Monthly Archives: September 2011

Planning a career change?

Posted on September 29, 2011 by | Leave a comment

career-change-arrowsA career change is a life altering decision and should be properly thought through and planned. It can mean a complete transition to a new job, a new employer or a new industry. If a person chooses to change career direction, for example they have been in PPC Jobs for a few years and then decided to look at media buying Jobs for a future move, this requires planning and preparation as it is not a natural progression, thus following logical methodology will help. 

Take your time

This is probably the most important thing to remember, DON’T RUSH, TAKE YOUR TIME. Changing Career is a big decision so enjoy the journey toward your goal and think it through carefully.

Research Research Research 

Research everything! Including interchangeable skills, training courses and relevant reading material. You should take the time to get all the information available to you before making a decision. If you’re looking for digital jobs make sure you research the digital market and roles within it. Know the market leaders and why you would want to work for them.

Plan 

Take the time to plan the steps needed to get to your goal. Fill the plan with achievable steps and commit to following them.

Immerse yourself 

When you get to your goal and start your new career, you should make sure you really try to get involved. Get to know the new team, get to know the culture, find out what publications to read as this will help you get up to speed. Do your upmost to allow yourself the best chance to fit in.

Be ready to start over 

For most people a career change can often mean starting from the bottom and working your way up and proving yourself again. Be prepared to take those steps.

 

Written by,

Richard Ward.

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Preparation Is Key

Posted on September 20, 2011 by | 2 Comments

preparing/sharpening the axe

In my opinion failure to prepare for anything you do in life, never mind my job as a recruiter or for an interview is a fatal sin.

Abraham Lincoln said “Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four hours sharpening the axe”.  This is the way any successful person should prepare for every battle.  Don’t get me wrong I haven’t always been someone who prepares for every eventuality, however my biggest fear in life is failure and that fear will always drive me.  Failure makes or breaks a person.  It made me.

Through out my life the literature I have chosen to read has changed.  This has influenced what I put into each day, both personally and professionally.  One of the books I have read is ‘The art of war’ by Sun Tzu.  For me one of the most poignant quotes from this book is when Sun Tzu’s is speaking about preparation.  He states “If we are to win the war, we must understand the enemy…Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril.  When you are ignorant of the enemy but know yourself, your chances of winning and losing are equal. If ignorant of both yourself and your enemy, you are certain in every battle to be in peril” This quote has been used time and again by influential leaders.  It is very simple, but very true.  If you do not understand what you face then you will underestimate it. Underestimate it and you set yourself up for defeat.

These values are certainly important in any interview.  Prepare for everything that could come up.  Prepare for everything that could go wrong. If you have already mentally prepared for your worst day then that day will not become a reality.

Be the best that you can be and you will not regret missed opportunities. So today, tomorrow and all the days that follow prepare yourself and make sure that when your worst day comes you are ready for it.

 

Sunjay Patel

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Are you Google friendly?

Posted on September 14, 2011 by | 2 Comments

Google FriendlyBack in the day…… one of the most important obstacles in securing your dream job (other than skills, interviews & receiving the offer) was getting a good reference from your previous employers. These days there’s an extensive social media list of obstacles to consider aswell i.e. Google, Twitter, Facebook etc etc……

It used to be that an inappropriate email address or bad reference would get you overlooked by potential employers, where as now a bad Facebook profile or Google search can leave you in the starting blocks while your competitors race ahead.

Some questions to ask yourself:

  1. Have you typed your name into Google? (i.e. Lipton Fleming)
  2. What do Facebook, Twitter and Google say about you?
  3. Are your pictures appropriate?
  4. Is your language appropriate?
  5. Do you look employable at first glance from your online profile?

Employers, hiring managers and recruiters are all very interested in how you present yourself in order to eliminate potential “time wasters”. According to an article in the New York Times  75% of recruiters are required to screen online.

Remember: Check your profile settings today and make sure you don’t make your first impression an unforgettable one, for all the wrong reasons.

 

Written by,

Richard Ward.

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Be Good for Someone Else

Posted on September 6, 2011 by | 5 Comments

helping handHow do your actions affect others? If you’re a happy & positive person going into work everyday with a smile on your face and a can do attitude, how does that reflect upon colleagues? Personally I think it impacts greatly on how you’re perceived; it can turn a frown upside down quite literally. Keep a positive outlook and remember to bring it with you everyday, it will help you become more balanced and help you to balance others around you.
Below are 25 ways you can be good to someone else. By doing simple things like these you will enrich your own personal well being and others around you.

 

25 Ways to Be Good for Someone Else


1. Try to accept people with an open mind and refrain from making judgments, which are often wrong anyway. (Brandon Hartford)
2. Let them know how much you appreciate them. (Florence Leedy)
3. Any deed done for someone else is a kind one when you don’t expect something in return. (Courtney Olsen)
4. Do little things like hold doors open or let folk go in or out first. Little things can make a big difference for someone who’s not having a great day. (Elke Wallace)
5. Accept them for who they are and who they strive to be. (Dylan Clauson)
6. Let them know they’ve made you smile. (Monika Sylvestre)
7. Be with them when they need you. For the rest of the time, let them be free. (Rohin Khanna)
8. Tell them the truth. (Krista Hale)
9. Tell them why they make a difference in your life that no one else could possibly make—why their particular brand of “special” makes the world a better place for everyone they meet in it. (Jennifer Hudson Green)
10. Help them help themselves and be independent. (Frantz Art Glass)
11. Believe in them and give them hope. (Melessia Todd)
12. Give a simple well meaning smile. (Jennie McCluskey)
13. The kindest thing you can do for someone else is to take good care of your own mind, body and soul. This enables kindness in all things. (Shyloh Robinson)
14. Spend time listening with the intent of learning. I joined an art guild that is mostly made up of elderly artists who have the most amazing life stories and the best tips and tricks for creating artwork. I feel like I get so much more in return for doing nothing more than enjoying their company! (Suzi Ra)
15. The best thing my parents ever taught me—the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you! (Tracy Bruce Laughlin)
16. Be there for them when they fall and not say I told you so. (Ana Stuckart)
17. Give them the space to be. (Natassia Callista Alicia)
18. Lend your shoulder to cry on. (Bryan Tankersley)
19. Thank them for being themselves. (Jen Ghrist)
20. Take a moment to send someone a note thanking them for something they have done for you in the past. For example, a good teacher or a good manager, or someone who was a mentor or role model. (Dave Hughes)
21. Treat each person with respect for his or her individuality. (Shirley Wright)
22. Offer encouragement after a failure. Acceptance of even the weirdest things they possess. A tap for a job well done. A “thank you” to every simple yet life-changing encounter. (Ako Ang Uso)
23. Forgive. (Ivan Kl)
24. Pay attention to them. From the clerk at the store to your kids at home, most people just want to be heard and acknowledged. Understanding comes later, but everyone can pay attention now. (Angela Birt)
25. Listen to someone without trying to fix their problem. (Jane Lynahan Karklin)
List selected by Lori Deschene

Written by,

Richard Ward.

Disclaimer:

Lipton Fleming blog posts are written by our different recruitment consultants and various other employees for public consideration and may not reflect fully Lipton Fleming’s views on media recruitment, media jobs or the media industry.  All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. Lipton Fleming makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. Lipton Fleming will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information.

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