What does your contact points say about you?
 
When I was young and played cricket on a regular basis, I hated when I ran myself out, as I had effectively given away my wicket to the opposition free of charge.  If I had not done something stupid, I would still be in bat and adding to my score. Likewise, so many people ‘run themselves out’ in the job hunt, before they even come in to bat.
 
Recently I presented to a group of recruiters, and talk turned to how poorly many candidates brand themselves at prime employer contact points.  From terrible email addresses to shocking voicemail messages, each mistake piles up to leave a trail of unprofessionalism that does not set them up for success in the candidate screening process..
 
Email addresses that (don’t) rock
 
As MD of CV.CO.NZ, I come across people who tell me they are having problems finding a new role because no one responds to their emails.  Chatting with them, I try and figure out if they have the relevant skills and experience, and am sometimes amazed that no employer has snapped them up.  That is, until I get a copy of their CV and see their email address… 
 
Real life examples of terrible email addresses that have come across my desk include one_nightstand@, imasexybeast@, badboyrulz@, loveisworsethandeath@ and life-is-a-nightmare@.  The Herald’s public decency guidelines also limit me from putting far worse ones in this column.
 
Unsurprisingly, recruiters do not want to proceed further when their candidate’s email address is something offensive, racist, sexist or just plain crazy.
 
Abysmal Voicemail Messages
 
Time and again, I would screen a candidates’ CVs and think “this person is great – let’s get them in for an interview.” Unfortunately, when it comes time to make contact, I am greeted by an abysmal voicemail message that says something along the lines of “Hi it’s [insert name] here.  I’m drunk at the moment, so leave a message and I’ll get back to you when I sober up.”
 
While this message may by funny while you are at university, the joke suddenly turns against you when graduate recruiters start hanging up and not leaving messages.
 
My recruiter friends shared that almost every day they would discount potentially suitable candidates because their ‘employer touchpoints’ were so poor.  No recruiter wants to put forward to their client, a candidate who has the email address ‘deathninja@’.  (Yes it’s a real one)… 
 
Your Brand
 
Voicemail and email addresses are a key part of your employer marketing, and recruiters, human resource managers and employers in general, tend to have a low level of tolerance for poor candidate branding.
 
If you are about to start job hunting, I strongly encourage you to check your voicemail and email address, ensuring they represent you well when recruiters start to call.  Making sure your prime employer contact points are professional, will ensure you do not ‘run yourself out’ at the start of your job search.
 
Contact Tom for a free Linkedin or CV review, or to be your personal career coach.  Visit www.CareerCoach.nz or www.CV.co.nz to find out more. 
​

As we head excitedly off into the new year, it's important to pause and think about the document that will have the most impact in your life - your CV!

More important than your passport, this document dictates how much you earn for the rest of your life, and to a large extent, your career and societal success, as well as emotional and relational wellbeing.

In 2017, your CV must be your "personal brochure", selling you professionally to employers. So what are the key things we need in a professional and successful CV today?

1. It's not all about you

When an organisation advertises a vacancy, they are saying to the market that they have a "problem". If they are seeking a sales rep in Northland, they are worried about losing market share as they have no sales resource in the area. If they are advertising for a CEO, they are signalling they have limited strategic leadership capability.

Understand that when you apply for a role, your CV should be focused towards meeting the individual needs of the reader. It is not about you, but about them. Think about how you are the "solution" to the employer's problem by reading the job description in detail and assessing the key competencies, skills and expertise they are seeking. Mirror these in your CV so you are seen as a "tailored solution" to the employer's "problem".

2. Highlight your achievements

Don't just list your job responsibilities in your CV, but also your career achievements. This demonstrates your "value" to the employer, positioning you ahead of your competition who only detail what they get paid to do.

3. Professional living document

Your CV (personal brochure) should have a smooth, clear, professional look, with a little bit of "panache" to make it more appealing. A light splash of colour is a great way to stand out, without being overbearing. Also, as the vast majority of CVs are read on a screen, hyper-links and QR codes to your Linkedin profile, portfolio examples, videos, personal web page and email address are important.

4. First things first

The first third of the first page of your CV is almost guaranteed to be read in detail. After this, employers will glance through the rest to see if there is anything that catches their eye. Ensure you have a brief summary at the start of your CV highlighting how you mirror the skills and competencies they are seeking and use bullet points to make it clear. Don't include your school results from 20 years ago, hobbies or star sign in this part of your CV.

Follow these key points, and your CV will become your "brochure", opening new and exciting career opportunities in 2017!

Personal Brand 'ME'?
 
With the rise of 'hyper personal brands' such as Donald Trump and Kim Kardashian, it's important to understand that we are also individual "brands" that need to be successfully managed and protected in our own sphere of influence.
 
Although many Kiwis find this concept of personal branding an uncomfortable prospect, it becomes more and more vital, the further up the corporate ladder you climb.
 
Bright plumage
 
The old saying "the early bird catches the worm" reminds us to get in to the office early, work hard, and maximise our time efficiently.
 
By doing this you will be noticed by those around you and be rewarded for your efforts.
 
Sadly however, this is not always the case in today's business environment. Compare a dull brown sparrow with a bright multi-coloured budgie. The budgie stands out by just having bright plumage.
 
 
Therefore, think about the things that make you stand out, then get out there and make sure your boss and clients know about your unique selling points and achievements.
 
Making it work for you
 
It's obvious that the benefits of a strong personal brand are many.
 
Create new business opportunities

Having a strong personal brand develops a high level of client and industry trust, leading to new business and networking opportunities.
 
Improve sales conversion rates and increase profit
 
People want to deal only with you, as you are seen to be a key leader in your field. This allows you the opportunity to improve conversion rates and increase profit margins.
 
Talented people are drawn to you, and want to be led and mentored by an industry leader.
 
With a strong brand, you can start to speak on behalf of your industry, ultimately driving positive industry change at a national and political level.
 
And personally: New opportunities open up within your own organisation, as you are seen to be an 'influencer in your industry'.
 
External career
 
Recruiters and industry leaders seek you out as your influence and networks grow.
 
This leads to exciting new opportunities that you may not have thought possible earlier in your career.
 
The first thing to do in the development of your personal brand is to find out what others are saying about you right now. If you have never done this before, Google yourself and see what appears.
 
In my next column in my Personal Branding series, I will be exploring how to start developing your personal brand "voice" in your sphere of influence.

The power of strong brands is an established phenomenon. Why else would someone pay $100 for a T-shirt with a well-respected logo on it, over an equally well-made blank garment on sale for $10?
 
In the same way that Nike, Toyota and Apple are respected brands, we individually are also brands in the employment marketplace. Some of us have high value, driven by our achievements, successes and networks, while others are less established or respected.
 
Employing top brands for your organisation
 
From a recruitment perspective, the reason for recruiting top "brands" in your industry is very important. The power of a person's individual brand, dictates their level of influence they have in the marketplace.
 
Create new business opportunities
 
The more influence and respect an individual has in an industry (or a niche in the industry), the more potential business opportunities they can generate. The more business opportunities they can create, in turn leads to more income streams as these opportunities are converted. An example would be a respected lawyer in the field of environmental law. As they improve their brand through winning cases, writing articles and having a solid online presence, they become a trusted voice for the sector, in turn generating high levels of trust and influence. Therefore potential clients seeking out a leader in the field to represent them, will choose this person over a less high-profile competitor.
 
Assert your practice and corporate brand
 
Another key benefit that flows from a strong personal brand in your team, is the reflected brand for your business. Having a group of talented, respected and influential team members will ensure your business is seen as a leader in your field.
 
Expand your corporate networks
 
People with strong brands have trusted and respected relationships they can use to generate new networks and influence for your business. This is very important as these new customers become established clients over the long term.
 
Assist in recruitment of talented staff
 
True professionals want to work alongside other leaders in the field so attracting top candidates for key roles becomes easier. This is evident when recruiting talented graduates to your organisation who are keen to learn from the best.
 
Drive speciality in corporate niches
 
If your business is niched, recruiting leaders in this area will drive more business, allowing you to invest in the niche further, securing it ahead of your competitors over the long term.
 
Advocate for positive change
 
A strong personal brand will carry more influence in their sector, and in turn allow them to advocate more successfully for positive change on behalf of the disenfranchised as well as to lawmakers. Their words are influential and carry more weight, leading to positive outcomes for those allied with them and their cause.
 
Recruiting for Personal Brand
 
Remember next time you are looking for a team member to help lead your organisation into the future, add "personal brand" into the mix of your recruitment decision-making. The success of your business may depend on it.

The article is from Tom's column in the NZ Herald - http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11615029