The Undercover Recruiter

Getting the Right Job AND the Right Money

People tend to get consumed in financial compensation in their jobs that they tend to overlook the really important things that will actually provide you with a sense of happiness. Programmes such as The Apprentice enforce the idea that bright sparks can get to the top quickly, with big salaries and big titles to their name. This may well be true and feasible for many, but it’s worth considering the other factors that are involved with job contentment.

There’s more to your career than the money

A company may offer you an incredible salary, but will you actually enjoy your job? As money-driven as we are in western society, we would do well to evaluate our priorities first.

Before you jump for a job strictly based on salary, ask yourself, if this is something you will really enjoy? Is it something you are keen to integrate into your life? Most career jobs by default become something heavily linked to our day-to-day lives.
This is important because in most cases, it’s better to start at a moderate level and work your way up, in which the money will ultimately increase and so will your skill-set and progression.

But money does pay the bills at the end of the day

Now, that doesn’t mean that you should take a lowly paying job in hopes of it one day turn into a top-dog position, but rather, think about how you can create a balance: this is when it becomes important to evaluate the pros and cons.

In one sense, it may be attractive to go for the high paying job, but will you still be at the same salary and position within a year? Or, is it better to take the lower-end of the scale and know that within six-months to one year there are opportunities for advancement within the department or the company! That’s for you to decide, but then this is also time for you to find out exactly what drives you to go to work every day, or what motivates point blank. Often, employees find that they start at the very bottom and slowly but surely work their way to the top, establishing themselves as a core member of the workplace and a loyal one too.

For some people, it’s going into an office where people are motivated and work in a team environment, for others it’s a competitive drive that inspires their work ethic. Either way, it’s important to take note of your wants and needs because you may be over-extending your skills and expectations. The last thing you want to do is to accept a job based on having a high salary only for the company to realise that you are not necessarily a good fit for the job.

Shop around and see what works for you

Whatever you do, just make sure you take all aspects into consideration. Going for the gold means a lot more than the coin, there’s your integrity, reputation, ability and happiness as well –remember your quality of life matters too. Have a real look around before applying; websites like reed.co.uk offer up a wide and interesting range of jobs in financial, creative and media fields, and will illustrate a diversity of roles to think about.

Jorgen Sundberg

The original Undercover Recruiter, after 7 years in tech recruiting Jorgen now runs Link Humans, a social media marketing agency in London.

Filed Under: Career Management, Job Search Tagged With: Job Hunting

Sack Your Boss! How to Become an Entrepreneur in 6 Easy Steps

A career as an entrepreneur is quite lucrative. To become an entrepreneur, you need to have plenty of confidence, motivation and the courage to take risks. In the modern-day world, there are multiple examples of successful entrepreneurs. If the story of an entrepreneur highly motivates you and you dream to make your own mark, you can decide to start on an entrepreneurial journey.

If you haven’t decided to leave work just yet, check out So You Want to Leave a Job You Hate. If you are already on your way, here are the 6 ways to becoming an entrepreneur:

1. Think of a Unique Idea

The journey of an entrepreneur begins with an idea which has the potential to bring success. If you want to prove your entrepreneurial talent to the world, you should start brainstorming to come up with a great idea.

If you are already working in an industry, you should try to figure out the gaps that other businesses have been unable to fill up. Once you have identified the loopholes in an industry, you can rack your brains to come up with an idea in the form of an effective solution.

2. Believe in that Idea

Whether or not you have strong belief in the idea you have come up with can make all the difference. If you don’t believe in an idea really strongly, it will fail even if it was a unique one.

Once you have thought of a great idea, you should have enough confidence to make it work for you. It is your determination which will matter more than actually the idea that you hit upon.

3. Write Out a Plan

To make an idea really work well, you should prepare a concrete plan. Successful entrepreneurs have always put their entire plan in written. Right from creating the product to marketing it to the target audience, you need to focus on every detail. Don’t forget to do extensive industry research to write out a great plan to make the business idea come to life.

4. Get the First Round of Financing

In the initial stage of your entrepreneurial journey, you will need to arrange for the first round of financing. This is where putting your entire business plan to paper comes in handy. When you have a written plan in hand, you can easily put across your point to venture capitalists.

5. Start Working

When you have the finance available to start your entrepreneurial venture, it’s time to prove yourself. Use appropriate resources to accomplish the project within the pre-decided timeframe. You should also have the motivation to overcome the barriers that you might face while moving ahead. Be inspired and continue to move on with a positive attitude.

6. Connect with Other Entrepreneurs

You must have heard the line that ‘being with a winner makes you a winner’. Now that you are in business, you should adopt the habit of networking with other successful entrepreneurs. Networking with other entrepreneurs keeps you motivated as well as abreast of the latest tips and tricks of the trade.

So, are you determined enough to set out on your entrepreneurial journey?

James Tomerson writes regularly on career, education and latest job trends. To read more from him, you can visit Jobdiagnosis.com, which also offers jobseekers a free career test to choose a career which is in tune with their career, aptitude and skills.

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Filed Under: Freelancer Tagged With: Business, Entrepreneurship

Resume vs. One-Page Proposal: A Side-by-Side Comparison.

By: Jerry Bunkers

Getting hired is tough. What’s even tougher is getting hired into a job that you actually want. Between resumes, applications, and cover letters, many job seekers fear that their documents aren’t making the right impression.

Introducing the one-page proposal. Based on Patrick G. Riley’s book, The Resume is Dead!, the one-page proposal is lauded as the solution to the common resume. As CEO of The One-Page Company, I clearly agree.

However, how will people turn to one-page proposals if they don’t know what they are? Better yet, how will they change if they don’t know the difference between that and the resume?

Here is a side-by-side comparison of the resume and the one-page proposal:

1. What are they?

Resumes are traditional. Since the dawn of time, job seekers have used resumes to court prospective employers. They’re commonplace and generally expected in hiring situations.

One-page proposals are new. The one-page job proposal is a relatively new concept and it’s not especially common in hiring situations. Hiring managers don’t explicitly ask for one-page proposals.

2. Focus

Resumes focus on the job-seeker. It’s all about the job seeker. My experience, my skills, me, me, me. The employer oftentimes needs to connect the dots between the resume and the actual job.

One-page proposals focus on the employer. Attention shifts to the employer, company, and position in question. The proposal discusses the company and how the job seeker will fit into the overall picture.

3. Content

Resumes record the past. It’s all about past experience, schooling, and skills developed. It is important for employers to learn about what an applicant has taken away from the past, but are left without an idea of what is to come.

One-page proposals look to the future. Proposals include past experience, but are chiefly centered on what will happen. Applicants tell employers what they will do and how that will happen.

4. Goal

Resumes are broad. It’s not uncommon for a job seeker to use the same resume time and time again for dozens of different companies. The goal is to get a job in an industry, not taking the company or position into account.

One-page proposals are targeted. One-page proposals are meant for one company, position, and reader. They are unique to other applications and get down to the specifics of the position and company.

There you have it. The next time someone asks you about resumes or one-page proposals, you now know what makes each similar and unique.

While I have a fairly obvious opinion about resumes, I feel that job seekers are entitled to a choice in the hiring process, selecting the document that best suits their needs and expectations.

When applying to a job, would you choose a one-page proposal over a resume?

Joanna Riley Weidenmiller is the CEO of The One-Page Company and is responsible for executing the company’s strategic development plan. Prior to launching One-Page, Joanna was the CEO of Performance Advertising. Joanna earned her B.A. in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia and lives between Beijing, China, and San Francisco.

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Filed Under: Resume Tagged With: Resume

How To Market Your Personal Brand Like Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian has a strong personal brand
Have you ever wondered how Kim Kardashian became famous? While some might refer to her as a “television personality” or “socialite,” Kim Kardashian is an archetypical personal brand. From her start in a reality television series to subsequent guest appearances on television shows and in movies, her efforts both on and offline have somehow made many people believe that she is not only valuable, but deserving of her fame.

Whatever your opinion is of the Kardashians, their story is a lesson about the power of marketing yourself. In this job market, a resume isn’t enough to make you stand out, even if it’s done by the best professional resume writing service. But even if you’re not actively looking for a job, when it comes to increasing your exposure to future employers and experts in your industry, it’s important to find appropriate ways to define and project your personal brand.

Find your niche

It’s not flattering to think of yourself as a commodity, but when it comes to getting recognized by employers and influencers, you’re only as good as the value you bring to the table. Most people tend to buy products that are very good at accomplishing one or two tasks. Products that can do many things in a mediocre way are generally not as popular.

Think of your brand the same way. You may know five languages, program in C++, like different types of artisan breads, and occasionally work out. That might make you interesting to your friends, but when you push out too many messages about yourself to your audience, it’s not only confusing, but makes you look unfocused.

Pinpoint one or two strengths that you feel comfortable being the go-to person for. Make sure you’re always up to date on the newest information and trends about whatever you choose as your specialty. For instance, if you decide to promote yourself as a graphic designer, it would be embarrassing if you didn’t know about new Photoshop features and releases. Set up a simple Google Alert to capture information about your specialty from a wide variety of sources.

Promote yourself in the right venues

Online social profiles are certainly nothing new. Sites like KnowEm and NameChk make it easy to claim hundreds of profiles across multiple social networking sites. Claiming your online profiles is a great way to prevent someone from snatching up your identity, but dedicating yourself to maintaining all of these profiles can be daunting.

Rather than spreading yourself thin, use top social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for a more focused reach. You can link updates from all of these accounts rather than posting separate updates on each. To reach a focused audience, pick one or two niche social networks. For graphic designers, MyArtInfo are appropriate communities to actively participate in. If you’re actively looking for a job, make sure the language in your profile reflects your availability without seeming too desperate.

Look for opportunities to network in person via sites like Meetup where you can meet other industry professionals and employers. Most major office supply shops offer business card printing services. Have them printed with addresses of your social profiles to maximize your exposure.

Contribute to the discourse

Employers and recruiters won’t notice you if you simply sit back and read discussion forums. Participate! You don’t have to offer the most groundbreaking view on a topic, but sharing an informed opinion will showcase your expertise. If you’re really stumped on what to add to a discussion, ask the questions no one else is asking.

Remember to keep discussions polite, both online and offline. Once you’ve refined your prowess, it might be easier for you to pick out the flaws in others’ opinions. Employers and influencers don’t like bullies. Politely share your knowledge, and show that you’re someone who can help others with their professional development.

The majority of us won’t be able to market ourselves like the Kardashians. While frantic outbursts, self-indulgence, and vanity work for a small percentage of the population, the rest of us will get further by becoming informed industry experts, sharing our expertise, and demonstrating our value.

To learn more, check out our Personal Branding Workshops running in the UK and further afield.

Leslie Williams is a writer for Jobfox Resumes, the largest resume writing service online. She specializes in using social media to connect to the right job.

photo by: david_shankbone

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Filed Under: Personal Branding Tagged With: Job Hunting, Personal Branding