Developing your professional image

1. Market You
Developing your professional image.

2. Handouts
• SBTDC Required Forms
• Registration
• Satisfaction Survey
• Presentation Slides
• Life Plan Template
• Business Model Your Canvas
• Action Verbs
• Resume Tips Quick Study
• URL for electronic materials
• SBTDC Office Brochure

3. Outline
• Professional image tips
• Deciding a career
• Looking for a job
• What if I lost my job
• Hands-on
• Create/update your LinkedIn profile
• Create/update your Rapportive profile
• Create/update your About.me profile

4. Email Address
• Create and use your personal email address for electronic correspondence
• Create an email address with your first and last name
• Do NOT use an unprofessional email address such as princess88@gmail.com.
• Gmail allows you to add “+” to track where messages originate.
YourName+website@gmail.com

5. Business Cards
• Name
• List your expertise (make your tagline your skillset)
Example: Business Development Specialist
• Contact information – exercise caution with people you don’t know (use a PO Box)
• Phone number – Google Voice protects your real mobile number
• Email – professional email with first and last name
• QR code – ScanLife.com (personal free account grants three free QR codes)
• Print cards – variety of templates available and can design online
• The UPS Store: http://www.upsstoreprint.com
• Vistaprint: http://www.vistaprint.com
• Moo: http://us.moo.com

6. Professional Headshot
• Use a professional
• Wear proper clothing that does not distract
• Comfortable, wrinkle free
• solid (darker) colors with dimension
• flattering neckline
• long sleeves
• no flashy or loud accessories
• Look natural and relaxed (no glamour shots)
• Focus on the eyes (literally, eyes need to be perfectly in focus—no blur)
• Have good lighting, avoid shadows
• Use powder to control shine

7. Dress to Impress
• Image matters – build your personal brand
• Look the part (not where you are, but where you want to be)
• Associations reflect reputation; surround yourself with the right people
• Professional but comfortable cloths
• Tailored not baggy
• Avoid trendy/seasonal apparel that dates you
• Lightweight materials (may sweat under bright lights)
• Keep suits buttoned to avoid showing extra pounds
• Closed-toe shoes (clean/polished)
• Personal grooming
• Television/Video Interviews
• Wear solid colors; avoid black, red and white if on television
• Avoid distractions (ruffles, low necklines); lapel for microphone clip
• Wear simple jewelry (nothing light catching or noise-making)
• Subtle makeup; avoid gloss (for baldness, apply powder to prevent glare)
• Smile

8. Nurture Your Network
• Who do you most respect? Ask them to be your mentor. You need a mentor!
• Join professional organizations/associations with professionals in which you aspire
• Investigate yourself
• What public information is out there?
• Legal (i.e., traffic violation) – https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/base/welcome.do
• Credit – request copies from credit bureaus and know your credit score
• Social – what organizations/affiliations are you associated with and what is their reputation?
• Reputation – Perception can become reality

9. Endorsements
• Minimum of eight
• 360 view
• Direct report
• Manager
• Peer
• Review spelling

10. Personal Elevator Pitch
Your three-part elevator pitch communicating who you are and the value you offer.
PART ONE
(Option A)
Hi, my name is (your name). I specialize in (area of expertise) with a degree in (program of
study) from (education institution).
(Option B) Hi, my name is (your name). I specialize in (area of expertise) with (number) years of
(industry) experience.
PART TWO I am (specific skill, qualification, or experience that differentiate you from your competition)
and (example of how you used that skill to create success/results; numbers are best if
possible to use when stating results).
PART THREE I’m looking to (state your objective, aligning yourself with the position in which you are
interviewing) as I transition to (reason for making a change—why do you want to work for
this company or why is this or this is a better career fit).

11. Resume formatting from Fiver.com
Resume Tips
• Use qualitative data (numbers)
• Focus on accomplishments
• Use action verbs
• Consistency
• Legible
• Use symbols ($, %, #) to help “pop” out
• Save in PDF to avoid format distortion
• Hire a professional writer and/or editor
• Pepperdine http://seaver.pepperdine.edu/careercenter/alumni/findajob/resumes.htm
• Quintessential Careers http://www.quintcareers.com/resume_mistakes.html

12. Become an Expert
• Blog and Publish Your Work
• Develop Curriculum and Teach (online for a fee http://udemy.com)
• Offer Consulting Services; Register a DBA or LLC and formalize a business
• Seek our professional industry-recognized certifications
• Project Management Professional
• Certified Global Business Professional
• Join Industry Associations and Network
• Keep in touch with your contacts

13. Publish Online
• Blog.com
• Blogger.com
• CreateSpace.com
• Issuu.com
• Penzu.com
• Scribd.com
• SlideShare.com
• Squarespace.com
• Svbtle.com
• Tumblr.com
• Webs.com
• Weebly.com
• Wix.com
• WordPress.com

14. Or Simply Blog
WordPress.com
Blogger
Tumblr
SquareSpace
Google+
Medium
Hubpages
Joomla
Live Journal
Quora
Typepad
Weebly
Drupal
Squidoo
Postach.io
Facebook Notes
Svbtle
Sett
Ghost
Posthaven
Blog.com
Zoomshare
Xanga
Read descriptions about each one listed at http://www.dearblogger.org/blogger-or-wordpress-better.

15. About.me
• Biography webpage
• Provides contact information
• Customizable with personal image and colors
• Add links to blog, social media, work, past projects, etc.
• https://about.me

16. Protect Yourself
• Remember your are interviewing “them” as much as they are interviewing you
• Give location information but not specific address or use a PO Box or mail service
• Use Google Voice to redirect to your private cell or landline
• Use Google Maps to check out the location in advance of an on-site interview
• Don’t over share personal info (EEOC protects discrimination against race, sex,
pregnancy, religion, national origin, birthplace, age, disability, marital/family status)
• Verify the type of position (employee vs contractor; benefits)
• Study their business profile (review their annual report,
website, product catalog, ReferenceUSA profile, public
recognition/awards, etc.)

17. Rapportive
Control your profile! Don’t let it control you.
• Gmail add-on that profiles by user’s email address
• Shows their photo, location, job, company, LinkedIn profile,
shared connections, and other social media applications
• Edit your profile at https://rapportive.com

19. What Does the Internet Say About You?
• The big four: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn
• Others
• Tools for record removal:
Intelius.com
Acxiom.com
MyLife.com
ZabaSearch.com
Spoke.com
BeenVerified.com
PeekYou.com
USSearch.com
PeopleFinders.com
PeopleLookup.com
PeopleSmart.com
PrivateEye.com
WhitePages.com
USA-People-Search.com
Spokeo.com
PublicRecordsNow.com
DOBSearch.com
Radaris.com
Account Killer
Just Delete Me
Knowem
Abine
MyPrivacy® & ExecPrivacy
ReputationDefender®

20. Fair Credit Reporting Act
• Permissible Purpose
• Disclosure
• Authorization
• Certifications
• Adverse Action
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/pdf-0111-fair-credit-
reporting-act.pdf

21. LinkedIn
• Create profile
• Connect with colleagues
• Request endorsements
• Upload presentations to SlideShare and connect to LinkedIn to demonstrate
expertise and competence
Visual CV
• Online Resume + Project Portfolio
• https://www.visualcv.com

22. Deciding a Career?

23. Create a Life Plan
• Current Status
• Quality rating of my life
• Realities of my life - responsibilities, funds
available, expenses
• Things that make me happy
• Things that make me unhappy
• Ideal life
• Loves: what I really like doing
• Skills & capabilities: what I do well
• Track record: what I have experience doing
• Ideal work style
• Manifesto
• personal mission and values
• statement of purpose
• Key moves to get me where I want to go

25. Career Programs
US Department of Education – 16 Career Clusters -> Programs of Study
CCCCO – Curriculum Inventory
CCCCO – Taxonomy of Programs (TOP) codes
CCCCO Data Mart
Career Technical Education
CCC Curriculum Inventory
Secondary (CDE)
Postsecondary (CCCCO)
Statewide Career Pathways
CTE Online

26. Data & Statistics
NAICS –North American Industry Classification System
SOC – Standard Occupational Classification
CIP – Classification of Instructional Programs
IPEDS – Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
OVAE – Office of Vocational and Adult Education

27. Labor Market Data
O*Net – Career Guides
Employment Development Department – LMI
Centers of Excellence
Student Success
Score card
Salary Surfer
Gainful employment
Common Metrics / Launchboard

28. Looking for a job?

29. Browse employer directories
• Missouri Employer Directory
http://www.missourieconomy.org/Employers/default.aspx

31. Contact a Staffing Agency or an
Executive Search Firm
• Aerotek
• Addecco
• Kelly Services
• Manpower
• Penmac
• Robert Half
• Spherion
• Spherion
• Spencer Stuart
• Heidrick & Struggles
• Keystone Partnerships
• AdamsGabbert
• Boyden
• N2Growth
• Egon Zehnder
• Parker
• Korn Ferry International

32. Browse Job Boards
• Visit http://indeed.com or an industry-specific job board
Example: Tyler Search specializes in logistics jobs (known industry leader)
• Research hiring firms
• Research growing industries
• Research types of positions available
• Go to your LinkedIn profile to identify any personal connections in your network at
the firm(s) of interest – a personal introduction is always best
• Indeed also provides salary data

33. Independent Contractors
• Get an EIN number (more professional/competitive than using your Social Security
number)
• Apply for a D-U-N-S (Data Universal Numbering System) number to establish credit
• Reputation is vital for survival (monitor tweets, reviews); request satisfaction
statements from happy clients
• Bad reviews are opportunities to demonstrate excellent customer service
• Manage expectations to keep clients satisfied
• Document scope of work, amount to be paid, payment terms, Etc.
• Advisable to seek legal counsel; never sign a document without thorough review

34. Soft Skills - Vital to Career Success
• Timeliness
• Professional Dress
• Polite and Respectful of Others
• Communication Skills
• Writing and email
• Phone etiquette & conducting conference calls
• Professional Behavior
• Positive Attitude
• Confidence
• Motivation

35. Attitude – Be Likable
• Be Positive and Avoid Negativity (only causes harm to you!)
• Eat healthy
• Exercise
• Be Flexible
• Consider new avenues
• Be open to growth
• Understand Social Context
• Non-verbal communication
• Don’t overlook the unwritten rules
• Do not quit
• You need to officially be laid-off
to qualify for benefits
• Seek out solutions
• Concern yourself with what YOU can control

36. What if I lost my job?

37. Layoff Checklist
• Stay calm, be gracious with colleagues (keep anger,
feelings of unfairness to yourself), ask questions
politely, and stay positive
• Write down what is being said to you; it may all
appear to be a blur later and you may need it
• Wait to sign any severance package; do not
negotiate under duress
• Do not quit until your official last day (you want to
remain eligible for unemployment benefits)
• Save your contacts (export files from Outlook)
• Negotiate your severance and your official exit story
(what they share publicly)
• Request a layoff letter
• Get your last paycheck
• Get your COBRA information
• Request Recommendations
• Devise a narrative that portrays your layoff as best
possible
• Budget – review your finances and reduce all
unnecessary risk
• Inventory your accomplishments and skills
• Create or update your life plan
• Contact your student loans for deferment
• Update your resume and LinkedIn profile
• Let your network know you are looking for a job
• Ask your manager or a colleague for help in finding
a new job
• Schedule an appointment at the Career Center
• Apply for unemployment
• Consult an attorney if you feel it was wrongful
termination due to discrimination

38. South Central Career Center
• Schedule an appointment with the Career Center
Missouri Career Center / South Central Workforce Investment Board
Contact: Kyle Mahan, Workforce Development Supervisor
Department of Economic Development, Division of Workforce Development
3417 Division Drive, Suite 1, West Plains, MO 65775
Phone: 417-256-3158
Email: Kyle.Mahan@ded.mo.gov
• Take the ACT WorkKeys® job skill assessment test
• Obtain your National Career Readiness Certificate
• Practice Sample Questions at http://www.act.org/workkeys/assess/sample.html
• Create an account at http://jobs.mo.gov
• Post your resume
• Apply for jobs
• Check your messages for employment matches

39. Control Your Finances
• Get the Facts
• Visit Your Missouri Career Center / Workforce Investment Board
• Visit Consumer Credit Counseling Services
• Talk with your creditors and explore deferment and refinance options
• Sign up for educational workshops and training
• Get Organized and Prioritize
• Create a Budget
• Separate “Need to Have” from “Nice to Have”
• Track your spending habits
• Utilize personal finance software like mint.com
• Pay off highest interest debts first
• Don’t wait until disaster strikes
• Beware of Scammers
• More vulnerable time and easier to manipulate

40. Short-term Employment Solutions
• Teach what you know
Assess your skills and create a course to help educate others. Udemy
(https://www.udemy.com) allows you to charge a fee, they help with marketing, and
you can easily upload your course content and begin teaching online. Think about
how your skills might be applicable to other industries.
• Consulting Services
Start your own business and offer private consulting services; contact SBTDC
(http://wp.missouristate.edu/ucp/SmallBusiness.htm) for a free appointment to get
started.
• Contact a Staffing Agency for Part-time (or Temp-to-Hire) Employment

41. Online Teaching & Training Options
Academic Earth
Aprendamos
Berkeley Webcasts
Carnegie Mellon
CK-12
Class Central
Codecademy
Code School
Coursera
Course Hero
Craftsy
CreativeLIVE
DigitalChalk
edspire
Eduarrow
EdX
EveryClass
Floqq
General Assembly
NPTEL
IncrediCampus
iTunesU
Iversity
Kahn Academy
Knollop
Kwiksta
Learn to Be
Learning from Data
Litmos
Lynda.com
My Open Campus
MIT OpenCourseWare
My Open Courses
Mytestbuddy
NalandaU
NovoED
OpenLearn
OpenSesame
OpenStudy
Open2Study
Open Yale Courses
P2PU
Pathwright
Peer to Peer University
Ruzuku
Saylor
Sensei (WordPress Plugin)
Skillshare
Stanford Engineering
Everywhere
Stanford OpenClassroom
Supply Chain Brain
TED-Ed
Treehouse
Udacity
Udemy
Veduca
VideoLectures.net
Wikiversity
YouTube EDU

42. Find Zen
• Stay positive
• Eat healthy
• Exercise
• Meditate and breathe
• Less is more
• Do one thing at a time
• Space yourself
• Be deliberate
• Be complete
• Devote time to what matters