Career Portfolio

When your un/underemployed, finding a new job can be all consuming. The last thing you're thinking about is giving up precious job-seeking hours to volunteer at the Boys Club or be a Brownie Club Leader. But these activities actually boost your professional portfolio. When a company fouces on quality hiring, well rounded candidates are a must. Leadership, communication, team work, and motivating others are just a few of the attributes that can be displayed and developed while volunteering. Don't forget to document those experiences in your free onine portfolio at CareerScribe.com.
Community work is also a great way to network. Some of the most powerful people in an industry will roll up their sleeves and coach kids or mentor students on the weekends. So take the focus off yourself for awhile, and reap the many rewards of volunteering.

In a recent comment to the Smaller Indiana question above, I offered these thoughts:

The term "personal brand", is a bit lame... but it has begun to stick. I live in this space, and I can tell you, that in just the last 30 days, I have heard the term "personal brand" used and recognized more than in the last 6 months. I'm willing to wager, you are going to hear it more in the next year, and it will be nothing new in 3 years.

Call it what you will, the concept is about the information that is available to everyone about you. Information that forms a basis for who people think you are.... whether it is your hobbies and interests, your religious affiliation, your family, your education, your career, charitable work, where you grew up, etc., etc., etc. Organizaitons use this information to screen employees. Fair or not, all of these things collectively allow others to form an opinion of you. An opinion that you can't discuss with them.... not that they would even give you a straight answer if you asked them anyway.

Everyone should consider being proactive with this. You will have a tough time removing much of the information on you that can be found on the internet, but you can make a conscious decision about what you would like others to think about you in the next 5-10 years, and try to manage that impression. Develop an online professional portfolio of your best stuff. Over time.... you can likely change your "brand", much like Target did.... but it takes time.

Most are going to talk about personal branding, but many aren't going to take the long term steps necessary to really make a difference. I believe that there is great opportunity here.... obviously (CareerScribe), to get ahead of your competition, at least for a few years.... then who knows.

• Make networking the way you are, not something you do.
• Build relationships before you need them.
• Become a resource for your clients, colleagues, company, networking partners, family, and friends.
• Look for relationships outside your areas of interest and expertise.
• Be purposeful, prepared, persistent, and patient.

You hear "You're being let go" - now what?  Time to dust off and update the 'ol resume, draft a few versions of a cover letter, scour the job boards, apply online, and connect with and leverage new and existing contacts. 

Raise your hand if you've caught yourself saying or emailing something like, "Hello Mr. Hiring Manager.  I’m calling about the open sales position that is posted on your website.  I have over 10 years experience in sales, account management, and territory management in the manufacturing industry.  Based on the job description, I’m a perfect fit and know I would bring value to your team/organization.  Can I send you my resume for review and call you next week?"

• personalize and share your story in the "About Me" section
• document your accomplishments in the "Career Tracker"
• disrupt hiring prejudices by presenting your solutions in a 1-3 minute video where a hiring manager can experience your communication skills, presentation style, behavior, and personality

Yesterday I had the unpleasant experience of realizing I set Alarm #2, instead of Alarm #1 on my clock. So 5 seconds after the alarm went off, and I realized it's already 7:30am, when I have an 8:00am meeting, that's 30 minutes away.

The dreaded nightmare of oversleeping.... only to be outdone by the nightmare of showing up to class, and there's a big test that you haven't studied for.

Then the panic and questions set in :

How did this happen?
What could I have done differently?
So now what?
How do I avoid this ever happening again?

All great questions, much like the questions one asks themselves when they find out they are losing their job. This scenario has been playing out all too often over the past year as professionals realize they've made mistakes in managing their careers, and they aren't prepared to market themselves in a competitive job market.

There isn't anything you can do now to change the past, but you can deal with the situation at hand as best you can, and look for better ways to market yourself, such as free online portfolios. Online employee screening is becoming much more popular as a means of candidate sourcing, so if you don't have a professional presence online, you are likely being overlooked for some opportunties.

More importantly, recognize there are habits and skills you can be developing now, so that you aren't in this situation again. Begin developing a career portfolio, and maintain it routinely so you can avoid the panicked feeling of waking up late for your meeting.