These days it is not uncommon for one to think about changing careers.  We asked Ilona Vanderwoude, MRW owner of Career Branches how to transition successfully!

Career changers and renaissance folks alike always ask me: “How do I change paths without having to begin at the bottom all over again?”
Annoyingly, as with most things careers related; it depends.
Clearly, if you want to become a doctor, you’ll have to go to med school and start from scratch. A lawyer: back to law school, my friend.
But in most fields, there isn’t just one ticket to enter. Even though your preferred field asks for a specific educational background, chances are you may be able to bypass that.

Meet Maria

Last week I spoke with Maria, who is also a “renaissance woman,” meaning she loves variety and is one of those people trying to fit a million passions into one lifetime.
She majored in computer science and started her career in technology; coding, programming, etc.
Several years into her first job, her employer facilitated a lunch hour volunteer program through which Maria got to teach career-related workshops to young adults.
It wasn’t long before working with people had become Maria’s main interest.
Maria also volunteered trough Chicago Cares, which connects volunteers to 200+ opportunities in various areas (http://chicagocares.org/about.asp). They offer one-time volunteer opportunities. No weekly or monthly commitment. She joined field trips with seniors, did art activities with children, helped create resumes for homeless adults, tutored in the lab, helped prepare food that was being donated to an event, and helped serve meals at a Salvation’s Army.

Tip: Chicago Cares is a great way to test out non-profit or social services work for anyone living in the Chicago area. Some other cities have similar programs (i.e.: www. NewYorkCares.com).

From Science to Social Services
When the company she worked for folded two years later, she saw it as an opportunity to pursue her new passion.
Her goal: moving into social services – without the ‘right’ academic background. Make that: without a ‘remotely related’ academic background!
Maria was very organized about her transition. She even leveraged her analytical abilities that she used in her technology career (in which, btw, she flourished) to plan the next chapter.
She considered her options, talked to people, and saved up her money.
A few months later, she landed a training position at a for-profit university that specializes in technology. Maria trained homeless and at-risk adults (18 - 60+ yrs old) in soft skills and hard skills needed in the workplace.
Here, she leveraged her technology background and volunteer experience with young adults.
How did she get this job?
Networking without realizing she was doing it! She sort of sheepishly mentioned her plans to a college friend over dinner. His wife happened to know someone who was looking for a trainer.
Within two years, she had become the director of training; she managed the entire career development department and she even created a new workforce center.

Another Change of Direction
After another few years, Maria was getting restless again and shifted to a non-profit function in higher education – working with college students and alumni on career development.
Here are some pointers you can take away from Maria’s story if you want to pull off a similar transition:

Put It Out There
• Share your story, ask for help, and do some soul searching to make sure your desire for change comes from positive motivation to want to do something new, not from wanting to escape something old.It’s important to talk with others about your dreams. Not just to get the mental and moral support, but also because when you do, you’re apt to receive valuable input. People may have ideas you hadn’t thought of, or connections you weren’t aware of – just as in Maria’s example. And, as Barbara Sher says “isolation is a dream killer.” So get it out into the world – even if it seems an unattainable goal to you right now! Others can help you realize your dream.

Use a Phased Approach
• If your new field or position is quite a stretch and you’re sure you can’t enter it directly, do a phased approach – just like Maria did.
Look at your transition as a multi-step plan. First into the area that offers you the easiest entry. Once you’re in; get some experience under your belt, acquire some new skills along the way, and then move on to the area you really want to be in.
Volunteering or doing an internship is often a successful entryway into a new field. This may require a financial step back, so plan ahead, or do this on a part-time basis, if at all possible.

Zigzag Into New Territory
• Not keen on starting all over again? You don’t have to! As Maria put it; renaissance folks should take a “zig-zag” approach to their career. Each time you move on to the next field, you may have to take a small step back, but not all the way to entry level the way someone fresh out of college would. Then you’ll work your way up again, zig-zagging your way through different careers.
How do you do this? By leveraging your experience and skill set and quickly acquiring new abilities. Figuring out how to promote your transferable skills and experience (on your resume, in conversations and interviews) will take some effort. If needed, work with a career coach.
Then there’s this nice side effect of being a renaissance person; you’re probably very passionate about your new professional focus and you’re quick to learn new skills. Don’t underestimate your passion; people notice it and are drawn to it.
More often than not, the combination of transferrable skills, the ability to quickly learn new ones, and noticeable passion for this new field will get you there.

© Copyright 2010 – CareerBranches, Ilona Vanderwoude

Ilona (“rhymes with Fiona”) Vanderwoude is a nationally published resume expert and New York City’s only Master Resume Writer (1 of only 28 worldwide). Her specialty is working with multi-talented professionals who simply can’t pick one passion or career.
As a Career Designer, she guides her clients in crafting unusual life and career plans, helps them fit a million passions into one lifetime, and provides the tactical support to actually make it happen.
Please visit www.CareerBranches.com to claim your 3 free gifts, read her blog at www.blog.CareerBranches.com and follow her on twitter @CareerBranches and www.FaceBook.com/Ilona.Vanderwoude to keep up with the latest discussions and developments.

Last month we had posted an excerpt of an informative article Ilona Vanderwoude wrote for our Workchic panel discussion here.  We thought the article could relate to so many of our readers we had to share it.  Enjoy!

How To Make Your Resume Stand Out In Today’s Competitive Job Market

With the holidays behind us, you may feel extra motivated to dust off your resume and get it in the hands of hiring managers and recruiters.

But how do you do this? How do you stand out in a sea of competition – often equally qualified?

The answer is two-fold:

- By knowing the 3 must-haves to include in your resume
- By using the right job search strategies

Why am I mentioning your job search strategies here?

Because if you use very ineffective job search methods, it doesn’t matter how wonderful your resume is. It simply won’t get noticed.

And because these days, your resume may not have the honor of delivering a company their first impression of you. It may be your online profile(s) doing this.

The good news is, you get to be in the driver’s seat by going after the hidden job market. You definitely don’t want to passively apply to positions you see posted online. This has an average 2% “success” rate. If you’re not sure how to go after the hidden job market, just visit http://Careerbranches.com to download your free report about this.

So you need to know how to craft your resume, but you also need to know how to market it.

Today, with the proliferation of social networking, the job search has undergone some drastic “nip and tuck.”

Social networking is playing an ever-increasing role in the job search.

To be truly successful in today’s competitive job market, you need to use a combination of offline and online networking. The emphasis should be on positioning yourself as an expert in your field vs. asking your network for a job. Social networking is perfect for this!

You do this by commenting on other people’s blogs that are relevant to your field, by having your own blog and web site – yes, a web site! – and by answering questions online, engaging in groups discussions, and posting articles about your expertise.

You also want to identify hiring managers – not HR! – at the companies you’re interested in so you can approach and target them with your messages.

After a while, you’ll be seen as an expert and a resource. Next, and people will approach you and refer you without you having to ask because you’ve created relationships within your network and provided value to others.

It’s crucial to avoid the mistake of asking people in your network for a job. It’s needy and most people don’t have jobs to hand out. This means: end of conversation. It’s perfectly fine to ask for leads for informational interviews though.

With these strategies, you can work the hidden job market more easily as well.

But beware…when profiling yourself online, you need to know your own brand. Otherwise, you won’t stand out.

This leads me to the resume itself.

First of all; there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to resumes as much of the strategy depends on the person and the situation. But we do know there are certain things that always work.

Start by putting yourself in the shoes of a hiring person or recruiter. They see resumes all day long. Therefore, they simply won’t sit there and read your 5-page essay-style resume. Nor will they try to piece things together and figure out how your interesting and diverse background might fit with their organization. You need to make this clear to them.

Typically, they’ll spend about 10 seconds to see what jumps out at them - specifically: who you are, what you do, where your expertise lies, and what you can do for them. In other words: what solution do you bring to their problem?

So here are my 3 must-haves that will help your resume get noticed among your competition:

1 - Your resume needs to be branded.

What do we mean by that?

A personal brand is a differentiated promise of value. It’s about what’s unique about you which has a bottom-line impact for an organization.

When your resume is branded, it clarifies why YOU should be hired over anyone else with the same background, with the same type of responsibilities, and even similar achievements.

Often, it’s about HOW you get results. Employers want to know how you do something differently.

A personal brand is organic and authentic. It’s really about who you are and your core skill set, and then distilled into the one, overriding factor that would make you irresistible to employers. It is also something that you would absolutely love doing.

The challenge is in identifying and leveraging it so people see it even more clearly.

How you can do this: It is not always easy to figure out your personal brand by yourself as you’re too close to the source.

You can get started by asking yourself - and those around you - what it is you consistently do really well, that you love doing, and that is of value to the kind of employer you want to work for.

It could be several things. It could be work-task related, or it could be more of a personality thing. Or both.

Once you find your brand, you want to turn into a branding statement of 1-2 sentences max. This goes in the top third of your resume.

And remember this: Companies will interview you for the money or the bottom-line part of your brand. But they will hire you for the chemistry part. However, without the money part, you don’t get
through the door in the first place.

2 - Your resume needs to be focused.

Trying to keep your options open on your resume almost always backfires.

Again, remember hiring folks take mere seconds to scan your resume.

However, don’t use the hopelessly outdated “objective” as your resume should focus on what you can do for the employer vs. what you want from them.

Objectives typically read something like this: “Challenging position where I can use my skills and experience and have room for growth.”

These are meaningless statements and could apply to anyone from a janitor to a CFO.

So we want to create a clear focus to make it instantly clear who you are and what you do.

How you can do this: If you’re staying in the same field, simply bold your title (or variation thereof) at the top of your resume. “Global Marketing Specialist,” “Senior Finance Director,” “Executive Assistant,” “Health Care Administrator.”

Or: Global Marketing Specialist with 15 years’ experience in consumer industries.

If you want to pursue different types of positions in different industries, make sure to tweak your resume so you have multiple versions.

Just remember that an unfocused resume is an ineffective resume. It may feel counter-intuitive to you if you’re not sure what you want to do or if you want to keep your options open, but focusing your resume is vital.

3 - Show proof of your statements.

In other words: back up your brand and brand statement with specifics.

How you can do this: In your resume’s top section, create a summary of a few lines max - don’t go overboard - and weave in either quantifiable achievements or mention one or two representative successes that show some context (where you did this and with whom).

This part is often called the summary, or profile. It doesn’t matter what you call it, and you certainly don’t need to label it on your resume. People will get what it’s about.

Stay away from flowery fluff such as “goal-oriented people person with track record of building relationships …” This is too vague and makes it look like everyone else’s resume. These statements used to work, but they don’t anymore.

Next, make sure to quantify your achievements throughout your resume when describing your achievements. Provide some context for them by comparing your accomplishments to industry or company averages, or to those of your peers or your predecessor.

This way, your resume does not read like a job description. Instead, it will give readers a very clear picture of what unique things you have done and what sets you apart from John Doe with a similar background.

As a parting thought: Always make sure that everything on your resume is there for a reason and is relevant to your target. Your resume need not be all-inclusive. Anything that’s not relevant distracts from your core message.

There you have it! With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating a resume – and a job search strategy – that will get you noticed in any economy, no matter how crowded the market place!

© Copyright 2010 – CareerBranches, Ilona Vanderwoude

Ilona (“rhymes with Fiona”) Vanderwoude is a nationally published resume expert and New York City’s only Master Resume Writer (1 of only 28 worldwide). Her specialty is working with multi-talented professionals who simply can’t pick one passion or career.
As a Career Designer, she guides her clients in crafting unusual life and career plans, helps them fit a million passions into one lifetime, and provides the tactical support to actually make it happen.
Please visit www.CareerBranches.com to claim your 3 free gifts, read her blog at www.blog.CareerBranches.com and follow her on twitter @CareerBranches and www.FaceBook.com/Ilona.Vanderwoude to keep up with the latest discussions and developments.

Can you believe January is over already?  This month we challenged your reinvention into the professional, feminine, and chic career women we know you are. To help you in this mission we started providing career development tips along side the fashion advice you’ve come to expect.

Have you taken the time to reassess your closet, identify key basics, or revamp your resume? If you haven’t, now is a great time to go back and read our articles. They can all be found under the category New Year 2010. Looking for even more Workchic advice? This month we had some amazing contributors that taught us better time management skills, how to eat healthier and stay energized at the office, and even how to ask for a raise. We’ve written a few guest blog posts that may interest you:

At ShopItToMe.com you can learn How to Incorporate the Wild Accessories you love into your Work Wardrobe.

Turn to TheOfficeStylist.com for our tips on Packing for your next Business Trip.

To Make a Lasting Impression with your Interview Attire, check out our post on the Execu|Search blog.

We would love to hear your opinion on what was your favorite reinvention post this month!  Just leave us a comment below.

Don’t forget, you can always connect with us on twitter, facebook, polyvore, and join our group Workchic on LinkedIn. Send us your questions and comments through these networks or email us at info@workchic.com.

Over the last months you have been working to improve your professional image. This includes your personal presentation and the level of work you are executing. Your plan is to continue with self improvement, but you may be starting to wonder how it will pay off. So we turned to J.T. O’Donnell founder of Careerealism.com to answer this important question:

How do I ask for a raise in this economy? When will it ever be appropriate to ask for one?

J.T. had great advice.  She says, “Don’t ask for a raise! Instead, ask for the protocol for earning a raise in this economy. Seek an opportunity to speak to you boss when he/she is in a good mood. ie. end of business day on a Friday. Seek their advice on whether they think getting a raise will be possible with the org in 2010, and what an employee will need to do to earn one. Then, loop back every month or so with an update to your boss on what you’ve done to do what he/she suggested in order to earn that raise. That way, you are gently reminding them that you are making the effort to get that raise. Better still, it gives them the opportunity to give you feedback on your performance so that when the time comes, there’s no choice but to give you the raise!”

We recommend utilizing your outlook calendar to give yourself gentle reminders to follow through on the goals that you will set with your supervisor.   It will also make sure you don’t miss a check point to review your progress along the way.

Thanks J.T. for providing this advice. It’s never an easy topic. Especially with the current economic climate and proliferation of hiring and salary freezes.  JT O’Donnell is the founder of CAREEREALISM.com, a top 10 career perspective site for professionals, ages 18-40.  She has also provided valuable advice to Workchic readers on making your resume stand out, commanding a presence as a young professional, and deciding how to utilize facebook in your career.

Most of us are using facebook at this point. That includes our coworkers, bosses, and even parents.  Not to mention that certain information is now showing up in search engine results. So we wanted to know how to handle it when:

My boss friended me on facebook. What do I do? And what is the right way to use social media with regards to career?

So we turned to our distinguished panel of experts and asked them to share their advice on the topic.

  This is actually a very easy question for me to answer because I use Facebook and other social media sites strictly for business. Therefore, I would welcome my boss as a “friend” on Facebook.

One of the things I coach my clients on is how to keep yourself marketable; how to create visibility and credibiltiy around your personal brand. The way you present yourself on social media is the key to being successful at creating this credibility. The first step is to take the time to develop a professional profile for your social media sites and be cognizant of the image that you want to present. The next step is to ensure that all your communications mirror the image you want to convey.

I think it’s somewhat difficult to use the same social media sites for personal contact as well as business and do it really well. The answer might be to use selected sites for each and not to mix the communications and messages.

Bonnie Marcus, M.Ed., CEC, is a Certified Executive Coach, motivational speaker, and radio show host. Her weekly show, Women Mean Business, airs live on the VoiceAmerica Business channel Tuesdays 2pm Eastern. The show explores how women can thrive in the business world and features advice from experts on the key issues and challenges women face in their careers.

Certified Executive Coach, Motivational Speaker and Radio Show Host
www.womenssuccesscoaching.com

Listen to Women Mean Business Radio
http://www.voiceamerica.com/voiceamerica/vshow.aspx?sid=1612

 Everyone uses social media differently. If your Facebook account showcases your personal life in a way that you don’t want to share with your boss, simply ignore their friend request, BUT, go to them and say, “Hey. I saw you friended me. Thanks for that. However, I hope you don’t mind, but I’m actually moving away from Facebook as a networking tool and trying to build my LinkedIn account instead. So, could we link up there?” This way, they won’t be offended.

JT O’Donnell, founder of CAREEREALISM.com, a top 10 career perspective site for professionals, ages 18-40. Connect on twitter @jtodonnell.

 There is no escaping social media for the simple reason that we’re addicted to the reality of sharing our daily adventures whether we’re twittering our thoughts or catching glimpses of our friends’ weekend through facebook photo albums. Before you upload another photo or write a little something on a wall, remember that social media is personal branding at its finest. That’s you in the picture, that’s your grammar and communication skills in that tweet or poke. If your facebook page represents the ambitious, passionate and professional person you are at work, then there is no reason why you cannot be-friend your boss. If your facebook page shows you and your friends drinking, dancing on the bars, making out with people and wearing “clubbing” clothes, I highly suggest you clean that up. Not only because your boss or co-workers might see that but also what if your clients have access to facebook. My rule of thumb with facebook and other social media outlets is if I meet you in person and then find you on the Internet, you need to reflect the same person. Conversely, if I find you on the Internet first and then meet you in person, your onscreen image should be the same reflection as when we meet in person—in sync!

Amanda is the co-founder of bizMe.biz, an online magazine that is the bizgal’s career coach—guiding and mentoring the young professional as she gains her career savvy, budgets her paycheck, and acquires her lifestyle. It’s like having the honest, real-world advice from a trusted professor and the encouraging support of a best friend all packaged together in articles that reflect a “just like you and me” conversation. Please visit www.bizme.biz or @bizmebizgal on twitter.

 This is a very tough question: For the most part I would not have Accepted an invite from my boss on a social media site such a Facebook. I would simply decline by stating; “I have many people on this site who may say things or post stuff that is not work/business appropriate and I would be embarrassed if it ever caught you off gaurd…”  I would then follow up by inviting them to join me on linkedIn, Plaxo.
Melenee Suarez Burns, Executive Recruiter at a High-End Retailer
To learn more tips from Melenee, check out our previous interview: Notes from an Executive Recruiter

 If your boss sent you a friend request on Facebook, you should probably accept, or else you run the risk of alienating or disrespecting him or her. But that’s when the real fun begins…

Because you are now attached electronically to your boss, you need to be sure that what you write on your wall is positive an professional. You want to avoid being seen as derogatory, condescending, arrogant, hostile, and/or bitter. You also want to avoid cursing, even if you’re just trying to be funny. And, ensure that any picture posted on your Facebook page is professional. Avoid posting pictures of you dressed up like SpongeBob on Halloween drinking a martini.

The good news about receiving an invitation from your boss is that there’s probably a good chance that he or she thinks highly of you, enough to consider having you as a “friend”. And, being connected now means that you’ll be connected when you need a reference for your next job. Just don’t post the fact that you’re looking on your wall!

Abby Kohut , President and Staffing Consultant, Staffing Symphony, LLC
Her websites include www.AbsolutelyAbby.com and www.CareerWakeUpCalls.com
You can also connect with Abby on twitter @Absolutely_Abby and you can also purchase her newly published book 101 JOb Search Secrets.

We want to thank Bonnie, Amanda, J.T., Melenee, and Abby for contributing to this discussion.  We hope it helps you make smart decisions about utilizing your social networks.

Have you ever found yourself being the first one in the office and the last one to leave at night?  If you don’t have three times the workload as everyone else then chances are you might not be managing your time effectively.  We reached out to our friend and Certified Life Coach, Stefanie Ziev, to help us give us some tips on time management. 

6 TIPS TO MASTERFULLY MANAGE YOUR TIME

Oh, time management… the ever-elusive, seemingly unattainable beast we battle every day. Where does that time go? Why does it feel so impossible to get everything done in an efficient, calm and easy manner? And how do you become the grand master of your time?

When it comes to the workday, whether you’re going to an office or working from home as a freelancer, we sometimes think the answer to getting the most done is starting earlier and ending later. The real opportunities for masterful time management, though, lie in the answers to the questions: How are you are spending your time? How much time are you spending? And what’s it costing you?

Here are 6 tips to help you masterfully manage your time:

1. Set an intention – Each day before you leave the office or complete your workday from wherever you are get clear about what you want to focus on the next day. Think about what you want to accomplish, what values you want to embody as you go through your day, and the time in which you want to achieve it. Setting an intention shifts your thoughts to what you want, like efficiency, productivity, and time for you, instead of getting lost in and distracted by the things you don’t want, which becomes a vacuum sucking up valuable time. It’s important that you write your intention in the present tense so you can feel like it’s already happening. Examples include: “I am inspired as I complete a rough draft of one, full chapter of my book by 5 pm or sooner” or “I am peaceful and present as I complete the tasks of my day with ease by 6 pm or sooner” or just simply, “I am happy, grateful and present to the good in my life.”

2. Consciously design your day – Once you have set an intention – which is the overall theme of your day – now you can consciously design the action steps to support that goal. Before you leave work, make a list of the top 4 action steps that will let you reach your intention for the day. The point here is to set yourself up to succeed by bringing your awareness to the table and creating an attainable plan. One or more of those steps may include personal time for you. If you know you don’t normally take a moment for yourself during the day, set one aside. When you have 4 steps you’re consciously committed to taking, look at your calendar for the next day and assign each step to a time slot. If you find 4 steps are too much, find the right number for you. Print or write your next day’s schedule with these action steps in place and also note a concrete beginning and end time of your workday. Leave this front and center on your desk for the next day.

3. Get present – When you come to work the next day, sit down at your desk and before you do anything else, take a deep breath. Become present to how the chair feels under you. Take another deep breath. And as you do, read your intention for the day. Know that this is your time and your opportunity to be the commander in chief of your day. Look at the day’s schedule. If something feels too demanding, put it to the side. Commit to what you know you can and are willing to complete for the day.

4. Set a timer – For each task you’ve committed to taking, set a timer for it. Tell your assistant you are not to be interrupted during that time. Do not answer phone calls. Focus 100% on completing this step. And when the timer goes off…

5. “Put your pencil down” – You remember this, right? The teacher says it and wherever you are, the pencil goes down – mid sentence, mid math problem, mid thought. For some of you, this may feel like someone is cutting your arm off, which I for one can totally appreciate. I invite you to try it, though. Just to have the experience of disconnecting so that you can start to get a sense of freedom. Choose to move forward trusting everything will get done when it’s supposed to.

6. Reward yourself – If your mismanaging your time then you’re probably the one who’s suffering. Most likely, you are sacrificing fun, self-care, time with friends and loved ones, right? And at what expense? Designing a conscious day allows you to carve out time for you. So give yourself one or more daily gifts throughout the day and most importantly, one directly after you end your workday at a reasonable hour. This will help you to consciously shift from work to play as you celebrate the expansive time you now have.

Here’s to you being the master of your time.

For more information about Certified Life Coach, Stefanie Ziev, Ziev Coaching’s services and upcoming events including a magnificent 1-day workshop designed to help you design your time called The Big Boards™: Plan Big 4 Big Plans, being held on Saturday, February 6th in NYC, please visit http://ZievCoaching.com.

We asked J.T. O’Donnell, the founder of careerealism.com, an important question about career development. 

I am ready to take on more responsibilities at work but my boss still views me as the assistant. How do I move up the corporate ladder and get noticed? 

 J.T. shared this advice with us.  If your boss still sees you as the assistant, then your approach to your job has given him/her the impression that you still need a lot of hand-holding or direction. Confidence is key. People who get promoted do the following:

A) They get tasks done with little-to-no instruction.
B) They finish projects in advance of deadlines.
C) They consistently exceed the expectations set by their boss be delivering more than what was asked for.

BUT, most importantly, they strategically REMIND their boss each time they do one of the above. It’s all in the way you present it. Statements like this help to make your boss see your value:

“I know you wanted this done, but I realized we needed, X, Y, and Z too, so I took the liberty of taking care of it for you.”
“I know you wanted this by next week, but I wanted to give it to you early so you had plenty of time to look it over before your meeting.”
“I know you only asked me to do ___, but I know how much easier it would be on you if I did ___ and ___. So I did all three.”

Once you build a pattern of success AND are consistent in marketing your success as outlined above, you’ll be in a position to ask for more responsibility.

JT O’Donnell, founder of CAREEREALISM.com, a top 10 career perspective site for professionals, ages 18-40. 

To learn more about the advice J.T. has shared on Workchic visit our blog posts on Making an Impact as a Young Professional and Make my Resume Stand Out.

You may have heard people talk about branding yourself and not known what that means or where to start. We turned to Amanda Guralski to answer this important question.  As the founder of bizMe, an online magazine dedicated to career development, she has valuable advice on branding yourself.  Read on to follow her tips.

If I mention the name Tiger Woods, some may think “what an idiot”, others associate the name with “the world’s greatest golfer,” and others are left in bewilderment thinking, “I just don’t get it.” Tiger is an icon, a corporate brand for the game of golf and everything the sport represents. His was a personal brand portraying character and achievement, almost at hero status for his seemingly boyish charm, his determination to overcome injury and be the best, and his media savvy to not let fame and fortune change that boy-next-door image. And then, Tiger fooled us all. Tiger’s current state of affairs demonstrates how quickly your personal brand can ruin a career and destroy respect.

Climbing the corporate ladder on a hot streak is the career buzzphrase “personal branding”—but do you truly know what represents personal branding? Generally we understand the significance of corporate branding. As an employee we follow the corporate rules to represent our company in the best light possible; but when we leave our office at 5 p.m., are we still held responsible for branding? The answer is absolutely!! Tiger lost his corporate sponsorships not because his golf game was suffering but because his personal brand did not match the image he portrays when out besting the competition for the coveted green jacket.

Let’s consider another example that hits a little closer to home. You just graduated in May and are starting your new job at an accounting firm. Friday afternoon you have a meeting with your biggest client. This is the first time you introduced yourself to him and you are a little nervous. The meeting goes well and you end your Friday on a confident high knowing you impressed him. You’re anxious to start your Friday night so you and some girlfriends decide to go out and relive those college days of drunkenness, a little stupidity without a care in the world. You’re dreading the Monday morning wake up call and when you sluggishly walk into work, you read an email from your big client you met on Friday. He saw you and your girlfriends out and was surprised at how unprofessional your behavior was. Now I know you are thinking, “am I never allowed to go out and have fun again,” and that is not what I am saying. You need to remember that your personal brand is extremely important in the business world and how you act outside of work is just as important as how you act at work.

Do’s and Don’ts of personal branding:

Do: Always look put together whether you are attending a networking event, client luncheon, shopping at the mall or grocery shopping. You never know whom could be your next client standing ahead of you in line at Starbucks.

Don’t get wrapped up in office gossip. You then become a person that cannot be trusted by other employees for fear that what they tell you will become the hot gossip around the office water cooler.

Do make sure that if you have a facebook, twitter, linkedin account or a blog that no matter which one I find, they all represent you in the same way. I should never be confused about the person you are when I find you on social media tools.

Don’t use facebook as a way to let the world know that you can still party like you are 19. We all like to go out and have a good time however pictures of you dancing on a bar should be left up to the imagination. Facebook is a powerful tool that can get you in a lot of trouble. Be sure you are checking your profile for pictures and comments that could damage the way people think about you.

Do your homework before meeting with a client, a connection you met at a networking event or an interview. I always remember the people that have taken the time to look at my magazine. It shows that you value my time and my expertise.

Don’t be a Tiger Woods with skeletons hiding in your closet. One way or another, secrets get out.

Do follow up. Your follow-up becomes a lasting impression so follow up on business cards, meetings and connections. You always want to be top of mind, the one that’s remembered because you extended the effort to show interest in the product, the business, or the person.

Don’t bring your personal drama to work. No one likes listening to a really put-together employee talk about his/her dysfunctional dating patterns.

Do and I mean remember this, always treat people like you want to be treated. Even if you are having a bad day, you lost a huge client, your boyfriend and you just broke up, or you are irritated because the line at Starbucks is extremely long, put a smile on your face and take a deep breath. You just never know whom the barista knows, who the person behind you is, or the person just walking in the door. You always want to be thought of as a person with a positive and genuine attitude. That’s the brand you want to project and protect—it’s fun to be known as a spitfire as long as it’s an acronym for sincere, professional, intelligent, trustworthy, faithful, in-style, reliable and empathetic!

So the next time you are battling the devil or the little angel sitting on your shoulder, remember these simple tips and your personal branding will be off and running.

Amanda is the co-founder of bizMe.biz, an online magazine that is the bizgal’s career coach—guiding and mentoring the young professional as she gains her career savvy, budgets her paycheck, and acquires her lifestyle. It’s like having the honest, real-world advice from a trusted professor and the encouraging support of a best friend all packaged together in articles that reflect a “just like you and me” conversation. Please visit www.bizme.biz or @bizmebizgal on twitter.

To learn more about the advice Amanda has shared on Workchic visit our blog posts on Making an Impact as a Young Professional and Make my Resume Stand Out.

When you move up the career ladder quickly, it may feel like you haven’t earned the respect of your coworkers and peers.  We posed this question to find our how you can make an impact as a young professional.

I’m one of the youngest managers/vp/executive in my office. What steps can I take to command more of a presence and be viewed as the professional I am?

To give you expert answers we contacted 5 women from different market segments.

 The easy part is over. You have already dazzled upper management with your work ethic and professionalism to be rewarded with a manger/vp/executive title. Now how do you get the rest of the office to respect you as an authority even though you are one of the youngest in the office?

Confidence has a big role in a situation like this. You must reflect a confident aura. Co-workers can sense intimidation and a lack of confidence and they will eat you alive. Upper management believes you are the best for the job; otherwise they would not have promoted you. Show the rest of the office that same certainty that yes I can do this job and do it well.

There really is no secret to being a good manager and having the respect of your co-workers. Co-workers respect a manager who is loyal, trustworthy, easy-to-talk-to, confident and one that manages by allowing coworkers to do their job without micromanaging. Most importantly you can guarantee your own success when you take the time to learn their jobs and to understand the frustrations and challenges that your workers face on a daily basis, on certain projects, with management policies or working alongside difficult peers. Co-workers want the security of knowing that their manager is on their team and will go to bat for them in a time of need. This is how you gain the trust and loyalty of your co-workers. If you can achieve this reputation, they won’t look at you as someone who is young and naïve but as a great manager who wants the people around her to succeed!

Amanda is the co-founder of bizMe.biz, an online magazine that is the bizgal’s career coach—guiding and mentoring the young professional as she gains her career savvy, budgets her paycheck, and acquires her lifestyle. It’s like having the honest, real-world advice from a trusted professor and the encouraging support of a best friend all packaged together in articles that reflect a “just like you and me” conversation. Please visit www.bizme.biz or @bizmebizgal on twitter.

 Be yourself- says Lara Dalch. You were hired not only for your experience and skills but also for your unique approach to your business. Your perspective can only come from you. Make sure you share it confidently.
Treat your superiors with respect, but don’t forget that they’re just people. If you interact with them from a place of authenticity and confidence instead of blind deference (be careful not to come across as arrogant though!), they will respect you as well.

Give your direct reports a chance to add value to the business and actively mentor them. If you do it sincerely and honestly, they’ll become your internal cheerleaders - a great way to gain visibility in the office.

Play politics. If you’re like me, you hate this one; but it’s unavoidable. So try to figure out what the “political currency” is in your particular office/industry and find a way to use it to your advantage. For example, if people tend to get recognized not only for their measurable contributions to the business but also for their presence at client or office events, make an effort to be at every event, even if you don’t stick around for all of it.

Lara Dalch is Chief Brand Matchmaker at Dalch Marketing Partners, a New York-based boutique agency specializing in integrated marketing and brand partnerships. She is also a Certified Pilates Instructor and spends much of her time perfecting the art of efficient wardrobe changes as she moves seamlessly between Pilates studio and business meetings with clients.

In her past life, Lara was Head of Brand Development/Promotions at Classic Media, where she created promotional campaigns and partnerships for famous brands such as The Lone Ranger, Where’s Waldo?, Underdog, and Lassie. Prior to joining Classic Media, she was Director of Promotions Marketing for Cartoon Network & Adult Swim; and held various roles in marketing and promotions for Comedy Central and Wizards of the Coast (now a division of Hasbro).

Connect with Lara on twitter @dalch, read her blog www.laradalch.com, or visit her website www.dalchmarketing.com.

 According to J.T. O’Donnell, founder of Careerealism.com, Getting respect is about speaking the language of those who can give it to you. Get to know the players in your office on a more personal level. If you haven’t already, start reading up on generational differences in the workplace. In particular, study how the older generations of workers (Baby Boomers, Gen X) define things like, “Loyalty” “Hard-work” and “Professionalism.” Their definitions are often very different than a younger employee’s (Gen Y). The important thing to keep in mind that nobody’s definitions are right or wrong, BUT, failing to respect what others value can cost you the respect of those who can help you in your career. The most successful young professionals today are learning how to ‘manage up’ by embracing the differences of their older counterparts.

JT O’Donnell, founder of CAREEREALISM.com, a top 10 career perspective site for professionals, ages 18-40. Connect on twitter @jtodonnell.

Natalie Goel and the team at Shop It To Me, an online personal shopping service, has a perspective we really appreciate.

Even before you open your mouth, the first thing anyone notices about you is the way you dress. It’s no coincidence senior managers look like a million bucks even when they aren’t earning it. You’ve heard about the elevator speech – don’t forget about the elevator look as well! Random run-ins can still make a strong impression.

First and foremost, stick to the old adage “dress for the position you want.” No matter the function, veer on the side of formality when it comes to your professional attire.

And don’t forget about fit. As you move up the ranks, make your tailor your best friend. Hemlines and seams can easily be altered to make a so-so suit look spectacular.

Time is money, and you can save both by shopping online. Not only do online retailers often offer a wider selection than brick and mortar stores, there are also some amazing designer deals to be had! So log on and start shopping — an investment in your wardrobe is an investment in your career

 Shop It To Me is a free online personal shopping service. We proactively send you clothing that matches your size and brand preferences as soon as it goes on sale. We have relationships with more than 100 retailers and offer 700+ women’s brands. Our service is great for men and kids too!

 Abby Kohut said, It’s an interesting topic that I have had to deal with personally, not because I was young, but because I look young. I’m in my early 40’s but when you look at me, you probably guess that I’m in my 30’s at most. In jeans and a sweater, I have even been accused of being a college kid.

My advice for people who look young or are young is the same.

Dress to impress. I learned a long time ago that if you want to be the Vice President, you need to dress like one. There are different levels of suits and once you figure out what they are, you need to buy the better ones. In other words, dress a level above where you are. It helps to create an impression that you’re already there.

You also need to speak professionally and avoid slang. This is easier said than done if you are a light-hearted person who has a dry sense of humor. But, there are times to be cute and times to be professional. The more professional you sound and the more confident that you appear, the more the corporate world will respect what you say. And, keep your workspace neat as well. It will only help your professional image.

And last but also very important…be careful of the pictures you post on your social media sites and the things that you say. You never know who’s going to be checking you out.

Abby Kohut , President and Staffing Consultant, Staffing Symphony, LLC
Her websites include www.AbsolutelyAbby.com and www.CareerWakeUpCalls.com
You can also connect with Abby on twitter @Absolutely_Abby and you can also purchase her newly published book 101 JOb Search Secrets.

We here at Workchic want to thank all these ladies for sharing there expert advice on commanding a presence as a young professional. We hope these tips help you to grow your career.

We have discussed making your resume stand out from the crowd. So what happens once you get the interview?  What if you are competing with candidates half your age? Abby Kohut, a top staffing consultant, already gave us two great tips to help get you in the door. We turned to her again with this question:

What are the best techniques for a baby boomer competing for the same job as generation Y?

She shared this advice with us.

Regardless of your age, when you’re on an interview, it’s critical that you demonstrate that you are totally committed to, and interested in, the job that you are interviewing for. It is your responsibility to convince the recruiter that you are looking forward to making a home at their company for the next 3 – 5 years. It is your job to convince them that you have kept up with all the technology and terminology in your industry, and that you will fit in well with the team. Having a social media profile will help you prove your point. Most of all convince them that you have the skills that they are looking for, and that you are a mature, dedicated individual who takes responsibility seriously. And while you’re at it, demonstrate an overabundance of energy and passion.

If a recruiter tells you that you are “overqualified” during an interview, consider this is a blessing in disguise. This news provides you with a chance to overcome their objection. It’s Sales 101. You can only overcome something you know about. After you have regained your composure from the excitement of being called overqualified, now it’s time to tell them why they are COMPLETELY WRONG. Remind them that your depth of experience means that you will accomplish more work in less time, and that the training curve will be shorter. Explain how perfectly your skills match their job description. Remind them of your specific accomplishments and how loyal you have been to past employers. And, remember to show your passion for the job, the company, and the industry.

These tips are great and can be used no matter what your age or competition with other candidates.  We wanted to know more so we asked Abby: Can you share some advice for people that are entering a new field later in life? They may be starting over near the bottom of the ladder and have trouble convincing the hiring manager why they are comfortable taking the step “back”.

In order to convince someone that you are interested in what they are offering, you have to first be convinced yourself. Take the time to evaluate your options. What kinds of responsibilities really get you excited? What are you best at? What have people complimented you on in the past? Once you know those answers, you can begin to determine what your true passion in life is, and then search for those opportunities, even if they involve taking a step backwards. Explain to your interviewer that despite the fact that you appear to be taking a step down, you are completely passionate about your ideal career and will do whatever it takes to be a success. You are willing to learn and grow in the position and will not become bored because this is what you have been waiting for all along. Remind them that you are in it for the long haul now that you have discovered your passion. That should be the key to your success.

As a recruiter, what I am most concerned about is whether a person has the qualifications and the passion to succeed – their age has nothing to do with my opinion about them. If you believe your age is a problem, then it will be, simply because it will diminish your confidence, which spells disaster during an interview.
 
 
Abby Kohut , President and Staffing Consultant, Staffing Symphony, LLC
To Learn more visit www.absolutelyabby.com or www.CareerWakeUpCalls.com.
You can also purchase her newly published book 101 JOb Search Secrets.

To read more advice from Abby on Workchic, follow this link: Make my Resume Stand Out.