By CAREEREALISM-Approved Expert, Andria Corso

One of the key steps to having impactful talent management and development solutions is to ensure the organizational talent is aware of career development opportunities. In addition, it is vital company leaders are aware of the employee’s individual career aspirations. This can be accomplished through a Career Aspiration discussion. This is a formal and focused conversation that occurs between a leader and an employee and centers on the employee’s career aspirations as well as the potential growth that is available for that employee within the organization. In order to make this conversation most productive and impactful, there are some key questions that leaders should ask the employee as well as ask themselves.

To prepare for the conversation, leaders should first pose the following questions to themselves and be prepared to share this information with the employee during the conversation.

1. What do I see as this person’s ultimate potential?

The response should focus on the highest level that you, the leader, believes the employee can reach inside the company and the indicators (drive, willingness, performance) you have seen which demonstrate the employee can get there.

2. What do I think the employee needs to do to get there?

This response should focus on the additional training (perhaps leadership training or specific skills training) or development (maybe an expanded leadership role or a role in a different function inside the company) the employee needs to advance to their ultimate potential.

3. What do I feel are the employee’s key strengths?

This answer should highlight the strengths that the employee should continue to leverage throughout their career.

4. What do I know are this employee’s immediate key developmental needs?

This response is about the short-term development goals as opposed to what was referred to in question two. This might be something such as “needs additional senior level exposure” so others inside the company get to know this individual, or “needs presentation skills training in the next 12 months.”

5. What do I see as the employee’s next assignment?

The response should focus on a realistic next assignment for the employee and the timing of when it could happen.

The conversation with the employee should be conducted during an uninterrupted time period. It is important for the conversation to be interactive so, as leaders pose questions to their employees they also refer to their own self-questions and interject their thoughts throughout the discussion. The following questions recommended questions to ask employees during the discussion:

Questions for employee:

1. What are your short-term career aspirations? (i.e., next assignment: 2-5 yrs)
2. What are your longer-term career aspirations? (i.e., ultimate career goal or level of position)
3. Do you know what it takes to get there?
4. Are you willing to do what it takes to reach that position?
5. What do you feel are your key strengths?
6. What do your feel are your key development areas?
7. What steps and actions are you willing to take in the next 12 months to grow in these areas?
8. What would you like to do as a next assignment?

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These conversations should be documented and conducted on an annual basis, at a minimum. Some leaders conduct them with employees every six months, which is also effective however, annually is the minimum recommendation. Conducting these discussions is a vital step in ensuring that organizations have impactful talent management and development practices in place.

Career aspiration discussions not only let employees know where they stand, but gives them an opportunity to provide input on their development. Additionally, these types of discussions ensure that leaders are differentiating their resources and appropriately developing employees who have the strongest desire and potential to reach the most senior level positions in the company. It also enables the appropriate development of those who prefer not to excel to the highest levels but are the true technical subject matter experts. Developing the talent in a differentiated manner gives companies the best return on their training dollar.

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CAREEREALISM Expert, Andria Corso is a career and leadership development coach and Strategic HR consultant with areas of expertise in career and leadership development and executive coaching. Andria has over 15 years of HR leadership experience insider Fortune 100 companies, including 11 years inside Lockheed Martin Corporation. Andria specifically works with clients on career transitions, career advancement & career development so they can reach their highest potential. She is the author of “From Gatekeeper to Trusted Advisor: Success Strategies for Today’s HR Professional.”

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By CAREEREALISM-Approved Expert, Jessica Holbrook Hernandez

If you’re visiting this Web site, you understand the importance of having a polished looking resume to use during your job search. Whereas having a marketable resume is extremely important, a fantastic resume by itself won’t get you a job. So, what do you do with your resume now that it has been tweaked (and proofread three times) and is ready for distribution?

Send it to your references

It’s really helpful to give your references something to reference while they’re recommending you. It also helps jog a person’s memory about any previous jobs you may have discussed with them in the past.

Carry it around with you

Whenever you walk into a job fair, networking event, or even lunch with a colleague, you should have several printed copies of your resume with you. Think about how often the subject of work comes up, and someone ends up saying, “Send me your resume and I’ll see what I can do.” Giving them a paper copy right then and there emphasizes your urgency and speaks well of your preparation. Just be sure to follow up with an electronic version that they can forward to their connections.

Post it online

It’s a tedious task, but uploading your resume to job boards like CareerBuilder and specific company Web sites in advance will save you time when you see a specific job for which you’d like to apply. Plus it gets you into that company’s database, where you may then be searchable to their hiring managers. If you don’t want to spend hours uploading it yourself check out resume distribution services.

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Use it to build your brand

Having a copy of your polished resume in front of you as you create or update your LinkedIn profile, Google profile, Twitter page, or any other social media presence will help ensure you’re conveying a consistent message. That’s the way to build a personal brand!

A rock-solid resume is essential to any successful job search. If you work your resume, it will work for you!

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CAREEREALISM Expert, Jessica Holbrook Hernandez is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, speaker and President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast. She creates high-impact, best-in-class, resumes and cover letters that transform job searches into interviews and ultimately job offers. For more information about professional resume writing or to read more career and job search related articles visit www.greatresumesfast.com or call 1.800.991.5187. Follow her on Twitter and LinkedIn.

CAREEREALISM.com provides the best career advice from proven career experts on a daily basis. How do you find a job today? You get career and job search help from us! Sign-up today to get our updates daily.

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Name:

What’s your favorite part about being a CAREEREALISM-Approved Expert?
As more people set out to find their dream jobs, it’s exciting to be able to reach out and educate them on the top-ROI strategies for finding the right position—and being discovered by the right employer. I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned as a recruiter about job search and helping professionals tap into a wealth of new resume, job search, and social media trends.

Articles written by this expert:

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c-twip (see-twip)
noun
1. Career advice rendered from the social media platform of Twitter.

Top C-Twips on @CAREEREALISM:

Perfect Your Business Handshake
Article by: @MonsterCareers

The Words All Professional Resume Writers Hate to Hear
Article by: @louise_fletcher

Top 10 Tips for College Grads and the Unemployed
Article by: @CoachKellyOlin

The articles above were submitted to us via our Twitter account, @CAREEREALISM. We receive many suggestions each day and found these three to be some of the best. These articles, and many others, can also be found on our Twitter feed under the hashtag, #CareerTwips. Click here to learn how you can share career advice and get recognized for it!

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By CAREEREALISM-Approved Expert, Ilona Vanderwoude

There’s something I need to get off my chest and that’s how puzzled I am seeing some people making decisions based on “how it looks on their resume.”

Do you do this?

To me, that’s life imitating art. Or something warped like that.

You may be surprised to hear me say this – as the resume expert – but come on folks! Do you really want to relinquish that much power to your resume?

What I see happening is people making career decisions – sometimes life decisions – primarily based on how it will look on their resume.

Of course, there may be situations where you don’t have a big preference for the options you’re considering, and if one of them looks a lot better on your resume, then it could make sense.

But this living for your resume mentality is sad.

Here’s the thing: there probably is a reason you are driven to do something you think is not going to look very good on your resume. It may be you want to do something completely different, or take a sabbatical, or take a step back, or a few months off…

So do it!

The feelings and intuition and passion that guide us on our paths in life are hard enough for most of us to follow anyway. You don’t need another self-imposed, made-up reason why you can’t (read: won’t).

Because you know what? There are plenty of people in great careers at great companies with not-so-perfect resumes. And there are people with these so-called “perfect resumes” sitting at home being unemployed right now.

It doesn’t matter!

Who knows? During your sabbatical or your trip around the world, you could end up with inspiration to start your own business, meet your future spouse, or realize you want to switch careers altogether.

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I’m not trivializing the role of the resume here. I’ve yet to meet someone who moved from one job (or career) to the next without having to produce a resume. And it’s true hiring folks frown upon large employment gaps and stuff. So yes, it may be more challenging for you to create a strong resume next time around.

However, your resume is just one way of introducing yourself to an employer. There is so much more to you and how you present yourself. My advice is to hire a resume pro for any kind of challenging background anyway.

But for crying out loud…don’t put off life out of fear for the “almighty resume!”

If you’ve got an interesting story to tell and you know what sets you apart, and if you can market and present yourself; “perfect resumes” be damned!

Resume schmesume.

Okay?

Now, I want to know…are you guilty of “that won’t look good on my resume” talk? What have you NOT done out of fear it would “ruin” your resume? Tell me! And I’ll tell you whether you could revitalize that old dream or side step without fear from the resume gods.

Did you find this article interesting? You can read more articles by this expert here. Also, check out all of our free webinars!

CAREEREALISM Expert, Ilona (“rhymes with Fiona”) Vanderwoude’s passion is helping modern-day “Renaissance Personalities” – those with highly diverse skills and interests – create exciting lives and careers. As a Career Designer, she guides her clients in crafting unusual life and career plans, helps them fit a million passions into one lifetime, and provides the tactical support to actually make it happen. Ilona founded CareerBranches in 2001, is a nationally published author, and holds elite resume-writing and coaching credentials (she’s one of 28 Master Resume Writers worldwide).

The bottom line is she shows her clients how to branch out and live the life they didn’t think was possible for them. Connect with Ilona via LinkedIn or follow her on Twitter.

CAREEREALISM.com provides the best career advice from proven career experts on a daily basis. How do you find a job today? You get career and job search help from us! Sign-up today to get our updates daily.

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Technorati Tags: career advice, career expert, career question, CAREEREALISM, job search help, resume help

By CAREEREALISM-Approved Expert, Rosa E. Vargas

Imagine sitting in a lobby waiting for an interview. You look around and all those waiting are as professional and qualified as you…

- Graduates from top schools.

- Possess years of experience in your field.

- Have achieved impressive triumphs in their careers.

In other words, they are ALL highly QUALIFIED. Again, highly QUALIFIED!! What will you say during this interview that is special and more compelling in order to outdistance others? What is your USP (unique selling point) and what does that translate to so it’s a benefit for your new employer?

Standout from the Crowd of Experts

The number 1 strategy job seekers neglect is the selling of their UVP (unique value proposition) over other qualified candidates. Your competition is not the under-performer with an unpolished resume and poor communication skills! (Wouldn’t that be easy?)

Your competitor is smart, hired a professional resume writer, is articulate, and accomplished. So, you, must introspect, dig deep, and develop a enthralling marketing plan that persuades from resume, to online brand, to interview, and through follow-up by seducing your employer with the promise of success through a differentiating value you, and only you, can offer.

You must examine your career performance, find those special ways in which you deliver results–own them and promote them! Because to win in this challenged job market, you must sell a unique value proposition/a brand/a differentiating value.

Deep-dive Analysis

So how do you go about this? Take out your pen and paper or better yet, open your MS Word program and answer the following questions:

1. Why would an employer hire me over others who are qualified?

You are not allowed to answer this question with education, years of experience, or industry knowledge. Sorry! Yes. These are important and you must leverage them but these are qualifiers. Remember, your competition is qualified—we are looking to nudge your employer over the fence by dangling a gem.

2. What is my unique value and how will this impact my future employer?

When others speak of you, what do they say? What have you been consistently recognized for? How have you delivered in areas that no one else could?

3. What guarantee can I make to my future employer?

It is not enough you have discovered your brand or USP/UVP—you must market it and convince the employer to switch/buy what you are selling.

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4. What in my past can I use to substantiate my personal brand or unique value proposition?

Convincing is done with examples, stories, and references. You must prove it.

5. Is this message delivered consistently and persuasively across all my self-marketing efforts?

These materials include your resume, cover letter, interview performance, online social profiles, and self publishing content. The more consistent you are in the promotion of your image across all materials/communications—the more believable you will be—the more trust you will gain—the more you will convince.

The game has gotten tougher folks! The same way in which you make purchasing decisions (you want to get the best for the money)—employers want to hire the best for the salary and they desire to not make a mistake in hiring you.

Present and position yourself over the competition, dominate, close the deal by reassuring you are unique and not only are you qualified, but you will deliver above the rest!

Did you like this article? You can read more articles by this expert here. Also, check out all of our free webinars!

CAREEREALISM Expert, Rosa Elizabeth Vargas is a job search strategist who is Quadruple-certified as an (MRW) Master Resume Writer, (CERW) Certified Expert Resume Writer, (NCRW) Nationally Certified, and (ACRW) Academy Certified Resume Writer. Additional qualifications include job search coaching and social media consulting. She has been helping job hunters since 2003 as owner of Creating Prints Resume Service, leveraging an accomplished 10-year career background as a Leader/Senior Manager, which included interviewing, hiring, training, and building strong and competent teams. You can find her on Twitter at @resumeservice.

CAREEREALISM.com provides the best career advice from proven career experts on a daily basis. How do you find a job today? You get career and job search help from us! Sign-up today to get our updates daily.

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Technorati Tags: career advice, career expert, career question, CAREEREALISM, interview, job search help, resume

By CAREEREALISM Founder, J.T. O’Donnell

Yes. The title is correct.

There is a way to get your boss to work for you. In fact, I know some managers who are smart enough to actually teach their employees how to use them to get ahead. Not all bosses are this savvy though, and that’s where I come in.

I recently hosted a FREE webinar where I explained:

1. How to say ‘no’ to your boss and gain respect in the process.

2. How to ask for and get what you want…EVERY time.

3. The best way to score points you can use at a later time to advance your career.

Access J.T.’s webinar recording INSTANTLY. Simply sign-up here to receive our cutting-edge weekly newsletter and we’ll send you the private access URL so you can watch it at your convenience.


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PLUS, we’ll send you weekly updates about our upcoming FREE webinars by America’s top career experts. You can unsubscribe at any time, but we think once you start seeing the incredible info we offer, you’ll want to stay part of our career community!

CAREEREALISM.com provides the best career advice from proven career experts on a daily basis. How do you find a job today? You get career and job search help from us! Sign-up today to get our updates daily.

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By CAREEREALISM Founder, J.T. O’Donnell

I recently joined forces with Monster.com’s social networking division to write a weekly Q&A column called, “Ask the Career Expert,” for their on-line community, Excelle (a professional resource for career-minded young women).

This week’s question was asked by a college graduate who couldn’t decide if an unpaid internship was worth her time. Read here to learn what you should consider when making such a decision.

Or, you can watch the short video clip I produced below!

Technorati Tags: career advice, career expert, career question, CAREEREALISM, internship, job search help, monster

‘JT & Dale Talk Jobs’ is the largest nationally syndicated career advice column in the country and can be found at JTandDale.com.

Dear J.T. & Dale: I just took a new job I truly love. However, I’m finding one drawback — everyone is really into social media. They all have Twitter accounts, and some have their own blogs. I’m more of an outdoorsy person. The problem is it’s all people talk about, so I’m having a hard time connecting on a personal level. I’m worried it will hurt my ability to develop relationships and move up. What should I do? — Chris

J.T.: All it takes to build a bond is the slightest connection. I once worked with a woman who was my polar opposite. Every time we were together, I got an uneasy feeling. Then, one day, a book fell out of her bag. I had just read the book and loved it. “So,” I cautiously inquired, “what do you think of the book so far?” She responded: “I love it. I’m reading it for the second time.” I immediately launched into a conversation with her, and from that day forward our relationship changed. She became one of my closest colleagues, and we are still in touch today, years later.

Dale: Those outside-of-work interests are helpful, but what’s unique about your situation, Chris, is that the social media are something that actually can be directly useful to your work and career. I urge you not to say, “It takes all kinds,” and shrug off the most important cultural trend of recent years. Instead, explore where your interests overlap with social media, perhaps finding a blog or Facebook pages on, say, hiking that would start to pull you in.

J.T.: Here’s a thought: You could turn it around and ask your new colleagues to help you. They’ll appreciate your openness and your desire to get their input, and you’ll be on your way to forming new and better relationships.

Jeanine “J.T.” Tanner O’Donnell is a professional development specialist and the founder of the consulting firm, jtodonnell.com, and of the blog, CAREEREALISM.com. Dale Dauten resolves employment and other business disputes as a mediator with AgreementHouse.com.

Please visit them at jtanddale.com, where you can send questions via e-mail, or write to them in care of King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10019.

© 2010 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

The photo for this article is provided by Shutterstock.

Technorati Tags: career advice, career expert, career question, CAREEREALISM, co-worker, social media

‘JT & Dale Talk Jobs’ is the largest nationally syndicated career advice column in the country and can be found at JTandDale.com.

J.T.: We’re always looking for the chance to bring outside experts into our discussions. Today we get to hear from Al O’Connor, who has spent decades in recruiting and outplacement, much of that time coaching job hunters.

Dale: We sought Al’s advice on getting and giving help with job hunting.

AL: Whenever I hear from someone out of work, I try to help — I believe what you do to help comes back to you. But there are people who are hard to help, and people who are easy to help. Today, for instance, I heard from a former co-worker who didn’t just send her resume, but also outlined her background and gave me a clear picture of what she wanted to do via two lists: “Here’s What I’ve Done” and “Here’s What I Could Accomplish.”

Dale: Most people want to help job hunters but don’t know how, so it’s up to job hunters to set up their friends to succeed by asking questions they can answer. Usually that’s by offering a list of target companies and asking for possible connections, but here, by listing specific accomplishments and goals within a given job type, someone as connected as Al was able to easily identify relevant contacts.

AL: I passed her resume on to four people. I sent a note saying: “This is somebody you should know. I hope you don’t mind, but I told her to call you.”

J.T.: Beautiful phrasing, making it clear to the recipients they should meet with her, whether or not they have a job opening — it’s in their self-interest. And notice Al also set up the job hunter to take over and make the calls, not having to wait on him.

AL: My goal is not just to help the job hunter, but to help the colleague I’m introducing her to — do it right, and I can help both people.

Dale: Well said. Helping someone hunt for a job, when done properly, isn’t being pushy, it’s being useful, and your colleagues will feel the difference.

J.T.: And in the new economy, where every job is temporary, we all are going to need help. It’s wise to build career karma every chance you get.

Jeanine “J.T.” Tanner O’Donnell is a professional development specialist and the founder of the consulting firm, jtodonnell.com, and of the blog, CAREEREALISM.com. Dale Dauten resolves employment and other business disputes as a mediator with AgreementHouse.com.

Please visit them at jtanddale.com, where you can send questions via e-mail, or write to them in care of King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10019.

© 2010 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

The photo for this article is provided by Shutterstock.

Technorati Tags: career advice, career expert, career question, CAREEREALISM, job search help