5 easy to correct Resume Mistakes

How hard can it be to write a resume? You'd be surprised how many resumes I see everyday with these 5 errors that are so easy to correct.

Stop using First Person/Third Person. 

• Your name is at the top of the resume, the last thing the recruiter wants to do is read that "I did this" or "I was".  The only thing worse than this is "John did this" or "Mr. Smith did that".  Your name is at the top of the resume, it doesn't have to be in the body of the resume.
• Replace the nouns with ACTION WORDS.  Completed, Increased, Decreased, Improved, Mentored, Trained - to name just a few.  There are a number of websites out there with 100's of action words to choose from, try this one if you're stuck ActionWords

Aging yourself.

Age discrimination happens.  Make sure you don't fall into the too old pile of discarded resumes. You need to get to the interview stage before hitting the reject pile.  So a couple of simple things to do

• If you graduated before 1990, leave the date off of your degree/diploma.  Just put in the school and your program
• Any positions more than 20 years old, list under a blanket "Previous Positions".  List these companies and positions, but leave off the dates.

List your Achievements not your Duties/Responsibilities:

Your duties/responsibilities are basically the job description.  Employers want to know how you excelled at your duties, "what did you achieve while in this position".  

• Get rid of the line "Duties include" or "Responsibilities include".  Don't even put down "Achievements include".  Just list your achievements.
• How did you go above and beyond your duties/responsibilities.  
• What did you do that improved the processes?
• Did you find problems within the system that you were able to correct to increase productivity?
• Did systems run smoother because of your attention to detail?
• Did you help your employer to:  save/make money, save time, attract/retain customers, improve customer service.

Not tuning your Resume to the Job Posting:

Before sending out your resume, fine tune it to the Job Posting.  If the job posting is looking for specific details then make sure they are in the resume and easy to find.  Don't bury things on the 3rd page that are critical to the posting.

• Profile:  This is a great place to list specific qualifications and skills that they are looking for:
• Five years experience working with Java, J2EE in the financial industry.
• Education:  if they are looking for a degree or certification then put it on the first page where they can see it at a glance.  
• Technologies:  again if they are asking for specific technologies then put it on the first page under a "Technology" category. 
• Key Words:  It seems to be key words are all resume writers talk about nowadays.  They are that important.  So use them, read the job posting and use it to help fine tune your resume.

Layout - keep it simple

• Profile, Education, Technologies, Experience.  These 4 headings cover everything you need on your resume that an employer wants to see/read.
• Use a clean and professional layout.  No boxes, no pictures, no logos.  Employers scan 100's of resumes a day, the last thing they want to do is have to find key information in amongst all the pretty graphics.  
• ATS systems don't necessarily look for MicroSoft logos, but they will look for MCSE, MicroSoft, etc.  If you just put the logo in, it may get overlooked.
• Converting documents from different systems can leave off information if it is not in a simple format.  I have seen boxes in Word get copied over to Lotus Notes without the information inside the box.  Usually you put this information in the box because you feel it is important.  Well guess what, it wasn't copied over and now can't be found by the search system.
• Clean, white background, black type, bold, CAPS, italics (if you have to).  
• Easy to read font - tahoma, arial, 10 pt, no smaller than 12 pt (think of the reading glass generation)
• Yes I know the above sounds boring, but it is effective.

Good Luck Job Hunting

Is a Self Employed Contractor Resume different than a Permanent Employee Resume

Self-employed contractors resumes can be very different from a permanent employee. The major differences are in the number of positions they have over their lifetime, especially if they are a government contractor.

Contractors could have 4 or 5 different positions in a year, so over a 10 year span this could be a lot of positions. It's important that potential employers realize that you don't hop around from one job to another.  You are a contractor, you probably have your own company. So the first thing you do is put your positions under either a "self employed" heading or "your company's name". This shows stability and dedication in your career.

Check out my infographic below and see if it helps you set up your resume. And don't forget the rules for all resumes:

• keep the fonts the same, nothing too fancy or too small
• no pictures or logos
• stay away from tables and boxes they don't copy/scan over very well
• use ACTION WORDS
• Achievements instead of duties
• send it as a word document

How do you get a Recruiter to notice you???

Recruiters receive 100's of emailed requests and resumes every day. Not only are they working on current positions, they are also trying to form relationships for future endeavours.

Applying for a Current Position:
The most  important thing a recruiter needs is up to date information.  This is where the email becomes very important.  You want to grab them right away.  Keep your email short and sweet.  A one line introduction  with the following information:

• Availability.  If they are looking for a contractor to start immediately, then put that in the email.  
• two weeks notice
• immediately
• current contract ending mm/dd/yy
• Location:  If your home is in Markham and the position is in Mississauga, be sure to say:
• willing to commute
• willing to relocate (especially if the position is out of province)
• or put in a specific location, ie downtown Toronto
• Salary:  Give them a range.  Most positions advertised have a salary on them, if this is acceptable to you then put it in the email.  

The next thing you want to focus on are the keywords in the resume that relate to education and skills:

• Education:  Tell them you have a degree from Waterloo or you are a "Sun Certified Java Developer", etc
• Technical Skills:  5 years experience working with IBM WebSphere in a Windows environment
• Management Skills:  10 years leading teams developing ......using .....

Then again a 1 line closing sentence.  "I can be reached at .........  Thank you for your time"

So remember:

• 1 short introductory sentence
• 6 bullets briefly detailing the information that makes you qualified for a specific position
• 1 short closing sentence.

Future Possibilities

If you are sending your resume to a recruiter for future possibilities, then use the same format as above, but instead of your skills detailing specific keywords in the advertisement, put down your strongest qualifications and/or the skills you would like to be working on more.  Another key item the recruiter would like to know is if you are looking at permanent or contract positions or both.

Good luck Job Hunting

Businesses increasing their use of Remote Staff

Starting off my career in computer programming at Ontario Hydro, I watched the 80's bring in some of the first contract workers and consulting houses.  By 1985, I joined the contract team, but still had to go into the office to do my work.  The years progressed, laptops appeared.  We could now take our work home with us.  Then the internet arrived and home/virtual offices are becoming the norm.  The trend is growing as shown in the infographic below.  Are you ready to join the growing number of virtual offices?

Professional Profiles are they important????

You must admit resumes are pretty boring reading, especially when that is what you do all day.  Recruiters and HR employees read through 100's of resumes a day.  OK, read!!!  maybe more like scan.  That is if you are lucky enough to get past their ATS (Applicant Tracking System).  Now you have to grab their attention while they are doing their 10 second scan of your resume.  Sometimes I think Recruiters and HR employees can scan faster than their computer systems. The Professional Profile is the easiest way to entice them to actually read your resume.

The Professional Profile appears right under your name and contact information.  What makes a good professional profile:

• Keep it short:  one or two sentences giving a brief synopsis of your experience; followed by 3 or 4 small bullets of specific detail related to the actual job description if necessary
• Use key words from the job description.  If they are looking for a Java Developer, don't put in the profile that you started out as a Cobol Programmer
• Years of experience in your field
• If they are looking for a specific degree or certificate and you have it, put it in a bullet in your profile

Action words in your profile will give it a little more zing:

• boosted sales by 23%
• implemented an employee incentive program
• set up a new data centre
• maintained 200 desktops
• converted a 1000 desk data centre from windows to 
• increased production
• decreased customer service calls

Detail not to put in your profile include:

• personal information, ie hobbies, number of children, marital status - you get the point.  Truthfully this information doesn't even need to be on your resume
• opinions about anything, 
• that you can work independently, multi task, hard worker, always on time, etc.  These are taken for granted.
• the word "I"

Finally here is a sample professional profile for an IT position at a financial institution.

Java Developer offering a broad technical background working in the financial industry. This includes 7 years of WebSphere development, 3 years WebSphere portal development and 3 years of WebSphere/WebSphere portal administration experience.  

• Bachelors of Computer Science from the University of Western Ontario (if degree needed from job description)
• Certifications include:  (if specified from job description)
• 4 years experience in building mobile web applications.  (keyword from job description)
• In-depth experience in software full life cycle and design patter

A professional profile is just that, a profile, keep it short, to the point and targeting the specific job description you are applying for.  For some more examples check out this webpage http://jobsearch.about.com/od/profiles/a/resume-profile-examples.htm

Good Luck Job Hunting !!

How do you survive a Telephone Interview

Why are telephone interviews so difficult?  They should be so easy - right!!!  Wrong.  That's the first mistake everyone makes.  Now your first and only impression is your telephone manner.  If you treat this interview like it's a "no brainer" then chances are you will not get through to the F2F interview.

Telephone interviews are done to find the candidate that can actually do what the job description asks for and can also do the duties/achievements on his/her resume.   In this day of professional resume writing services companies want to make sure that you have actually done the activities on your resume.

What can you do to make it through the telephone interview:

• First of all treat the telephone interview as seriously as you would a F2F.  This means:
• Get out of your pyjamas.  Dressing for a telephone interview will perk you up and make you feel more professional
• Find a room to take your call in that is quiet and has no distractions (no radio, tv, children, pets)
• If you are going to sit down, then make sure it has a comfortable chair that doesn't allow you to slouch.  
• Try standing and walking around.  Your voice projects better when you are sitting straight or standing.  Talking with your hands will help add personality and animation to your voice as well.  
• The next important thing is to "Be Prepared".  Again treat it like a F2F:
• Study your resume - be able to expand on points in your resume when asked about specifics. 
• Study the job description.
• Think of questions that the interviewer may ask re your resume or job description and practice them. 
• Research the company and make a list of questions, if you don't have time to ask them all during this interview, you will have them ready for your F2F.  
• Use a cheat sheet.  No one can see you, this has it's advantages.  You can have your resume right in front of you.  Write down questions they might ask with the answers beside it.  
• Script your "hello, good morning, thank you for taking the time to interview me".  But remember it's not a play so ad lib as well.
• If possible try and find out who will be interviewing you and their position in the company.  
• Listen to the questions, if you aren't sure then ask them to repeat it.  Pausing to collect your thoughts is ok.  
• Don't get flustered if there are silences, the interviewer will be making notes.  Answer the question and then ask them if they would like more detail.
• Use a headset.  This will allow your hands to be free to take notes and your the reception is usually clearer for both you and the interviewer
• Do a practice phone interview.  Make a list of questions and get a friend or family member to call you and practice, practice, practice.  
• Little things can make a difference:
• Don't multi-task.  If your computer is open, have it open only to your resume or your cheat sheet.  Don't be checking out your email or your baseball scores or the newest sale at Guess.
• Turn off call-waiting on your phone and needless to say if you forgot don't answer it or even look to see who it was.
• Don't eat or smoke while on the phone.  Sips of water are fine if you find it necessary.
• Ask the interviewer for their email address so you can send a thank you note after the interview

Remember be enthusiastic, you applied for this position and you want this job.  You have to get those impressions through with your voice, the person can't see your face.  So smile, laugh and tell them you are looking forward to the F2F.

Good luck job hunting 

What is an Information Interview

Boring, you can't bear another day going into your job.  You thought you were a salesman but hate cold calls.  Graduation day is approaching and you don't know what to do.  Now is the time to set up some Information Interviews.

An Information Interview is just what its name implies.  It is a way for you to find out information about different types of jobs and companies.

Your first step is to:

• Make a list of companies and jobs you think you might like.  
• Research these companies and job types, both through their webpages and through job search engines like Workopolis and Monster.
• Make a list of questions about the companies and the different positions they have

Networking is your next step:

• Ask people you know who work for these companies if they could recommend someone you could go and talk to about the company and types of jobs
• Look around your community.  If you are thinking about banking then the bank manager is a great person to talk to or he/she may be able to recommend someone in head office that would be helpful
• Sports teams and gyms are great places to network.  Right away you have something in common so ask them who they work for and how they got started.
• Coffee Shops, if there is a specific company you are interested in, yes go and hang around the closest coffee shop to their office.  Strike up a conversation
• LinkedIn is a great place to find people who work for specific companies. Ask to connect with them and then follow their updates.  LinkedIn Groups are also a great way to find out about different things that are going on in your field and to connect with people with the same interests.

It is important to remember that this is an Information Interview not a Job Interview.  So you are the one asking the questions, you are in control.  Break your interview into 4 parts:

• A brief introduction of yourself:  your education, your achievements and your interests.  This gives the person you are interviewing an idea of your skills and how they will relate to different positions in their company.  Explain to them you are trying to get into a new field or have just graduated.  Tell him "I really don't like doing cold calls", "I love working with numbers", "I have a real interest in people", etc
• Next would come questions about the company:  trends, challenges, organization, etc.  
• Specifics about particular jobs will be the most detailed part of the interview:
• what training is required
• what type of things would be done in a typical day
• what do you enjoy most/least about your job
• Finally a thank you for your time and can they recommend/refer anyone that may be able to help you in your job search/analysis

This person is doing you a favour so remember:

• Be punctual
• Be prepared
• Be polite
• Bring a resume but DO NOT give it to them unless they ask you for one.
• Dress professionally
• Don't waste their time

Finally like with anything in life, this person has done you a service and set aside some of their time to help you so remember to send a Thank You Note as soon as possible after the interview.  And don't forget to add them to your network on your social media sites.

Good luck Job Hunting

Your Resume Checklist

Before you submit that resume, have a 2nd and a 3rd look. Below are some do's and don'ts to help you with your resume submission.

• Your name (first and last) is bolded on the first page, followed by contact information (town/city, country, phone, email, linkedin) in a smaller font.  On subsequent pages include your name, email and phone number in a smaller font at the top of the resume.
• Do not include personal information like:  marital status, children, father's name (yes I have seen it on resumes), passport number or SIN number.
• How long is your Professional Profile.  Keep it to 1 paragraph, 5 to 6 sentences and possibly a couple of bullets.  Make sure they highlight the skills you have that match the job you are applying for.  A 1-page profile will lose the interest of the recruiter after about the 5th line.  Keep it short and concise.
• Is your Education listed with the highest degree on the top, followed by certifications and training in reverse chronological order

  

• If you are applying for a technical position.  This is a good spot to list your most current technologies.  Needless to say if there are specific technical skills in the job ad and you have them, then put them in here so they will stand out.
• The next section should be your Professional Experience.  Again the jobs should be listed in reverse chronological order, with the most current position first. 
• Do your achievements start with action words:  Develop, Create, Built, Performed, Managed, Coordinated, etc.  Here is a webpage with 100's of action words  http://jobmob.co.il/blog/positive-resume-action-verbs/ or just type "List of Action Words" in Google.
• NEVER NEVER NEVER start a sentence with "I" or "your name". 
• "John created a test plan and test cases" or "I created a test plan and test cases" should become
• Created a test plan and test cases.
• Put your keywords from the job ad in your achievements as often as you can.  If the job is looking for someone who has worked on an "on-line banking system"  then say so.  
• Created detailed test plans for the CIBC On-line Banking System using Mercury Tools
• If you notice that it is taking you a long time to read your resume, then it is probably too long, cut it down to 2 or 3 pages.  You can always put in a line that says
• Detailed job information from 1999 and back is available upon request.
• Hobbies - not needed on the resume.  This is a question that may come up at the interview to get the conversation going.  Be careful what you tell them.  Reading, Golf, Skiing, etc are probably good topics of conversation.  Telling your interviewer that you like to go to the casino every Saturday night might set off some warning bells for him.  
• References - don't go on the resume, in fact don't even put in the line "references available upon request", that's a known.  
• Take out the graphics, logos, graphs, pictures. 
• Don't include a letter from your mother, yes it has happened.  
• Don't lie on your resume, this is a legal document.
• Have someone proofread it, have them read the job ad as well.  

Good Luck Job Hunting

Keeping track of the jobs you have applied for

You have done your resume, fine tuned your cover letter and sent off your resume.  Much to your chagrin you didn't get the first job you applied to.  So now the whole process starts over and over, and over again. Yes, there is a good chance that you might send out over 200 resumes before you actually land your dream job.

Printing off all your resumes and cover letters is using up a lot of paper, not to mention file folders to put them in.  This is when a Job Log comes in handy.  My preference would be to do it in excel or even better a google docs spreadsheet.  The columns are easy to set up, you can sort the file by date, by company, by position, etc.  And spreadhseets are relatively user friendly.  Putting it up on google docs means you can access it wherever your are - the library, the coffee shop, etc.  It also gives you the ability to update the information right after your interview while it is still fresh in your mind.

What goes in the Job Log:

• Date you sent resume
• Company Name
• Contact Info:  Name, email, phone
• Job Number
• Job Title
• Copy of Job Posting: Note - don't just link the url, the url may be taken down before you get an interview, so keep a hard copy of the job posting.
• Resume/Cover Letter
• Follow up dates and whether an email or phone call
• Telephone Interview
• 1st Interview
• Date
• Who with
• Preparation Notes:  possible questions, company info
• Questions to follow up on
• Follow up dates and whether an email or phone call
• Thank you letter sent
• 2nd Interview
• Date
• Who with
• Preparation Notes:  possible questions, company info
• Questions to follow up on
• Follow up dates and whether an email or phone call
• Thank you letter sent
• Salary and benefits

The first thing to do is figure out your computer filing system and naming conventions for your resume/cover letter, thank you letters, copy of job posting, company information and interview questions you want to ask (which you will update after the interview with the answers).  These documents can be either linked to your spreadsheet or just put the file name in.

One small recommendation - I like to put my cover letter in the front of my resume.  HR and Recruiters have a tendency to go right to the resume and never open the cover letter.  If it is at the front of your resume then they may actually glance at it.  

Looking for a job can be a full time job.  So remember as with all data collection it is only helpful if it is kept up to date and a little work to set it up will save you a ton of time and possible embarassment when you start getting interviews.

Good luck Job Hunting

How to be productive when working from home

The computer is on, my calendar is opened, the "to do" list is ready to start clicking on and beep beep.  The washer has just stopped.  I'll just pop up and flip the laundry.  Oh shoot the dog needs walked, the cat needs a treat, the children have a question, a neighbour pops over.

My office is in the front of my house where all my neighbours see me at my computer day in and day out.  Because I am at home they think it is OK to pop over for a chat or to borrow something or for a favour.  Strangely the same thing happens with my children and my husband.  "I'm actually working you know, my boss is waiting for this" was a common refrain around my house when I first started working from home.

It just wasn't outside influences I was fighting with it was also keeping myself on track that was an issue.  Flipping the laundry, popping out to cut the grass, that endless list of things to do at home that are always in the back of your mind when you work from home and oh so easily distracting.  Would I rather walk the dog or read another resume.

It soon became apparent that I had to set rules and guidelines for myself and family members.  My first and most important mandate was:

This is your career treat it with respect.  

From this statement I was able look at my issues and set up some standards for operating my business.  This included simple things like:

• Setting up a private office.  I set up a room in the house that was out of bounds for children and visitors (my cats were and still are welcome).
• A proper desk and comfortable chair are a necessity.
• Getting out of my pyjamas when I went into my office.  I still do casual office attire, but my makeup is on and it makes me feel more professional.
• If you have children be prepared to get a babysitter for your busy times.  
• Shut the door so there are fewer distractions.  Make sure all family members know the rules.  They can't be yelling for you when you are on the phone conducting an interview.
• Take your lunch break away from your desk.  Go for a walk outside.  Stretch your legs and relax your mind for 60 minutes.  
• Set up mini deadlines.  These tasks have to be finished before I can succumb to another cup of tea.
• Set up a schedule for checking your personal email, etc, that way it won't become distracting.
• Separation of job and family time.  Don't work on the weekend just because it is there and easy to access.  It is so easy to say "I will just go and finish that report".  If you aren't late with the task then use your weekends/night time for family time.
• If your work is computer related, then unplug it and take it to the coffee shop for a change of scenery.
• Keep your equipment up to date, if your computer needs upgrading then do it.  Otherwise you will lose productive time with a computer that is slowing down and freezing.

When you respect your career you automatically respect yourself

These small guidelines have helped me work successfully from home for the past 25 years.  When I started treating my job like a career, it didn't take long for my family and neighbours to follow suit.  I'm still working on the cats  O:).

What does a Virtual Assistant do?

Your company is growing, that's great news, but all of a sudden you are overwhelmed with millions of tasks. 

• Booking meetings, flights, cars
• Ordering supplies
• Answering general information emails, we all know how quickly our general mailboxes can fill up
• Formatting presentations and reports
• Editing presentations and reports
• Answering and updating your Twitter, Blog, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ accounts (to name just a few social media sites you may be on)
• You need some graphics to make your presentation more professional do you really have time to search the web for the right one.
• etc, etc

Sounds like you definitely need help, but not ready for a full-time position, or maybe you don't have the room for someone yet.  Then you may want to look at a Virtual Assistant.  There is a Virtual Assistant for every task your company may need. 

• Bookkeeping has been outsourced for years
• Office Help:  documents, presentations, reports, resumes, spreadsheets
• Social Media:  creating your accounts and updating them
• Scheduling:  keeping track of your calendar for meetings, conferences, flights, etc
• Recruitment:  Screening, reference checks, searching for candidates
• Data Entry:  not just entry but also keeping your database up to date
• Transcription Services

You need to make a list of what you need help with (I know another task to add to your never ending list).  That list needs to be sorted into general administration and specialized administration tasks.  Chances are that your Virtual Assistant won't be able to design you a great webpage, get a professional for that, but they will be able to maintain and update it.  Editing and proofreading is another task that you may want to make sure that your Virtual Assistant is qualified in the language you are using.  The best Virtual Assistants become an employee of your company without the expense of being an employee.  The more they do for you the more knowledgeable they will become.  And you can keep adding tasks to their list without them complaining about their work load. 

Try a Virtual Assistant and get on with business while leaving those mundane tasks to a professional!!!

Benefits of a Virtual Assistant

Help Needed!!!!!!!

Why would you use a Virtual Assistant?  Why not hire someone full time?  Or use a Temp?

Full Time Position
If your company is growing enough to fill a full time position then by all means hire a full time person.  The benefits of having a full time person who knows your business and is loyal to your company are very important.  But keep in mind the costs involved in a full time person:

• Salary
• Benefits
• Sick and Vacation Days
• Office space
• Office Equipment

Temps
The biggest downfall to Temps are:

• They are transient.  Every time you need someone you may end up with a different person, which means a learning curve. 
• Temp Agencies usually need a minimum number of hours. 

Why would you use a Virtual Assistant

A Virtual Assistant is a professional who provides administrative services to people who have lots to do and not enough time in the day to cover everything. 

• Do you need office help, social media help, reference checks, transcriptions, reports, presentations, accounting.  Do you need an email blast done once a month to all your customers - a great job for a VA.  These are all services that can be covered by a VA.
• No need to provide office space, hardware and supplies as a virtual assistant has a full office set up in his/her home
• A VA is only paid for the time she/he spends working.
• VAs are independent contractors thereby eliminating administration, vacation pay, sick leave and other benefits
• Flexibility, work be can done outside of normal business hours
• VAs are great for covering holidays
• And when the job is done, no hassle, no severance.  Just a "thank you" we'll be in touch when things get busier
• Here's how one person uses her VA:  http://justinwise.net/3-benefits-using-virtual-assistant

Whether you have a large company or just starting up your own business, VA's can be a valuable asset to your company.  Check out www.carlynservicesinc.com for more information on how a VA can help your business. 

How do you find a job?

You have just finished school, your company has downsized, you took time off to go back to school or have a baby, whatever your reason, looking for a job can seem like an insurmountable task.  Where do you start?

Job Boards

There are hundreds of them out there.  Some of the more popular are:

• www.monster.ca
• www.workopolis.com
• www.craiglist.ca
• www.kijiji.ca

These job boards have 1000's of jobs on them.  Some of the problems with job boards include:

• 100's of applicants are applying for these jobs
• sometimes companies advertise through their own webpages or through recruiters before they go on the job boards. 
• some job boards hi-jack jobs from other job boards.
• the jobs are not always kept up to date, ie jobs are put up but not always taken down
• searching can be overwhelming at times

Recruiters/Head Hunters

Finding the right recruiter is the most important thing to do.  No point going to an IT recruitment company if you want a job in accounting. 

Not only do recruiters deal with specific specializations, some companies specialize in certain industries, ie finance/banking or government.  So if you are looking for a government CA position, make sure that your recruitment company is on the Vendor List for the government. 

Pros for working with a recruiter include:

• if you are good at what you do, then they want to find you a job, they act like your sales agent.  Just like selling a house, they only make a commission if they find you a position 
• they have a large knowledgebase for their expertise that you can tap into, ie do you need more education?
• they negotiate the best deal for you, including benefits, salary, vacation, etc
• they are experts in their field, so they know the positions and what the companies are looking for. 

Cons for working with a recruiter include:

• they only want the best, so like all sales agents they want hot commodities
• applicants send in 100's of resumes to recruiting companies, you can only deal with so many applicants so a lot of resumes get lost in their systems

Company Websites

If there is a specific company you are interested in then check out their websites.  Most small to large sized companies now have "career" pages on their websites, along with information on how to apply for their jobs and career advice about their company. 

Keep in mind that if you send in your resume through a company website, you close the door on using a recruiter for that company/position.  Once your name is in their database, then recruiters are not allowed to submit you to that job.

Networking

Some things never change, networking is still the best way to find a job.  All you need is someone to open the door and get your resume out of that black hole in HR. 

Here is a good site to help you with your networking skills:
http://www.bcjobs.ca/re/career-advice/career-advice-articles/networking-advice/powerful-networking-tips-top-strategies-for-career-success

Set your profile up on any networking sites you can find.  Start connecting with people on these sites and let them know you are looking for a job.  Some of the more popular sites are:

• www.linkedin.com
• www.facebook.com
• www.twitter.com
• google+

Some final advice:

• make up a business card with your networking sites on.  Even add in a QR code so that potential contacts can scan it into their phone and look at your resume right then and there.
• don't be shy, you're looking for a job, the more people who know the more chance you will find a position.  One of my favourite stories is a friend of mine was talking to an old neighbour she hadn't seen in a couple of years and they were catching up on their children.  She mentioned that her daughter was looking for a job in finance and he just happened to have an opening.  You never know when the stars will be aligned so be prepared to talk to everyone.

Good luck!!

What to put in your cover letter?

Should you write a cover letter?  The answer is yes.  Will everyone read it?  Probably not, but you don't know who will and who won't so better to write it because if someone does read it you want to impress them.

This should be written like an official letter including:

• date
• company address
• contact person's name (if you know it)
• salutations both at the beginning and the end
• subject line - this is the first thing the hiring manager looks at so put more than the reference number, ie Experienced Programmer Analyst looking for Senior PA position, reference # 123445
• body of the letter - the meat and bones of the letter which will help get you the interview.
• Your contact information, including name, address, phone number and email address

So what do you put in the body of the letter.  This is where you can show your knowledge of the company and the position.  Your resume is about you.  Your cover letter is about you and how you are perfect for this company and this position.  Yes, this means that each cover letter is individually personalized for the company and the position.  If you are going to do a blanket cover letter then don't waste your time or the hiring manager's.  Some things to keep in mind include:

• Keep it simple and keep it short, maximum 200 words.  
• Hiring Managers read a lot of cover letters and resumes over the course of the day, so use your key words to catch their eye.  
• The first paragraph should be about why you are qualified for the job.  Don't tell them you are a hard worker, tell them specifics "I have over 5 years of experience using Java/J2EE including working on .... systems".   "My experience includes working with  - keywords from the job description".
• The second paragraph shows your knowledge of the company and how you will be a great addition to their team.  Again keep those keywords flowing.  Companies use "applicant tracking systems" to scan for certain keywords, once you are in their system they will scan your resume and cover letter for every position that comes up.
• The wrap up paragraph thanks them for their time, lets them know your availability and best way to be reached.

Proofread it - get a friend to read it as well.  Don't just spell check.  Spell check won't catch words that are spelled correct but don't fit the context of the sentence, ie planed and planned, Manager and Manger.  

And last but not least if you put your cover letter in the email, remember to also attach it in a word and/or pdf document.  Set up a file to save your cover letters as well as the resume for each job you apply for, so when you get a call back you will be able to find your documents.

Good luck

What do you do after you apply for a job?

Organization is a key component to applying for jobs.  You have sent out 100, 200, 1000 resumes.  But you didn't keep track of who you sent them to.  Some people you emailed back, some you called.  But who were they?

You need a good tracking system, so set up a spead sheet.  The first fields you will need are contact information, such as:

• Date Resume sent
• Company Name
• Contact Person
• Email Address, Phone, Address, etc
• Job Reference #
• Actual Job Posting.  Not just the URL.  Companies put jobs up and down all the time.  You might get a call a month after your submission.  So make sure you keep a copy, either on your computer or a hard copy.
• If you have multiple resumes then you want a field with your resume and cover letter name so you know what you sent them

The next fields will be their responses and your follow up information:

• Did they email or phone you in response to your resume
• After you sent your resume did you follow up (within 7 days of sending your resume) with an "email" or a "call", make sure to put dates on
• Did you get an interview:
• When
• Who with
• Notes/Thoughts of the interview
• When they are hoping to make a decision
• Follow up, follow up, follow up
• 2nd and 3rd interview same as above.  This is when it is really important to follow up.  It's true sometimes "the squeaky wheel gets the oil"

Just a quick note on follow ups, it is important to follow up but you don't want to be a pest.  You want to show interest but you don't want to be a stalker.  Rate your response to your first follow up.  Did they seem friendly?  Sometimes they will say, "we are waiting for budget approval, give us a call in another couple of weeks".  Resumes get lost or filed all the time, that call or follow up email may make the difference in getting an interview or not or in getting the job or not.

Good Luck Job Hunting

What are the benefits of being a Consultant/Contractor

First job or seasoned veteran deciding to be a consultant/contractor is a big decision.  It is important that you know your own personality.  Consultants don't have the security that you do in a permanent/corporate position (most of the time).  You are basically running your own business.  So if you fret a lot about your next pay cheque than contracting may not be right for you.  But if you are confident and secure in yourself than there are alot of good reasons for contracting over permanent employment.

• Most consultants are paid hourly wages/salaries that are higher than the permanent employees.  This is because you don't receive the benefits of full time employment, ie medical, dental, sick days, etc.  
• You are running your own business so you can decide where your money goes, ie if you are single then maybe benefits aren't that important whereas if you have a family you may want to sign up for a benefits package through a health provider.  There are no union dues. 
• There are good tax write offs, ie your car, your home office, entertainment, computers, printers, education, benefit packages, etc.  These can all become business expenses. 
• You may get to work remotely if that appeals to you.
• The chance of feeling in a rut is less likely in a contract position as you have the opportunity to work for a number of different companies on a number of different systems.  This will enhance your training and sale ability.  Big corporate companies tend to put you in a slot and then leave you there so your resume can look a little boring if you have been doing the same job, working on the same system for the last 5 years. 
• There is the opportunity to travel.  It is much easier to work in another country on a short-term contract than it is to try and get a work visa.
• If you want to take an extended holiday then just work your contracts around the dates you want to be away.
• Company politics - not your business, you don't have to get involved.
• If you find a job and a company that really interests you, and you are doing a good job then there is an opportunity to get in full time.

As the global economy has changed over the last thirty years, there is a need for both contract and permanent positions in nearly all companies.  If you decide to contract remember it's not cut in stone.  The important thing is to keep gaining experience and growing your network.

Let me know if in your experience you can think of any good reasons for chosing the consultant/contractor career path.

Do you take that new job or not

You made the big step and applied for the job, you've had the interview and now you have been offered the job.  Wow, now you are a little nervous.  Do you really want to switch jobs?  Is your old job so bad?  If this is a contract position it's not such a big deal, you know you are going to be there for a short period of time, but if this is a permanent move to a permanent move you need to make sure you make the right decision. 

My best advice for everything is make a list. 

Make a list of why you want to leave your old job or what you would like to find in a new job.  There should be some overlapping of reasons, ie no advancement in your old position while the new one offers you some supervisory duties.

• Want more money
• No possiblility for advancement
• Working on an old system and you want to upgrade your skills
• Too long a commute
• No chance for travel
• Want a bigger company to get better benefits
• Not enough vacation time
• No ability to work remotely
• Training programs

Now you analyze, what are the most important reasons.  If you hate commuting and your new position is an hour away in rush hour bumper to bumper traffic you might want to decide whether the new position offers enough incentives to cancel out the commute.  Being able to work from home 2 days a week would make the commute not seem so bad.

The important thing is that you make the decision, not your recruiter, not your partner, YOU.  Listen to their advice but remember you are the one who will be dealing with this new position every day.

And be prepared for a counter offer when you resign, then it's back to the list.  Look at the reasons again, and try not to let the counter offer go to your head. 

Good Luck

Should you send your resume in a PDF or word format?

BOTH would be my answer.  You probably set up your resume in word and then created a PDF file from it.  So why not send both and here's my reasoning.

PDF files are used because it gives you an exact picture of the way you set it up. This way all your text boxes, graphs, and pictures will stay lined up the way they were formatted. The problem appears when you are dealing with a company that wants to "tweak" your resume before they send it to their clients. Recruiting companies like to enhance your resume with little things like highlighting key words or more major things like removing all the "I did" and changing them to action words like "designing, developing, etc". They know their client's specific needs and want to make sure these points are clear and concise in your resume.

PDF files can be very difficult to copy into word documents. I have seen files copy over and put one word on each line. This can then mean a total retype, which takes time and time can sometimes be the difference between having your resume processed or not.

Word documents are easy to revise and search on. Recruiters will take your resume and put it on their letterhead for presentation to their clients. Companies receive so many resumes that recruiting agencies have standardized their resumes so that when their client looks at one of their resumes they know exactly where everything is, ie Education at the top, followed by Technologies, followed by Professional Experience.  This allows HR to quickly glance at the resume and make sure that the key ingredients are there.

So be efficient and send both a word document and a pdf file (if you are worried about the layout).

How to answer "What skill could you most improve on"

As an interviewer I like to promote the positive so instead of asking "what is your greatest Weakness". I would rather ask you about what you would like to improve about yourself. There are so many ways to answer this and make yourself sound professional, but also willing to improve. Everyone has something they can improve on. Time management, organization, procrastination, an actual skill, social skills, etc

• So let's say you have an issue with time management you could answer by saying "I found I was getting behind on projects so i started using "timelines" and "to do lists" to keep me on track. Now I follow them diligently."
  
• Improving a skill is always a good fall back answer, so try something like. "I have been neglecting renewing my certifications so have set myself up a "goal to do list" including renewing at least two certificates a year and looking into some new ones".
  
• Social skills an issue. "Sometimes I feel when I am involved in a project I can become abrupt so i have been working on listening better to my peers questions and answering in a calmer tone."
  
• Learning to delegate. "it has taken me awhile but I know I have to work on my delegation skills. In my previous position I was trying to do everything myself and i was always rushing around at the end of the job trying to finish up. Now I use my teams skills better and delegate where possible."

Be honest about yourself. Think about where you could use some improvement, everyone can improve something, and if you can relate it to the job description even better.

Good Luck

How to Answer "What STRENGTH would you bring to this position?"

The best way to be prepared for this question is to sit down and write down your strengths from a previous position or if you are a new graduate then experiences from school.  Below are a few examples of strengths that can be expanded upon with your experience as they fit the job description:

• Team Player
• Time Management
• Good at managing people
• Meeting deadlines
• Always finish my tasks
• Good listener
• Deal well with difficult customers/situations
• Able to see the big picture
• Good with detail
• Pick out a skill from the job description, ie “With my strong web design, creative writing, phone skills, etc” , then expand on this strength.
• Problem Solver
• Able to juggle more than one task at a time

This is where it is very important to know the job description.  Hopefully, you have also had the chance to ask specific questions about the position before this question comes up.  Now you take your strength and the information you know about the position and put the two of them together.

• I am very good at listening and putting people at ease, this allows me to deal effectively with difficult situations.  In my previous position there was a customer/employee ……..
• Although I am a detail person I am also able to see the big picture, in my previous position (or while at school) I was assigned the task of ………
• My creativity has been tremendously helpful in designing web pages over the last 5 years.  One particular webpage was just not …. and I  ……

If you are having a hard time coming up with a strength, then ask your family, friends and co-workers.  You will be surprised at what they come up with.  Just don’t get too bloated from all the accolades.  It is important to be a little humble with this question.  You don’t want to come across as having an “I’m GREAT, I’m a STAR” attitude.

Don’t stress about this question, you have applied for the job because you know you can do it.  Now tell them why and how.  Be a "star".

Good luck

How to answer "Why are you leaving your current job?"

Companies are always interested in why you are looking for a new job.  Depending on the answer they can get a good feel for you as a person and whether they want you working for their company. 

• Do you like to change jobs?  bad attitude
• Are you looking for advancement?  good attitude
• Are you trying to increase your knowledge? good attitude
• Did you have an issue with your boss/co-workers?  bad attitude

Positive, positive, positive - yes always try and keep your answers positive.  Below are some guidelines that you can expand on by bringing the job opening and your skill set/goals into the answer.   

• I had reached the top of my level in my previous position and am looking to expand my knowledge.  This position and your company will offer me the opportunity to do that. 
• The last company I worked for was very small and I felt it was time to move into a large corporate office to increase my challenges. 
• My last position was a wonderful place to work for right out of school, and now I would like to move my career into a new path.
• My family life has changed and I am looking to work closer to home.  Your company is closer to my home and still offers me the challenges and opportunities I need in my position.  I am very excited about being able to utilize some new skills and polish up some old ones. 
• A friend sent me your job posting and the position sounded right up my alley.  After researching your company I feel like I would be an ideal match for this position. 
• It is very important for me to be challenged in my position and it was time for a change.  Your company is using a system I am looking to increase my knowledge of. 
• My last company went through a down turn and I realized that my position was being downsized.  This has given me the opportunity to look for new challenges and after researching a lot of companies, I feel that my entrepreneurial nature will fit in very nicely with your company.....

Never be negative.  The last thing you want to do is sound whinny

• I couldn't work for my boss anymore
• My co-workers were impossible to get along with
• They were always advancing their children

So remember:

• Be positive
• Answer the question
• Follow it up with promoting your skill set
• And finally why the new company is so much better suited to you

Good luck

The Interview Thank You Email

You've just walked out of your first, second or third interview. This is a good time to grab a coffee and take 15 minutes to make some notes from the interview.

• What the people were like? Write a couple of points on the back of their business cards (which you remembered to ask for).
• How you did?
• Any questions you forgot to ask?
• Why you still want the job?
• Why you are the right person for the job?

Later that same day sit down and compose your email.  Remember if you were interviewed by a panel then you want to send a personalized email to each person.  Your "thank you" should be sent out within 48 hours.  Why??

• You want them to read the email and remember you. 
• And no point sending out a email after they have made the decision.

Your email should be formal, starting with

• "Dear Person's Name" and ending with
• "Sincerely Your Name, Contact Info".

The body of your email should be 3 or 4 paragraphs (4 maximum). 

• First paragraph will be a general thank you for meeting you and what a pleasure it was to learn more about your company, etc
• Second paragraph will reiterate your skills and why you now feel like this is the job for you.
• Third paragraph a looking forward to hearing from you at my number/email below.

A few final things:

• Keep it short and sweet/positive
• Proofread, proofread, proofread

For some sample thank you letters, check out about.com at the link below.

Sample Thank You Email


Last thing to do - cross your fingers and wait for your job offer.  Good Luck

The Call Back Interview

The excitement level is now rising. You have made it through the HR interview and answered all those behavioral questions. Now you are going to meet the team you will probably be working with when you ace this interview.

There is a strong possibility this will be a panel interview with your immediate supervisors. Now come the more technical and hands on questions. Again use your recruiter's expertise to find out about the people who will be interviewing you. And also the detailed specs for the position.

Understanding the job description is very important here as the technical questions will relate to the skills they are looking for. Again it is important to prepare. Go over the job description point by point with your recruiter. Whether you are being interviewed for a programmer or an accounts payable clerk be ready to show your skills. You may be asked to code or explain how a posting would affect the financial statements. The Internet has hundreds of sites with technical questions relating to specific skills. Practice, practice and practice them.

Here is a sample site of technical questions

Sample Technical Questions from about.com

You may also be asked brain teaser and simple math questions. A favorite question seems to be

"Why is a manhole cover round?" - It's actually quite logical, check it out at Wikipedia - Manhole Cover

Brain teaser, math and puzzle questions are used to see how quickly and logically you think on your feet. Monster has a good article on brain teaser questions and why they are used.

Brain Teaser Questions

The key thing to remember in this interview is that these are the people you will be working with. So relax you have the skills or you wouldn't have been called back for another interview.

The First Company Interview

Let's talk about the easy things:

• Dress appropriately, depending on the job you may only need to wear a nice pair of pants/skirt and a crisp clean shirt/blouse.  Or depending on who you are meeting, ie the CEO - you may have to dry clean your old suit.
• Be on time - actually be EARLY
• Try and keep any nervous habits to a minimum.  An interviewer doesn't want to see you scratching your head, pulling your ear, twisting your hair.  Having a pen and your resume in your hands will help stop some of those little habits. 
• Be prepared, how many times do you hear that.  OK, so let's expand on that a little.

Be Prepared:

• Take a copy of your resume with you and make sure you know what it says, without having to keep referring to it.  Remember sometimes recruiters, with your help, rewrite your resume so make sure you have a copy of the one that was sent over to the hiring company. 
• Know who you are going to meet, make sure you can pronounce their name and go over the notes you made with your recruiter and information you found out on the web about the interviewer and the company. 
• Practice your "elevator pitch", a number of interviews will start with that famous "Tell me about yourself" question.  In 1 minute or less you want to make sure that you cover your education, your previous job highlights, your goals (especially as they relate to your job interview).  Write it down (350 words is around a minute of speaking), try not to use to many "I's".  It needs to be a story, not just points. 
• An interview is a two way street, so ask questions about the company.  "What growth do you see for the company over the next five years", "Is there the possibility of career growth", "How often are job performances performed", "What will my duties be in this job".  Show your knowledge of the company by asking questions relating to the information you have discovered , ie possible growth, expansions, new products, etc.
• Practice, practice, practice.  Your recruiter should have done a practice interview with you and gone over sample questions and how to answer them.  Here are some good sample questions for the first interview http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewquestionsanswers/a/interviewquest.htm . 
• Give a list of questions to a family member and have them interview you.  Be concise and clear but also try and be relaxed O:)
• Remember never be NEGATIVE about your previous company, bosses or co-workers. 

Relax:
LOL, ok might be the hardest thing to do especially if this is a position that you really want, but remember he WANTS to see you, he NEEDS to hire someone.  You have your foot in the door, now you just need to move into the desk.

Your First Interview

You've found your dream job; your resume is fine tuned and you have just received your first interview. Ok, but it's with a recruiter?  This is actually very good news if you are not a seasoned employee\contractor who is a seasoned interview veteran.

Your recruiter can be your best friend.  Take advantage of their expertise.  Recruiters have great rapport with the hiring managers they deal with.  They know the company, they have probably already placed someone in a similar position and if you impress them then they basically become your agent. No different than a real estate agent, they have a house to sell. A recruiter wants to find you a good job.  It keeps their clients\companies satisfied and when you want to make a change you may get back in touch with them.

So your first job is to make your mark on the recruiter and then to take advantage of his expertise.

So be prepared.

Research the company so you can ask the recruiter for more details and insights then you can just find out on the web. Remember he\she has a relationship with the hiring manager, they KNOW him\her, sometimes personally.  The recruiter has had feedback about what went wrong on an interview (he talked too much) and also what went right (she was very articulate and confident).

After going through your resume, he'll be able to work on your strong points so that you can express them with confidence.

Again a good recruiter will know right down to the detail level what the hiring manager is looking for and thereby what you should focus on.

Once he decides you are a fit for this position he wants you too succeed, the last thing he wants to do is send in someone who isn't qualified or isn't ready for the interview so use his expertise to get you interview ready.  Call him with questions, practice with him.  Chances are this may just be the first of many interviews as you start your career.

Formatting your resume to catch the recruiter's eye!

Having worked with recruiters for the last 12+ years the following article on Linkedin definitely caught my eye:  “What Recruiters Look at during the 6 Seconds They Spend on your Resume”.

http://www.linkedin.com/news?actionBar=&articleID=5595149483949174869&ids=djcQejsRdPoOd3oOczAUd3ARdiMNcz0Tej4PczARdz4Rd3cPejkRb3oQczgOcP8QcP8McPoMdzcVdjkIejkQe3AMc3kRdjoOcj4Oc3ARdiMVdzwQdP4Vd3APe3gVd34RejkR&aag=true&freq=weekly&trk=eml-tod2-b-pub-0&ut=21sgnABt6bk5c1

Yep! 6 seconds,  and it is so true.  Recruiters have trained their eyes to look for key data:  Education, Companies worked for, Current Position, and Previous Position.  Are you a professional contractor or a permanent employee. 

This 6 second scan is what gets you to the next step; a phone, or face to face interview where they go over your resume in detail. 

If the resume is cluttered with boxes, pictures, graphs and the recruiter can’t find the pertinent information then your resume is put back in the resume pool for possible processing at a later date. 

In the last 12+ years we have reformatted over 40,000 resumes.  This includes:

-          Using a clean, concise format. 

-          Having a short profile to outline your strengths in relation to the job you are applying for. 

-          ACTION WORDS – All points should use strong action words that describe your duties in very concise terms.  Here is just one of 100’s of webpages on the internet that list action words.  http://www.ceswoodstock.org/job_search/resumeaction.shtml

-          Never, never, never use the word “I”

-          And below is the layout we use, look how easy it is to find the key information.

So 6 seconds to catch someone’s eye.  Don’t waste it

RESUME SAMPLE

March Link Roundup

 It is truly amazing the wealth of information that gets shared over the internet and Twitter everyday.  Carlyn Servics Inc. has put together a wrap-up of some of the must read articles we've read in March.  Credit where it's due as we've indicated where we originally saw the article and of course the source of the article.  You will also notice links to relevant posts on our blog that relate to the subject matter of the various articles.  Needless to say we highly recommend you read all the articles linked in this post; they were very informative and insightful.   


http://mashable.com/2012/03/22/rim-loses-on-own-turf/

For our fellow Canadian's this article on Apple outselling RIM in Canada should be quite the interesting read.  It is most likely not all that surprising to everyone considering Apple's shares continue to gain value but it wasn't that long ago in Canada where the Blackberry was the be-all, end-all of smartphones.

Source:  mashable.com
Originally spotted:  @ComandMedia
  
http://www.business2community.com/social-media/finding-purpose-beyond-the-hysteria-of-social-media-marketing-0154656

A great article that quickly and effectively summarizes the two main benefits of Social Media marketing:  SEO and target audience advertising.  The main point we took out of the article is that having an effective marketing strategy ensures you will see results from your advertising venues.

Source:  www.business2community.com
Originally spotted: @B2community
Carlyn Services Inc. related article:  http://carlynservicesinc.blogspot.ca/2012/01/social-media-and-small-or-medium-sized.html


http://troblinreich.com/twitter-for-small-business/

This terrific article details a few real examples of companies that got creative in using Twitter as a means of promoting their business to massive audiences for only the cost of honouring a special discount.  Using social media and discounts/deals/specials together is something Carlyn Services Inc. has been advocating the past few months so we couldn't agree more with this article.

Source:  www.troblinreich.com
Originally spotted:  @BizCentralUSA
Carlyn Services Inc. related article:  http://carlynservicesinc.blogspot.ca/2012/01/effectively-using-twitter-for-smb.html


http://articles.mplans.com/tips-for-creating-an-effective-e-newsletter-program/

Our favourite thing about this article is the ideas for content detailed.  The article was originally written a few years ago but the content remains relevant still today.  We came across this article doing a generic search so you know the company is doing something right from an SEO perspective.

Source:  mplans.com
Originally spotted:  Search
Carlyn Services Inc. related article:  http://carlynservicesinc.blogspot.ca/2011/12/e-newsletters.html

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/223177

If you have ever wondered how to build an app for your business - and really, who hasn't? - this article summarizes how to go about it.  A must read for anyone considering building an app or companies considering adding app designing to their repertoire.

Source:  www.entrepreneur.com
Originally spotted: @ComandMedia
Carlyn Services Inc. related article:  http://carlynservicesinc.blogspot.ca/2012/03/mobilemicro-sites-for-your-business.html

http://www.howtowritearesume.net/en/page/en/How-To-Build-A-Good-Resume-.aspx

Even when you consider something your specialty it is important to do continued research on the subject matter.  Recently we came across this article on resume building that was an enjoyable read, particularly because it focuses on a couple of pieces of the resume that often get overlooked:  The heading and objective.

Source:  www.howtowritearesume.net
Originally spotted:  Search
Carlyn Services Inc. related article:  http://carlynservicesinc.blogspot.ca/2011/11/how-to-build-resume.html

Mobile/Micro Sites for Your Business

If (like all businesses should) you have a website, it is becoming increasingly important to format your website for smartphones by using an M-site.  Consider some of these stats from the youtube video "The Time for Mobile Is Now."



* Mobile search has grown by 400% in the past year
* 79% of large online advertisers do not have a mobile-optimized website
* 1 in 3 mobile searches have local intent
* 59% visit a local store after searching for it on the mobile web

and my personal favourite;

* 125 years of angry birds are played every day.

The desktop is quickly becoming extinct and laptops are not too far behind either.  It's not hard to envisage a near future (if it is not already true) where the internet is accessed on smartphones and tablets more than it is on personal computers.

For the business owner it is a must do to create a mobile/micro site of your website. 

Not sure what a M-site is?

type in http://m.tsn.ca/ in the browser on your personal computer and repeat on your smartphone.

Notice how the text is immediately readable on your smartphone screen and all the information you most often visit tsn.ca is readily available, one, or at most, two clicks away.  Compare it to your own website and you will most likely notice that on a smartphone your page doesn't fit the screen well, your text is miniscule and some of the more advanced features of your website (drop downs, flash etc...) do not work or do not work as intended.  This is why you need a M-site; so that the information you are conveying on your website is readily presented to people who are looking for you on their mobile internet devices.

A common excuse I hear as to why business owner's do not have an M-site is; I just spent thousands of dollars on my website a few years ago I can't spend that much again.  Terrific because you don't have to.  That's the great thing about M-sites is that they are for the most part, very inexpensive.  Prices will vary widely but if your spending more than a couple hundred dollars on a design and more than $10 a month for hosting, you are getting a bad deal.

The key to remember with your M-site is, get the most important information across in as simple a manner as possible.  Take out all the filler material, people who are looking for your business on a smartphone are far more likely to make a purchase that same day then if they are doing search at home.  Don't confuse these potential customers just provide them with the what, how much and how to.

YouTube Channels

When we think of social media, we tend to immediately go to the Facebook and Twitter's of the world but ignoring YouTube channels can be a mistake for the SMB owner. 

YouTube

How?

One of the most popular questions we get asked at Carlyn Services is, how do I get a YouTube channel?  The good news is, it is a very easy process, simply go here and follow the steps.

Why?

According to Alexa.com, YouTube is the third most trafficked site in the world.  That means when your customers are not doing a search, or on Facebook, they are most likely on YouTube.  By creating a YouTube channel you give your customers the chance to 'subscribe' to your channel.  Once they have subscribed, every time you add new content to your YouTube channel, your clientele will be made aware that you have done so.  This provides the SMB owner with a great opportunity to advertise at no or very little cost. 

Invodo.com is a great resource for statistics.  Here are a couple relating to video and it's importance in converting internet users into customers: 

"Mediapost reports that product videos play a key role in consumer purchase decisions, citing a 9x increase in retail video views at the start of the 2011 holiday season. (MediaPost, January 2012)." (http://www.invodo.com/html/resources/video-statistics/) 

"Visitors who view product videos are 85% more likely to buy than visitors who do not. (Internet Retailer, April 2010)" (http://www.invodo.com/html/resources/video-statistics/)

There are other advantages to creating a channel on YouTube:  You can subscribe to your competitors channels and get updates every time they produce new content, ensuring you are aware of anything new or exciting they are doing and you can use your channel to interact with your customer base through the comments to gain valuable feedback.

Here are a few examples of good YouTube channels:

Harley Davidson

Pepsi

Cisco

I've made a channel, now what?

Once you are up and running it is time to begin filling your channel with exciting and fresh content.  Every product and service you offer is worthy of a video explaining why everyone needs to buy it from you.  Have any experts on staff?  Expert advice videos, are amongst the most popularly viewed videos on YouTube.  Did your industry recently undergo any new changes?  Let your subscribers know by producing a video detailing those changes. 

Years ago the SMB owner would have loved to have been able to make commercial's, nowadays all you need is your own camera and you can make and broadcast all the commercials you want.  Take advantage of YouTube's channel program and build your brand online.

Increasing and Retaining Customers Using Facebook

If you are planning on using Social Media to grow your SMB, Facebook is an essential component.  A good place to start when determining how to use Facebook for your business is Facebook's comprehensive business guilde; available here.

There are limitations on what you can do with your business page on Facebook but there are still lots and lots of benefits to setting up and actively using a business page.

SEO

One of the added benefits (that sometimes gets overlooked) of using Facebook in your online strategy is that Facebook scores very well in organic search results.  Not to mention the backlink of adding your website to Facebook provides additional SEO benefit to your website.  Try looking for Carlyn Services Inc, or carlynservicesinc, on Google and notice that Carlyn Service's Facebook page is generally in the first 5-7 results returned.  The more avenues for your business to be found online the better it is for your business.

Getting Ahead of the Curve

Right now, Facebook and Search are separate but with more and more people, places and things finding a page on Facebook you have to wonder how long that reality will exist.  What I mean by that is, is it going to make sense to leave Facebook and go to Google to look up the closest dentist when every dentist nearby has a Facebook page?  More and more people are already using Facebook to find local businesses, get ahead of the curve now and get a Facebook page for your business.

Events, Photos, Specials and Video, Video, Video

Facebook's statistics page tells us that "the average user is connected to 80 community pages, groups and events."  80!  As a business you can't afford to be losing out on business by not having a share in the 80 connections the average user makes.  Put on events, create specials and deals, post pictures of employees and customers and most importantly make videos of anything and everything.  If you do all of these you are sure to have more connections than most of your competitors. 

As we discussed in the Twitter post last week, the importance of video is increasing daily.  People love to watch and listen on their computers.  Position yourself as an expert in the field of your business and create instructional videos on your expertise.  Putting on an event?  Videos.  Have a happy customer?  Testimonial videos.  Ever wanted to make a commercial?  Hire a video production company to create one for you.  They are less expensive than you realize.  Videos, videos, videos!