Helene Lerner's Blog, page 183

Career Coach: Maximize Your LinkedIn Impact

In my first post of the month, I wrote about the importance of crafting a terrific LinkedIn profile. In this one, I am going to give tips on using LinkedIn for networking and for your job search. 

Connect, Connect, Connect with everyone you know—colleagues, former colleagues, peers, former professors, etc. Any time you meet someone new, grab their business card and make sure to connect with them on LinkedIn with an inbox message saying “Nice to meet you” and remind them that you are looking for a position in their industry.

Use the Search Features. LinkedIn’s job postings not only list available jobs, but tell you who you are connected with at those companies. Use those connections to help you contact the decision makers directly or get appropriate introductions made through third-party connections.

Follow Companies you are interested in. Use the LinkedIn company pages to find companies within your field where you’d like to work. Click “Follow Company” and news about that organization will appear on your homepage to keep you posted on any new job listings or important events at the company.

Be an Expert. Use LinkedIn as a tool to brand yourself as an expert in your field. Share links to relevant articles in your field, news about seminars or workshops you are attending and news about your career or company.

Prepare for Job Interviews. Prior to any job interview, be sure to check out the profiles of any people you are scheduled to meet. Read about their background, groups they are affiliated with, even the college they attended. You can be sure they are looking at yours too! 

Good luck, and don’t forget to connect with me on LinkedIn!

—Pamela Weinberg, Career Coach

Career Coach: Spruce Up Your LinkedIn Appeal

A large part of my career coaching practice is geared toward helping clients build their social media profile. One of the best ways to accomplish this is through creating a top notch LinkedIn profile that showcases skills, experience, recommendations and accomplishments. LinkedIn is used by over 90 percent of hiring managers, so it is more important than ever to have a strong presence there.

Photo. One of the most important parts of a LinkedIn profile is the photo. I have had many clients ask if a photo is really necessary. Yes! A photo is a must—if there isn’t one, it begs the questions, “why not?” The photo need not be professionally taken, but should look professional. Business attire and a clean looking background are perfect.

Professional Summary. The “professional summary” section typically requires the most work. This is what sets one candidate apart from another and where skills, experience and expertise are blended together to tell “your” story. Be sure to know your unique selling points.

Keywords. Keywords add another important layer to the profile. Many hiring managers or human resource personnel use computer programs set up to match key words in the job description with key words on LinkedIn profiles; so having the “right” key words for your expertise is paramount. Have key words in your “skills” section and in your professional summary to insure that your profile gets seen.

Recommendations. Recommendations from former bosses, colleagues and peers help to round out your profile. It is suggested to have one recommendation for each position listed on your profile.

Remember to update your LinkedIn profile regularly and to update your status by attaching links to pertinent articles.

Check in tomorrow for more on how to use LinkedIn for your job search.

—Pamela Weinberg, Career Coach

Dare to Know: Joanne Bamberger Pushes for Women in Politics

When Joanne Bamberger—a former broadcast journalist and lawyer—first became a mother and focused her efforts on politics, she discovered that there weren’t many other mothers expressing their political beliefs. “Only about 17 percent of op-eds published in major newspapers are written by women, and those outlets are the ones that influencers and opinion makers focus on,” Joanne claims.

As a response to this lack of representation, Joanne created PunditMom, a political blog that focuses on the intersection of women and politics. The blog was a success; Joanne has since authored her first book, “Mothers of Intention: How Women & Social Media are Revolutionizing Politics in America” and contributes regularly to sites such as POLITICO’s The Arena, Huffington Post and Babble.

Like most political commentators, Joanne has concentrated her focus over the past months on the presidential election. The importance of women in this election, Joanne says, is more important than ever. “Statistics show that mothers are the key vote to winning elections, yet as a group, we are often pigeonholed into stereotypical groups, like ‘soccer moms.’ I have written often about the fact that politicians are missing a true opportunity to connect with an important demographic because they are not engaging with us in a real way,” she explains.

And with jobs as the major issue during this election, reproductive rights, equal pay, health care and family leave have not gotten enough attention. “The job situation will never be resolved unless women have a more equal playing field with men,” Joanne says.

The best way for women to prove that their voices are powerful is to get out and vote on Election Day, Tuesday, November 6. Regardless of who you vote for, taking to the polls will prove that women are not a category to be easily forgotten. “Women are the majority of registered voters,” Joanne states. “It’s not hard to see that if all women turned out to vote, they could make major changes in this country.”

—Lindsay Putnam

Career Coach: Welcome to November!

Hi, I am Pamela Weinberg, a Founding Partner of Mind Your Own Business Moms, a business dedicated to helping women in various stages of career development. In addition to my work at MYOBmoms, I maintain a career coaching practice working with clients to help with job searches, career advancement, social media and more. I am also an adjunct instructor at New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies in the field of Career Management, offering a variety of seminars and workshops there.

I speak frequently both to students and alumni at universities such as NYU and Columbia, as well as to corporate executives on “Personal Branding,” which is a passion of mine. I run workshops, seminars and lead webinars on topics such as “Personal Branding for Job Search” and “Redefining your Identity after Raising a Family”.

Through my work at the Wasserman Center for Career Development at New York University and the Office of Career Management at New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies, I have gained valuable experience counseling a diverse population from undergraduate students to career changers. At both institutions, I work with clients on résumé development, interview techniques, networking tips and job search strategies.

I am looking forward to being the featured career coach at WomenWorking for November. I look forward to your comments.

—Pamela Weinberg, Career Coach

Offer a Random Act of Kindness

We need more random acts of kindness, and it is up to each of us to reach out and lend a helping hand.

In light of the hurricane, I experienced several New Yorkers doing this.  This morning as I stepped out to get a cup of coffee, I noticed a daughter who was probably in her early 50's, walking down the street and helping her father, probably in his 80's. She was saying to him, "It is getting back to normal," referring to the effects of Hurricane Sandy.

Sometimes when your daily routine is disrupted and change happens, I've noticed it is easier to do things differently.  Perhaps, the differently for all of us is to reach out more, and offer kind acts.

Here's to creating more random acts of kindness, not just to family members and friends, but to a stranger in need.

Lessons Learned from Hurricane Sandy

I have had some time to reflect after being displaced for over a week. Being a creature of habit and having my routine disrupted, I confess that there have been some very uncomfortable moments.

I try to live knowing that everything that happens in life is for my growth. And when I look at things that way, it creates more serenity, no matter what the current challenge is.

So what were some of the lessons learned?

We are resilient. Before the buses were on the streets, droves of New Yorkers were walking the avenues.  Yes, the NYC Marathon was called off, but for everyday men and women, we had another type of Marathon, and we ALL were winners. Cabs were shared, the local Starbucks became the place to recharge phones and computers. We were out and about.

We share common bonds. I have noticed that during crises, people are more apt to talk with strangers and offer random acts of kindness. I was speaking with New Yorkers that ordinarily I wouldn't have known. Our common bond of living through a challenge was greater than any feeling of how we were different.

We depend on our strength to get us through. Often I depend on cellphones and computers to keep me connected.  But when the power went out, I had to look for something deeper. A sense of my Higher Self--that part of me that knows the truth in any situation. There is a depth to us that sometimes is not tapped into because of the constant distractions that are around.

We get to focus on our real priorities. A fierce challenge can force us to reevaluate our lives and look at what's really important. If this was the last day of my life, (which it isn't), but could be, would I be content with who I am and what I have achieved?  If the answer is no, we have some inner work to do to make things different.

But the real lesson here is that we don't have to have a crisis to connect with our strength and our real priorities.  All it takes is a desire to live fully and in line with why we are here on the planet.  We all have a higher goal, higher purpose if we take the time to connect with it.

Career Coach: Don't Just Call Yourself a Leader...BE a Leader!

I have a question, and I’d like a show of hands (even if they are virtual): How many of you would like to be a leader? And would you like to have all that goes with it—the title, prestige, increase in salary—and the perks? My guess is there are a lot of hands going up. Why is that?

When we think in terms of being a leader, we can’t help but to think in terms of ego satisfaction, money, influence, and more. Maybe that’s why we have so many companies struggling in a challenging economy. Leadership—or the lack of it—is exposed when things are tough. Companies announce layoffs, freeze raises, and wait to hire new employees. Everyone is upset and looking for answers. We know what the problems are—or do we? Take a look at these scenarios:

Don’t place blame. I spoke with a high school teacher yesterday who came out of an hour-long meeting where the department head unleashed his frustrations on them. His department wasn’t doing well, and he thought it was their problem. It wasn’t that he wasn’t leading—they just weren’t following. Excuse me, but that’s not leading—that’s making excuses. 

Accept responsibility. A leader assumes responsibility when things aren’t going well because the buck stops with the leader—end of story. If a leader’s team isn’t performing to expectations, that’s ultimately on the leader—not the team. I’m a one-person company, and guess what? There is no one for me to point the finger at. There is no one for me to blame or to scapegoat. 

Solve problems. The point of leadership is to lead, not to just articulate the problem at hand. To be a leader, you must innovate, solve problems, and exploit opportunities. Leaders accept responsibility when things go wrong, turn things around, and then share the credit. It’s not easy being a real leader—it’s just easy to call yourself one. 

Now, who wants to be a leader? Can I have a show of hands?

—Alan Allard, Career Coach

 

NYC Marathon: Female Athletes Showcase Strength

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS AFTERNOON THE MARATHON WAS CANCELED.

On Sunday, November 4—less than a week after Hurricane Sandy struck the East coast—people from all over the world will come to compete in the 42nd annual ING New York City Marathon. Many women are scheduled to run in the event that was once open only to men. 

Great Britain native Violet Percy was the first woman to be officially timed, finishing a British marathon in 1926 in 3:40:22. In 1966, American Roberta Gibb snuck into the Boston Marathon by hiding behind a bush at the start of the race, clocking an unofficial time of 3:21:25. “I thought about how many preconceived prejudices would crumble when I trotted right along for 26 miles,” Gibb said following the race. 

On August 5, 1984 women ran the event for the first time at the Los Angeles Olympics—American Joan Benoit won the event in 2:24:52. That time still stands today as the fastest Olympic marathon time by an American woman.

This year’s New York City Marathon will likely see many familiar faces from the London Olympic games this past summer. Expected to attend include 2012 Olympic gold medalist Tiki Gelana from Ethiopia, who set a new Olympic record with her time of 2:23:07.   

Also in attendance will be Tatyana Petrova Arkhipova, the Russian runner who placed third at the 2012 Olympic games. Her time in London was a personal best of 2:23:12, though she previously won the Los Angeles Marathon in 2009.

The strength that these women possess is undeniable. They are proof that with dedication and the urge to win, we are capable of anything. 

—Lindsay Putnam

The Calm After the Storm

 

After three days of taking cold showers because there was no hot water and not being able to get my computer or phone to power on, I decided my 22 year-old son Heath and I needed to find some better accommodations. The dark, cold hallways that were half abandoned as residents left for a more “powered” place would not work for us another day.

So at 3am, I just couldn’t get myself to sleep and I started to call hotel chains in NYC. I got the same answer—“Sorry, we are all filled up for the remainder of the week.” I forgot that the Marathon was scheduled for Sunday. Consequently, there were no rooms to be found. 

Heath suggested his girlfriend’s place in West New York. That was right across the Hudson River and her apartment building had power. So we found our way across the river and set up shop. It is amazing—all you need is a computer and phone and you can work anywhere.  

Here I sit writing from a lovely, warm apartment—we even went to a Halloween gathering last night in the building. But frankly, the hot shower and comfy bed was what I cared about.  

This morning Heath and I took a brief walk to a functioning deli and got our morning coffee and muffins. As we sat on a park bench and looked at the beautiful view of NYC in front of us, I asked him what he had learned from this whole experience. His answer rang true for me. He said, “People who were affected by the blackout like us had no distractions to run to like computers and phones. We had to sit with and face ourselves.”  For Heath, it was a peaceful time.  

He got me thinking—how easy it is to get caught up in the every day minutia that we don’t take time to just BE.  

Love this saying: “I am enough, I do enough, I have enough.” This is really the truth. And it took a storm to remember that. 

 

Dare To Know: Emily May Stands Up to Street Harassment

Being a woman in today’s world isn’t always the easiest—or the safest—role to fill. Though we may run board rooms and control companies, even the strongest women can sometimes feel helpless when walking the city streets alone. Women are frequently harassed, catcalled, groped, flashed and fondled on public streets, in public buildings and on public transportation—and it needs to stop now. 

Emily May, Executive Director of Hollaback, is hoping to achieve just that. Hollaback! is a movement that combines activism with mobile technology, so that victims can create and collect their stories of street harassment in a safe way through mobile phone applications. Through this app, individuals can post details of their encounters and even photos of their harassers to inform the community at large of the perpetrator and his actions.

Emily created the group in 2005 as a response to the lack of publicity against street harassment. “Street harassment is one of the most pervasive forms of gender-based violence and one of the least legislated against,” the company’s website, www.ihollaback.org, details. “Comments from ‘You’d look good on me’ to groping, flashing or assault, are a frightening and daily reality for women and LGBTQ individuals globally. But it’s rarely reported, and it’s just culturally accepted as ‘the price you pay’ for being a woman or being gay. At Hollaback!, we don’t buy it.” 

Hollaback’s success is due to a woman’s most powerful weapon: her community. “At the core of our model lies the belief that movements start with people telling their stories—and they succeed with people taking action. Before the Internet age, there was only one mic, one podium, one speaker. But now, thanks to the proliferation of blogging and social media, it is no longer the loudest, wealthiest and most powerful who rule the airwaves,” Hollaback’s website reads. 

Today, Hollaback! has trained over 150 leaders in 50 cities, 17 countries and 9 different languages to be leaders in their communities in the global movement to end street harassment. But none of this would have been possible were it not for May’s strength and determination to stand up against harassers. 

Emily's brilliant adaptation of modern social media to combat the age-old problem of harassment against women has brought her multiple awards and recognitions, including a “Game Changer” recognition from TIME and a “Hero Among Us” from People magazine. May’s story is proof that the idea of one can transform the lives of many—if you have an idea, share it with the world. 

—Lindsay Putnam