Professional Speaking Failures and Wins

Professional Speaking Failures and Wins In December I had a  colossal  failure in my professional speaking career. Wait, colossal isnt big enough.  It was like (COLOSSAL * 10).  It was huge, embarrassing. Honestly, I spent the next three or four weeks wondering if I should even try and speak professionally again. I know many of you who have heard me speak are thinking geesh, it couldnt have been that bad. Trust me, it was.  (I wont go into why, or where, or who.) In contrast, I just got back from a busy trip in Baltimore/Boston, where I spoke seven times.  And in my HUMBLE opinion :p, I hit it out of the park each time. The feedback I got from any of the seven reassured me I am doing the right thing. When Im on the road, before I leave each morning, I pray that I will touch someones soul that day.  In each of the seven, I did.  And Im proud of that, and humbled and grateful to be able to do it. I remember a trip in the last year where a career professional heard me speak a few times and she finally asked are these real stories you are telling? YES, absolutely!  Its a crazy world out there, and job seekers are full of amazing stories that seem unbelievable. When I meet with you I get the stories, and I see the pain, and the hurt, and the despair, and also the joy, and the other feelings. I fail. And then I win. And I fail some more, and I win a few more times. But I keep on trying.  I keep on doing.  I keep getting up, and moving forward. Please, tell me you are doing the same. No matter how many failures you face. No matter how many times you feel like giving up. For the weeks and months of self-doubt please do not give up. A failure in one group might be a learning experience for another group. A failure somewhere might be what you need to keep you sharp and aware for the next opportunity. Get up, move forward, and dont despair. If I didnt give up I would have missed out on my chance to help encourage, inspire, lift and help hundreds of people last week. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of people might be waiting for YOU to get up again. Professional Speaking Failures and Wins In December I had a  colossal  failure in my professional speaking career. Wait, colossal isnt big enough.  It was like (COLOSSAL * 10).  It was huge, embarrassing. Honestly, I spent the next three or four weeks wondering if I should even try and speak professionally again. I know many of you who have heard me speak are thinking geesh, it couldnt have been that bad. Trust me, it was.  (I wont go into why, or where, or who.) In contrast, I just got back from a busy trip in Baltimore/Boston, where I spoke seven times.  And in my HUMBLE opinion :p, I hit it out of the park each time. The feedback I got from any of the seven reassured me I am doing the right thing. When Im on the road, before I leave each morning, I pray that I will touch someones soul that day.  In each of the seven, I did.  And Im proud of that, and humbled and grateful to be able to do it. I remember a trip in the last year where a career professional heard me speak a few times and she finally asked are these real stories you are telling? YES, absolutely!  Its a crazy world out there, and job seekers are full of amazing stories that seem unbelievable. When I meet with you I get the stories, and I see the pain, and the hurt, and the despair, and also the joy, and the other feelings. I fail. And then I win. And I fail some more, and I win a few more times. But I keep on trying.  I keep on doing.  I keep getting up, and moving forward. Please, tell me you are doing the same. No matter how many failures you face. No matter how many times you feel like giving up. For the weeks and months of self-doubt please do not give up. A failure in one group might be a learning experience for another group. A failure somewhere might be what you need to keep you sharp and aware for the next opportunity. Get up, move forward, and dont despair. If I didnt give up I would have missed out on my chance to help encourage, inspire, lift and help hundreds of people last week. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of people might be waiting for YOU to get up again. Professional Speaking Failures and Wins In December I had a  colossal  failure in my professional speaking career. Wait, colossal isnt big enough.  It was like (COLOSSAL * 10).  It was huge, embarrassing. Honestly, I spent the next three or four weeks wondering if I should even try and speak professionally again. I know many of you who have heard me speak are thinking geesh, it couldnt have been that bad. Trust me, it was.  (I wont go into why, or where, or who.) In contrast, I just got back from a busy trip in Baltimore/Boston, where I spoke seven times.  And in my HUMBLE opinion :p, I hit it out of the park each time. The feedback I got from any of the seven reassured me I am doing the right thing. When Im on the road, before I leave each morning, I pray that I will touch someones soul that day.  In each of the seven, I did.  And Im proud of that, and humbled and grateful to be able to do it. I remember a trip in the last year where a career professional heard me speak a few times and she finally asked are these real stories you are telling? YES, absolutely!  Its a crazy world out there, and job seekers are full of amazing stories that seem unbelievable. When I meet with you I get the stories, and I see the pain, and the hurt, and the despair, and also the joy, and the other feelings. I fail. And then I win. And I fail some more, and I win a few more times. But I keep on trying.  I keep on doing.  I keep getting up, and moving forward. Please, tell me you are doing the same. No matter how many failures you face. No matter how many times you feel like giving up. For the weeks and months of self-doubt please do not give up. A failure in one group might be a learning experience for another group. A failure somewhere might be what you need to keep you sharp and aware for the next opportunity. Get up, move forward, and dont despair. If I didnt give up I would have missed out on my chance to help encourage, inspire, lift and help hundreds of people last week. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of people might be waiting for YOU to get up again.

The Best Resume Writing Services For Educators

The Best Resume Writing Services For EducatorsSome of the best resume writing services for educators work on individual projects, taking on a particular student or working on a case by case basis. This is great for those students who can't find anyone who can do the job for them. These types of services are very beneficial to educators because they are able to take charge of their resume.People who are good at doing the research usually benefit from these types of writing services. That's because the work that is involved in the preparation of the document is time consuming and not all people have the time for that type of thing. These people will need someone who can do the preparation for them, while they can still do the research. That way they don't have to worry about making mistakes or getting lost in the writing process.The kind of writing that a person needs to be doing for the first time will also be covered by these services. A lot of times a person may need to make changes to their resume if they have gone through an education reform in their home state. These writing services for educators are also used when someone needs to update their resume, or have an area that they need to revise, such as the current year.There are many different ways to prepare a resume and there are a lot of resources available online. This includes the services of some of the top professional writing service companies out there. As these companies understand that a resume is supposed to be a tool for many different people, they will always keep themselves up to date with the latest best practices.People should never copy information that is spelled out in a certain area on a formal resume, but rather look to their supporting documents, if they need more information. When there is only one main piece of information that has to be completed, this is what will make the document appear professional. It will also save the client a lot of time when they need to go back and check the document over again.There are a lot of different kinds of materials that one can use to help them create their resume. However, there are some things that can't be recreated, even if it means changing it a little bit to add an area or two. Some of the companies that offer this service also offer more than just this type of resume writing service but instead specialize in the area of education.One of the best resume writing services for educators comes from a company that works in the education community. This is because they have an ability to help with the requirements of a formal education level, as well as teaching people how to write a resume and also help them with other aspects of the job. They also have experience helping many people with their resumes, so they know exactly what is required of the person who is applying for a specific position.All of the top resume writing services for educators will work to ensure that every person has the chance to be hired into a new j ob, no matter what their background or educational background is. If they have had to go through school, they will help them write their resume. They also have experience in hiring for new positions and they are able to do that for people regardless of their educational background.

Successful People Have These Four Things in Common - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Successful People Have These Four Things in Common - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Hide not your talents. They for use were made. Whats a sundial in the shade? Benjamin Franklin Surprisingly even some of the most confident people don’t really know their strengths.   While you might be able to generally describe what you’re good at it’s important to know specifically what it is that you can do better than anyone else especially when it comes to getting hired and getting promoted.   So why is it that so often even extroverts stumble when asked to share their strengths? It could be a fear of coming off as an arrogant, know it all or from a fear of being caught for not being as good as you think you are. Whatever your reason for lagging on knowing and owning your strengths, it could hold you back if you aren’t able to state them (even if just to yourself at first) from getting the job you want and the upward mobility you deserve. When it comes to selecting a career and getting hired, it’s essential to know what you bring to the table and where your strengths lie.   It’s not only important from the standpoint of knowing where you could make a contribution but it’s also critical in terms of building a healthy sense of self-esteem. When your self-worth is in tact you can more readily address the areas that you need to improve and develop. Research shows that its better to focus on your talents and uncover what you do well than to dwell on the areas you need to improve. The StrengthsFinder franchise and the best-selling book StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Gallup executive Tom Rath have gained unstoppable appeal in today’s competitive job market. Rath and his Gallup colleagues stand out because of their steadfast belief that people should focus on making the most of their talents, rather than struggling to correct their flaws. Repair work is slow and dispiriting, Rath argues; it’s “the path of most resistance.” By contrast, he writes, a strengths-based approach can have rapid payoffs in confidence, productivity and hope. This isnt to suggest that a person shouldnt try to correct his flaws; Its to emphasize the idea that when looking to find where you fit in the workplace, knowing your strengths is a top priority.  When you recognize your strengths and are clear on specifically what it is that you do well, you’ll be able to hone in on where you could thrive in the marketplace. The first step is to recognize what it is exactly that distinguishes you as special and makes you stand out from the crowd. Once you’re aware of your strengths and you can articulate them clearly, you can begin to build upon them.   Seek experiences that will allow you to exercise these qualities so you have examples that demonstrate you have these traits. Once you have a strong repertoire of experiences that demonstrate your competency in an area or in a certain quality, you could begin to look to fill in the gaps in your abilities. Being comfortable with knowing all of your attributes and your limitations is a sign of emotional maturity. You can only add value somewhere if you are self-aware. When you know what you can offer and understand the needs of a particular firm you can then assess what you can do for an employer to add value. What Are Strengths? How Can You Know if You Have Them? Your strengths include both the skills you possess and the personality traits that are viewed positively in the workplace. In order to become a fully self-aware person, I suggest you start by knowing what it is that makes you special and unique. Brainstorm on all your skills.   Here are some examples of transferable skills: Communication skills include: expressing ideas, facilitating discussions or meetings, listening, negotiating presenting, speaking a foreign language, speaking and writing effectively. Research and planning skills include:  analysis, brainstorming, coordinating events, focusing on details, forecasting, goal setting, information gathering, organizing, problem solving, record keeping. Interpersonal skills include:  coaching, conflict resolution, crisis management , delegating responsibility, handling complaints, motivating, team building. Leadership skills include:  dealing with change, decision-making, enforcing policies, ethics, implementation, management, persuasion, time management and training. Do you recognize yourself as having any of these abilities? Have others repeatedly pointed it out to you that you are good in any of these areas? If you’re not sure, you could take one of the strengthfinder tests offered by Gallup. “Strengths-Based Leadership,” “Teach With Your Strengths,” and “Strengths Based Selling” are useful tools for boss’s, educators and salespeople. You could also try the strength assessment test put out by the Dept. of Positive Psychology at University of Pennsylvania,  It’s a free, online, scientifically validate survey of character strengths. The tests could help you define your strengths and identify a work setting and a job where you’ll thrive. Positive Character Traits Try writing down all your positive character traits. If you have trouble composing a list, start by recalling what others have said about you including parents, professors, employers and friends. Are you patient? Can you think of times you’ve worked with a person to help them achieve their goals where it required more time and energy than you initially thought? Are you creative? Do you initiate novel ideas and follow through with them to achieve results? Are you a person that others come to for advice? Can you think of many times where you collaborated well with a group to achieve the goals of a firm? Do you tend to inspire other people to take action? Can you think of examples for when you brought people into a cause and got them excited to participate in getting a job done? In what areas are you generous? Do you give your time without expecting reciprocation? Are you strategic, a learner, relator, maximizer, analytic or passionate? If you already know that you possess some of these qualities, be able to articulate where you’ve demonstrated them.   If you don’t have many examples to describe times you’ve displayed these traits, start looking for opportunities to develop them. If you’re unsure of what your strengths are then the Gallup Strengths tests could help you define your strengths and identify a work setting and a job where you’ll thrive. How To Develop Your Strengths? You can begin by looking for areas where you can anticipate a problem and help find a solution. You could begin at home doing something as mundane as household chores that other’s have overlooked to exercise this problem solving muscle.   Then continue to look for challenges in your workplace and with volunteer work. The more you proactive you are about developing your character traits the more authentic and compelling you’ll be when it comes to showing your value to a perspective employer. The key is knowing which traits and skills are valuable to a particular sector and to a certain hiring manager. You can discern this by researching LinkedIn company pages, articles in the media on company news, and from reading personal profiles of candidates who’ve risen up in their firm. It’s never too late to recognize your greatness and it’s also never too late to see where you can improve. All things being equal with respect to your grades and previous work experience and references, the scale will be tipped in your favor for getting hired if you can show that you are more  aware of the hiring managers needs  than any other candidate and that you have the skills and abilities to help the manager accomplish his goals. Make it about them more than about you!   Stand out by learning to tune in to the ways you can apply your skills to assist them with specific challenges they face. The main challenge of the job interview is not so much to sell yourself, but to sell the “fit” between what you have to offer and what the job for which you are being interviewed calls for. The more you know about your strengths and talents the better chance you’ll be able to translate how you could use these abilities to benefit a perspective employer. There are endless ways to pursue a meaningful life, but knowing your purpose and finding your calling starts with identifying your strong suit. Start building on those strengths and be able to articulate them. While fixing ones flaws is an important aspect of personal growth, I believe this comes most readily to those who truly know and understand their own greatness. Your strengths are a part of your greatness. Its what will become the defining points of your personal brand.  The more insightful you are about yourself the better, so you can continue to develop areas you’re intrinsically good at. Becoming self-aware requires a person to be positive and idealistic with a healthy dose of realism. So take the strength challenge and become who you’re fully meant to be!

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese 4 References for Inexperienced Job Seekers

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese 4 References for Inexperienced Job Seekers It's the time of year when those looking for internships or their first professional gig are madly churning out resumes, answering online ads and trying to figure out who the heck can be a reference for them. It can be a bit difficult to think of someone who can vouch for you when you don't have a lot of work experience. Still, employers understand that Bill Gates or Jimmy Fallon probably won't provide a reference and that you're just starting out. Here are some people who might be able to help: A teacher. This teacher might be from high school or college, or even grammar school if Miss Evans from fourth grade has kept up with you. Make sure the teacher remembers you -- it will be a bit embarrassing if you select someone who doesn't know your name. Also, choose someone who will for sure give you a good recommendation. The only way to know this with certainty is to contact the teacher and ask if he or she is comfortable vouching for your character and work ethic. A religious leader. If your rabbi or pastor knows you, then he or she can provide some evidence as to your good character, your contributions to the community, etc. Employers are often looking for those who have shown teamwork, so a religious leader can address how you helped with various missions or ministries. Volunteer coordinators. If you've put in time at a local food bank, helped clean up trash by the side of the road or volunteered with a literacy program, ask the coordinator for a reference. Again, employers want to talk to those who have seen your work ethic and teamwork firsthand. Family member. No, Nana can't talk about what a good boy you've always been. But if you spent one summer helping Uncle Fred clear the back 40 or pitched in with your cousin Bill to design a new app, then that's fair game. When using a family member, make sure he or she can talk specifically about work you have done since any employer is going to take a personal reference with a grain of salt. Finally, remember that any of the above references should be contacted first by you, to ask them to be a reference and to make them aware of the qualifications they need to discuss. After they've talked to your potential employer, make sure you send a thank-you note or follow up with an appreciative phone call.

Importance of Using a New Format of Writing a Resume

Importance of Using a New Format of Writing a ResumeFor a student who wants to have a better future in the work field, he or she needs to write a resume. The usual method of writing a resume has changed due to technology and different applications.In recent times, the CV has been used as a requirement for getting a job in the present society. It may be seen that most students have gone for such job positions even without a proper education qualification.People who were educated at educational institutions should give a thought about how they can boost their career. It is seen that many jobseekers fail to take the right decision about their future because they do not have proper idea about their future prospects.In such situation, how can one help themselves? One can find many ways to improve their education like the ones mentioned above. A student with a higher level of academic knowledge will not need to worry about his future in the work field.There is no method of writing a resume that would not help the student. There are people who state that a student can find all kinds of methods of writing a resume. These are the people who do not know the concept of education. They cannot take the correct decision about the coursework.If a student wishes to know the best method of writing a resume, he or she should know the important facts. It is a fact that no curriculum would be able to teach the students about these topics. Students should also know that the process of preparing the curriculum will not be very helpful. It is because this method does not use the practical way.For this reason, a new format of writing resumes has been introduced. This format will help the students to learn the concepts that are relevant in the present. The students who know about this concept will be able to look for the correct application of these concepts. With this, the students will be able to provide information in a format that is beneficial.For example, the students can study t opics like the LSAT test, ASVAB and other subjects related to education and can learn them like a pro. The students who know about the method of writing a resume will have an edge over the others in the future. Moreover, students can also get in touch with the university official for some good ideas.

Are You a Leader or Manager 7 Key Differences - CareerMetis.com

Are You a Leader or Manager 7 Key Differences Source â€" Pexels.comAlmost all of us have experienced working under individuals who led or managed well, and have also experienced working under individuals who led or managed poorly.What factors differentiate these experiences? Why is there such a wide spectrum of competence amongst individuals that hold management or leadership positions?In developing your skills as a leader or manager, it is important to understand the differences between leadership and management roles.evalWhile true leaders can be hard to find, management requires its own unique skill set and not all leaders are cut out for the rigors of effectively managing processes or systems.Below, we’ll compare the roles of leaders and managers in the workplace and help you determine which role might suit you better and allow your natural talents to shine.1. Managers Tend to Be SpecializedevalEffective leaders are good at recruiting others to a mission â€" that is, they are capable of conceiving a future vision or potent ial outcome, expressing that vision to others, and inviting them to join in the pursuit of that vision.However, once a broad-level idea has been agreed upon, the real work of achieving that outcome begins. This is where managers become crucial.Managers often have specialized skill sets that allow them to effectively enact that vision. Often working in or with teams, managers set visions into motion by overseeing processes that will turn an idea into reality.Without managers and their specific skill sets, even the best strategic vision could be crippled by an inability to bring it about.2. Leaders Are “EQ” MastersLeaders influence other people and guide them through a mission of executing an idea. How does a leader persuade others to become involved? One essential skill any leader must possess is the ability to connect with others.evalThis trait is part of a skill set known as “Emotional Intelligence.”One’s “Emotional Quotient,” or EQ, measures his or her emotional inte lligence and indicates his or her ability to understand, relate to, and recognize emotions both internally and in others.In order to connect effectively with other people, leaders must be able to accurately read and appeal to the emotions of those with whom they communicate.Those that possess a high EQ are self-aware Making vision into reality almost always requires setting actionable goals that will bring that vision to life. Leaders are often strongest in the areas of casting vision and imagining a better future for their team, effort, or organization.This does not mean that leaders are not capable of or naturally bent towards setting and achieving goals â€" plenty of visionary leaders are capable of translating vision into action steps.However, this is one area where managers and leaders can naturally and effectively support each other. When leaders and managers work together, leaders can focus their efforts and natural strengths on developing vision and recruiting others to be p assionate about that vision, while managers can turn that vision into reality by setting and achieving concrete goals.4. Leaders and Managers Understand how to Motivate Team MembersWhether a leader or a manager, to be effective in your role you must understand how to motivate others. Ineffective motivators often feel like they are spinning their wheels or that they have lazy, unproductive, or unskilled teams.But by learning effective motivation techniques, any leader or manager can engage their teams or employees and work towards increased performance.One technique for motivating team membersis to utilize positive communication patterns. People are willing to work harder when they feel like they are valued, and one effective way to communicate value to your team is to communicate with and listen toeach team member. When you listen to your team, you show them that you value their contributions and opinions.Another effective motivation method is to exemplify the behaviors you want to see your team demonstrate. It sounds elementary, but improving the work ethic or performance of your team can sometimes be as simple as modeling it for them first.eval5. Leaders Exist at the Brink of Cutting-Edge TechNo matter what field or industry, leaders explore and experiment with cutting-edge strategies and technologies. Take the healthcare industry as an example: Two-thirds of health leaders are boosting data programsin their efforts to best utilize available technology.In virtually any industry, organizations at the front of the pack are often those that are best equipped with the latest technology. Leaders effectively seek methods of utilizing technological offerings and applying them in creative or cutting-edge ways.6. Managers Control RiskevalBeing an effective leader often requires questioning the status quo and being willing to take big risks. However, though risk-taking is sometimes advantageous and necessary, the nature of risk makes it a fickle friend and for as many occasions when taking a risk might be appropriate, there are just as many when lessening risk is critical.After a leader has set a visionary course, a manager’s detail- and process-oriented strengths can help make sure that initiatives and strategies align with strategic goals and are not overly risky. Without a manager’s input, an organization or effort may incur unnecessary risk and thus be crippled by gambles that don’t turn out in its favor.7. Leaders Prioritize Organizational CultureManagers are often ultimately responsible for production and performance. Their natural aptitudes lend themselves to building effective processes. Because of this, their role within an organization does not always emphasize creating a strong organizational culture.It is often leaders that prioritize this aspect of the organization and help weave connection and mutual affinity amongst their team members. Leaders take pride in the work of organizational culture.Teams and organizations that have a strong sense of communitymaintain the highest chances of long-term productivity and achievement.evalWhen effectively balanced, the role that leaders and managers play within an organization complement each other and can provide the organization with the best chances of not only choosing a worthwhile vision but effectively turning that vision into reality.

Your March Madness Guide to the Interview Process

Your March Madness Guide to the Interview Process 28 Flares 28 Flares Tom Gimbel is the President and CEO of  LaSalle Network,  a Chicago-based staffing firm. Founded in 1998, LaSalle has served thousands of clients and candidates, placing job seekers in temporary, temporary-to-permanent and permanent positions. LaSalle is the only Illinois-based staffing firm named on the Inc. 500/5000 list for the last seven consecutive years. Read Tom’s latest on his blog,  Past Five,  or tweet him  @TomGimbel. The parallels between the job hunt and athletics are endless and with March Madness around the corner, what better time to compare the two. Believe it or not, there are a lot of takeaways for job seekers. Use the following playbook to determine where you are in the job-search process and use it as a guide to advance throughout the interview process: Resume Screening Process â€" There are hundreds of applicants per job opening. To avoid having a resume screened out from the beginning, candidates should have relevant information on their resume.   In desperation to land any job, candidates list every single thing they’ve ever done. Instead, candidates should customize their resumes for each position and show exact reasons why the hiring manager should recruit them onto their teams. For example, for a bookkeeping position, a hiring manager doesn’t need to know that the applicant was a lifeguard throughout high school, but that they have accounts payable or accounts receivable experience. Cinderella Story â€" As March Madness has proven, the underdog can come out on top. As the idiom goes, hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. The same can be true for job searching and interviewing. Put yourself in a position to winresearch the company, leverage knowledge during the interview, describe how you can help the company achieve their goals. Don’t have the exact required skills? Take past experiences that may not be spelled out on your resume and walk the hiring manger through the similarities. It’s okay for a candidate to talk themselves up and make sure their strengths are heard loud and clear. The Final Four â€" When a candidate makes it to the final round of interviews, things get more intense, more competitive. This is their last chance to prove they deserve a spot on the team.   Come prepared with better questions, more knowledge of the industry, leverage information from the phone screen or first interview to prepare a presentation on how you can help the company achieve their goals.   Show stats. Quantitative achievements are more impressive than generalizations. Don’t be afraid to toot your own hornin a modest way. Hold nothing back. If you want the position, say so. Don’t forget references will be contacted, so ensure they are prepared in case the hiring manager calls never list anyone without getting their permission first. On the Bubble â€" When waiting for feedback, the follow-up is a candidate’s chance to stand out.  Send a handwritten thank you letter reiterating that you want the position, and taking what was learned about the company during the interview and explaining how you can help. If hiring managers asked for supplementary materials, be sure to provide that, too. When it feels like the hiring manager may have forgotten about you, be patient! Empathy is key. Understand that they have other priorities. If there’s no feedback after the designated timeline they gave you, follow up with a call or email. The Cut â€" If cut from the process, don’t get frustrated, and never give up. Some of the best athletes faced adversity and rejection along their way to becoming greatheck, Michael Jordan was cut from his high school team! Use the setback as an opportunity to re-evaluate and reflect. Ask the hiring manager for candid feedback on what you were missing sometime s it’s something you can learn fromâ€" i.e. dressing too casually, talking too much, etc. The Champ â€" A new hire can’t get arrogant that they’ve won. This is when the game really starts. Be the first one in the office and the last one out. Be thirsty for knowledge… hungry to grow… be passionate, competitive and excited.

Career Corner For College Grads How to Set Up an Informational Interview Step 3 - Hallie Crawford

Career Corner For College Grads How to Set Up an Informational Interview Step 3 Thinking that youd like to set up an informational interview in your chosen field? Good for you. An informational interview is not like a typical interview; in this case, there is no want ad to answer and no open position to fill. Its simply a way to make contact with someone who works at a company that interests you. Its a method of getting your name out there while learning more about careers in your industry. Last week, we discussed Step 1 (How to get the informational interview ball rolling) and Step 2 (Prepare in advance). Heres the last step: Step 3 Make initial contact. When you feel ready to make contact, try sending an email first so theyre not caught off guard by a random phone call. If you cant locate their email address, then the call is okay. Present yourself professionally; tell them something like, My name is so-and-so and Im interested in learning more about (X type of) careers at your firm. Id love it if we could set up a time to talk. Of course, it helps to draft a couple of practice emails or do a few test-runs of your phone message before sending it out there. For more information on informational interviews and other tips for your career search, check out my free career articles page right here. Career Seekers Coach