Personal branding is the new trend—and I’m sure, if you’ve been in the job search market and done even minimal research about resume writing, then you’ve heard these terms: personal branding, value proposition, and career summary.  So what is personal branding … and what does it mean to you?

Personal branding is what differentiates you from every other job seeker out there.  Let’s suppose that you are in sales and marketing.  Well, so are millions of other people.  When you create and showcase your personal brand in your resume you are giving the employer a snapshot of who you are, as well as the talent, passion, and vision you can bring to their organization.  Your personal brand is comprised of a combination of your accomplishments, contributions, talent, passion, and vision.  These five points separate you from the massive herd of other job seekers.  What is even better is that most job hunters are completely clueless about personal branding—yet it is such a vital part of your job search.  Including one means you are already light years ahead of everyone else.

Full article here: sandboxadvisors.com

James Otieno always knew he was going to retire early and when he did, he knew he would do one of three things:

Join the PGA senior golf tour. Become the benevolent dictator of a peaceful island. Or apply himself to his passion improving education, particularly for those who live in poverty.

Pro golfer? Political leader? Hey, Otieno is an ambitious guy, and why not dream a little? But the truth is, as far-fetched as those ideas seem, finding a worthwhile way to follow your passion can be as daunting.

In May 2007, at age 47, with a 10 handicap and a personality that hardly lent itself to dictating (benevolently or not), Otieno decided that after 23 years at Hewlett-Packard, the time was right.

“On June 1,” recalls Otieno, who was vice president of executive services and compensation, “I was a retired man.”

A retired man, married with three kids, who was asking a question: Now what? It’s a question you can almost hear echo across Silicon Valley, a place where many achieve personal goals, tremendous wealth or career supremacy at an early age. Otieno had already started giving back, joining a few nonprofit boards. But how to get more deeply involved? How to apply his experience as an HP VP to a field that he believed could really use his help?

Full story here: Baltimoresune.com

You landed the interview and now you’re staring at your closet thinking you have nothing to wear. Don’t worry; getting dressed for an interview can be easier than you think. You most likely have a few items in your closet, which paired with something else, will work perfectly.

1. Think neutral. Look for pants or skirts (knee length) in black, beige, brown, or gray. Remember if you have a suit in your closet you can take the pieces and pair them with other items. (Hint: if you wear a skirt be sure to wear hose).

2. A jacket is always a good idea however if you don’t own one there is no need to purchase one. Look for a cardigan to pair with the pants or skirt. This cardigan from New York and Company is perfect and at $24.95 is easy on the wallet. With black pants you can pair the beige or the light gray one. With gray pants the mossy forest one would work well. (Hint: remove the floral pin for more conservative positions).

Full Story: Examiner.com

With the economy shrinking, many job-hunters are looking for a new career that pays well – and they need to find out what are the best jobs for the future. Here are the careers that are forecast for strong growth over the next decade, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics projections through 2016.

Robin Ryan, career coach and author of 60 Seconds and You’re Hired says, “I look at where you can make good money, where employers are looking for people and saying they can’t find them.”

She notes that the federal growth forecasts are a couple of years old, and some fields are undergoing rapid change. Be on the lookout for emerging opportunities, especially those that involve Internet skills. With the cost of education soaring, we asked our experts to focus primarily on careers you can get started in without a four-year degree. Based upon salary and career growth, here’s our list of best jobs for the future.

1. Physician’s assistant – The economy may be down, but people still get sick and need to go to the doctor. As the population continues to age, healthcare fields will continue to see strong growth, says Ryan. Health care is one of the top growing job fields. Physician’s assistants usually take a two-year course and need to pass a certification exam. Then, they assist doctors in hospitals and clinics or in rural areas they may provide care if a doctor isn’t always available. 27% projected growth. Median annual salary: $88,575

2. Database administrator – One thing’s for sure in this uncertain economy – companies continue to pile up data and need experts to make sure it’s properly organized and securely stored. Computer security is another one of the top growing job fields. Some database administrators get started with just a two-year degree – and if you enjoy computer programming, this is one of the best-paid areas in computer tech. 28.6% projected growth. Median annual salary: $73,388

3. Video game designer – The gaming field is exploding, notes Ryan. There are hugely successful, massive, multiplayer online role-playing games, casual games to play on computers, PDAs and cell phones, as well as games for Xbox, Nintendo and other proprietary game systems. If you’re a game nut, consider learning how to create games to cash in on this trend as the gaming industry tend to offer jobs that are fun and pay good money.

“These skills are often self-taught,” she notes. “And programming jobs pay extremely well, for anything where you know how to write code.” 35% projected growth. Median annual salary: $66,664

4. Medical equipment repair – As medical equipment uses more complex technology, there are more parts that can malfunction – and more need for repair technicians. You may need a two-year degree, but the BLS reports most training is on the job. 9.4% projected growth. Median annual salary: $62,115

5. Media planner/buyer – Though the official BLS data doesn’t show explosive growth here, the Internet is causing rapid change in this industry that probably isn’t figured into federal forecasts yet, says job-trends expert Debra Yergen, author of Creating Job Security: The 2009 All-In-One Workbook. While the traditional advertising industry may be shrinking right now, online skills are in demand, she says. Many online-media pros are learning on the job.

“This is an emerging area where talent is going to be rewarded,” Yergen says. 11.7% projected growth. Median annual salary: $47,149

Full story here: PayScale.com

What you say is important. But did you know that your FIRST impression is made within the first 30 seconds of an interview. The way you LOOK when interviewing is crucial – not just issues of your hair looking good, or your suit pressed – but your body language is also something to be addressed…and honed.

The video below explains it very nicely:

Before you buy

The Federal Trade Commission publishes an 11-page consumer guide to buy a franchise. It’s available online here.

Here are some questions to ask yourself before investigating specific opportunities:

Your investment

How much money do you have to invest?
How much money can you afford to lose?
Are you purchasing the franchise alone or with partners?
Do you need financing? Where’s it coming from?
What’s your credit rating? Credit score?
Do you have savings or additional income to live on while you start your business?

Your abilities

Does the franchise require technical experience or special training or education
What special skill set can you bring to a business, and, specifically, to this business?
What experience do you have as a business owner or manager?

Your goals

Write down your reasons for buying a particular franchise.
1. Do you need a specific annual income?
2. Are you interested in pursuing a particular field?
3. Are you interested in retail sales or performing a service?
4. How many hours can you work? How many are you willing to work?
5. Do you intend to operate the business yourself or hire a manager?
6. Will franchise ownership be your primary source of income or a supplement to your current income?
7. Do you get bored easily? Are you in this for the long-term?
8. Would you like to own several outlets?

Full Article Here: KnoxNews.com