Secrets of the Job Hunt

Martin Luther & Fried Chicken

CM Russell — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:59:58 PST

Are you unemployed and depressed? Or do you know someone who is unemployed and depressed. Here is a bit of a perspective for them:

Heed Martin Luther's advice. He knew a thing or two about hard times and said that "I cannot just sit at home ... to wait till a fried chicken flies into my mouth."

By sitting at home, you won't be bringing home the bacon (or the fried chicken.)

But what can you do during the upcoming holiday season?

Here are some ideas:

1, With the holiday season coming up, people will be a bit more relaxed after being uptight about the economy for months. Most job seekers think this is a horrible time for job search. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Go to networking parties. Most local Chamber of Commerce offices (I know ours does) offer free networking for those that are laid off. And they also have holiday parties / gatherings. Go and just enjoy yourself. Introduce yourself, get involved.

2, What about starting a job lead / job search group at your local library or Chamber of Commerce? Show your leadership skills. Lead out and invite speakers. And please let them know that I offer anyone a Complimentary Resume Assessment!

3, Cheer up someone. Go and volunteer if you haven’t started yet. Help out by serving Thanksgiving dinner at the local food pantry / community center or at your church or place of worship.

4, Bake cookies and take them to shut-ins or to residents at a nursing home who never get visitors. Or, you can assemble a small basket and take that instead.

5, Brighten your spirits by brightening other people’s spirits and, who knows, you might just get a job lead in there somewhere, but if not, at least you will be starting the new year off right – not in the dumps! (It would be so easy just to sit at home during the whole month of December feeling sorry for yourself).

So, go and lift your spirits - and someone else's this holiday season.

How to Create the Perfect Resume Profile

CM Russell — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:42:57 PST

#3 of The Big Three: The Top Three Elements Every Resume MUST Have But Very Few Do!!

The job search can be frustrating, no doubt about it. Often, it seems out of your control. But there is good news!

You have more control than you think...

...over how you are perceived by recruiters, employers, human resource personnel and those with whom you network. That's because they forge a perception of you based on the information you choose to present in your resume and cover letter.

Every fact, date, job title and organization name you choose to include contributes to that perception. Every skill, talent, accomplishment and achievement you choose to describe suggests what you can do for your next employer. Every word, sentence and bullet point you choose to incorporate will either add to or detract from their overall impression of who you are, whether and how you can be of use to their firm.

Seize control and you seize a valuable opportunity.

It's critical that you take control by managing The Big Three -- those three elements critical to an effective resume: Format, Content and Profile:

1. Format - Because recruiters and employers are inundated with resumes, it's critical that you design your resume for at-a-glance impact. Strategic formatting helps ensure that they see the key points YOU WANT them to see even if they spend only 30 seconds on your resume.

2. Content - In those 30 seconds, your readers will forge an impression of you based on the details you present: previous employers, job titles and responsibilities, strengths, accomplishments, volunteer work, summer jobs, awards, education, even e-mail and social networking addresses. So choose wisely!

3. Profile - Perhaps the most important part of a resume is the information at the top of Page One -- below your name and above your past job experience. Introduce yourself to the reader by describing what you do...and what you do exceedingly well.

In previous articles, I've explored strategic formatting and content selection. Now, let's take a closer look at your Profile - what experts call "the most valuable real estate on the page."

Your Profile: most likely to be read, read first and believed.

A well-written profile may be all your readers need to see of your resume.
So be certain that it introduces your special skills and accomplishments...and describes unusual strengths, fluencies and awards that distinguish you from other candidates. You may want to include the title of the job you're applying for to make that connection for your reader.

A strong profile enhances the credibility of the data that follows.
Once your readers continue to the body of your resume, they'll be more likely to perceive it as support points for the "promises" you made in your introduction. For example, state that you possess "in-depth Quality Management expertise" and readers will believe it when they see related job titles and TQM certifications that follow. Present your "ability to identify and develop overlooked new business opportunities" and your readers will believe the growth figures and percentages you include below under each of your previous jobs.

Your Profile is your paragraph to shine! So don't be shy.

• Use narrative phrases instead of bullets - they're easier to read.
• Describe uncommon qualifications - they're more likely to get you noticed.
• Describe benefits you offer so that they relate to profitability, productivity, morale,
teamwork or leadership - they'll prove far more meaningful...possibly irresistible to your next employer.

Don't miss this important opportunity to take control of your resume and you search. And remember, we're here to help whenever you choose!

Warning: long-term side effects of recession may include…

CM Russell — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:41:10 PST

by Jeff Dickey-Chasins for OnlineRecruitingNews.com

As the recession begins to wane, it’s a good time to assess what effects it has had on the relationship between employers and employees. Why? These changes will continue to reverberate over the coming years and affect how recruiting and hiring is conducted, what technologies and approaches are used in finding candidates, and which resources are brought to bear in retaining top talent.

A case of two perceptions

Per this recent report from Human Capital Institute and Monster, 84% of employers feel that their employees are loyal and content to have a job – but only 58% of employees actually feel that way. The end result of this disconnect? Employees may jump ship when the economy gets better. In addition, a majority of employees feel that their employers are exploiting the recession to drive longer hours and lower pay.

Employers and employees also fail to see eye to eye on the workplace itself. In this study, researchers found that 73% of employers thought their work environment had become more positive during the recession, while a quarter of employees said it was more negative, and 35% said that their stress levels had risen.

When the hiring starts

When companies and employees go through a multi-year recession, habits change. For example, many firms have relied on early retirement and unpaid furloughs to keep personnel costs down. Others have simply held off on hiring, thus forcing fewer employees to do more work. Hiring freezes and benefits cuts are also common.

What changes when the hiring resumes, as it inevitably will? Employers may find that some potential hires are gone for good – gone into business for themselves, recruited by a competitor, or migrated to a new industry. In their place, however, will be candidates that are grateful for a job, yet cautious or even cynical about the company that hires them.

Another challenge is operational: how does a company manage the gaps between staffing up and demands for its products or services? How does it retain the trained, experienced staff it has as new people are brought in and work demands increase? Should benefits and incentives be reinstated or upgraded?

Finally, what types of employees should companies bring in? For example, many technology firms migrated a significant portion of their work to contractors. Now their management teams must decide if going back to full time employees makes sense – or not.

How recruiting has changed

So how have employers changed their recruiting efforts after two years of recession? Two words: social media. Read more...

Navigating Your Job Search Through the Recession

CM Russell — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

Reposted from CareerAlley

"But still they lead me back to the long winding road" - Lennon/McCartney

Sometimes it does feel like a long and winding road and I'm sure you're thinking "just my luck to be looking for a job in the worst job market since the Great Depression". Regardless of how long and winding the road may be, you need to ensure you are on the right road (to a job that is).

But as bad as it is, there are jobs out there if your know how to navigate the winding road. So, how do you navigate? You need to have a road-map, a timeline as well as a marketing plan. Don't be afraid to speak with others and seek out help in getting yourself started (or revamping your existing approach). Much of the Job Hunt is being in the right place at the right time, but if you don't have a road-map you won't know where that place is. Set your goals and create a list of tasks that will help you achieve those goals.

Lots to do, lots of competition and not that many opportunities. But someone will get those jobs and you might as well be one of the lucky ones (although luck is only part of the equation).

Road Map - The first rule in navigating your job search is that you must have a road map (which means that you must know where you are headed).
- How to Approach Your Job Search With A Personal Marketing Strategy - This article, by About.com, helps you create your personal marketing plan (please also see the Job Search Marketing Toolkit) including locating leads, contacting employers, getting organized and more. There are more links at the bottom of the article to help you on your way.
- Find a Job: Create a job search plan - Careeronstop provided this article which echos much of what I said above, as well as additional advice. The article gives advice to making a plan, mapping your skills (see more below), networking, resumes and more. There is a day-by-day guide with links and good advice.

Search for Jobs - Your Inventory - You need to create an inventory of what you will do next (recruiters, job search sites and company career sites. See the links to my list of lists below for each of these categories.
- List of Recruiters and Headhunters - Here is a great list of recruiters to get you started in building your recruiter inventory. Don't forget to keep track.
- Inventory of Company Career Sites - Company career sites are a great place to start, this list should help you get started.
- Job Search Boards - While yo don't want to be registered on every site, you do want to be on the right sites for you. Check out my list.

Networks and Networking - Not just a catch-phrase, networks can be the most important (and most powerful) tool in your inventory. You've seen all of these before, but it is worth the repeat.
- LinkedIn - Don't need to say much here, make sure you leverage this site every day.
- Secrets of the Job Hunt - Amazing articles, lots of resources - the list is too long to list here. Check it out.
- Networking & Your Job Search - My favorite source for job search (the Riley Guide) also has an article on networking - Check it out!

Good luck in your search.

Visit my site www.CareerAlley.com
Visit me on Facebook

GE bringing IT jobs to Michigan!

CM Russell — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:50:36 PST

As we all know Michigan is a state that really NEEDS jobs. Hats off to GE for announcing their new tech center for Van Buren Township. Its expected to bring 1100 jobs over the next few years. In this audio jobcast you'll hear all about this new venture.

RISK: What the ancient Romans can teach you about career change

CM Russell — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:00:00 PST

By CAREEREALISM-Approved Expert, Melissa C. Martin

have you ever felt those demonic thoughts that swirl in our inner sanctum and resist giving way to the one thing that humans patently avoid…..changing their comfort zone? That is your risk zone.

Stepping out of the comfort zone. Our inner temptations to make that change, even one small change, as we say in solution-focused interviewing and counseling, need a guiding force.

Pay attention to those inner tempations! Even if it means confronting the status quo! ( A useful Latin phrase which we still use for the appropriate occasion!)

Quite often, the riskiest career choices we make are the right ones! Ancient Roman poet Virgil said:”Fortune favours the bold.” (You’ll often hear me refer to the Ancient Romans and Greeks. Those Roman senators were the precursors of modern career change). Let me explain.

Can you identify any of these change-resisting thoughts to a new career:

1. A lack of purpose (changing jobs to go to a parallel position which may dissatisfy you).
2. Not recognizing your values (we use them everyday as our inner compass of decision making).
3. Not being honest with the truth (you have control over your inner truth, not others).
4. Allowing external factors to influence your decision (friends or family who think they know what is a good career fit).
5. Not paying attention to the power of the universe and its energy (serindipity often affects career change more than we know!).
6. Not being able to balance action and reflection.
7. Haven’t rehearsed a possible “exit” from your job (be an actor for once).
8. No knowledge.

Yes, the Romans were wise. And did pay heed to the above factors.

(And we think that we’re wiser in this post-911 age? Maybe not).

What do you think?

Melissa Martin
bilingual career coach
careercoachingbyphone.com

Your own personal career model

CM Russell — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:17:16 PST

I like the tv ad, "You don't drive like her so why pay for insurance like her?" Products and services are all about customization and personalization from sandwiches to coffee to clothes to insurance policies. So after reading blogs and books about career advice, take all of that (or not) and craft your own career model.

You may want to start with a circle, or maybe a triangle is more your style. Write a word at each point that is important to you and your career audience: persistence, patience and creativity. Maybe you prefer alliteration: aptitute, atitude and attention to detail. There may be aspects of critical importance to your work choices: environment, flexibility, opportunity. You might draw this triangle diagram outside of the other one. (Perhaps one of my colleagues could come up with a pictogram for us!).

If this example has no relation to you, that's probably a good thing. Coming up with your own picture or map provides greater focus and meaning for you. It's another way of looking at personal branding.

Do you bother to connect on linkedin with a personal message?

CM Russell — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:51:01 PST

www.laurentbrouat.com

Almost every day now, I receive requests for connections on linkedin. I think linkedin is a wonderful tool…but people don’t respect some basic rules.

Actually these are common rules. When you meet someone at a networking venue, do you say “I would like to connect with you?”. You start a proper conversation, and explain why you want to connect with her.

On linkedin it is exactly the same, 90% of the time I receive that: “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn” (or in French as now there is a French version of linkedin!).

People are not bothered to put a proper personal message, at least saying Hi, and explaining why the connection request.

It is so annoying…linkedin used like that seems to be mass connection competition. Some people seem to think: “oh he looks interesting, let’s connect”(or “oh I just lost my job he looks interesting”).

No personal message, no Hello, nothing.

I don’t know what to do in that case…sometimes these are interesting people. Should I accept or just leave it?

On linkedin you have a group of people called the LION (Linkedin Open Networkers) who accept any connection requests. Their thinking is: “the more contacts I will get, the more companies and new people I will be able to access”. It is a clear move of quantity over quality, I respect that choice even if I think that I am not sure how strong the links can be in that case. What happens if a LION asks someone on his network (someone he does not know at all) to connect with a particular person?

Anyway connecting on linkedin should be made with a personal message and not using the by default one! People need to follow the rules of physical networking…What if you receive an email from an unknown person asking to be your friend?

How do you react? You would expect at least something personal, not just a click on a button send and hope for the best.

Let me give you an example of a personal message I received the other day:

“Enjoyed your blog … I work with French executives frequently (as a consumer research consultant). You seem like an interesting person, would you like to connect on LinkedIn?”

or

“I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.”

Which one do you think is better, more focused, more targeted, personal and talking about the person (as people don\’t care about you, you need to talk about them…this person mentioned my blog and other things, she clearly understood how to craft a personal message).

People think that linkedin spares you from respecting some basic rules….but no.

Why do you think your connection request has not received any response yet?

Who is Hiring from the Fortune 500 Vol VI

CM Russell — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

Reposted from CareerAlley

"When I asked my accountant if anything could get me out of this mess I am in now he thought for a long time and said, 'Yes, death would help'." - Robert Morley

In this case, I think we all know the current mess we are in. The good news is that things seem to be looking up in the economy. Recent conversations I've had with recruiters seems to support this (the job market is starting to open up). But, it is a long road back, especially for those who are out of work and still looking. That being said, today's post will focus on the Fortune 500 (skipping those companies that have fallen too far to be considered at this point) where there are more than 1,000 job opportunities. Today's list includes Food Ingredients, Retailing, Financial Services, Insurance and home care products.

Archer Daniels Midland - Ranked 27 on this year's list, AMD produces food ingredients. Their Careers Page has links on the left hand side for Career Opportunities, Diversity, Life at AMD and more. The right hand side of the page has a download (pdf file) for a "make your mark" career information brochure followed by an events calendar link. The Careers Opportunities page has four choices (US, Canada, South America and Europe jobs). When I checked there career opportunities in the US (87), Canada (3) and Europe (9).

Target - This retailer is ranked 28 on the list. Their main careers page has links to the left hand side for Search Job Openings, Opportunities at Target, Recruiting events and more. There is a larger search section in the center of the page which provides check boxes for filtering followed by a section for Featured Jobs and Campus Recruiting. The link for Resources for Candidates provides a number of resources which are worth a look. There were 787 career opportunities when I checked the site.

Johnson & Johnson - Number 29 on the list, J&J is known for a number of consumer products, medical products and more. The J&J site is split between Professionals and Students. You must search for jobs by country (rather than across the entire organization). There are additional links for Workforce Diversity, Career Advancement, Shared values and more. There were 309 job opportunities when I checked the site.

Morgan Stanley - This financial services giant was on the edge (but did not go over) and has since stabilized in the last few months. Ranked 30 on the list, their careers page has links on the left hand side for Careers and company information. This is followed by a map that is interactive (where you can explore the company by location). The center of the page includes a company overview, followed by links for University, Experienced hires and Branch Opportunities. The right hand side of the page has information on Diversity and profiles on several employees. Clicking on the Experienced Level link leads to a full page where jobs must be searched by division where there were 599 career opportunities.

State Farm Insurance Cos. - Ranked 31 on this year's list, State Farm is known, of course, for insurance. Their careers page has two main choices center page: Employee and Agent. The left hand side of the page has links for Mission, Career Center, Newsroom and more.

Good luck in your search.

Visit my site www.CareerAlley.com
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Guerilla job hunting case studies (podcast)

CM Russell — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST

The authors of "Guerrilla Marketing for Job-Hunters 2.0" Kevin donlin and david perry are back

Together, David and Kevin have created the "Guerrilla Job Search Home Study Course" and they've been featured by The Wall Street Journal, NY Times, Fortune Magazine, ABC TV, CBS Radio, and too many more media outlets to list here.

Topic: Guerrilla Case Studies. (DOWNLOAD MP3)

24 minutes

1) Jim McCausland, the Guerrilla who got a 6-figure job in 8 days in Sept. -- in Detroit; and

2) Scott Bornstein, who got a job in Minneapolis 30 days after switching to a Guerrilla Resume.

We'll talk about the two methods to their "madness" -- start work before you're hired, and secrets of a Guerilla Resume.

Career Advice: There Are At Least 14 Ways To Sabotage An Interview

CM Russell — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:56:50 PST

After all your efforts--networking and distributing your resume--you've landed an interview for a job that looks just like the spot you've been looking for. It's a good fit between your qualifications and the requirements of the opportunity. You feel confident it will be another step on your career path.

Now, it's up to you to conduct a winning face-to-face interviews with those persons who will make the final hiring decision. It's time to sell the total package that is you and the benefits you can deliver. In other words, it's time to close the deal.

Will you make the sale? It's not likely if you commit one or more of the most flagrant errors of omission or commission. Here are 14 such bombs that can sabotage your interview, along with advice on how to avoid them.

1. Be over confident. Assume the interviews are just a formality on your way to a job offer.

2. Fail to gather information about the potential employer before the interview such as mission of the organization; type of business; where the job you are interviewing for fits in the hierarchy and culture of the organization.

Having this information in hand enables you to demonstrate your interest and to tailor your presentation to fit the requirements of the position.

3. Don't have a plan for presenting your case, including points you will make and questions you will ask.

Know the impression you want to leave with the interviewers. Identify at least three points you mean to communicate as well as a brief summary. Rehearse, rehearse, preferably with some one who can and will critique your presentation.

4. Be late for the interview.

There is no surer way to show a lack of respect and interest than to arrive late for an interview.

5. Fail to pay attention to your physical presentation from the moment you enter the premises of the potential employer until you are well away from all contact.

Remember, you are selling a total package.

Strive to make a favorable impression on everyone you meet from receptionist to the final interviewer. Adhere to the code of dress. (Business attire is first choice unless you know for sure that the environment is casual. In any case, be well groomed.) Walk briskly, heads up, shoulders back. Don't slouch when seated. Avoid the dead-fish handshake. Speak distinctly. Assume everyone you meet is important to the process. Be courteous to one and all.

6. Fail to concentrate on the interviewer and the give and take of the discussion.

Maintain eye contact; avoid gazing out the window or admiring the artwork on the wall. Unless forced by the interviewer, avoid chitchatting about the weather and the score of last night's big game.

7. Ask about work hours, time off and other benefits before an offer is in hand.

8. Fail to treat the interview as a two-way communication process. Sit out the interview like a knot on a log. Let the interview become a monologue conducted by the interviewer.

Asking well-informed questions demonstrates you are interested in the opportunity and shows off your qualifications, as well as personality. In addition, they develop information you need to evaluate how the opportunity serves your career goals.

9. Bad mouth your former employer(s) and associates.

10. Lie about your qualifications.

11. Let your guard down when it appears the interview is over.

A canny interviewer may act as if the interview has ended, then blindside you with questions in order to see how you react to the unexpected. What appears to be an off-the-cuff comment or question could be among the most vital parts of the interview.

If you are invited to a meal, keep in mind that you are still being interviewed. Mind your manners. Avoid alcohol. If the interviewer insists, limit yourself to one glass of wine. Don't order food that can be difficult to eat without making a mess.

12. Overstay your welcome.

Once the interviewer has signaled that it is time for you to go--even though you are anxious to keeping selling--wrap up the discussion and leave in short order.

13. Fail to make it absolutely clear that you want the job.

14. Fail to express appreciation for the opportunity to interview; thank others of the staff such as receptionist and assistants with whom you had contact.

Bottom line to this career coaching: To conduct a successful interview present yourself as a product to be sold. Mind your total packaging (i.e. dress). Identify the benefits you can deliver.

Get coaching on how to protect and advance your career in tough time by subscribing to Ramon Greenwood's free semimonthly newsletter, THE CAREER ACCELERATOR (c). As a bonus you'll receive the 16-page e-book, HOW TO GET A RAISE (c) click: http://www.commonsenseatwork.com> For much more free career coaching, visit YOUR BLOG FOR CAREER ADVICE. Click Here. http://commonsenseatwork.blogspot.com/

What is your plan for finding a new job?

CM Russell — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:47:56 PST

Do you have a plan? According to a recent survey hosted by Robert Half, 82% of those surveyed said they were ready. The survey also asked who had an updated resume. 44% said it has been over a year since they've updated that document. Yikes! Almost half the people hadn't touched their resume in over a year. They aren't ready.

It certainly isn't all about the resume. But having one that is updated and ready to go at all times means something. It means that you are thinking about what you've accomplished in your job.

I would also venture to guess that those 44% are not active on LinkedIn either. If they are too busy to update their resumes, they probably don't see the value of LinkedIn. Nor do they realize that over 80% of recruiters and HR professionals are using this tool to source candidates.

How can 82% feel they are ready for a search if they don't have a plan? Do they think finding a job is easy? Are they not talking to the thousands of people who have been searching for months?

To all of you out there, get a plan. Even if you don't have a job yet. What will you do to continue building your network and look for your next great job while employed?

Ask your company to sponsor your membership in a professional association
Identify training that will add value to your brand
Carve time into your schedule to attend local business networking events
Attend conferences, better yet, speak at conferences
Start up a blog, maybe even a company sponsored one
Follow and meet the key movers and shakers in your occupation and/or industry

All the things you are doing right now in job search need to be continued once you land a job but most likely scaled back.

Ask yourself, "if I lost my job tomorrow, what would I do?" It is never going to be as easy as we think it is going to be.

The Fastest Growing Companies 2009 - Who's Hiring Now Vol I

CM Russell — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

Reposted from CareerAlley

“Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th.” - Julie Andrews

If job search requires anything, it is certainly perseverance. Endless resume submissions, numerous interview, and where are the jobs? But you need to keep with it and look in the right places. Beyond qualifying for a position (there are thousands of people who qualify for every position out there), you've got to be in the right place at the right time. In any cases, you actually want to be there first.

So what does this really mean (this "perseverance" thing)? Well for one, you've got to be totally committed to "The Search". If you are out of work, your full time job is to find a job (it's so easy to get distracted). If you are one of the lucky ones and still have a job, you must still devote time to the search if you expect to get results. Okay, so you are probably asking for a description of being "totally committed". Start by looking at the following posts:

How To Kickstart Your Job Search

I lost my job, now what?

MAKE A PLAN! Use whatever organizational tool works for you (paper and pen is fine) and make a list of what you will do EVERY DAY. So, what might this list look like?

Check your favorite job boards every morning
At least one new recruiter every day
At least one new company career site every day
At least one new job board per day
Tweak your resumes (on the top job boards) once per week
Join social networks (and be active) like LinkedIn

The good news is that there are jobs out there, and there is a brand new list of the Fastest Growing Companies (you can use these links as your company career site for the day). Today's post will cover the new list (as of August 31st) with a fresh look at the companies, a broad range of companies and a list of links to real jobs over 578 job opportunities were identified across these companies.

Research In Motion - Ranked #1 on this years list, I think we all know what RIM does (does Blackberry ring a bell?). Their career site is visually appealing, with a changing picture and text. There are links across the top of the page for Why RIM?, Search Opportunities, Students & New Grads and Career Help. Towards the bottom center of the page, there are featured careers (Careers in Finance and Engineering). Clicking on Search Opportunities leads to a page where you can select yoru region or create your profile. Searching all jobs returned 572 job opportunities.

Sigma Designs - According to their website, "Sigma Designs develops and markets high-performance, highly-integrated System-on-a-Chip (SoC) semiconductors for the following key markets" and is ranked #2 on the list. Their careers page is somewhat sparse. They have some links on the left hand side of the page for locations (California, France, Singapore, Canada) and one for Sales. The center of their careers page has a high level overview, along with an address to send your resume as well as a fax number and email address. Clicking on any of the locations reviews job categories. Click on these categories to see a list of existing job opportunities. When I checked the site, there were approximately 8 job opportunities globally.

Sohu.com - Ranked #3, this company is based in China so, unless you live in China or plan on working there, this company will have limited appeal.

Ebix - According to their website, "Ebix is a leading international supplier of software and e-commerce solutions to the insurance industry". Their career site starts with an overview, followed by a list of job types and then job opportunities. Click on "details" to see details of the listed jobs or "apply" if this job fits your criteria. There were 8 job opportunities when I checked the site.

DG FastChannel - Ranked # 5, DG FastChannel "is the nation’s leading provider of digital media services to the advertising industry and operates the largest network designed specifically for spot distribution" according the their website. The main careers page leads with an overview followed by a listing of jobs (none when I checked the site). There is also an email address where you can send your cover letter and resume.

Good luck in your search.

Visit my site www.CareerAlley.com
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Job search 2010 -- small is in

CM Russell — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:56:01 PST

We've just been through a brutal economic storm. If you were sheltered, great - good for you. But pay attention anyway, because this storm wreaked havoc on many of the people you'll meet in the next stages of your career. You are going to meet and work with a lot of people who've been burned. So many that the American business landscape is never going to look the same again.

At the height of the crisis, large companies fired thousands of employees to preserve profits. In many cases, they terminated good people to protect their stock prices (not to ensure survival). In so doing, they sent a powerful message - profits are sacred, people are disposable. It's not the first time this has happened for sure, but this time, the firings were connected to a crisis technical in nature, unrelated to business fundamentals, and connected with greed and corruption. Average Americans can see more clearly than ever how protected the rich and powerful are at the expense of everyone else. We feel helpless, unappreciated and disrespected.

First the bankers and other business elite got rich during the real estate boom years, then they were bailed out by very taxpayers who were left twisting in the wind by all the financial monkey business of the last five years. At the same time that the taxpayers were doing the bailing, massive layoffs were happening around the country -- at profitable companies. I call that a lack of character and I assure you that talented people notice it.

They are going to notice the US national debt too, now over $110,000 per taxpayer. That bill will come due but we know it's not going to hurt our captains of industry much. As Ted Turner says, losing 80% of your wealth overnight is hard, but a guy can still get by when there are a few billion leftover. The images of the Goldman Sachs 20 billion dollar bonuses coming in December just a few short quarters after the bailouts will be seared into the minds of those who've suffered in this recession.

So what will change? keep reading...

Awesome social media resume

CM Russell — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST

This guy gets my creative job hunter award.

Social Media Resume

View more documents from Chris Ferdinandi.

Make Every Contact Count

CM Russell — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:13:14 PST

It's easy to forget that everyone you connect with at a potential employer is important.

Here's what I mean: a friend told me of a job seeker who visited her company and failed the politeness test with the receptionist. He didn't know she was the CEO's cousin. Needless to say, the CEO got a debriefing the candidate didn't want her to have.

Everyone is important. It doesn't matter what their position is - they'll all have something to say about your candidacy.

Look people in they eye and listen. Show gratitude for their help in getting you your badge or showing you to the interview room.

Make each contact positive and memorable.

Cashing In On Psychic Income

CM Russell — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:10:52 PST

In our September 14 posting, Managing Your Emotional Investments In A Job Search, we talked about the gambler’s fallacy as it relates to job hunting and offered some tips on how to navigate the waves of emotion that arise as you look toward securing your next job. In this companion piece, we discuss psychic income, why it can sometimes be more valuable than any other currency, and how to know when to cash it in for opportunities.

In their book, Groundswell: Winning In a World Transformed By Social Technologies, Charlene Li* and Josh Bernoff of Forrester Research discuss the phenomenon of psychic income--the intangible revenue or satisfaction that comes from participating in certain activities. An example could be the feeling you gain from making a certain purchase or working on a project that calls upon your creative ability. Because of my genuine interest in people, I derive psychic income from reading, writing, listening, and conversing on almost any topic. So if it were not for bills, I'd do almost any job for free if it allowed for authentic engagement of some kind. But because most of us do have bills, we'll talk about the financial implications of psychic income.

In Groundswell, Jeff Stenski is attributed to have potentially saved Dell over $1 million simply by answering questions on Dell's Community Forum. Why has Jeff spent the equivalent of over 123 workdays a year on this forum answering questions about optical drives for free? The answer of course is psychic income. Jeff loves to contribute and this forum gives him an opportunity to do so. As we mentioned in The Ultimate Interview Secret, there are rewards that come from seeking to contribute to your industry or area of expertise and these rewards can be cashed in.

For starters, as long as you are contributing, your skills will keep current. This has tremendous value. Added to this, in a depressed market, there is a definite value in engaging with people who have the ability to skillfully transfer their enthusiasm. This is known as salesmanship and believe it or not, the purchases that we usually feel the best about are usually laden with the psychic income we earned from engaging with the salesperson. In a world where we have global access to products and services, it is actually the psychic income embedded in those products and services that is the differentiator. What do you think this information can do for your interviewing skills?

So knowing this, doesn't it make sense to keep track of your psychic income just as well as you do of your financial income? We think so. That's exactly why this blog exists. As recruiters we know how taxing the job search can be for everyone involved. With so many things to consider when making a hire, disproportionate amounts of psychic income can be strewn about with many feeling like they didn't get the ROI they were hoping for. Our goal with CareerAssist is to give back to the candidate pool for the time and energy they share with us when they talk to us about the opportunities with our clients. It may not be the job they were hoping for, but we hope that it contributes in some way.

So if you take anything from this post--whether you are on the job market or engaging with someone who is--let it be this. Psychic income is part and parcel of every relationship no matter how much time is involved. So be wise in your deposits and withdrawals.

*Charlene Li has since become an independent thought leader and Founder of Altimeter Group.

You Want to Pay me What?

CM Russell — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST

Reposted from CareerAlley

"There's no way I can justify my salary level, but I'm learning to live with it." - Drew Carey

Most of us don't struggle with the problem that Drew Carey has with his salary (quite the reverse), but we do learn to live with it. So what are you worth? Times not being what they used to be, it is difficult to figure out what you should be paid. This is especially true if you receive a bonus (not to mention if you work in Financial Services). And, while the vast majority of us will also not need to worry about our compensation being scrutinized by the government's new salary czar, we do need to have a $ amount in mind when being offered a job.

There are other variables to consider, such as:

Are you switching industries
Are you relocating to a new city
Are you currently unemployed

But whatever your circumstance, there are ways for you to get "a level of comfort" with what you are worth. While no salary tools are 100% conclusive (see below), a combination of online salary resources (and what you are/were paid) should give you an idea of what is reasonable. As a starter, you may also want to look at my post "Job Offer – What’s your Bottom Line?".

Salary.com - Stands to reason that this is a good place to start. This site has two views, one for employers and one for personal use. You can register on the site or just use there tools without registering. There are links at the top of the page for Login or Personal (additional links for the Personal Salary Wizard are available left center page and top right page). Clicking on Personal Salary Wizard leads to a page where you enter your title and zip code (left center page). Entering your information will return a basic report. There is a charge if you want a personalized report. There are additional tools below this for Job Search, Education and Cost of Living. Additionally, there are a number of other related tools under the Tools menu.

Jobnob.com - The tag line for this site is "Search for millions of actual salaries & jobs". The site allows you to search for average salaries as well as see job listings for companies that are currently hiring. There are lists of companies, jobs and salary ranges. There are tabs at the top for Salaries, Professions, Companies, Cities and "Happy Hour" (definitely worth a look). Clicking on Salaries shows ranges by profession. The Companies tab is also interesting and provides a fair amount of data. Overall, the site is jam packed with some really good information (and you can search for jobs on the site as well).

SalaryExpert.com - Similar to Salary.com, this site has sections for both Employees and Employers. The site offers both salary reports and cost of living reports (useful if you are thinking of a move). Also like Salary.com, there are free basic reports and custom reports for a fee. Clicking "continue" under Employee (center page) returns a page with a Salary Calculator, Executive Salary Calculator and a Cost of Living Calculator. There are additional tabs at the top of the page for Reports and Education.

Bureau of Labor of Statistics - Another great resource is the from the US Department of Labor. The site is filled with great data (way to much to cover here), so I will focus on just a few of the links. There are tabs at the top for Subject Areas, Databases & Tables, Publications and Economic releases. The Pay & Benefits link (on the left hand side of the page has a number of great links, specifically - Wages by Area and Occupation and Earnings by Industry. There is an additional link under "Resources for" for Jobseekers which is worth a look as well.

Compensation - How Much Are You Worth? - This article, by Alison Doyle and posted on About.com, provides great background and advice (with additional links) for researching salaries. There is a salary calculator, Occupational Outlook Handbook a salary survey and more. The site is fully integrated, so there are additional links to related articles on salary negotiations, salary requirements and more. Definitely worth a read.

Good luck in your search.

Visit my site www.CareerAlley.com
Visit me on Facebook

Networking Is In The Eye Of The Beholder

CM Russell — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:59:53 PST

Some see networking as a chore. Others see it as a waste of time. A huge mass of social blather that leads to nothing. Those people get frustrated and get stuck in their job search.

They haven't yet figured out that networking is now a lifelong opportunity. An opportunity to build out your influence in the world. And to reach more people that might need your help at the same time.

For those who see socializing, I see relationship building. Research. To understand what your network needs from you.

And its not about job search anymore. Although that is how most of us will gain immediate benefit. It is about building a significant team around you that knows enough and cares enough about you to step in when asked to throw you a line.

So I say that networking is in the eye of the beholder.

Open your eyes.

If you truly see networking only as a means to an end. That end being a job. You may get frustrated. Because building a network that cares takes time and a sincere effort on your part.

And since everybody feels a little bit like you do, they will hold back. Not give to you. Until they see some consistency in what they are getting.

Results from networking are not dropped in your lap. They are picked from a tree like a soft peach. Ripened from the sun and the water and the nutrients in the soil. Over time.

Ever eat a peach too soon?

If you are just getting started in job search and have heard that you need to be networking, that's correct. But building a long term network takes some time. Because your effort pays off over time.

Of course there are exceptions to this. There are those who will give to you from day one. And you should be awfully thankful when you meet these people. And you should immediately begin to find ways to give back.

Everybody has something to give.

So my challenge to you today is to change your view of networking. From short term to long term. It will allow you to think through how you communicate with others and what you ask for this time around.

It will give you a perspective that others thinking "today and tomorrow" won't likely have. And it will motivate you to stay involved in local job clubs and networking groups well beyond the day when you get the call that says:

"We'd like to make you an offer." (And the air leaves you).

Because this isn't just a network you are building. It is a set of friendships. Founded during challenging times. And with the opportunity to be built during better ones.

How do you see it?

Connect your twitter status to Linkedin

CM Russell — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:29:13 PST

Finally. LinkedIn users will be able to connect their status updates to twitter simultaneously.

5 Linkedin Groups for Jobseekers

CM Russell — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:30:00 PST

Many people know you need a Linkedin profile but they dont know about some groups that can aid their job search.

Here are my top 5 recommendations for job hunters.

1. Job Openings, Job Leads and Job Connections! Get hired. Apply for jobs. Post your Profile. Job, career and employment leads and advice. Network and connect with gatekeepers and decision makers. HR human resources headhunters recruiters recruitment staffing hiring education consultant management coaching alumni headhunter corporate recruiter. JOIN

2. Helping Friends Career Network (LI2HF) Welcome to the LinkedIn2 HFCN group -- a business and career network of networkers for entrepreneurs, hiring managers, recruiters, and talented professionals worldwide to make meaningful win win win connections! JOIN

3. '09 Grads The official LinkedIn Guide for '09 Grads. This group is exclusively for college grads, graduate students, and educators interested in getting careers off the ground in tough times. Get exclusive in-depth tips from the people at LinkedIn based on http://grads.linkedin.com

4.Personal Branding Network The Personal Branding Network is a consortium for all of those who are looking to build powerful personal brands, from around the world. We come together to provide each other with expert guidance so that we are better prepared for the future, while being able to delivering our brand promise today. JOIN

5. Indeed.com A group for Indeed.com job-seekers and employers. Indeed.com is the leading search engine for jobs. JOIN

Confessions of an Overwhelmed Hiring Manager

CM Russell — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:54:18 PST

I know this hiring manager who posted a job opening for an Admin. The reason this position was posted was because this hiring manager was overwhelmed. She had more work than she could handle and was in dire need of support.

This hiring manager works for a small company without a Human Resource department. She was shocked when she heard that the job was going to be posted on a job board with her name as the contact person. How was she going to field all the resumes and calls she was going to receive? Remember, she is already overloaded.

Then there is the daunting task of reviewing resumes and cover letters. About 1/4 of the submissions didn't contain the required cover letter. She discarded those because they didn't follow directions. (She had to have some way of paring down the candidates). Several of the submitted resumes were done in Word 2007, which she couldn't open. Guess who's resumes are going to be read?

The preferred temp agency had been contacted and they sent over 3 resumes. The hiring manager put those on top. They had been pre-screened already and prepped.

Now it was time to find 4-5 candidates to call. She was looking for people who could start immediately and just jump into the job. Oh, but wait, a couple of internal candidates come forward at the last minute. They MUST be interviewed.

Between all the other job related tasks going on, the hiring manager finds a few minutes to make calls. She is able to speak with 3 immediately. She schedules two for interviews.

Who were the 3 people she reached immediately? The ones sent over by the temp agency.

This hiring manager only received 77 resumes. She was lucky. Out of these 77 applicants, under 10 have followed up with and email or a phone call. It made her wonder about the interest of the others.

She shared with me some of her regrets:

I would have liked to spend some time speaking with those candidates that were referred, but I didn't have the luxury of time.
I would have liked to have responded immediately to all candidates that applied, but I didn't have the luxury of time.
I had to stop looking at resumes after a couple of days. I couldn't keep up and I didn't have time.

She also shared her disappointment:

Most applicants did not tell me why they wanted to work in this job. Some resumes were so off-base, I thought they may have applied for a different job by mistake.

I share this story to help job seekers understand what is happening inside the hiring company and the mind of the hiring manager. So the take aways from this story are:

Be memorable
Be an inside candidate
Be an exact fit on paper
Be registered with temp agencies/contract houses
Be quick to respond
Be tech savvy and follow directions
Be persistent to show interest

The other important moral to this story is that no two hiring managers have the same preferences or tactics for screening and hiring. There is no rule book that everyone has to follow (besides EEOC). This is why applying for jobs online is such a crap shoot, you just never know.

Your CV is the roof of your House

CM Russell — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:30:00 PST

When people come to me the 1st thing they ask is: “Here is my CV/Resume, what can you do? Can you change it?”

Like in a house, you don’t start building a house with a roof, but you start with the foundations.

So 1st thing 1st is to resist to the immediate expectation of the client…”no we won’t work on your CV right now”.

That’s the moment you need to explain why.

So why your CV is the roof of your house?

Because before doing anything we need to understand who you are (values, passions) and your skills.

These are the foundations of your house. Once we have laid down the foundations, we start putting the walls (sorry my metaphor about a house construction is not accurate but I think everybody got it).

Understanding who you are and what you have done will allow us to identify the main points in your life that we can relate to your CV. The better you and I will understand your skills and personality, the more solid the foundations will be.

Now putting the walls is to understand what you want to do, what is your project?

Your roof needs to be supported by solid walls otherwise the roof will collapse. So identifying your project is key because a CV without target is like a chicken without head…you go all over the place, or translated on your CV, you put all the information you can hoping for the best.

So a roof without walls does not exist, as a CV without a clear target.

So a roof well built will protect you from the rain and any severe weather condition, as a well built CV will protect you from any crisis…

But never forget to start with the foundations first and the walls…otherwise your house won’t stand against any wind

Writing a CV without understanding your skills/strengths and without a clear target in mind is a waste of time.

Advice for going from military to civilian careers (podcast)

CM Russell — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:45:45 PST

Janet I. Farley is a highly experienced outplacement career specialist in the job search assistance field. She worked for six years as a military transition counselor and later as a career center manager with the Army Career and Alumni Program at various locations throughout the world. She is also a freelance writer who specializes in job search advice, and the author of Jobs and the Military Spouse: Married, Mobile and Motivated for Employment, Second Edition. Janet’s advice also comes from first-hand experience: Her military spouse retired while she was writing this book (and then later rejoined).

I spoke with her from Germany last week and here is that conversation;

DOWNLOAD MP3

Especially for those in their 20's

CM Russell — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:30:00 PST

My degree in History trained me to search the past for lessons on how to handle the future, thus, my fascination with war and politics. So when November rolls around, I'm glued to Rembrance Day tributes in the paper (rather than Sunday football on the tube.) I spend as much timing studying the sepia photo insets as I do reading the stories of danger and courage. The Toronto Star's coverage this year is touching, I have quoted from it below.

There are so many lessons to glean for all of us. But mostly I see the pertinence for those in their 20's. So if you're in your 20's, you may be freshly out of school or soon to be. You may be wondering where to go, what to do, how to make a difference, how to climb the corporate latter and how to pay for your student loan and the car you want. If you're already working, you may, by now, have workplace woes like office gossip, cubicle crowding, cut-throat competition and client wars.

Veteran's stories are rich with insight and start when they were barely 20, some even lied to be enlisted. Their revelations are timeless; here are three:

1. Someone always has it worse than you
"I came back with my life. That's my medal," says Cecil Hancock, Air Force navigator in WWII. He flew 32 missions, mainly bombing German submarine bases and factories.

2. Life & work - keeping it in perspective
Vet's struggle with how to handle their memories. Some have memoribilia all around them, others are deeply disturbed by it. Combat neurosis wasn't studied, let alone accepted, until the 1970's. Charles Kewan's (WWII Air Force pilot/mechanic) matter of fact statement is powerful, "We had a job to do, and we bloody did it." His was dropping supplies into the Japanese juggle, sometimes in a plane full of bullet holes.

3. People are people
When picking up Italian prisoners, veteran Frank Udell remembers, "We tried to converse with them. It's a silly thing to say when you're at war, but they were nice people." Even in hard times, being civil and respectful is the right way to fly.

The 10 Commandments of Job Search

CM Russell — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:27:48 PST

No matter your religous-affinity, if you're unemployed, you should obey the Job Search 10 Commandments.

The 10 Commandments Of Job Search

View more presentations from applicantblog.

Content is Critical: #2 of The Top Three Elements Every Resume Must Have (and very few do!)

CM Russell — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:00:00 PST

We all know that writing about yourself is tough. Even gifted writers seek help with memoirs, business bios, CVs and resumes. Add to that the pressure of the job search and it's no wonder people working on their resumes develop sudden urges to walk the dog, take out the garbage or call great-aunt Matilda.

Helping to relieve this stress is one key reason I launched Resume Room, my live, online, one-hour resume workshop. My aim is to help you relax and feel confident in the knowledge that your resume:

• Includes the best of your talents, strengths and accomplishments,
• Excludes anything that distracts from these,
• Presents you in the most positive, professional way.

To ensure it does we focus on The Big Three -- the three elements integral to an effective resume: Format, Content and your Personal Profile. In previous articles, we've explored how applying "format psychology" can help ensure that your resume gets noticed. Now let's take a look at the "psychology of content."

Understand the misunderstanding and you secure a powerful advantage.

Myth: A resume is a list of company names, dates and job responsibilities through which recruiters and employers will wade in order to extrapolate an understanding of what you can do for them.

Actually, recruiters and employers have stacks of resumes on their desks. They have neither the time nor the inclination to undertake such an arduous task. You must do the work for them.

Therefore, you must seize this exceptional opportunity to present not just facts and figures but outcomes and conclusions.

Choose wisely what to include and exclude from your resume because it determines how they will perceive you. Use your resume to convince them that you - and you alone - can deliver a rare mix of qualities, mastery and proven success that will make a critical and positive difference to their firm. Use it to paint a portrait of someone who will be an ideal fit, instantly productive, integral to the organization's future prosperity.

Here's how:
• Accentuate Achievements with Actual Figures: Gone are the days when it suffices to state that you are a manager who managed a staff of 25. Today, the interviews go to the manager who has reduced that staff by 30%, boosted its productivity by 75%, while simultaneously reducing customer complaints by 64%.

• Connect with Clarity: When your readers understand what you do, they believe what you can do in the future. Avoid unusual acronyms, company-specific project names and esoteric industry jargon -- especially in your job titles.

• Showcase your Specialties: If you've realized the same impressive goals in several positions, consider it a specialty you can offer your next employer. Emphasize it in your summary and present it as a section heading on a skills-based resume.

These changes help ensure content that genuinely sets you apart and presents you as a proven achiever who can deliver results key to an organization's profitability.

Try making these changes yourself...or of course, we're here to help! If you haven't already "Previewed" a Resume Room workshop for free, you're invited to check us out! Or join as a "Viewer" to watch us for the full hour-long workshop as we work on another jobhunter's resume and you'll discover how to apply these strategies to your own. When you join as a "Participant," you'll enjoy our focused attention as we strengthen and improve your resume on the spot.

Whether you "enter" Resume Room as a Previewer, Viewer or Participant, we hope to see you soon! Visit us at www.ResumeRoom.com

A Day in the Life of a Job Search Fanatic

CM Russell — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST

Reposted from CareerAlley

"I read the news today, oh boy. About a lucky man who made the grade" - Lennon/McCartney

Okay, so you lost your job. Maybe you knew it was going to happen and you weren't surprised, maybe you had no clue and it was a total shock. However you got here, the truth is you are out of work and must start your job search. So what's going through your mind?

You feel incredibly stressed, how long will it take to find a job?
Do you take the first job offer that comes your way or wait for a job that best fits your experience?
You feel guilty for every minute not spent looking for a job
Maybe you have no clue where to get started

Several weeks pass by, you've updated your resume, written your cover letters, done your research, read the Job Search Marketing Toolkit and you've established a regular routine for your job search that looks something like this:

New Job Search Sites - You start your day by adding a few additional Job Search Sites to your list (three or four sounds about right). How do you find these sites?

Recruiters & Headhunters - Now that you've added a few new job search boards to your list (and have checked the jobs that fit your criteria), it's time to add a few new recruiters and headhunters to your list. These can be found at:

Social Networks - Let's not forget Networking (and I don't mean calling your friends and relatives). Time to add some additional social networks:

Other Job Search Tools - Other stuff to help in your search:

Good luck in your search.

Visit my site www.CareerAlley.com
Visit me on Facebook

Jason Alba, author of I'm on LinkedIn, Now What??? and I'm on Facebook, Now What???

CM Russell — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:54:16 PST

Job Search Boot Camp welcomes Jason Alba, author of I'm on LinkedIn, Now What??? and I'm on Facebook, Now What???, to discuss how to take the next step in your career search. http://budurl.com/alba1107

RISK: What the Romans Can Teach You About Career Change

CM Russell — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:30:00 PST

By CAREEREALISM-Approved Expert, Melissa C. Martin

Ever heard those demonic thoughts that swirl in our inner sanctum and resist giving way to the one thing that humans patently avoid…..changing their comfort zone. Risks.

Stepping out of the comfort zone. Our inner temptations to make that change, even one small change, as we say in solution-focused interviewing and counseling, need a guiding force.

Pay attention to those inner tempations! Even if it means confronting the status quo! (a.k.a. comfort; security)

Quite often, the riskiest career choices we make are the right ones! Ancient Roman poet Virgil said:”Fortune favors the bold.” (You’ll often hear me refer to the Ancient Romans and Greeks. Those Roman senators were the precursors of modern career change). Let me explain.

Can you identify any of these change-resisting thoughts to a new career:

1. A lack of purpose (changing jobs to go to a parallel position which may disatisfy you).
2. Not recognizing your values (we use them everyday as our inner compass of decision making).
3. Not being honest with the truth (you have control over your inner truth, not others).
4. Allowing external factors to influence your decision (friends or family who think they know what is a good career fit).
5. Not paying attention to the power of the universe and its energy (serindipity often affects career change more than we know!).
6. Not being able to balance action and reflection.
7. Haven’t rehearsed a possible “exit” from your job (be an actor for once).
8. No knowledge.

Yes, the Romans were wise. And they did pay heed to the above factors.

(And we think that we’re wiser in this post-911 age? Maybe not). Witness the violence in the US today; the 20th anniversary of the Berlin wall being dismantled; 100+ wars in the world, etc).

What one small thing willl you do to make a career risk?

P.S. My first university degree was in Classical studies (i.e. studying the ancient Romans and Greeks, Latin, etc).
Our Western culture is indebted to the ancient Romans.

Melissa Martin
bilingual career coach
careercoachingbyphone.com