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Friday, December 17, 2010

R.U. LinkedIn pt 2

R.U. LinkedIn pt2

Yesterday I commented on the basics of LinkedIn from the position of how best to create your profile. Later in the afternoon, I found an article that struck on many of the same issues I tried to express. Please read http://shar.es/X5tCK called How To: Optimize your LinkedIn Profile from mashable.com written by Erica Swallow.

Now back to the blog. It took me a good couple of days trying to match my information sensibly with the questions asked by the program.  If you have multi-year experience in a variety of areas; you have to be prepared to include as much of that information as possible.  This online profile will soon become as important as your c.v. and should be thought of as such. Too much information is never a bad thing if it can be made to look good.

The summary should be your welcome letter, allowing people to get to know you and a little about your thinking pattern.  It should be the 2 minute-first impression-pleased to meet you and this is a taste of me part of the page.  This is a good spot to put alternative numbers or addresses which you can be reached at; so people can find you in future and connect when they need your opinion or services. I have mine set with an introduction, my contact info, and a summary of what I bring to the table now. As Sales/Recruiting is a contact sport, I  include that my many years of experience cannot be covered by just one page.

Next comes Experience and Education.  Everything that can come to mind as what makes you a truly unique individual should be listed there.  Places of Employment and Schools/ Courses taken for your work experience should be listed in detail; just like you would on a resume.  If its possible, this is where recommendations come in.Recommendations are LinkedIns’ version of references telling people what you do well and why others should consider you when trying to find suitable contacts.

If you do good work; Let everyone know that, and nothing can do it better than when you get a good recommendation or two. Getting a variety of recommendations will do better than many people saying the same thing. Tying it all up are web-addresses where you contribute or the company which you are employed. There is an option to change these from the generic to the current.

In closing: LinkedIn is a Key Resource for the future of many industries and for searching for the next break-out employee.  Take the time and treat it as you would your resume, or a very important business meeting with a new client; You never know where it may lead

I am The Recruiters’ Assistant wishing all of you: Happy Holidays!!!

Have Yourself a Fantastic Day!

Daniel J Smith


Make Peace with Yesterday, Live for Today, Dream for Tomorrow; No Fear, No Regrets; But Trust in Your Self;
Believe in Your Self; Have Faith in Your Self; and You Will Affect All Others Around You!--This is The Human Exponential.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

R. U. LinkedIn? pt 1

R. U. LinkedIn ???

One of the first things I did after setting up my desk and my computer was to start an important task in my new venture- Commence with the social networking.  That meant to me exposing myself in a grander nature on the internet than I had been comfortable with.  To me: Twitter, Facebook, even Linked In was inviting unwanted attention.  Imagine if you can, someone who had gone until now as a virtual ghost on the internet and was proud of it.  Even better, does anyone know anybody in recruiting who doesn’t wish some kind of attention.  Attention has pretty much the same importance as a business card or an advertising campaign for your business.

After setting up the standard accounts, and blog sites, I was asked to register anywhere I thought recruiters would be, or the sites where I could be noticed as a “Professional People Person” or the “Mindful Motivator” I had become known as.

This led me to an amazing program for any professionals looking to set up a network of valuable contacts, all in one place; that program being LinkedIn.  I decided that the best way to learn about this program would be to find a tutorial, or some form of instruction which would guide me to setting up an account which would give me the most exposure and allow me to create my all-important network. As a Salesperson, my day-planner and business card file was key, the emphasis is on ‘was’.  In this new world, you have to have a presence on the internet to succeed.  I found a book which would answer all my questions about LinkedIn called “Using linkedin” by Patrice-Anne Rutledge.

The first thing I started with was to edit my profile and the basics of my past work history, most of  which came from my resume; and create an identity which would set me apart from all the others in my business. Then came the contact information; meaning how could people get a hold of me should they need my services. Company website was listed, along with e-mail address, Twitter and Facebook feed, and my blog sites (Something to Think About; and The Recruiters’ Assistant- both on WordPress and assorted other blog-sites over the Internet; check them out and challenge my point of view).  As per my instructions I used the summary section as the place where I would list ALL my CONTACT INFORMATION.  Its amazing how many people are satisfied with just the bare essentials of information.  I want to be  found if my services are needed; less information would lead to problems with people being able to reach me. Please look at my information and feel free to add me to your professional network, as any assistance I can give is available for the asking. (http://ca.linkedin.com/in/thedanieljsmith).

As I have learned: Linked In is a KEY resource for many industries, so feel free to establish the maximum exposure of YOUR brand, which in turn is as successful as the person in control wishes to be.

To be Continued……

 

Have Yourself a Fantastic Day!

Daniel J Smith
Executive Assistant
RBS Staffing Consultant
(905) 627-5060


Aspire for Greatness; and Inspire Greatness in Others

Happy, Happy, Happy...

This is the time of the year best spent reflecting on the year passed, On our various successes, on our family, on our chosen career, and to re-commit to the coming year, thankful that for us there will be a tomorrow and a second chance to make the all important first-impression.
Personally, I’m happy that I made it through this transitional year no worse for wear. I’ve had many challenges over the course of the last 12 months, from “finding myself” and my place in this new world, to helping out those people who just need a friendly ear to listen, to embarking on a strange new journey in the world of recruiting.  Anyone who has read any of my passed blogs, will know that I come from a sales background, being relatively successful for many years before an illness forced me to step back and re-evaluate a lot of my beliefs, and especially my goals when it comes to work and family; and how much time and effort would be spent on each.  I actually found a happy place and believe me when I say that that spot is mine and I intend to treasure it.
New people came into my life, each one bringing with them a new layer for the collage.  These people were key in providing a sense of direction and a different view on life and career.  Being involved in the Mental Health circles helped to show me what it means to really live, as it is the truly simple things which bring them awe. (thanks Calvin).  They have given me a reason to believe that strong effort doesn’t always achieve the goal, and that sometimes you look too hard for the answer staring you in the face.  We put too much effort and worry on things that are beyond our control, and not enough time and effort on the truly simple things and trying to enjoy the journey with all the bumps and bruises, rather than rushing to the endzone and scoring the winning touchdown.  For every journey we rush through and not pay attention  we miss the real goal and the real reason for the trip to begin with.
In the coming year, I hope to build on the successes of 2010, forgive those who didn’t always agree with my opinion, and try to pay attention to the big picture, as the various textures and hues are what makes any piece of art- a masterpiece.  To all my new friends: Thank you and may you all find what you deserve, and know I’ll be lurking in the background ready to help at a moments notice.  To all those I’ve met in my new vocation, I look forward to the lessons as we move forward, so I can achieve all the potential that you saw in me when the opportunity evolved.  To all those I have yet to meet- “Hello” from my corner of the universe, I look forward to connecting with you, to reaching out on common goals as there is much good we can do together.
May everyone enjoy the holiday season, regardless of your denomination or beliefs, and you enjoy all that is around you.  2011 is just around the corner and I feel it will be one heck of a ride.  Please join me!!

The Daniel J. Smith
Aspire for Greatness; and Inspire Greatness in others

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

May Your Season be Bright...And Sensible

Every year around this time I am reminded on how commercial the Christmas Holidays have become.  Having spent over 35 years in the retail trade, you would think I became accustomed to all the hustle and bustle, and the screaming and crying, but you would be very, very, wrong.  Ever since I was an undertall individual,  Christmas was a time for family and friends, visiting and eating.
Unfortunately, as the years have gone by, things have gotten more and more commercial, with the accent on how much I should spend on a particular person, rather than giving from the heart.  Homemade gifts used to be really awesome to give and receive because they required time and thought to be placed behind them.  However; that was then…..
Now people in the retail field are looking at the season with Scrooge demeanor; as they see shortages in the popular products, time off/ days off cancelled because the retail machine for some reason won’t function right without that particular associate, and really, really bad hours as stores seem to feel longer days mean more money, which in turn should mean more profits.  That is the key word: PROFIT!!
Anyone in the business who says they are not in it for money or personal gain would be lying; Yet every year they trudge on, singing the company mantra, but secretly counting the days until the madness is over for another year.  At this time it seems most retail personel work on automatic, with the settings being Eat, Sleep, Work; yet occasionally the settings for eat and sleep malfunction at the worst of times; as the days get closer and closer to C-day; and management expects more and more coming from less and less.  This is the worst time for stress to develop, as many people re-evaluate their career choice, knowing full well that when January 3 comes around; they did survive and will stick it out for another year; unless some fantastic opportunity should fall from the heavens and land right at their feet.
I think  most consumers forget a couple of key points:
1.  Retail Employees are Human too; and should be treated as such
2. The insane hours are dictated by the consumer and not the shopkeeper; If people kept their shopping to a sensible time, then the stores would be able to run at normal hours, and it would make everyone just that much happier.
3. Sunday shopping does nothing for the overall profitability of a store.  Seriously, am I to believe that stores make more money going 7 days a week then what they made in the past in 6? I’m not sure about anyone else but my paycheque never increased because of and extra day of being open, my shifts were just moved around to accomadate the new demands.
4.  Anyone who says that the retail employee has the right to look elsewhere is absolutely correct; provided they remember that not everyone is cut out to be a doctor or a lawyer.  I know many people who worked in retail to get through school, that had not really chosen it as a  career path, and were all the better at finding something better at the first improved opportunity to present itself.
5.  BOXING DAY!!! Is there any real reason why stores have to open at all on December 26th?  I always enjoyed the extra day of rest, especially after working the previous 23 days straight (yes it is legal if you are paid weekly)  The prices are only better on seasonal goodies left over; and crap that some person got real cheap to move real fast.  There really are no major bargains to be had.
The old family days of Christmas are gone, and all that is left is the memories of gathering the clan over a well cooked turkey/tofurkey as the world spins on faster and faster, and personal time becomes less and less (like it was in the older days).
I am glad to have moved on; and even more glad to have spent that time in the trenches, as it makes me appreciate how much harder the world of retail truly has become.
For all concerned, that gives you Something to Think About…
(thanks for the rant time….this has been a long time in the making- djs-:)

Friday, November 26, 2010

Let's All Go to a "Tweet" Meet...

Let’s All Go to a “Tweet” Meet!

One of the important things I’ve seen in the last while, is networking with others is a contact sport.  At the end of the day, though we all have the same agenda, we keep very much to ourselves and our immediate work environment. (Keep your demons close). This then places us in a “glass bowl” surrounding; where as much as we are on display, or known for our sparkling people skills, some have problems letting go of the “Work Persona”.  This can lead to a very skewed vision on the chosen profession; and we start relying on outside sources for the inside gossip.
This is where the idea of a “Tweet Meet” makes so much sense.  Firstly, it is usually spur of the moment; with notices being sent via e-mail or by twitter, and they are usually held in a restaurant or bar central to most of the participants.  This is a fantastic opportunity to meet up with new collegues, with old friends and learn briefly about new practices in the industry, and trade war stories about our various issues to get a second opinion on how to solve the problem situations.  Most times you don’t really know who is going to show up until everyone arrives.
For people like me, who are coming in as a new collegue from another profession, this provided me with an opportunity to meet some of the key players (those who have presence and a reputation throughout the industry); and to tear down the velvet curtain and see that “the Wizard” really is human.  I went there with trepidation and questions, though my coach tried to keep me calm knowing about the fear of too many people in a really small space. With her in the room, I felt a little more at ease for the night to come.
I really appreciated the veterans I met taking the time to make me feel at ease; and I was even more pleased to see people I had done work for over the internet; and could now place faces to ”the voice” at the other end of the telephone. Most industries only have gatherings like this at Christmas; or if something really big is happening at their company, but I will say it was really nice to see people let their hair down and have fun.  Although encouraged, shop talk is quickly tabled in favour of everyone diving into the “ sandbox”  together and cutting loose.  It was nice to see that professionals of the industry willing to trade stories with the “new blood” and make them feel that we are colleagues and not competitors looking for the same bone.
New opportunities seem to rise at these things which can get the blood flowing as people figure out whether or not to participate. Right now, my coach is working on a special project (to be outlined at the right time) with the lead of this year’s show.  This can be very major for people across the industry as it  gives them a voice and an opportunity to share ideas and collaborate on new business models and practices. This gets everyone “jazzed” and further committed to our business choice.  Its nice for once to be included in the “cool club” rather than sitting on the outside waiting for our chance to shine.  That doesn’t by any means say that our “place” doesn’t need to be earned, but it does feel good to be welcomed by those who we only know  as Profile pictures on our LinkedIn database.
Now its time to catch up on some rest from last nights event (expect late hours; especially if the conversation and the poison of choice works out really well) I hope that in the coming months, as I learn more about my new chosen craft, that I will be able to take part in more of these “Meets” over Southern Ontario, and meet up with more interesting people, and be able to pick their brains for knowledge or better, more efficient ways to do more with less; Lets face it, Recruiters are the McGuyvers of the employment industry, always finding the way to pull the horseshoe out of thin air with minimal equipment.
Thanks to Rebecca for including me, to Geoff Webb, who hosted the event, and to everyone I met and networked with; It really was a good time, and I hope to see you all (and meet other new faces) at future “Tweet Meets”
Thats it for this week, I am The Recruiters Assistant and have yourselves a dynamite weekend.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

And On The Eighth Day...He Said, "Invent Yourself"

Over the last number of days, I have been listening to a lot of opinions in the areas of Sales and the Marketing of oneself (aka branding). Everyone has a valid argument on how you can succeed and where you could fail…..The lists are endless.  All the points could be considered relevant depending on your situtation at any given time.
This brings me to today’s rant: Who is REALLY responsible for your success or failure.
The answer is real simple: YOU ARE!!!
From a real early age you learned how to communicate, both verbally and non-verbally, using both words and body-language and understanding which method is most effective and when.  Reputations are formed the first minute we are introduced to the world, as are opinions by others on our potential for success and how they have “Big Plans” for our future.  At this stage we don’t understand what is going on, just that we are being liked for ourselves.
Flash-forward a few years to the playground.  Here we learn we aren’t really as special as we have been led to believe.  It is here we learn that those with all the cool toys get the attention, and those without, don’t.  We also meet our first “bully”, that person who has made a negative decision about you based on no information, and has already made his/her opinion of you known to all he/she “controls”.
We all want to be liked and we want to be successful on the playground; yet everytime we think we know all the right answers and etiquette to handle the situation, THE RULES CHANGE!  This is something we have to get used to, as it will be one of, if not, the major hurdle we will have in life.  Fast-forward again, this time to “The School Years”- This is where alot of our self-worth or ambition for the future will be formed.  This is where we find out how good we really are, and learn to stand on our own merit.
Are we good at sports, at music, at drama, or at studies? Do we spend the time necessary to prepare for the inevitable future, or do we try and take as many short cuts as possible?  Again, perception is everything, and again, not everyone will be liked for everything they do.  Keeping a positive attitude is tough during these years; as we really didn’t get a clear set of rules on how to act or treat others.  Adaptation is key at this stage, as is Improvisation on life skills.  The people who get a handle on those skills usually find some tasks easier than others, and find that “Growing Up” and preparing for the future rests on their own goals and aspirations.  The more education (school or street) we receive, then the better we are prepared to face the unknown.  Those individuals who feel they are not as fortunate, discover new skill sets to take the place of “the golden ring” (or the Silver Spoon).  Yes, they too do have the potential to be successful but in order to do so, they have to take a different path to the top.
Which now brings us back to the original question: Who is Responsible for Your Success?  All successful people have a different vision of where that magic comes from, and success becomes measured by different standards.  To truly be successful, I feel you have to be happy with yourself as you are, not trying to change to fit the crowd.  Being that individual is what will make you feel good about you and what you choose to do, as you are the captain of your own ship named “Success”. It can be daunting at times, trying to live to everyones expectations, but, and that is a major” But”, if you disregard all opinions of you except your own, you will find the trip easier to manage.
Every minute of the day brings us in contact with new choices, new people and new challenges which can either assist or torpedo our goals.  The important thing is to keep pressing forward, and measure your success by the achievements we make that put a smile on our face, and give us peace…
Something to think about…When was the last time you looked in the mirror and smiled at yourself?  You may find the answer harder than you think.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

The Customer is NOT Always Right!!!

Recruiting and sales; or Sales and recruiting.  Which comes first and which is more important?  Whether we wish to admit it, both are part of the very same industry, just at differing degrees on the scale.  Just because you are a great recruiter doesn’t mean you’ll have a long career as a salesperson and the same can be said about Sales People potentially not doing well recruiting others.  If you happen to be one of those rare few that can do both, and do them well–Congratulations!
Both careers take a lot of effort and an insane amount of time to get established; and once established, require tons of TLC to stay on the right track.  You have to develop alot of talents, have the ability to juggle multiple jobs, possess a really thick hide and deal well with alot of rejection.  If and only if you find that niche which will set you apart from all of the others in your profession; then you can start building your reputation.  This reputation is why people will keep coming back to you, rather than try someone new up the street. He (or She) with the strongest reputation in any particular arena will get the nod, and receive the lions share of the business.  This may be one of the only times where being busy may measure your eventual happiness, provided the direction is onward and upward, rather than spinning in place.
One of the things not taught in either school of thought, is that in order to succeed, you have to be willing to sacrifice.  Sacrifice for some is a rather scary concept, as it brings to mind- doing without; and nobody likes doing without.  You also have to be willing to create your own path and find that certain something that will set you apart of the pack.  Sorry all, but I would be in a rather sorry state if I looked on the Internet, or in the Phone-book, or at the various Billboards around town and saw everyone doing the same thing as I, in the same manner, keeping the same hours, and working from the exact same pool of clientele.  It wouldn’t be long before that pool would be sucked dry of prospects, and we would have to spend our time practicing our patter on each other; because all of a sudden everyone had more than enough of what you offer. One of the biggest sacrifices, and greatest rewards is that of time; as we either don’t have enough of it, or we have an over-abundance of it and nowhere to effectively place it.
This is where style-management is key.  This along with proper time-management will help you stand out from everyone else in the industry.  Find something that you can promote better than anyone else, and sell the idea. Sell it to family, to friends, to aquaintances and if done properly you should be receiving referrals and repeat business because you deserve it.  You took the initiative and the time to learn all the concerns and objections; and found that mysterious way to turn a NO!! into a resounding YES!!.  This is where listening is key; as the client will take you by the hand and tell you exactly what he/she needs from you, where they want it to come from, how much they are going to pay for it and how much money you stand to make.  All you have to do is produce!
This is where the next sacrifice comes in. That is on what it takes to produce the sale.  Standards have to be set and adhered to because if you waffle on how you do business, the value of your assets and clientele relations will go down, and many of your clients will move up the street.  Your reputation depends on the standards you set; and this will add value to every transaction you complete.  Its okay to stand alone in your industry, provided its because the crowd around you is too deep for you to involve others, not because you failed to keep your standards high, and everyone lost faith in your abilities.
In closing; be it at sales or in recruiting, take your time and learn your craft well. There are more than one correct way to get to the finish line: Just be prepared for the ride, as there will be lots of detours along the way toward your vision!
Something to Think About…..

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Good (enough??!!)

Is this where we settle? Good? Do we not look at better or try to do our best?
Good is okay but certainly not where we should end up! Try and follow (please
note this is written after The Recruiting Animal Show on November
10,2010)
HOW is “Good” enough? When we look at success, look at our job list,
look at our partner or employer and say “meehh, good enough.” Is this a point
where we should settle? NO!! Strive to do better and strive to be better– Good
is not Good Enough!!
WHERE is “Good” enough? possibly the bedroom or the
kitchen, Good enough is not Good enough in the workplace as this leads to
complacency and boredom. This means the challenge has been beaten and we have no
more goals.. NOT acceptable, on a personal level or on a business level; Strive
to be more and to do more as second place goes to the runner up, not to the
winner; and we should always be striving to win.
WHEN is “Good” enough? If you can place a time with a straight face then you are not being serious with yourself or those around you!! There is Never,Never a time where you should
settle for “Good Enough” You can always strive to be better and push those
around you until they push back and make you do better as well. The Mountain is
long, The River is wide….yada, yada, yada: But excuses either by you or to you
should not be accepted. Challenge yourself and Challenge all those around you.
No Challenge, then you my friend are playing in the wrong sandbox, and you need
to find somewhere else to play!! Not enough playmates–Find them!! Open your eyes
because they are right in front of you; waiting to join in on your new, cool
club.
WHY is “Good” (not enough)? Because you need the challenge. You need to
wake up every morning scared that you have no control of your mind and let it
go! You are your own biggest adversary and your biggest confidant. There is
nothing wrong with two faces or two attitudes; just know when the time is right
to use each one– or the other people in the room will be calling for help. If
you have ADD, find someone with OCD to compliment you and keep yourself focused.
The opposite is also true, the time to use the mental issue as a strength is
NOW!!!! Rip the phone out of the wall, and get ready to kick some doors down;
you know that “good” is not enough and that “good” is not personally acceptable.
Set the bar higher and find those in your circle who will challenge you to be
your best. Most, if not all, of us have joined the social media age, and are
part of Twitter, Face-Book, LinkedIn, and especially WordPress and Recruiters
Blog; so there are people to challenge us!!!! Turn that light bulb on in the
brain-compartment and get ready for a better you and a better day. Repeat after
me–”I AM GREAT!!;and I KNOW IT!!!”; and get ready to say that to everyone who
doubts your resolve. (See section above about being number two).
WHAT is “Good” (enough?): Yesterday… because from this day forward sunshine, nothing but
the ABSOLUTE best should be the goal, and each day we should try and be just
that little bit better than we were, because we have many challenges in sight,
and only our absolute tip top best is going to be……Good Enough!!!
Something to Think About……





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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Why "I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU!!!" Doesn't Work Anymore

Isn’t it amazing that the further we move forward in relationships; the slower the journey seems to go.  The biggest stumbling block that seems to appear in all ‘partnerships’  is  the ability to confront mistakes, or oversights and moving on in a positive direction, no worse for the experience.  Every person that we make contact with is a relationship just waiting to blossom; whether it be in business or in personal life with the undertones of success and a task well done.
What do you do when the well-oiled machine breaks down? A couple of options come to mind. 1) Ignore the problem, act like everything is okay and move forward, 2) Look at the problem and create a temporary solution (The in-the-mean-time gambit) 3) Look long and hard at the problem, communicate with all parties concerned and create a community solution which everyone can work with. I like option 3) and here is why….
If everyone just looks after their own affairs and their own projects, then they really have no idea what is happening in a different corner of the box, nor do they have any idea on how their project could be made better.  We only look for help on those occasions where we made mistakes and may not know how to fix them; or when we think our project is super-exciting and will turn into the next big thing with us accepting all the credit.  Therein lies the rub….
Any relationship, be it business or personal requires work and understanding and an OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION.  With this line comes all kinds of wonderful things, the smallest of which is someone to bounce ideas off of, tell the problems to, watch the sun shine, and share both the credit and the blame.  I am currently involved in a handful of projects which require me to be both open and forth-coming with suggestions, and humble enough to try and follow the original vision- after all the projects do primarily belong to others.
By working within those parameters, and keeping an open line of communication; each project seems to make a little more headway each and every day. I am enjoying the new relationships formed and am learning about areas of the business that I don’t have the most knowledge in.  Sometimes it is a good idea to follow the blue print provided, it will enable a larger string of communication and cooperation; and at the end of the day, people I can count on in future endeavors when the shoes are on the other feet.
Basically, we have to realize that with all relationships, in business and in life, there is give and take, not give and give, or take and take, but an equal part of each. This will help with a happy working relationship and a harmonious home life.
Something to Think About…..