Going up? The 30-second Elevator Pitch

May 27, 2010 View Comments

Dave the job seeker assured me he had prepared this elevator pitch. “Okay!” I said, “Hit me with it”. He began. “I was born in 1969 in Melbourne Australia” he started. I went to school at Box Hill South Primary School until I was 12 or so, and then I became a student at Box [...]

Reputation Killers: A Personal PR Disaster

November 27, 2009 View Comments

Your reputation is one thing you can’t buy, beg, borrow or steal. Your reputation is yours alone, built by your actions–how well you perform, how you treat those around you up-and-down the ladder, your intelligence and your ethics. Today, more than at any other time, your actions and deeds can be widely communicated through co-worker [...]

Don’t leave them wilting in your wake

November 20, 2009 View Comments

You’re big boys and girls. I really, really shouldn’t have to tell you this but before you go to put on that aftershave or perfume prior to your job interview, please don’t! Or at the very least if you’re going to give yourself a bath in the stuff, wash it off your hands. Seriously there’s [...]

They’re just not THAT into you

November 13, 2009 View Comments

Imagine you were thinking about a kitchen renovation. To establish interest, you complete the online form to ask for a brochure that will encapsulate the company’s services and offerings, and perhaps showcase the company’s best projects so you can ascertain what sort of a job they’ll do for you. Imagine your horror the next day [...]

Linkedin Tip

July 27, 2009 View Comments

Ever tried to create a custom name for your Linkedin profile and found it was taken? Here’s an idea, use your position title with your name. It helps differentiate you and stamps your brand at the same time. Instead of say, Linkedin/John Smith, try JohnSmith-CEO, or JohnSmith, Operations Manager, or JohnSmith, General Manager (Telco Multinationals).

New service Announcement: OnBrand-ID

April 15, 2009 View Comments

The Reach Online Brand Calculator has assessed me (Gayle Howard), as being on the top of the “Digitally Distinct” tree. This is the nirvana of online identity meaning the first three pages of Google provide 80% on-brand, positive information. So what about you? Before you are interviewed you can assume that recruiters and/or employers will [...]

The 5W1H Formula

January 29, 2009 View Comments

Have you ever heard of the 5W1H Formula? It’s especially helpful in planning your resume and job search. Rudyard Kipling, the great poet once wrote: I keep six faithful serving men Who teach me well and true Their names are What and Where and When And How and Why and Who. Journalists call this the [...]

Reach 360 Version 4: Re-certification

January 13, 2009 View Comments

Gayle Howard successfully completed re-certification requirements for administering 360 Reach Version 4–the next generation 360Reach tool, helping clients to incorporate strengths, competencies, and brand personas into their professional careers and to measure professional reputation. Gayle is one of only four professionals in Australia qualified to coach clients with this tool.

Social Media Presentation

October 12, 2008 View Comments

Just found this great presentation on personal branding your career that reinforces what I’ve been talking about — be careful what you place on social networks. Thanks to this Scott Monty’s blog Social Media, Personal Branding and Your Career View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: bcu08 brandcamp)

One in five employers view social networks

October 9, 2008 View Comments

http://tinyurl.com/4tkw66 22% of employers look for “digital dirt” on prospective and existing employees across social networks as I’ve reported before on this blog as opposed to just 11% in 2006, so the trend is growing. Employers cite reasons for screening someone from consideration as references to alcohol abuse, inappropriate information, poor communication skills, bad mouthing fellow [...]