conversation.”

These were wise words spoken by legendary Mad Men character, Don Draper. They are especially wise in the context of personal branding.

There are many students who have just graduated college this past semester who are now faced with the task of finding employment. With unemployment at 4.9 percent, competition has lessened for many positions and job seekers can be more selective in their employment choices. This doesn’t mean it’s easier to get the job you always wanted. You’re not going to get noticed with the same cookie- cutter business graduate resume that 95% of your peers or going to put out there. So how do you make yourself different? Change the conversation. Create the personal brand that you want employers to see and not what they are expecting. The following are the “Three C’s” of personal branding and they can change the conversation to get you noticed.

Don’t Miss This Week’s Top Job Openings!
Don’t See One in Your Area? View More Here!
Territory Medical Sales – Pensacola, FL – Get Your Medical Career Started!
Project Manager – Cleveland, OH – Apply Now!
HR & Payroll Manager – Westlake, OH – Learn More About This Opportunity

Create

Your Message

It all starts with creating your message.

One of our favorite stories from last year was the story of Nina Mufleh. Mufleh’s dream job was to work for Airbnb. She tried to get in touch with the company through job postings and emails but had no luck. That’s when she decided to think outside the box. She ended up creating a website for herself that highlighted her knowledge of Airbnb and the travel industry, how she thinks they could improve, and how she was qualified to work at Airbnb. Her efforts ended up getting noticed by both Airbnb’s CMO and CEO and she eventually got an interview with the company.

What Mufleh did was create something that no one else had thought of doing and an opportunity presented itself. She realized that there were other people who probably were as qualified or more qualified than herself on paper and she decided to change the conversation to highlight her knowledge of Airbnb and the travel industry. Everyone has a resume and a LinkedIn. What can you create that someone else doesn’t have? You don’t necessarily have to create a website but maybe start a blog that demonstrates your knowledge in a specific area. If you’re a numbers guy, create a new statistical model or formula. Take an area that you are strong in and display it in a way that is original and creative.

Customize

IMG_1246

Creating a unique experience can help you stand out.

A quick marketing lesson: When trying to create brand awareness, one needs a clear message that highlights their brand in such a way that resonates with the target market while differentiating itself from different brands. Let’s use bottled water as an example. Company A might claim that their water comes from mountain springs and is therefore more natural and refreshing than other brands. Company B may claim that the material used to bottle their water is more bio degradable than other brands and is therefore more eco-friendly. Both companies are selling the same product, however they are customizing their message to appeal to a specific target market amongst bottled water consumers.

This is the same process you should be using when applying for a job. How are you going to customize your message and differentiate your personal brand so that it appeals to the company you’re applying for? If you’re applying for a job in sports highlight your athletic experience and how it coincides with the position. If it is an international job, highlight relevant traveling you’ve done and the knowledge you gained from the experience. Overall, you want to establish a brand that is unique and can’t be duplicated by another candidate.

Connect

finger-769300_1280 (2)

Reaching out is key!

If you’ve been following our blog series, you already know that we have touched on the importance of connecting and networking in our “Life After Graduation” blog. It is however well worth our time to reiterate how valuable connecting and networking can be. Connecting is what ties the first two C’s together. You can create and customize your personal brand all you want, but if you do not build an audience your brand and message will fall on deaf ears. Humans by nature do not like unfamiliarity. Make your brand known and easily recognizable. Familiarity is what can separate you from another candidate.

Athletes have a particular advantage when it comes to connecting their personal brands. “Athletes get a lot of chances to meet people in their community. Events like fundraisers and booster events are a great way to integrate yourself into the local community and meet people of influence.” says NexGoal CEO Kevin Dahl. “Mingle, get business cards, and follow up with these contacts.  You have a great opportunity to be put in front of the people that may hire you.  Make a good impression and seize the opportunity!” Putting yourself in situations where you are surrounded by people who have influence can make all the difference in gaining the attention you desire.

Summary

Are you ready to change the conversation and get your dream job? Follow the “Three C’s” of personal branding and you will effectively put yourself in the driver seat of accomplishing your goal.

Take the First Step

Before You Go

View Current Job Openings
Follow NexGoal on Twitter
“Like” NexGoal on Facebook
Connect with NexGoal on LinkedIn

Read More

How Inky Johnson Found Motivation After Life Altering Incident

Usually in our Monday Motivation article, the team here at NexGoal writes an in-depth piece breaking down some aspect of the workplace and how you can utilize it to find motivation and take your career to the next level. These posts have been great, however, our inspiration comes from another source this week.

Featured Job of the Week: Our Client is Hiring a Sales Representative in Strongsville, Ohio. Apply Here! 

While scrolling through Twitter over the weekend, the below video was retweeted into my timeline. It was the story of how former Tennessee Volunteer standout defensive back, Inky Johnson, was on a hopeful path to the NFL—but one hit would change all of that and alter his life in a way he never expected.

Writing the story out does not do his story justice, so you should take the time to watch Johnson tell it in the video below. But as you are watching, I would like to drive home a few key points from Johnson’s story that can apply to your own life.

• No matter how big of a life-blow you are dealt, you have the power to come back from it.
• If a work task seems too challenging at first, take a step back and a deep breath and look at where you can start to accomplish it. Johnson did not get to where he is now overnight.
• At any point if you do not like your current situation, you have the power to change it with hard work and dedication.

We hope you enjoy this video and Johnson’s story. If you would like to share your own motivational story or form of inspiration in your life, email us here.

Before You Go

View Current Job Openings
Follow NexGoal on Twitter
“Like” NexGoal on Facebook
Connect with NexGoal on LinkedIn

Sign me up!

Ready to start your job search? Start by completing our candidate application!

Read More

How to Find Job Seeking Inspiration from NCAA Championship Buzzer Beaters

On Monday night, an incredible NCAA Championship game ended with two of the best shots many of us have ever seen in our lives. If you are anything like me, you probably jumped out of your seat and were ready to take on the world after watching North Carolina’s Marcus Paige drain his three-pointer to tie it, and then seeing Kris Jenkins hit a three-pointer as time expired to give Villanova the win.

If you have not had the pleasure of seeing these shots yet (what rock are you living under, kidding), they are in the post for your viewing pleasure.

When it comes to sports, there is so much inspiration to be provided to those watching. For job seekers who were former athletes, like me you probably felt like you could do anything when this game was over. But what can you really take away from these two shots and apply toward your job search? Well, we have a couple of suggestions for you.

Your job search is never over

The North Carolina Tar Heels were seemingly out of this basketball game, as Villanova looked like they had them on the ropes late in the second half. However, Paige and his teammates kept fighting back—putting themselves in position to tie it up with 13.5 seconds left in the game, down three points.

Sure, Paige’s shot was one of the craziest you may have ever seen—but it just goes to show that if you are willing to do whatever it takes, you can do the impossible. For a job seeker like you, that means if you are willing to put in the time and effort toward changing your career path, you will be able to do so.

Even if the opportunities seem bleak and you feel like you have applied for every job out there, your search is not over. North Carolina could have packed it in and lost this game around the five-minute mark of the second half, but they did not. Even though they ultimately lost, they gave it everything they had. If you do the same in your job search, you will find what you are looking for.

Do not let temporary defeat decide your job fate

On the other side of the court, Villanova gave up the lead and all of the momentum was swinging North Carolina’s way. Then Paige hit that three-pointer to tie the game with 4.7 seconds left, and it looked like the NCAA Championship would be settled in overtime—likely going North Carolina’s way because everything else was the final few minutes.

But Villanova head coach Jay Wright and his team would not let the temporary defeat late in the game decide their fate, as they went back to their preparation to earn the victory. It would have been very easy for the players to hang their heads and throw up some desperation heave, but that was not the case. Villanova knew the play they wanted, and they executed it to perfection, dishing off to Jenkins as the trailer for the open three.

How does this apply to your job search, you ask?

Well it is simple. You know what needs to be done to land the job you are searching for. You need to prepare a typo-free resume, write a well-written cover letter that explains why you want the job and are qualified for it, apply for the job in a timely manner and follow-up after applying. From there if you are selected for the interview, you know you need to be prepared to answer any questions, look the part and dominate that interview. If the interviewer throws you a curveball question, you will be ready for it because you have already prepared for it.

Preparation is key, and while you may have suffered temporary defeat by not being selected for other jobs you have applied for—you will be ready when your number is called. After all you are a former athlete, and you know what to do when your number is called.

Before You Go

View Current Job Openings
Follow NexGoal on Twitter
“Like” NexGoal on Facebook
Connect with NexGoal on LinkedIn

Read More

Job Interview Final Four: How to be Last One Standing

March Madness has certainly lived up to its name this year. A number two seed lost to a 15 seed, six of the seven ACC teams in the tournament made the Sweet 16 and we saw a team lose a 12-point lead in 35 seconds. In the end though, all of this madness has culminated in a Final Four featuring Villanova, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Syracuse.

Among a pool of 68 teams, they are the only four left standing. These teams didn’t necessarily have the best records or highest seeds, but they have won the most games in the tournament and that’s what matters most. Now this weekend, we will all witness who has what it takes to reach the championship.

There are actually a lot of similarities between the NCAA tournament and the interview process.

Hiring managers first select a pool of candidates, and then they slowly whittle it down until they have a handful of final candidates. Like the tournament, final candidates might not have attended the most prestigious college nor had the most work experience, but nonetheless they found a way to demonstrate value over all other candidates.

While it’s a great accomplishment to be one of the final candidates, the end goal is to be the last one standing. At this point in the interview process everyone is going to be good. Details you may not have executed earlier will need to be executed now if you want to create separation from your competition. Here are four tips that can help you stand out from the competition if you find yourself in the “Final Four” of the interview process.

Research the Company

Before any of the Final Four teams play each other, they will all have researched their opponent. They study their opponent’s tendencies, offense, defense, best players and much more. Each team will attempt to be more prepared than their opponent with the hope this extra preparation will make a difference in the final score.

While researching your opponent might not be helpful for a job interview, researching the company is (just like we talked about last week). Companies appreciate candidates who have a good understanding of what the company does and what they stand for. They do not expect the candidates to be experts, but they want to know the candidates are genuinely interested in the company and not just a pay check.

Like the tips in this article? Sign-up for our Career Essentials eNewsletter to get more like this today!

Researching a company is easy. Knowing what you should research about the company is more difficult.

A good place to start your research is the “about” page. While you’re reading this page, pay attention to patterns like repeat words or phrases. If they mention something more than once, it’s probably important. Also, look for a mission statement or the company vision page. Companies want their employees to be the embodiment of these statements. Read this section carefully and figure out how you fit into the statement.

After visiting the “about” page, check to see if the company has a social media presence. If they are active on social media see what kind of campaigns they might have run recently or what projects or products they are trying to promote. Businesses are always impressed if you are caught up on their current events.

Prepare for Questions and Create Questions

As you research a company, you should start to formulate potential questions you could be asked and potential questions that you can ask. Businesses love to test a candidate’s knowledge about a company. They might ask about an area where you think the company could improve or they might ask how you fit into a company’s vision. If you’ve done research, you should be able to come up with clear and specific answers to their inquiries.

The key to preparation for questions is anticipation. As mentioned in the previous section, if a company keeps repeating certain words or phrases there is a good chance they will ask you about it. If there is a new product or process, they will probably ask your opinion about it and if you think it works. Noticing patterns and common themes of the company is essential to getting a leg up in the interview.

Creating your own questions for the hiring authority is just as important as preparing for their questions. There is no bigger mistake you could make than having no questions to ask when you are finished with an interview. Having no questions tells the hiring authority that you really aren’t interested in the position or company. They want to see that you have genuinely thought about the position and the company.

When formulating your questions, try to strike a balance between questions that are related to the specific position you are interviewing for and questions about the company. Asking questions about the position will clarify any misunderstanding you may have with job duties and allow the company to go into greater detail than what might not have been covered earlier in the interview process. Asking questions about the company will help give you a clearer picture of company culture and vision, and show the company a genuine curiosity for what they do.

Body Language

As the saying goes, a picture says a thousand words. The same can be said for body language.

People unconsciously read body language and form opinions while doing so. You can say all the right things, but if your body language doesn’t match what you are saying the message can get lost.

When it comes to body language, the first thing you should focus on is posture. Sit up straight and do not slouch. Slouching shows weakness and submission, which are qualities that employers do not want to see. Also, keep your body language open. Do not cross your legs and arms as that can tell an interviewer you are closed off.

After making sure your body posture is good, focus on your eye contact with the interviewers. You don’t need to burn a hole through them with your eye contact, but be sure to look them in the eyes when they are talking and consistently when you are talking. Not making eye contact is once again a sign of submission and weakness interviewers do not want to see.

The last body language aspect you should pay attention to is your hands. Talking with your hands is fine, but too much motion can distract interviewers. If you going to talk with your hands make sure it is in sync with what you are saying.

Thank Your Interviewers

Your last impression is just as important as your first impression. Always remember you are just fortunate to have gotten the opportunity to interview. They could have chosen anyone else, but picked you. A little gratitude can go a long way when hiring managers are making their final decision.

While thanking your interviewers immediately after your interview is important, it is also important to thank them on a follow up email or letter. It does not need to be long. Simply thank them for their time, and tell them if they need anything else to not hesitate to contact you. If two candidates are a tie in the eyes of the hiring managers, a thank you letter could mean the difference between getting the position and losing it.

Ready to put your new Interview skills to the test? Find a job on our Job Board and apply for it today!

Before You Go

View Current Job Openings
Follow NexGoal on Twitter
“Like” NexGoal on Facebook
Connect with NexGoal on LinkedIn

Read More

Three for Thursday: 3 St. Patrick’s Day Job Search Tips

Today is the day folks. Time to break out your green clothing, head down to your local parade and start drinking green beer before 10 a.m. in the morning, because it is St. Patrick’s Day.

On top of the usual parade and celebratory festivities many of you are going to partake in, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament “March Madness” officially begins the field of 64 today. Put simply, today is probably going to be the most non-productive day of work of the year.

For those of you like myself who are working today and missing all of the fun, I feel your pain—adulting, as the kids are calling it these days, is not always fun. However, someone has to keep the masses informed about how they can get ahead in their job search. Today, that someone is me!

With this in mind and in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, our “Three for Thursday” this week will focus on three job search tips to help keep you motivated on the holiday. Sure, many of you are drinking this morning after taking the day off work—but you can still take advantage of these three tips once you get home from celebrating your Irish (or fake Irish) heritage today.

Keep the St. Patrick’s Day Social Media Pictures to a Minimumsocial post

For those of you who have been reading for a while, you are probably realizing a theme—I tend to harp on social media usage a lot. I am a social media power user, especially when it comes to the world of sports. If you head over to my Twitter handle at any point of the day, you will probably find an engaging interaction with another spirited Cleveland sports fan going on. This is what we call healthy social media use, because at the end of the day the only thing a potential hiring manager can see is that I am passionate about sports and love to engage with my followers.

On days like today though, social media can play a major role in your future job searches—or even whether or not you keep your current job. Think about it for a second, if you called off work today for that “doctor’s appointment” or woke up with a “24-hour flu bug,” you probably should not be posting pictures of yourself with your buddies taking a shot of Jameson or holding a green beer. Just because you think your boss is a dinosaur who does not use social media, does not mean someone in the company is not monitoring it.

When it comes to your job search, my favorite phrase in the world applies. “Something is never really deleted on the Internet.”

So, those tweets and Facebook posts you put up today with you drinking, wearing outlandish clothing and doing who knows what out and about—just because you delete them when you sober up, does not mean someone out there is not going to find them. We live in a day and age of quick screenshots and Google Indexing, so do yourself a favor today and avoid hitting send when you create that drunken post.

Take Advantage of the Day Off by Signing Up for Career eNewsletters

Chances are if you are like me, you receive 100-plus emails a day on your personal account. These emails range from stores sending you offers to articles from your favorite websites, basically we are an on-the-go society so being able to get things delivered right to our phones is perfect to stay informed.

Between all of the online shopping and the articles, I am sure you get other types of emails sent to you—so why not add a Career eNewsletter to the mix? In fact, NexGoal just launched their first ever “Career Essentials” eNewsletter this week, so if you could go sign-up for that one today we would greatly appreciate it!

Sign-up for NexGoal’s Career Essentials Newsletter Here

Are You a Company Looking to Hire Candidates? We Have an eNewsletter for That Too!

Alright, shameless Career Essentials plug aside (but seriously, you should sign-up for it) Career eNewsletters offer a lot of value. Many provide job search tips, success stories and potential job opportunities right in the palm of your hand. Basically, these become a one-stop shop of sorts to jump start your job search. No more procrastinating and putting off your new career efforts—because these eNewsletters have it all.

Network and Talk Shop While You Are Out

I know what you are thinking, who talks work while they are out celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and the beginning of March Madness? Well, more people than you think to be honest.

Last year, yours truly spent St. Patrick’s Day just like many of you are today. In between the adult beverages and the great conversation, somehow I left downtown Cleveland with three business cards for potential business opportunities in the future. There was no forcing of conversation, work just came up naturally in conversation and we exchanged business cards to talk at a later time. Out of those three business cards, one of them turned into an opportunity for some freelance work—a 33.3 percent conversion rate is not bad for a day off work.

Listen, I’m not telling you to spend your entire day networking instead of celebrating. What I am saying is throw a couple business cards in your wallet or back pocket because you never know who you may run into or what kind of conversation may spark up. If nothing comes of it, at least you were prepared for the opportunity and still got to enjoy your holiday.

Before You Go

View Current Job Openings
Follow NexGoal on Twitter
“Like” NexGoal on Facebook
Connect with NexGoal on LinkedIn

Read More