Today, I spoke to Alexandra Levit. Alexandra is a nationally recognized business and workplace author, speaker, and columnist. Alexandra has published several books, including the bestselling They Don’t Teach Corporate in College (second edition published in spring 2009 from Career Press), How’d You Score That Gig? (Random House/Ballantine, 2008), Success for Hire (ASTD Press, 2008), MillennialTweet: 140 Bite-Sized Ideas for Managing the Millennials, and New Job, New You. Alexandra is a member of the Business Roundtable’s Springboard Project, which is advising the Obama administration on current workplace issues.

Alexandra makes frequent national media appearances and has been featured in thousands of outlets including the New York Times, USA Today, National Public Radio, ABC News, Fox News, CNBC, the Associated Press, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and Fortune, and her articles regularly appear on the home pages of CNN, MSN, and Yahoo!.

You can connect with Alexandra via Linedkin | Facebook | @Twitter

Mohammed: Do you think that having (or recognized by) one job title is dead? Many people today are known in more than one specialization and working in many jobs at the same time. How can we narrow that in one brand and at the same time having opportunity in these jobs?

Alexandra: On the one hand, it’s terrific to have a unique specialization that makes you marketable and more competitive. You should be able to communicate about that specialization using language that makes it relatable to the average person. How does your work help your company make money and get things done more quickly? I also encourage professionals to broader their base of transferable skills (project management, budgeting, client relations, sales, etc.) so that if something happens to that specialization or you decide you don’t want to do it anymore, you have a skill set that can be leveraged in other careers.

Mohammed: Which option do you prefer and why? a) Accept full time job with good salary but not in your expertise. b) Accept part time job in your expertise and spend the remaining time on personal development.

Alexandra: It depends on your life circumstances and your motivations as an individual, which I talk a lot about in New Job, New You. Some people are in a position where they must work for money, whereas others have more freedom to explore work that’s meaningful to them. And for some people, a lot of money makes a job meaningful, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Mohammed: Seth Godin said in his latest book “Linchpin”: “If you are working only for the person you report to according to the organization chart, you may be sacrificing your future.” Do you agree that employees -Linchpins- should excel in each task they are doing and even more than what the employers ask for? Is that gold plating or it’s a must in today’s recession?

Alexandra: I agree, because what happens if that person quits or gets laid off and he’s the only one who knows the value you bring to the organization? You must aim to make your contributions visible to as many people as possible. This means extending your reach to departments that are adjacent to yours through collaboration, and yes, being the “go to” person for as many work-related tasks as possible. The concept of putting your head job and doing your job in a bubble is a thing of the past.

Brand Word: “If one advances confidently in the direction… of his dreams and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with unexpected success.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

Spotlight: Looking to make a career change? Featuring comments from the legendary Stephen R. Covey, the New Job, New You webinar (www.newjobnewyou.com) provides extensive advice on career transformation and advancement that complements and expands on the book of the same name. The 60 minute course includes engaging video segments, anecdotes, and exercises and is offered free with the purchase of the book New Job, New You.

It used to be that only celebrities like Madonna reinvented themselves. But this is the twenty-first century, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the average young American will have about 9 jobs between the ages of 18 and 32. The gutsiest and most innovative individuals have taken this trend a step further. They have changed not just their jobs, but their fields, and have successfully supported themselves in different careers over a period of several years.

New Job, New You gets to the heart of what makes people take the plunge into a new field. In my preliminary research, I discovered that career changers have several common motivations for theirdecisions:

Family: When true work/life balance becomes a necessity.

Independence: When you’ve been bitten by the entrepreneurial bug.

Learning: When your bookish, curious side takes over.

Money: When an increase in earning potential is on the horizon.

Passion: When you yearn to do what you love with all of your heart.

Setback: When one door closes, another one opens.

Talent: When you’re too good at something not to give it a shot.

Today, I spoke with John Antonios, John is a marketeer by profession and by passion. After several years of experience in brand management, he decided to finally launch his own marketing consulting company. John’s experience has taught him a great deal about people, brands, management, & trust which are clearly reflected in his professional blog. Passionate about Social Media, he decided to pursue further studies and readings within the field. Now he focuses on building brands (be it corporate or personal) via social media.

You can connect with John via @Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

Mohammed: Branding for INDIVIDUAL or COMPANY? Where to start on the branding? On oneself (particularly if you have credibility from your profession, such as a Doctor) or on ones company name? Can you do both or does that detract from the little bit of social media mileage that can be created at the start?

John: I will have to favor individual/personal branding over company branding. Each of us has their own unique brand – their own set of values. Personal branding is all about communicating your brand, in other words delivering on your promise of value. Personal Branding is not only catered to those with currently established credibility; in fact, each one of us should promote their PB, their DNA – students, employees, employers, tycoons, rich, poor, young, old … After 10 years of employment, I recently decided to start my own marketing consultancy – my number one objective was not to promote my newly established company, but to build my personal brand and establish a certain level of trust and credibility. This in turn, helped me sell my services, because i had earned the right to do so – i was part of that circle of trust! Only now can i start promoting my business!

I am one with my brand! My work has to reflect my brand! My company has to reflect my brand values! credibility & synergy go hand in hand when it comes to successful branding!

Mohammed: Companies are spending fortunes every year on marketing, advertising and PR to establish and promote their brands, few of them becomes WOM, what do you think are the main reasons?

John: Establishing Word-of-Mouth (WOM) fame is not a direct result of the marketing activities – the latter are simply communication vehicles. WOM is about earned attention – be it negative or positive! So how do you earn people’s attention? In my humble opinion, this is the question companies need to be asking themselves prior to spending exuberant amounts on useless media. With so much competition out there, how does a brand stand out from the crowd? The answer lies in the perceived value!  Bombarded by millions of marketing messages on a daily basis, people don’t really have time to talk about all of them, they will only relay information that they deem as valuable.

I would also like to note that doing everything is not that same as doing the right thing – so engaging in all sorts of media vehicles to promote your product/service does not guarantee WOM status, it can actually back fire! It’s not an off-the-shelf solution that you can buy, a successful marketing strategy requires a thorough understanding of the brand and the intended participants!

Mohammed: In What Are They “Not” Teaching You?, you offered students, professors, and colleges a proposal to develop a 3-course module that gives an overall roundup of social media. How do you think adapting such as modules will change the eduction? and do you think everyone is forced to be Gen Y soon?

John: Thanks for asking this question Mohammed. I think social media is no longer an option. More and more attention is going towards online activities versus traditional media. In regions like North America, Autralia, and Europe,  where the internet penetration rate is over 76%, 60%, and 53% respectively, i think it would be unwise not to consider the Internet and more specifically Social Media as a main axes of communication. Therefore, being educated about social media is vital for the success of the new managers in the making. I would like to stress that this course suggestion is not intended for marketing students only, i am recommending it as a core module in any major and that is because each one of us, as relayed in my answer to your first question, has a personal brand, and social media is a great tool to communicate it.

I want to stress on something Mohammed, to avoid being misinterpreted, I’m not saying that social media is a magic pill that solves everything – but i am certainly saying that is an indispensable one!  I think 1.8 billion already are, that’s roughly around 27% of the world – i think it’s only a matter of time!

Brand Word: My parting words to all your readers Mohammed are in fact from a post I wrote re Personal Branding – dare to be different, don’t plagiarize your identity! Don’t succumb to the reality that was imposed on you by your society/company/family, create your own! Find your DNA – mine is Passionate, Creative, & Dedicated – what does your say!

Spotlight: If you would allow me Mohammed, I would like to use this opportunity to simply thank you for the great work you’re doing. Your Personal Brand is one to admire and I hope your readers understand the importance of your work.

I’m always reading something new, but i would highly recommend that for those of you who haven’t do so yet, pick up a copy of the following books: Linchpin by Seth Godin and Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk and let them inspire you on unleashing your personal brand!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhqZ0RU95d4

Today, I spoke to Keith McIlvaine, Keith is a coach, mentor and speaker. He is HR/Recruiting/Social Media professional with over 10 years of experience.

He began his career with an IT consulting company working as a recruiter in multiple offices supporting the PA, DE, NJ and NY markets.  Currently he is a global social media recruitment role challenged with enhancing the recruiting activities and supplementing existing recruiting methodologies.

You can connect with Keith via @Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

Mohammed: How deep within an organization should social media be allowed to penetrate?

Keith: Social media is going to be used by employees regardless of their level and access rights.  If you do not provide an employee with access, they will just log in through their mobile device anytime they choose.  Companies should think beyond the question of “who do we provide access to” and instead help to educate employees on how to use social media in terms of what to say online/what not to say online, be aware of privacy updates, and any additional information they feel is needed.

To answer your question directly, I believe it depends.  Social media will be a slippery-slope for any organization because of what may or may not be said online.  It may not make sense for your “customer support” division to have access as it may distract, however, it may also make sense for “customer support” to have access in order to respond to social media feedback quickly and effectively.  Also, depending on your industry you may not be able to discuss anything online due to regulations.

The challenge for companies is that there is no right or wrong answer to this question.  Employees are going to be on social media whether you provide workplace access or not.  Ultimately, it is in a company’s best interest to help employees make smart decisions as to when and what they say in these outlets.

Mohammed: What are the most common mistakes businesses and organizations make when it comes to social media and branding?

Keith: Two really jump out for me on this topic.

First, companies feel the need to continually push information out rather than make engagement their practice.  Yes, it is important to share information about your company or industry but when you have zero engagement you become another marketing channel rather than a trusted partner.  When this happens, you begin to lose followers/fans/friends/etc. and become just another part of the social media noise.

Second, people want to see who is behind the social media logo for organizations to truly gain that personal aspect that is so important in social media.  If a company chooses a logo as their main picture, that is great but ensure the public know who is behind the scenes to contact if needed.  People, not logos, build the real trust and engagement which in turn provides a positive impression for that company with public opinion.

Mohammed: What changes do you envisage to the way we communicate with each other in future?

Keith: I continue to see mobile and other portable devises (iPads and netbooks alike) driving change.  Mobile phones have already made it tremendously easy to keep in touch with friends and colleagues, to exchange information in real-time and to keep large masses updated on whatever you choose to share through social media.  As technology advances, mobile devises will hold everything and anything you could imagine right in your hip pocket.  There will be an increase in video integration into our daily communications.  Every year I am impressed with the next generation of technology, I am also excited to see other technology that I haven’t even imagined yet!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ILQrUrEWe8

Brand Word: You need to pursue something that you enjoy in life.  Yes, we all have responsibilities but enjoying what you do is critical to success.  Even if it is something that you work on with your extra time, this will expand and enhance your character and who knows where it might take you.  In this course, be true to yourself as your character is extraordinarily important!

Spotlight: I manage the social media recruiting strategy for Unisys Corp, a Fortune 500 global IT services, software and technology company.  In my personal time, I also manage my own personal blog, the HR farmer, as well as enjoy reading marketing and social media related books such as Trust Agents by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith – one of the most well thought out books on how to effectively use social media.  Let’s all keep pushing each other to continue these incredible conversations!  (The statements above are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer).

Today, I spoke to Tim Tyrell-Smith, Tim is the founder of Tim’s Strategy: Ideas for job search career and life, a fast growing blog and website.  Tim is also the author of: 30 Ideas. The Ideas of Successful Job Search.  Tim’s Strategy began in September 2008 as a way to give back to the community that supported Tim during his own 2007 job search.  Tim writes and creates from the perspective of a hiring manager and a former job seeker focusing on the strategy and psychology of successful job search.  As well as on the larger topic of career and its impact on life.

You can connect with Tim via Linkedin | Facebook | @Twitter

Mohammed: What’s the most important when you search for a new job? a) Invest in yourself, i.e. training courses, certifications, starting a personal blog, etc. b) Hire career coach and create a complete marketing documents. c) Online social networking.

Tim:  Thanks Mohammed for the chance to share a few ideas with your readers.  I think all three items above have value for job seekers depending on their particular situation.  And for some job seekers, there is value in an upfront investment to create a resume or CV that quickly communicates your unique benefits.  A career coach and/or resume expert can make for a smart spend.  Career coaches can be a huge help in framing your experience in a way that hiring managers will see as powerful.  They can also be a great resource as you prepare for a big interview.  And, finally, online social networking has really become an essential skill, hasn’t it?

Mohammed: Many people are forced in today’s recession to work in more than a job, is it OK to have multiple job titles? How that will affect their personal brand and does employers/HR will understand that?

Tim:  I think that the idea of having multiple job titles will, over time, become more acceptable.  Today, however, it presents a tricky situation.  Most employers expect they’ll have you for the full day and may shy away from your candidacy if they see that you have a number of jobs requiring your time.  Right now in this economy, job seekers are battling employer risk.  Meaning that if an employer sees hiring you as a risk (you might leave, be less dedicated, take too long to learn the industry), someone else will likely be hired in your place.  Also true of job seekers who have created a consulting business in the interim.  A hiring manager will wonder if the business will continue after they hire you.  Some suggest you only include the biggest current or prior role to prevent the “risk” discussion.  Your personal brand is defined by all the things that you do personally (if public) and professionally.  So, yes, if the many jobs you have are totally unrelated, there is some risk.  But I believe that as long as the different jobs, roles or actions contribute positively to the world, the risk is limited.

Mohammed: You mentioned “Be A Super Connector” as one of the “10 Ways To Become A Person Of Influence“, what your top three ways to be a super connector in today’s social media revolution?

Tim:  Being a super connector means that you are highly aware of the needs and skills of your network.  And that you are always listening for a fit every time you meet someone new.

First, maintain a finger on the pulse of your network.  What jobs are they looking for, who are they looking to hire and what problems are they looking to have solved?

Second, as you meet new people, ask them similar questions to see if there are natural, obvious connections you can make.

Third, personally connect people via email, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.  By suggesting connections that make sense, you will build influence and friends.  By connecting people who gain value from each other.

Brand Word:

Spotlight: One of the most popular pages on timsstrategy.com is the free downloads page http://timsstrategy.com/free-downloads/ There are templates, tools and e-books available.  These include a resume/CV template, a networking bio template, an interview preparation tool, a tool to evaluate a job offer and much more!

Today, I spoke with Emily Bennington, college-to-career expert and coauthor of Effective Immediately: How to Fit In, Stand Out, and Move Up at Your First Real Job.  Emily is also a contributor to The Huffington Post, a frequent speaker to college students and organizations, and the host of www.ProfessionalStudio365.com

You can connect with Emily via @Twitter @Linkedin @Facebook

Mohammed: How has technology changed your life on a personal and professional level?

Emily: Technology, and social media in particular, have really leveled the playing field. It’s so easy to identify like-minds and connect with them now in ways that simply wouldn’t have been possible just a few years ago. For example, through Twitter alone, I’ve met the co-author of my next book, the designer of my website, and had the opportunity to ask one of my idols Tom Peters a leadership question directly. And guess what? He answered!

Mohammed: Mark Zuckerberg said “the age of privacy is over”, should our online identity be completely transparent as offline character to have a remarkable personal brand?

Emily: I do believe that, in order to have a remarkable personal brand, you MUST be highly-visible on the web. Keeping up with a blog, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. is simply not optional for anyone who wants to position themselves as an expert in their field. That said, I believe we must also be very intentional about the messages we send, both online and off. I tell students that, in the workforce, they have to have their “game face” on at all times. In other words, they may be fighting with their girlfriend or concerned about their rent, but they have to maintain a completely professional exterior. The same is true with your “Web 2.0” presence, so, in that regard, I don’t believe in 100% transparency.

Mohammed: What advice would you give to someone who is depressed because of the current economic situation? What jobseekers should do if they complete one year without finding a job?

Emily: Be prepared to take a position that’s lower on the food chain. A lot of young professionals in particular have been told for years to “follow their passion” and “refuse to settle.” While I’m obviously a believer in big dreams, I also think people should be practical enough to “seek cover” if needed under a job with a steady paycheck until the market improves. And who knows? If you give 100% to a “small” job, it could ultimately morph into a “big” opportunity in the long-run. When I entered the workforce, I couldn’t even find a job at a restaurant, so I started working as a temp in a marketing agency. Temping isn’t glamorous by any stretch but I saw the potential and ended up working at that company for more than six years. In that time, I doubled my salary and went from basically being the receptionist to being their marketing director.

Brand Word: My favorite quote is:

Spotlight: Emily’s latest book Effective Immediately: How to Fit In, Stand Out, and Move Up at Your First Real Job