Does your BIO make you feel miserable?

So much so, that you just want to scream and shout “Help!!!! I need a professional BIO.  This personal introduction thing is so complicated! Right? I mean do you even need an introduction to let someone know who you are? What you do? Hey I’m over here! Please pay attention to me.  I really need to get notice. Is that even necessary?

Well…….. it is, considering the way in which we now communicate in this digital and social age.  If anything you need to adapt your career-strategy to the current changes in 2013  perhaps even 2014 and 2015. Your old Job-hunting methods has to go. If you don’t believe me read and watch “NO Career strategy, No Pants”  You should never get tired of updating or adapting to new skills. We only stop learning when we’re dead.

So at my last cv workshop the biggest stumbling blocks the attendees had was written Bio Aka( Personal statement, Personal Profile Bio for Resume’s and online BIO.

So let me show you a method that has worked for me from my 12 years experience and 2 years learning more on Social media  How to write your biography.

So Let us write a Bio like a pro?

If  your CV is your accessory, your personal profile is your introduction. Everybody knows that a bad introduction leaves a lasting impression just as a good one.

This is where a lot of people tend to fail and tend to be very weak at.

The purpose of a Bio- make a lasting impression so tell a story. Within the first 4 to 5 sentences grab the reader’s attention because that shows personality

Two kinds of Bio- long and short -

Short Bio- 4-5 sentences in your personal profile, linked’ in, Facebook, or 140 characters on your twitter

Long Bio - can be just under 400-500 words combines your achievements, describe your own skills, abilities and achievements.

What should a Bio have

Always be straight to the point no waffling- no fancy words without backing it up

1. Years and experience demonstrating credibility

2. List where your strength lies or expertise 1/2 is good- this is the area where your CV is going to focus on.

3. Speak in the third person

4. What industry you want to work and what industry you’ve worked in the past

5. What it is that you want?

6. Demonstrate your previous role and application of the role. E.g. who you have worked with, names, companies, areas, countries.

7. Give examples. Who have you worked with? E.g. women entrepreneurs, children to give a taste of what you will talk about in your key skills.

8. Also demonstrate achievement

So these are my tips on how to write a Professional BIO.  And now by popular demand I’ve designed an online program where you can learn:

more on BIO and Career- strategy.

It starts next week Wed 16thMay.  A 5 weeks program to help  you “Find a job that really works for you” and Never run out of job option. It’s worth an exclusive £25 but is totally FREE. Hooray! If you register  between now and Wed 16th you’ll get a free pass. REGISTER HERE

Do you have any techniques that you’ve used in the past that has got you noticed by the right employer?

Otherwise check out my About Me Bio    , leave a comment and your thoughts on Professional Bios.

Your fear is taking the liberties out of you. It’s time to kick butt. No one lets a total stranger in their house change or rearrange their interior but we do it all the time. By allowing our fear to consume us.

Does your fear have the best of you? Are you sometimes too afraid that you will make yourself look like a fool? Maybe your idea isn’t that grand. Maybe you won’t get that opportunity, that  job, or meet that special person but if you keep waiting and hoping something will just pop out of the blue. You’ll be waiting a looooong time.

Are you suffering from:

1. I hope something will happen
2. I’ll wait for something to happen
3. I’ll do it tomorrow

Hope without action is  pretty much dead.

The things that make us fear ,

Too afraid to get rejected?

Is fear as scary as we make it believe that it is

Fear increases the cortisol level because it’s stress-related

Thinking about it doesn’t help it just makes it work?

Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is also not going to work.

Stop hiding, stop making excuses or  you could lose your future opportunities.

It happens to me all the time. Eventually after too much thinking and not enough doing I find myself with less and less options. Which things do you do to sabotage your options, please comment below.

Campaigning your career image – learn ways to sell yourself with class.

If you’ve been watching the super bowl, raving about Beyonce’s  O2 concert, or Oscars.  Chances are? You’ve been promoting someone else’s brand. You’ve told your whole family and friends, even got the shoes and now you’ll probably never get any tickets. And if you don’t like them, and they annoy you, then tough.

The truth is, you’ve probably already run thousands of marketing campaign for other people, in your lifetime and you don’t know it. But you have this belief that you don’t know how to sell yourself with class and you have no game-plan in your campaign.

Just words- So get over it

So you don’t like selling?……… That’s okay in this context we are dropping the term selling and embracing the word Campaign.
Just note that if you can’t talk about yourself to other people? How do you expect them to buy your message or help you to be in front of the opportunity you seek?
Campaigning in Macmillan dictionary- means a series of action intended to produce social/political  change. So let’s find a campaign.

Please don’t allow the word selling to phase you. We can all agree that it is more natural to talk about something or someone else for days but very unnatural to talk about ourselves.

What’s your cause?

Every campaign has a cause and therefore the cause creates the Brand or Identity.
Most times we seem to campaign about everyone’s cause but not our own
so it’s time to find your why the reason you do what you do. Because the WHY is everything.

Exercise on how to best describe yourself -

Name 1 product you love and use 3 things to describe that product you love.
For me: its Belvita biscuits – And I love them.

Now all you need to do is apply that to yourself.
Let’s say you’re trying to get the attention of a prospective contact that’s going to get you in your ideal career.
What 3 terms would you use? Now I want you to use similar terms to describe yourself?
Now when you talked about that brand that you love, there was so much passion, love, excitement and that’s what draws people.

Got it!? Now what 3 terms did you use?

How what your friends say about you could help you find your why?
If you still can’t talk about yourself, ask two friends to give you 5 terms that best describe you. Absorb them, remember them, repeat them and digest them. Then tweak them and add them to what you already know. If not use them for a base to start with. The world needs to hear that message and that’s what matters the most.

Time to Dig-deep –

If you know all these wonderful things about yourself, why are you not campaigning enough for your cause?
Why is it so hard to campaign for yourself and talk about you more positively? As we said earlier, it’s easy to talk about something else, when really you want to talk about yourself and let the whole world know what a talented individual you are.

Did you know that every time you meet someone for the first time you are sending a message about who you are? Directly or indirectly?

So what stops you from Campaigning-YOU? Put your comments below and tell me what things you have done that has sabotaged your own campaign.

Tweet - Campaigning yourself should be as easy as 123

If you want to know more on the subject of campaigning for your career path, and feel you may need assistance why not direct message me for a free consultation.

I lovvvve dresses, and I put my hand up to having days with wardrobe malfunction. Choosing a dress, is like choosing a career path, or any other life-path. I was minding my own business last week, when someone asked me this question.” I need to move forward with my career but I don’t know where to start?“I can soooooo relate to that! If I think of how many dresses I have seating in my closet I am embarrassed to show you my CV.  So let’s just say that in this context Dress = Career.

Do you have one of those days when you can’t choose between the polka dot dress and the blue dress?
Why does making a decision have to be so complicated? Or does it? Does it ever feel like a math puzzle? Does it have to be hard, painful or confusing? I think we make way……….. more fuss than there is to make, about our career path. A little bit like choosing a dress on certain days.
Just do it already!
Did you know that wondering and thinking about a decision is actually more stressful than making it? Hours of personal torment, which simply could have been avoided by taking some action.
Everyone you know (including yourself), has a point of crescendo,”their change-curve”! This point means they’ve grown. Growing is good.

So which part of the change curve do you find yourself in right now?

What can you do when that happens? So let’s break it down for you:

1.     Be honest with yourself- Acknowledge it! Best way to start

So let’s face it, you’ve outgrown your job role or even the current relationship you’re in. Er yeah! What you going to do about it? Don’t let denial get the best of you.

Whether you’re stuck, unsure and sometimes completely aware of the situation, it’s time to move.

2.       Dig Deep – Accepting

Assess the situation. Are all the arrows pointing in the direction you’re afraid to look? Some very clear indicators; you’re unhappy, depressed or complacent. Alarm bells! Your emotions are trying to say something. Hhmmm I wonder what?

3.   Do more of this and less of that – exploring, seeing possibilities

Trying new activity may help, buried hobbies or ambitions which you have locked in your volt. Just treading the waters to start with and less procrastination please.

4.   ACTION!- It’s time to be like Action man. As I said earlier this year. Forget about the new-year resolution and just do it! Not moving could make you stale and affect other areas of life. And we all know what happens when food goes stale. Don’t be like a used by date

The struggle of not choosing - could cost you time, money, numerous headaches and your sanity. Personally I do not want to repeat this again.  Life is not a dress-rehearsal so what are you going to wear today? And most importantly what’s your formula? If you have one I’d like to hear it. Please comment below.

Sylvie runs a Natural Hair hair Market place with her sister Stephanie called the Woollen Head Company. Check in next week for part two of her amazing story. You can find her here  The Wollen Head company.

I work full time. I study Part time and I have started a part time business. And until recently nothing made sense but to own all my own work.

Sometimes you have these  moments that come unexpectedly in life.  Mine, was one Sunday afternoon, it was extremely warm. Me and a mate  were heading out to eat on Kings road, London.  Everyone was jolly, sipping wine and showing more skin that an organic chicken.  Inspired by an American socialite, I decided to rock a long purple skirt, a vintage Levi’s cut-up shirt and  my natural do! Which made me look quite sophisticated!

After taking fabulous snaps of London, discussing future plans, we decided to find a delicious nut-free a la carte place to eat.

We finally sat in an aesthetically pleasing looking restaurant.  It’s was a shame unfortunately because what looked great on the outside was not all it was meant to be on the inside.  We were seated immediately,  we ordered our food but then the waiter returned without my dish as it was no longer available on the menu.  He tempted us with the desert menu which he re-assured us, was completely nut-free. This time it was not the waiter’s fault, my eyes were bigger than my stomach.

My wake up call -  an  allergic reaction! Nearly choking to death, at the top of the stairs, of this amazing looking restaurant and finaly ending up in hospital.

During this reaction, there was a split second when I thought “What if  that was my last breath? I haven’t pursued my lifelong dream?” Having a international jewellery label and seeing a massive crowd wear it around the world!

Up until that very point  I was still procrastinating, I mean everything could wait, “oh I’ll do it tomorrow”, “it’s not that important”,” it’s not perfect”,” it can wait”, you name it I have used every excuse on the book. I honestly felt like I had all the time in the world!

Boy,  did I realise “time waits for no man!” I re-evaluated everything.  If I wanted this dream to happen, this unique handmade jewellery business, then I had to do it,  and do it Now!  I work full time, I study part time and I have started a business. Whatever doubts I had about myself, I had to overcome. If it meant reading a positive statement, talking or listening to positive people and emulating others who’ve made it. Entrepreneur Richard Branson has said this a number of times :” If it’s not broken don’t try and fix it!”. And damn it! It’s true. Only when you are established can you do things as you please! So I’m launching next week, watch me!

My advice for being your own boss - get rid of any negative people around you.  As negative people, are usually people who are too weak to follow their own dreams and will always find a way to discourage yours.  Oh! But always ask for help, you’ll be amazed at how many people want to help you along the way. My plan for the future is that my business KrischiVintage or ( as I like to call it “vintage in a cup“) becomes full time. That is my career transition and believe me, you will all be wearing it! Happy people, happy thoughts!

Kris CHI-

Kris  Boakye is a full time employment adviser who works part-time as creator and founder of KrisChiVintage handmade jewellery.  Her online Boutique is live on ASOS Marketplace Boutique . You can also connect with Kris on twitter @Krisxchi and  facebook.  Her website http://krisxchivintage.mysupadupa.com  launches next week.

If you are inspired by her story or a hopeless jewellery fanatic, then support this inspirational lady by leaving her a comment and RT to other accessory fanatics!

I’m so excited to be speaking at the Tedx squaremile, ”Future of Work”

That I would like to take one person with me
on the 27th of October,

Here’s what you do…………..

Write a press release for whathejobisthis with a national press publication

“How a small entrepreneur  won a speaking competition

with JCI and TEDX“. Read here.

Who can do this?

• Anyone can enter the competition (min age 18)
  

• Journalist- Pr agencies- Students- Freelancers (anyone else not mentioned)
• You can write the press-release yourself

What you need to enter?

• Subscribe to our website for the results
• Complete our Get in touch form
• Quoting TEDx Competition
• Your full name and publication you know
• a contact with one national press newspaper or magazine
• Use whathejobisthis content to write a press release
• Suggest to us  your choosen title
• Must be available Sat 27th October 11.15-6.45pm
• Like our post and share with your friends that you are entering this competition.

Remember to RT  using the hashtag #tedxtalk #competition

Hurry, the word is spreading fast!

Term and condition - Must be min 18 to join. The winner will be announced on  twitter @whathejobithis with links to their work on the 21st October 6pm. Winner will also receive ticket via direct e-mail. Decision will be made under the sole discretion of the Whathejobisthis team -You must be available and  in London on the 27th of October or you will forfeit the ticket. There’s only one ticket available and it’s worth £50. This is an all day event Sponsored by JCI London at the Mermaid theatre London.

More on JCI and TED

JCI -  is Junior Chamber International (JCI) and its a global network for young people in their 20s and 30s which provide development opportunities that empower young people to create positive change.

TED is a non-profit organisation, founded in 1984 devoted to Ideas worth Spreading. Their video site has more than more than 50 million views worldwide.
TED- Technology, Entertainment and Design. Ted has a variety of speakers, including world renown expert leaders and entrepreneur on their stage.

Wed 26^th, I entered a speaking competition with JCI, a personal development network, for those who are young at heart.  I only found out at the last minute and spent 4 days rehearsing.

There were originally 13 speakers for the main Tedx conference. Knowing that there was only one winning spot left to complete the 13, I thought it’ll be better to be over-prepared than under-prepared.  After 11 speakers and four judges, the results were given; two awesome entrepreneurs Shane and Will were given the spotlight. I didn’t win on the night but my name was mentioned a few times by the judges. I can only imagine it was a difficult choice for them.

Yes I wore my superman T-shirt – the judges loved it

Hang- on! This is where it gets interesting.  I always say to people follow your gut instinct because it leads to unknown opportunities beyond your thinking.  Four days later, the call came in the afternoon from the Speaker Liaison officer at JCI “Mathy we’ve just made another 15^th spot and we would like you to speak at the TEDXsquaremile “.

I screamed louder than if I’d met Richard Branson! So you are now looking at number 15, Speaker of the Future of Work.

If you want to know what “The Future of Work” means to me check out my video and come and support me. On the 27^th of October 2012. I’m making History

The best thing about career transition is the transformation of your image. I have to say it’s never that obvious and it often looks like nothing is happening  during this period of growth. Transitioning can be a little painful but this is what I recommend.

1. Assess yourself: start looking at your life experiences differently.
2. Your whole life is like a book, imagine you are writing one (great material for cv)
3. Brand yourself. Make a name for who you are and make an impression (Branding  only means to leave a Mark or a burn on something)
4. Ask yourself what kind of Mark or impression do I want to leave in the world? What do I want people to know me for? Because people will remember you for your good and bad deeds.
5. Then use all of the goodness from your life, work, family….to picture what you want people to know you as, on your cv (every experience counts)
6. Your CV is your accessory.  A good accessory should leave people thinking ” Yes, that’s the lady in the red hat” “The man with a Colgate smile”.
7. People remember you for those things and that’s the impression your cv should have.

So let me sum it up Career transition= Helps you leave a Mark this world needs.

Branding = makes an impression on the kind of person you are.

CV = tells a story of everything you’ve ever done (even if you think you’ve done nothing)

Accessories = a tool that compliments you

If your cv doesn’t do any of these, then come and have fun with me I’ll be delivering this knowledge and expertise alongside  the CVworkshops. If you like this post share it with your friends. And, can I get an  RT please.

It’s Olympics season in London and there’s a new cool and fashionable word in town and it’s called volunteering. Yes, it’s amazing that volunteering has now become the sexiest trend. In fact, it’s the sexiest word on earth this season.  You’ll see them wear a colourful pink blazer or waistcoat, with these massive tags over the neck like a rap artist flaunting their bling, bling. It’s loud, colourful and quite proud.  Please tell me you’ve seen them!? You’ll find them at every station.
So what’s the big whoop-ha about it!? I ask myself that same question as past experience has taught me that people don’t like volunteering in general. Why? Because it’s not paid work of course. And some say why do it? If all it is, is free labour?

Is the Olympics2012 volunteering really helping people to become more employable or is it just an excuse to take advantage of the general public?

Finding the sexy in volunteering

This week I’ve been trying to figure out what’s making everyone else go wild about volunteering. It’s certainly not those free 6 week iPod/iPad loans or paid travel pass, which I have heard some volunteers and Olympics staff were being handed. I mean that’s all nice on the outside but temporary.

What Volunteering has done for me
I know what volunteering can do. Having received most of my previous jobs through one element of volunteering, I know that:

1. In order to receive, you must first give or sow into something.
2. You need to have a cause, motive, reason or interest.
3. You need to be passionate.
4. You need to enjoy what you do.
5. You shouldn’t give your time if your motivation is not genuine.
6. Most entrepreneurs give 10-18 months of their lives to get noticed in their field.
7. I’ve given 10 months of my time unpaid and still work unpaid on some projects.
8. Most internships with major companies are unpaid.
9. You should have faith in your cause.
10. If you can do this for free, you can do it for the rest of your life, paid.

 “If you build it, it will come”. Field of dreams

Me and Natasha – Greenwich volunteer

I wanted to find out about the intangible benefits of volunteering according to the Olympics as there is such a misconception. Is it really possible to add to your career-transition? I’m also conscious of my own scepticisms of how our beautiful capital is taking advantage of members of the public. Also, if I could be proven wrong with my past experience, I would have learned something completely new. In order to do that, I’ve enrolled in a 14 day course titled “Finding the sexy in volunteering”. I will be having regular discussions on both Twitter and Facebook and hopefully at the end of this series, with my power of persuasion, I will do a video on various volunteer schemes using the general public.
You can join the discussion on Twitter and Facebook by @whathejobisthis or facebook/whathejobisthis.com and tagging #volunteers #olympics2012.