Philanthropy as a Strategy for Getting Ahead

by Debra B. Davenport, for Yahoo! HotJobs


We've all heard that it's better to give than to receive and that we get by giving -- but did you know these adages are especially true when it comes to your career?

For those who feel especially fulfilled by giving back and reaching out to those less fortunate, your worthy efforts can also make a meaningful contribution to your professional development. Following are ideas that might spur your to action.

Volunteer

Volunteering provides an excellent opportunity to "try on" a new job or career to see if it fits. If you're pondering a career change, take a volunteer role in the types of positions you're investigating. Considering a new career in public relations? Volunteer to write a press release for a nonprofit's PR department.

Looking into teaching careers? Volunteer in a community outreach and educational program and help deliver seminars to those in need. Most charitable organizations offer an abundance of possibilities for people looking to build new skills, develop contacts and investigate new career paths.

Be Strategic

Strategic philanthropy can put you in the power seat. Of course you want to support those organizations that have special meaning to you. But you don't have to limit the scope of your involvement. For example, don't be shy about offering to serve on boards of directors. Often, charitable organizations are hard-pressed to find dedicated people to help lead their efforts.

Contact the current chairperson and inquire if a board position will be coming available. If so, express your interest in serving and perhaps suggest a lunch meeting to start building that relationship. Alternatively, volunteer to spearhead a committee or major project. Everyone involved will naturally be contacting you. This is a great strategy for putting yourself out there and helping people get to know you and your talents.

What Are You Good At?

Sharing your natural abilities can take your career to the next level. Do you have great people and sales skills? Raise money! You can gain considerable media coverage and cachet in the professional arena by generating noteworthy donations. Make note of your community's "heavy hitters." Some of the most notable people in your area may have achieved their status through fundraising for their favorite charities.

Keep in mind, too, that as a fundraising representative for your favorite cause, you now have a legitimate reason to contact key people whom you may not have felt comfortable approaching before. Successful fundraising is also often acknowledged through a variety of awards programs. Imagine how gratifying it would feel to be honored with an award for your selfless efforts!

Generosity Opens Doors

One more tip: Although it's not widely talked about, many high-powered philanthropic positions are "pay to play." You either need to make a significant donation, or you need to raise substantial funds in order to have the opportunity to network in the more exclusive circles. Be discreet when inquiring about an organization's upper echelon and remember that, first and foremost, you're there to serve.

The caveat: It goes without saying that true altruism comes from the heart and a genuine spirit of giving -- anything less is merely self-serving.

Debra Davenport is president of DavenportFolio, a licensed firm with offices in Phoenix and Los Angeles that provides high-level career counseling and Certified Professional Mentoring to professionals and entrepreneurs. She is the creator of the Certified Professional Mentor(R) designation, and you can contact her at debra@davenportfolio.com.

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Sample Cover Letter (Copywriter)

by Vault.com


The following is a sample cover letter from an aspiring copywriter. Use this example as a starting point for ideas on building your own cover letter.


November 8, 2003

Art Director
Polymer Productions
Fax (817) 482-9025

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am writing in response to your advertisement in the Columbia Journal Classifieds for a copywriter. I am a copywriter with 8 years experience conceptualizing and producing engaging copy for catalogs, annual reports, brochures and all types of collateral material. Besides this my writing abilities have helped me create original works of art for clients like Mead Coated Papers and Oxford Healthcare. I am well-versed on both in MS Word and WordPerfect, on both Macintosh platforms.

Much of my work has been crafted for the following clients:

    * Macmillan Reference Library
    * Watson Guptill Publications
    * Mead Coated Papers
    * Cambridge Healthcare
    * W.W. Norton
    * Hawaii University Press
    * Arcade Fashion & Lifestyle Magazine

I have confidence in my ability to produce powerful, gripping copy for your organization. My experience allows me to complete any project from concept to the final stages at a fast pace to meet deadlines, and to package it for the World Wide Web.

I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Raleigh Collins

Vault.com is the Internet's leading destination for career advice and insider company information. Vault offers continually updated "insider" information with its exclusive employee surveys on over 5,000 companies.

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Networking in the Web 2.0 World

by Ronald Mitchell, for Yahoo! HotJobs


According to LinkedIn, a business social networking site, I have 541,900 people in my network.

I am certain that I don't actually know that many people, but the wonders of social networking have enabled each of us to build networks of this scale. Because Web 2.0 has given us access to a limitless number of people, networking becomes less a function of who you know and more a matter of who knows you.

To be an effective Web 2.0 networker, you must act as your own personal public relations director. In order to be recognized among thousands of possible connections, you must craft and communicate an image for yourself as if you were a premier consumer brand like Coke, Disney, or American Express. In a world where information and people are one click away, positive results from a Google or Yahoo! search on your name can be much more powerful than a handshake or short conversation.

Below are three tips you should employ when networking in a Web 2.0 world.

Highlight Your Successes

Everyone loves a winner. If you can demonstrate that you are one, you will find that people will be helpful to you, despite the fact that they have never met you. However, their level of assistance is often based upon what they can infer from information readily available on the web. Consequently, highlighting your successes in online profiles becomes essential.

Your success may take the form of attending a great university, working for a premier company, or achieving recognition within some extracurricular activity. Don't worry about being perceived as a braggart. The more highlights you can provide the better, including recommendations from business associates and listings of awards and accolades.

Show the Right Relationships

Transparency is the rule in Web 2.0. Through an online profile, virtual strangers can often view intimate information about you and your network. If you have the "right" individuals in your network, you may find that people want to know you simply because of who you know.

When building your connections, spend less time accumulating the greatest number of "friends" and focus on showing the right ones. You should be certain to include two types of people: those who are decision-makers in their specific discipline, and those who have unique access to information and other individuals.

Providing Regular Updates

Public relations is about communication. Your Web 2.0 communication should regularly provide your network with updates on all aspects of your career. Updates may include switching jobs, changing geography, or closing certain deals. If possible, you should craft these updates in a way that conveys how people might be helpful to you.

Be descriptive in your updates. For instance, "Moved to Chicago for new opportunity" is not as effective as "Moved to Chicago to pursue business development opportunities in financial services."

With the Internet the world has changed, and so must your networking strategy. It's not all bad. Just think about how many painful cocktail parties you would need to attend to meet 541,900 people.

Ronald Mitchell is the co-founder and president of CareerCore LLC, a comprehensive career development web-based platform for students and young professionals.

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Nine Common Video Resume Mistakes

by Joe Turner, for Yahoo! HotJobs


A video resume could get your foot in the door of that "just right" company. Don't end up with egg on your face, though. Before you make that video, check out these nine common mistakes and how you can avoid each one.

1. It runs too long: Don't bore the hiring managers. Your video should be a short, inspiring pitch for looking at you as a candidate. Think "Less is more." Keep it under two minutes; preferably about one minute should get your message across.

2. You don't know who you are: Prepare your "elevator pitch" before you record. Commonly known as a USP, or Unique Selling Proposition, this is a one-sentence pitch that tells the single biggest benefit that you bring to a potential employer.

Here is an example: "I'm a seasoned sales manager whose strength in creative sales and marketing techniques generated $500,000 in brand-new revenue for my employer in 12 months."

3. Thinking a video resume is your resume on video: Contrary to its name, a video resume is NOT a resume. It's a 30- to 60-second ad spot to entice your viewers to look at your (digital) resume and find out more about you.

4. Rambling on camera: Put it on paper first. Think of what you want to say about yourself. Write it down in short sentences then say it aloud. Replace any syntax problems or phrases that are hard to enunciate clearly. You speak differently than you write, so keep it in a conversational tone as if you were speaking to your real-life interviewer a few feet away.

5. Too many "ums and ahs": Don't wing it. Your finished product should be compelling. This is the most professional image you want to present, so prepare ahead of time and memorize your script. This won't be hard, since it should only be about a half to three quarters of a page in length and only cover a few simple points. Remember, you won't have notes in the interview room, either.

6. Severe case of "serious face": Have a bit of fun with it. You want to project enthusiasm. Think "upbeat" and smile when you look into the camera. Imagine that you are meeting with a flesh and blood hiring manager at a great company who already likes what she sees.

7. Giving far too much information: Remember the "KISS" formula (Keep It Simple, Stupid). You want to whet their appetites to know more. Give them just enough info to tantalize them. End with an invitation to check out even more interesting information on your resume.

8. Uninviting appearance: Remember, a video resume is a type of interview, so dress the part. Give the appearance of someone in the role you're applying for. You will also have some background showing on the video. Make sure it's not your dirty laundry or the clutter of your bedroom. Try standing against a relatively bare wall. You want them looking at you and not what's behind you.

9. Too many "clowns": No arms folded or hands on hips. While it's OK to use your hands to accentuate, watch out for those "clowns." These are what acting coaches call unnecessary arm movements which, on playback, tend to make you appear like a clown. You don't want unintentional laughs. Keep your arms and hands by your side as much as possible.

As a recruiter, Joe Turner has spent the past 15 years finding and placing top candidates in some of the best jobs of their career. Author of "Job Search Secrets Unlocked," Joe has been interviewed on several radio talk shows. Discover more insider job search secrets by visiting his site.

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Tips for a Safer Job Search

by Yahoo! HotJobs


Yahoo! HotJobs strives to provide you with the widest range of job opportunities available online. Unfortunately, fraudulent job listings might appear from time to time. Posting fraudulent jobs violates Yahoo! HotJobs' Terms of Service and might be a violation of federal or state law.

To protect yourself from fraud, Yahoo! HotJobs encourages you to:

• Make informed decisions before sharing your Social Security Number with a potential employer. Most employers will not ask for personal information until you arrive at their offices for an interview and are given a formal job application, so be wary if you are asked to give your Social Security Number by phone, email, or online.
• If you have doubts about a company's legitimacy, research the company using web sites operated by the Better Business Bureau and the United States Federal Trade Commission.
• Refrain from providing credit card or bank account numbers or engaging in any financial transactions over the phone or online with a potential employer/recruiter.
• Withhold offering personal information (such as marital status, age, height, weight). Such questions might violate federal hiring standards, and job seekers are not obligated to answer them.
• Exercise caution when dealing with prospective job contacts outside of the United States.* If you suspect that a job posting is fraudulent, please contact Yahoo! HotJobs.

If you think information about you might have been used illegally, report the details to your local police immediately and contact Yahoo! HotJobs.

To learn more about protecting yourself from fraudulent job postings, please consult the following resources:

    * Better Business Bureau
    * U.S. Federal Trade Commission

To get more information about protecting your online privacy, visit the Yahoo! Security Center.

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Bolster Your Resume With a Career Record

by Peter Weddle, for Yahoo! HotJobs

Most of us spend the majority of our waking day at work, and the only record we have of that time and effort is a resume. We invest inordinate amounts of energy and emotion in our employment and memorialize that commitment in a document that is often out-of-date and incomplete. When we rely on a resume alone to manage our careers and celebrate our success -- we sell ourselves short.

In my view, all of us should maintain two employment-related documents: a resume and something I call a career record. What's the difference? Take a look below.

Your Resume

    * It's normally written and/or updated only when you are actively looking for a job.

    * Its purpose is to sell you to an employer by describing what you've done in the past that might be useful to the organization in the future.

    * Writing it is about as much fun as getting a root canal.

Your Career Record

    * It's written continuously and reviewed quarterly. Think of it as a diary of your progress and your success in the world of work.

    * Its purposes are (1) to help you recognize and celebrate your career victories (i.e., your achievements at work) and (2) to determine if your career is in good shape or in need of an overhaul. In other words, a career record is written for you and describes what you've done for yourself.

    * Keeping a career record is a fulfilling and self-motivating experience. It enables you to pat yourself on the back regularly (or give yourself a pep talk, if that's what is necessary) and set your sights on new goals at work that will lead you to additional career victories.

Now, I know what you're thinking: it's hard enough to write a resume and keep it current, so why am I'm proposing that you double the effort? Because, in addition to being a personal pat on the back (which is, itself, the foundation of a healthy career), a career record can also make writing a resume infinitely easier.

Customize Your Resume

In the past, recruiters were willing to accept a generic resume from job seekers, as long as you were applying for positions within the same industry and/or career field. They knew how hard it was to produce even a single version of that document, so all they asked was that you include a cover letter to highlighted those aspects of your record that were important for their particular opening.

Today, unfortunately, that kind of flexibility is gone. Thanks to the Internet, recruiters are receiving hundreds, often thousands of resumes for a single opening. They simply don't have the time to read between the lines and ferret out your qualifications for their opportunity. Moreover, recruiters know that your resume has been produced on a word processor where it can be easily and quickly modified. As a result, they now expect your resume, itself, to be tailored to the specific requirements of their opening and your cover letter to reinforce its key points.

Two Tailoring Approaches

    * One is to customize your generic resume. You simply add a little more detail to those points in the resume that are important to an opening, and subtract detail from or delete altogether those points that aren't important. While this approach can be relatively quick and easy, it is also likely to under-represent your qualifications. Instead of picking the best of your background for a position, you're nipping and tucking at what's immediately available.

    * The second is to tailor your resume from the bottom up. Admittedly, that would be a difficult and time-consuming task if you had to sit down and start from scratch. But you don't; your career record is a complete and up-to-date inventory of your skills, expertise, and experience. It enables you to pull out all of the factors that are most important to winning the job you want and to incorporate those factors in your resume quickly and easily.

A resume remains the lingua franca of job-search success in the world of work. For a resume to communicate your credentials effectively, however, it must be tailored to the specific requirements of a position vacancy. A career record enables you to accomplish that tailoring to your best advantage.

Peter Weddle is an author, recruiter, and HR consultant. He also runs the Weddle's career resource site.

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Learning the Rules for Raises

by Margaret Steen, for Yahoo! HotJobs


You've been working hard earning praise from your boss and co-workers. So when will those kind words translate into more money? To find out, start by arming yourself with facts -- about how your company works and the strength of the labor market.

A Complex Equation

U.S. companies will increase their overall salary budgets by 3.9 percent in 2008, the same as in 2007, according to the WorldatWork Salary Budget Survey. The salary budget is the total amount of money a company has for merit increases or cost of living adjustments.

How large a raise you can expect -- and when -- can depend on many factors beyond whether you're performing well: your company's culture, its financial performance, and how much you make compared with your peers, for example.

Get Details from the Boss

It's always a good idea to have a general talk with your boss about how and when raises are handed out. "Good bosses would be very open to having that conversation," said Gail Ginder, a leadership coach in Healdsburg, California. Ask what it takes to get a raise, when decisions on raises are made, and how you can find out if you're on track.

"They really need to find out what it is they can expect," Ginder said. Even changing bosses within one company can mean a different set of criteria, if the company gives managers a lot of latitude in awarding increases. If your boss doesn't know, someone in human resources should be able to answer your questions.

Every Employer Is Unique

Bear in mind, though, that some companies are more organized than others when it comes to pay increases. Some simply give everyone average raises, said Shari Dunn, managing principal of CompAnalysis, a compensation and HR consulting firm in Oakland, California. Others are trying to move away from giving everyone an annual increase and instead look at whether you're being paid what the market says your work is worth.

At many companies, raises depend on a mix of your performance and how much you make compared with others doing the same job. You may find that if you're nearing the top of the pay bracket for your position, you'll need to earn a promotion to get a raise.

For example, Dunn said, an average performer who is paid an average salary for employees at that level would get an average raise, but an average performer who was paid near the top of the company's range for his or her job would likely get less. A top performer who is paid less than others in the same job could be in line for a larger-than-average raise.

"The linkage to performance is sometimes tenuous," Dunn said.

Demonstrate Your Value

While you're asking your boss to explain how raise decisions are made, should you also ask for a raise? Again, it's important to know how your employer operates.

Large, traditional companies and government agencies often use clearly defined processes to determine raises, and asking for more money mid-year will just make you seem out of place. On the other hand, more entrepreneurial companies may be more open to requests for raises -- as long as they're backed up by solid data about your performance and what it's worth, not just a list of things you'd like to buy if you had more money.

"Employers like ambitious employees, especially if they're good performers," Dunn said.

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