Publicity Photo Tips

JOB SEEKERS WHO USE SOCIAL MEDIA OR OTHERWISE USE A PHOTO TAKE NOTE!

Saving money with do-it-yourself photography doesn't mean you have to sacrifice on quality!

In this age with digital photography, digital manipulation and even digital delivery of  the finished product, the need to use a professional photographer* almost disappears.   However the need for professional-looking photographs is still important to your overall success.  The more I view photos for  publicity and CD covers, the more it is obvious that point-and-shoot cameras can't replace knowledge.

Whether  you are the subject of your own publicity shots, or you are the camera operator helping out a friend, here are some things you should know to help you get the best professional-looking pictures possible.   Even if you're trying the self-timer function of your camera, these tips should help.  These were compiled from working with several professional photographers over the years and my own experiences.  They apply to anyone; artists, authors, disc jockeys, speakers and anyone needing a professional photo for publicity - including those who may only want to post a portrait shot on a social media site like Facebook or LinkedIn.com.

  CLICK HERE FOR TIPS ON HOW TO DO-IT-YOURSELF

Prepare Prepare Prepare - for the Job Interview!

The Fear of the Job Interview

While fear itself is not rational, it is real.  Very few interview candidates can say they have absolutely no fear.  There’s the fear of rejection, the fear of embarrassment, fear of failure and the list can go on.

One of the best ways to overcome the fear of the interview is with preparation.  The basic formula is this:  More Preparation = Less Fear.   Increase the first half of the formula and you automatically decrease the latter.

Preparation comes in all shapes and sizes.  The variations can depend largely upon the type of industry, work, employer, geographic location, wage trends and more.  The point is you need to know as much about the company, its personnel, policies and your potential new supervisor as you can before you go into the interview.   Familiar territory is always more comfortable than strange territory.  Your comfort level is directly related to your fear level.  Obviously more comfort = less fear.

One of the most often asked questions from the interviewee is: “What questions should I ask if they give me the opportunity to ask questions?”  That alone says the interviewee has not done nearly enough preparation before the interview.  The preparation will lead you to all the questions and more.

Of course there are some questions you never want to ask at the interview.  Those questions being; anything about salary, benefits or other perks of the job.  Those are the types of questions that lead employers to believe you’re not sincere about your own performance, not really interested in the job or the company but only what’s in it for you.  Questions of this nature are better held until after an offer of employment is made. That is the time when you have the most leverage to get a better deal if a better deal is possible.

If research before the interview answers most or all of the questions you have, it is a good idea to try and get some clarification.  Make sure you have it right.  The best opportunity to do that is when they give you the floor.  You can preface the question with something like: “I understand the policy here for safety is highly recognized and I’m wondering if the extensive amount of safety training I’ve already obtained will be of value to you?”

Some of the best advice I’ve seen recently about job interviews came from Kevin Kermes at CareerAttraction.com in his piece entitled:

“What I’ve Learned About Interviewing From Dating”

“Focus on what you have in common and establishing a reason for a second date. Just like you wouldn’t expect to rush to the altar after your first date, the initial interview is about getting to know one another - giving the interviewer reasons to want to bring you back to learn more about you.  Remember, you want to be defining yourself as an expert with the ability to solve problems – not as a job seeker.    Being a job seeker is not why you are going to get hired or a reason for them to max out the compensation scale in your favor…just like being single isn’t the reason you get a second date.”

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Response to NEVER write a Cover Letter

The following is part of a piece written in response to a posting on LinkedIn.com Job-Hunt group discussion page where the writer offered his advice on why cover letters for employment are a waste of your time.  It is important to note that only one other individual shared the same opinion.  Of all the comments submitted, 99% disagreed with NEVER write a cover letter.

To read the full article click here. If you want to read the comments you'll need to have a profile on LinkedIn.com and join the Job-Hunt Group.

________________________________

Here is our response:

What we find astounding is the concept that any one person  feels qualified to speak for "Everyone" such as: "no CEO or high level executive has time" or " thank you letters are not actually read" or "writing a Cover Letter ...sets you out.. (as) – old fashioned, quaint, probably very nice …..and unemployable" or "we are at total media saturation already".

How do we KNOW what happens or doesn't happen outside of our own small sphere of experience.  There are places right here in America where it's a two-hour drive to a public library with Internet access and another hours to download one single audio file of less than 6MB.   We don't think that qualifies as "total media saturation"

It's dangerous to stand out on such a limb and proclaim your way is the only right way.

Job search at best is a "trial and error" method. There are variables to the variables and the best advice is to learn and understand the "whys", "hows" and "whens" before making final decisions as to any part of the job search.

To Smile or Not to Smile!.....Emoticons in a professional document ???

Smiles are wonderful and I don’t know of anyone who objects to a smile.  However when it comes to a professional document of any kind, a resume, cover letter, thank you letter or any business letter, emoticons are misplaced.  

The old version of the emoticon smile was something like a colon (:) followed by the closed paren ).   It is now almost impossible to actually type those two keyboard strokes one after the other without getting (J) thanks to updated software.  I’m using a slightly older version of Microsoft Word.  Newer versions actually place a colored smiley face similar to the graphic used by a major discount retailer.

Regardless of the outcome, smiley face or punctuation, the effect is the same and generates a less than professional atmosphere around your document.

Typing a smiley face at the end of any sentence in a professional document is gimmickry and best saved for personal communication between friends and acquaintances.

In the case that you don’t have the updated software and actually can type the punctuation marks that represent the emoticon you run the risk that the reader will not actually understand.   When in doubt, it is always best not to go over the line.  Since we rarely know enough about the different employers who would be reading our communication it is best to be cautious and leave out the emoticon.  There is also the fact that you may think you know the reader but then your letter is duplicated and passed to other hiring managers or interview panel members who do not understand.

It is never a good idea to pepper your document with abbreviations or acronyms.  Abbreviations allow for confusion.    Most folks know that FAA stands for Federal Aviation Administration.  I recently reviewed a resume and cover letter that contained no less than 12 references to FAA without once spelling out or defining those initials.  The problem here is the individual worked for the Family Assistance Administration which has nothing to do with flying.   A quick search of the internet reveals that the Florida Apartment Association, college of Fine and Applied Arts, and Food Addicts Anonymous also use FAA as a designation.   Talk about confusion.  Which company did this individual work for?

The old emoticon falls into the same category with abbreviations and acronyms.

It is never a good idea to fill a document with useless graphics just because our word processors have clip art and WordArt ® capabilities. You don’t need to put in a picture of a horse because you used the word “horse” in a sentence.  

The new smiley face emoticon J falls into the same category as graphics.   

It is enough to say “I’m excited about the new opportunities we discussed”. It is not necessary to ad the J afterwards.

The one time you could actually break this rule because it may be the right thing to do would be if you were applying for a company that makes or sells emoticons. Even then it could be a very fine line you walk.

Workforce Newsletter

Many JOB CLUB members were featured in the current edition of the
Mohave/La Paz County Workforce News. 
Click on the link below to read the Newsletter. 

JOB CLUB is featured on Page 4.

READ the workforce news

The Importance of a Routine!

 Not having a JOB SEARCH ROUTINE is comparable to jumping into the backseat of your car and setting the cruise control for 50 MPH.   

Who's driving your Job Search?

According to Washington D.C Job Coach  Jodi Schneider, who publishes a blog entitled DCWORKS, developing a routine is tantamount to success.

 Jodi Says:
*Develop a daily schedule and routine.  Set your hours for the next day. Then be ready at your desk — showered and caffeinated — at the set time to start on your goals. Come up with specific, measurable goals for the day and week. For instance, plan to make so many contacts via email or phone and then invite them to meet you for coffee over the next week. Figure out how many resumes you want to send out for that day. Plan to research at least two openings and follow up with people in your network about them. Also, plan projects to sprinkle out over a few days or a week — such as updating your resume and contacting potential references. Be organized — schedule these plans in an electronic organizer or calendar with reminders and daily to-do lists.

READ MORE on the AZJOBCLUB Routine Page