Disqus - Latest Comments for jtodonnell

Re: Five Reasons To Blow Up Your Blog - Expert Networks - IBTimes.com

J.T. O'Donnell — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 09:00:35 -0000

Fabulous point Russell! I think when used in the way you described, it does make sense. Sadly, too many companies associate setting up a blog with creating lots of content and trying to get a high Google Pagerank. But that's not the case as you pointed out.

When I work with companies on social campaigns, my first question is, "What do you want to sell more of?" which is then followed by, "Who is the best customer to sell that to." From there, we look at all the social media tools available and select the right ones. Then we customize a cost-effective strategy to get results. In many cases, its not about getting a million eyeballs to your site, it's about getting the right 100 eyeballs there.

That's why I want companies, consultants and other experts to contemplate whether that could be accomplished better on someone else's blog instead of stressing about creating their own.

Thanks for sharing and getting the dialog going!

Re: Five Reasons To Blow Up Your Blog - Expert Networks - IBTimes.com

J.T. O'Donnell — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 08:57:01 -0000

Hi Michele, great question!

When the site goes down, the content is gone. Here's the thing: I wouldn't suggest deleting the site. When I say "blow up" the blog, I mean stop adding to it. Just leave it alone and move forward with a new strategy. A company's blog should be a static set of core content that speaks to the needs of their customers. It doesn't need to be added to. That's where they should refocus their efforts on blogging on other sites and then driving traffic back to their own static blog to capture the attention of new customers.

The goal today is to drive people to your blog and get them to opt-in to your email list. That way, you can market to them on an ongoing basis.

Thanks for asking that question!

Re: 3 Reasons to Become a Social Media Narcissist

J.T. O'Donnell — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:34:12 -0000

So true Laurie. That's why I think people need to truly engage in it to learn how to do it effectively. If it seems narcissistic, well who cares? Especially, if you eventually (hopefully) learn that those who earn the respect of others through social media do so because they provide value that results in others seeing them as having authority on a subject. I look at the amazing job you've done with PunkRockHR as an example. You've stayed authentic and proven yourself as an expert. I hope more people learn the importance of investing in building that reputation.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing - it's great to have you here!

Re: The Building Blocks of Social Media for Business

J.T. O'Donnell — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 07:15:33 -0000

Hi Chris,

The picture you used in your post is very cool! It's a lego town built and on display in Manchester, NH at the See Science Museum. There's a toy train running through the entire town with a camera on it so you can see what it's like (the run the feed on a flat screen above the display). My daughter's second grade class went there last year and I got to tag along. Definitely worth a visit with your kids if you've never been - it's extremely fun!

Re: Recent Grad Gets Dream Job in 2 Months…Here’s How

J.T. O'Donnell — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:15:07 -0000

I'm sorry, I should have clarified that I specifically didn't include Mari's company in the post because she would get a lot of people e-mailing her asking for advice. I didn't want to do that to her. However, Mari is a member of the CAREEREALISM University network, so those that join have the capacity, just like on LinkedIn, to invite her to connect with them and can then correspond with her directly.

Re: Recent Grad Gets Dream Job in 2 Months…Here’s How

J.T. O'Donnell — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:29:52 -0000

Hi Sasha,

I can appreciate your frustration, but I don't think it's fair to discount Mari's success. As the person who worked personally with her, I know that she learned a lot of things about job search and personal branding that she did not know as a recent grad via CAREEREALISM University.

While the job market is tough, I will tell you that those who understand the new rules to job search are getting offers. Are all of them doing it in 2 months? Perhaps not, but there is something to be said for learning the right approach. Job search is actually very similar to weight loss...

Lots of people who go on fad diets or think they can diet on their own. Some succeed, but many others fail to get the results they desire. At the same time, some people invest in themselves and get the help they need, and then, coupled with their own positive mental attitude, move forward and get results.

Each person is entitled to approach it the way they want. In Mari's case, she sought help and it made the difference.

Feel free to contact me directly info@careerealism.com if you'd like to take it off-line and talk more about it. I hate the fact that you felt frustrated by this post and would like to help. Perhaps hearing more specifics would benefit?

Re: T.A.P. Q#247 – Job Posting Says “No Phone Calls” – Call Anyway?

J.T. O'Donnell — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 07:26:26 -0000

Wow John, you seem pretty passionate about your response. And I don't doubt 'breaking the rules' works for the person who knows how to give a '30 second commercial' over the phone that has an impact. What I think you forget is that the majority of folks aren't comfortable doing that. So, while you carelessly give advice that works for 10% of the population, the experts are considering the skills and abilities of those whose strengths don't lie in that area.

Not to mention, I just spent time with a group of HR people who shared stories with me of the people who got PULLED OUT of the interview pile for breaking the rules and calling. They said they were so agressive and pushy they couldn't imagine what they would be like in their office. FACT: Not every company wants a go-getter. It's their call who gets hired.

Good luck with your strategy, but I'd caution those reading to only use it if they are 200% confident they can pull it off.

Re: Job Seeker Surprise: How Being Ignorant Can HELP You

J.T. O'Donnell — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:34:17 -0000

Thank Brian,

I'm so glad personal branding worked for you! We are huge fans of personal branding over here at CAREEREALISM.com - it really does make the job search process more effective. In our CAREEREALISM University program, it's one of the first things we discuss.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing - we love when readers post their comments!

Re: Job Seeker Surprise: How Being Ignorant Can HELP You

J.T. O'Donnell — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:32:36 -0000

Thanks Chandlee - great point!

Job seekers do need to spend time with people who have been where they are right now. It helps get fresh ideas and the support you need to keep going.

Glad you stopped by and shared!!!

Re: What’s An Interview Bucket List?

J.T. O'Donnell — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:53:13 -0000

Hi Thom,

Sorry for the late reply! I think GlassDoor.com does a great job of giving you an inside look at a company's culture. And of course, you have to do a Google search on their name and then add words like 'bad,' 'stinks' and other derogatory terms. This will show you who is talking negatively about them. The goal is to do the homework - which is clear you are doing by your knowledge of places to look. That alone gets you more realistic about the company and will help you pick up on the fact if they are a good place to work.

I hope that helps!

Re: Job Seekers: Don’t Play ‘Trust Fall’ Game with Your References (I Mean It!)

J.T. O'Donnell — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:25:00 -0000

Fabulous Rob!

These real-life examples are so important - thanks for sharing!

Re: 5 Things EVERY Job Seeker Should Know About Themselves

J.T. O'Donnell — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:21:59 -0000

Thanks so much for the feedback. Yes, bandwidth and technology issues have plagued us when making a few of these. But that is being resolved and we will be creating a new set of video for YouTube this fall under the 'CAREEREALISM' channel.

We hope to see you there!

Re: T.A.P. Q#237 – My Dad Got Me the Interview…Do I Even Have a Shot?

J.T. O'Donnell — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:55:46 -0000

Jack, thank you for sharing that story!

We can tell young professionals to not worry about it and use the connection, but a story like that PROVES why you should prepare and give it your all.

Thank you for pointing out how Barbara was the one that created her own success - she just needed to step through the door that was opened for her.

Which just gave me the idea for a wonderful post on the subject!

Re: Intelligence Means Squat: Study Shows One Trait Predicts Success BETTER

J.T. O'Donnell — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:59:13 -0000

I think many of your points are very valid. There is a lot to be said for taking various experiences and then connecting the dots to create something even more valuable. However, I think the importance of this study is to point out that people who at least have experience sticking with something long-term develop the type of grit that it takes to succeed professionally.

Thus, while job jumping may be the norm for many candidates, predicting how well a person does in a job could be reflected in their experience with sticking with a challenging hobby (ie. sport, club, instrument) that taught them what it takes to work through the tough times and move forward.

Your example of Bob Bowman is a good one. While he worked with 4-6 coaches, he was still dedicated to the field of swimming. In short, he had grit and committed himself to the profession, he just moved around to get the experience he needed to launch his career.

At the end of the day, I'm still agreeing with the basic proof that people who don't give up easily are people who will succeed in life. Ask any entrepreneur and they'll tell you it was grit that got them where they are today.

Thank you very much for sharing a really thought-provoking position. I'm glad you stopped by to contribute. It's nice to have readers who are willing to share their opinions - especially when they don't agree!

Re: Intelligence Means Squat: Study Shows One Trait Predicts Success BETTER

J.T. O'Donnell — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:58:32 -0000

So true. And given how much flack colleges are getting right now about the value of a degree (Did you see the one woman who is suing her school for tuition becuase she can't get a job, post college?), you can argue this is a point more young professionals should stress in interviews. The average college student is actually taking 5+ years to graduate. So, for those of you that did it in 4 years or less, better still, if you worked while doing it, you've got a strong case for having some serious GRIT.

Thanks for sharing Elias!

Re: Intelligence Means Squat: Study Shows One Trait Predicts Success BETTER

J.T. O'Donnell — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:34:03 -0000

Great observation! I can see colleges assessing on this more and more as well. Students aren't being necessarily guided to stick with something in the early years. So, it will be interesting to see what happens down the line.

Re: The Power of the Absurd

J.T. O'Donnell — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 07:22:48 -0000

Hi Chris,

You might be interested in this story on the topic of using trends to gain traffic that was done by David Spark (@dspark) over at Mashable last month:

http://mashable.com/2009/07...

I had a similar experience to you when I wrote the post "Why HR's Just Not That Into You" around the time the movie "He's Just Not That Into You" came out last year. I couldn't believe the traffic - and for us, it resulted in a lot of new subscribers, so traffic was bumped up permanently.

PS - I loved the funny posts you did (commented on one of them). It really made me laugh and want to contribute. Sometimes, there are so many good comments on an 'expert post' that I just don't bother, but on a fun post like the ones you put out, there was room for everyone to throw in their two cents, don't you think?

Congrats on the great stats!

Re: 10-no-4 Days to Become a Social Media Expert

J.T. O'Donnell — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 07:18:06 -0000

Dear Chris,

I've dumped a lot of money into get-rich and get-thin programs already, and am down to my last $100. So, I'm struggling between your program above or buying a used copy of '7-minute Abs.' Do you think you could come up with a program that does both? I don't want to pay extra though....:)

Thanks!

Re: Should I ‘Dumb Down’ My Resume?

J.T. O'Donnell — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:00:55 -0000

Agreed Hudson, employers will see different/better candidates when they step out side the traditional thought. Thanks for conveying that in your comment and for stopping by the site!

Re: Should I ‘Dumb Down’ My Resume?

J.T. O'Donnell — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:53:05 -0000

Karen - fantastic point!

What happens when you get there and they see you are so much more than your resume lead on? I couldn't agree more. It's more about learning how to sell what you've got in a way that gets the employer to look past the fact that you are overqualified. Using analogies is a great way to do that. I recently had one client tell a company that, "I might have many professional skills and experience, but you are entitled to pay for only the features you need!" It made the hiring manager chuckle on the phone and he got the interview...and eventually, the job!

Re: Why EVERY Career Roadblock Starts With YOU

J.T. O'Donnell — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:22:29 -0000

I'm glad you mentioned it because, based on what you explained, no - you cannot give it away. If your boss has openly claimed it as 'confidential' and he ever found out you circulated it, you could get sued.

I'd suggest finding another item. Better still, invest some time into creating something of value on your own that you can distribute. ie. a collection of articles that you feel are worthwhile reading, etc. and share that.

Confidentiality is a tricky game in business, so unless you have the money to secure a lawyer for this kind of thing, I'd wouldn't risk it. With the economy the way it is, more companies are getting serious about enforcing non-competes and confidentiality clauses.

Re: Why EVERY Career Roadblock Starts With YOU

J.T. O'Donnell — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 07:04:38 -0000

It is not too random of a thank you at all! This is the exact kind of effort I'm talking about. You saw the report and thought of her. Definitely send it and explain one or two items in it that made you think she might be interested in it.

And to your point, making friends with HR is very important. While they would not be yoru direct manager, they have a large say in hiring decisions and can be a gatekeeper for the company.

The fact that she was willing to advise you after over 1000 resumes came in for the position says she liked your communication style. (FYI - yes, it is normal to take a month to hear back. Think of how much time it takes to go through all those resume and do the rest of your job.)

I think you truly have made the most out of getting rejected. But then, I tend to have a bit of a zen mindset on this anyways. No one fails. There is an equation to a successful life that looks like this:

Experience = Learn = Grow

Sounds like you just had that happen.

Thanks for sharing on the post and good luck!

Re: Why EVERY Career Roadblock Starts With YOU

J.T. O'Donnell — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:16:54 -0000

Thanks Keith! I'm glad you like the NLP explanation. When I first started learning about it in my certification, I was thinking, "Oh no, are they for real?" But after reading and studying it first-hand, it's pretty incredible!

Glad you stopped by the site and I hope you find some other content you enjoy!

Re: Upside-down Bell Curve = Opportunity Knocking for Job Seekers

J.T. O'Donnell — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:33:19 -0000

Thank you - I'm glad you liked the explanation!

Yes, it will be nice to see the upswing in sales...it's coming.

And here's another piece of good news. Companies are hiring, BUT not posting the jobs. Why? They are so overwhelmed by the responses they get (1000s of resumes for one job) when they do post, they don't want to upset people. So, they aren't posting them at all, just asking people if they 'know someone.' So, if you see a company you love, consider networking with their staff. The sooner you make friends in the org, the sooner you'll get the 'are you looking for a job' call from one of them!

Re: Impress the Boss (A Simple Suggestion Will Help Your Career)

J.T. O'Donnell — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:10:47 -0000

Well put. It is the new 'normal.' I think many people actually held back from going green for fear it stereotyped them as some sort of zealot. Now, it's questionable if you aren't being more environmentally responsible.

I think these kinds of trends are a good thing...let's hope we see more of them, don't you agree?