The DMOC-Inc.com Freelancer Blog-It

Volunteering and Your Career: The Win-Win Scenario

admin — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:00:44 +0000

Working full-time? In-between jobs? Contemplating a career change? It doesn’t matter: volunteering is a sure-fire way to boost your career. Here are just a few examples of how volunteering can benefit your work life:
•    Networking: Volunteering expands your number of contacts. Job opportunities can come from the most surprising sources, including that accountant working the phone bank with you.
•    Increased Skill Set: Volunteering offers you the opportunity—in a low-risk environment—to expand your skills by trying something new without the fear of losing your job (and it takes no tuition for this experience either). Any job in the business sphere also exists in the volunteer world, so go for it!
•    Sense of Well-Being: Feeling good attracts more good into your life, and what feels better than when you contribute your services to a worthwhile cause? A sense of well-being helps you be more productive in all areas of your life. And what’s more, if you work at home or are out of work, a change of scenery can do wonders for your attitude.

When volunteering, keep these things in mind:
•    Be Strategic: While picking up refuse along the beaches might be a useful activity, getting involved in the planning committee for the clean-up will allow you to learn more about how the organization works and make contacts that are more meaningful. Your new volunteer friends will see your organizational and creative abilities in action—not just your trash-picking skills!
•    Be Passionate: Don’t volunteer just to volunteer…get involved in something you really believe in. Lack of interest will show up in all kinds of ways, and inevitably you won’t present yourself in your best light.
•    Treat It as a “Real Job”: In order for volunteering to actually help your career, you need to make a good impression by keeping commitments that you make in the same way you would a paying job.
•    Increase Time Management Skills: “If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it.”—Lucille Ball. Volunteering can take some serious time management skills (see some of the top techniques here), which are an integral part of being a successful executive. (The advisors at GetWorking.com can help you map out a strategy—e-mail them at info@getworking.com or call 212-741-5101 to schedule an appointment.) At the very least, you can become a “virtual” volunteer, which can range from technology advising to monitoring online discussions.

And don’t forget to let Direct Marketers On Call know what you’re up to—add volunteer experience to your resume. When listing a volunteer position on your resume, specify that it was a nonpaid position, but other than that, it’s legit, so keep DMOC in the loop.

Laura Dobbins

DMOC Blogger & Copywriter

Post-Traumatic Growth and the Accidental Entrepreneur

admin — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:41:55 +0000

Have you heard of “post-traumatic growth?” Neither had I until I read about the burgeoning phenomenon of suddenly unemployed people who take one of the most traumatic experiences of their lives—getting fired—and turn it into a positive by becoming “accidental entrepreneurs.”
According to the Psychiatric Times, post-traumatic growth results in:
•    Improved relationships
•    Feelings of new possibilities
•    A greater appreciation for life
•    A greater sense of personal strength and spiritual development
Essentially, people who experience post-traumatic growth end up feeling that their losses have produced valuable gains in their lives – and for some of those folks, it means they are starting up new businesses. Which, even if your ultimate goal is to re-enter the corporate world, might not be such a bad idea…
Avoid “Brain Death”—Start a Business

An article about “accidental entrepreneurs” in the New York Times shared info from Harvard researcher Shawn Achor, who has found that creativity surges as people adapt to a new situation. “Their brain is actually learning at a faster pace than when they are not challenged,” Mr. Achor says. “As a result of this, some individuals, the accidental entrepreneurs, they are the ones who in the midst of crisis actually respond with growth.” Starting a business is a way to channel that creativity into something productive.

Surprisingly Enough, It’s Not Necessarily a Bad Time to Start a Business
Ernst & Young says that “experience shows that entrepreneurs should not give up on start-ups in a down economy.” Afterall, Starbucks, Intuit, and PetSmart are just a few companies that started during a recession. As the New York Times reported, “The most recent Index of Entrepreneurial Activity by the Kauffman Foundation showed a slight uptick of new businesses in 2008 — a full recessionary year — over 2007….Accidental or by design, entrepreneurship is on the rise again this year.” Kauffman also reported that the survival rate for these new businesses is about the same in expansions and recessions.
Fill In Potential Holes on Your Resume
Even if your company doesn’t become a billion-dollar enterprise, starting your own small business will show potential future employers:
•    The diversity of your skills, from budgeting, production, marketing, and beyond
•    That you are a self-starter—you don’t sit around waiting for something to be handed to you
•    They get creativity when they hire you!

Need some help getting your entrepreneurial ideas in order? Check out the coaching services offered by industry experts available at GetWorking.com.

Laura Dobbins

DMOC Blogger & Copywriter

Intuition as a Marketing Tool

admin — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:10:53 +0000

In the measurement-driven world of marketing, what role can hunches play? Well, for soldiers in Iraq, hunches are life and death, as detailed in a recent New York Times article. The situations that marketers face may not be quite as immediately dire as in Iraq, but given that the survival of companies often depend on marketing judgment calls, hunches and how they work are worth taking seriously.

First of all, intuition is not magical—it comes from somewhere. According to researchers, “Intuition is a highly complex and highly developed form of reasoning that is based on years of experience and learning, and on facts, patterns, concepts, procedures and abstractions stored in one’s head.” Malcolm Gladwell reports on this phenomenon in his book, Blink, and takes the position that our ability to make decisions instantly isn’t intuition at all—it’s just rational thought that is processed at a much higher speed than we are used to.

So what can we do to maximize positive outcomes from our hunches? Psychologists are trying to pinpoint the factors even further, but here are a few things we can do to help guide our intuitive decision-making to be more effective:

• Increase experiences. Essentially, the more experiences we have, the more patterns we are able to recognize with our “intuitive” brain, and the more likely we will have good hunches.

• Improve emotional intelligence. Hunches occur quickly and are usually prompted by some level of stress so it’s important not to look at them through the lens of pure emotion. The more you know how to interpret emotions, the better chance your hunches have to play out positively. (Science writer Daniel Goleman’s work on emotional intelligence is a great starting point for this topic.)

• Cultivate curiosity. Curiosity is key to discovering new opportunities and fostering creativity.

• Remember balance. Intuition doesn’t mean that it isn’t good to take time to reflect and rationalize before making a decision. Usually some level of rational deliberation coupled with inspirational, intuitive moments provides the optimal balance when making decisions.

So the next time a “gut feeling” about a marketing or other decision hits, listen to it—it could be your brain’s internal “dual processor” telling you something you didn’t even know you knew.

Laura Dobbins
Copywriter and DMOC Blogger
info@dmoc-inc.com
http://www.dmoc-inc.com

Follow Heather Frayne on Twitter

Job Hunting: To Tweet or Not to Tweet

admin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:42:37 +0000

If you were to believe the hype, everybody’s tweeting these days. But should you use Twitter to get a job? The answer in short: Probably, but with discretion.

Plenty of anecdotal evidence suggests that Twitter can play a key role in getting a new job or contribute to career advancement. However, in the hurly-burly world of social media, you will want to proceed with caution, especially when it comes to your career.

First and foremost, Twitter is a community. Just as in the offline world, your Twitter community is bound together by common interests and goals (this time, in 140 characters or less). To become a respected member of your Twitter community, your contributions should reflect and add to the interests of the group. Once you have demonstrated your commitment to the goals of the Twitter community, you can occasionally tweet (not too often—no one likes the smell of desperation) about the skills you have to offer or make other job-related queries.

When contributing to the Twitter community, think of your tweets as a “quality not quantity” proposition. Basically, it’s important to remember that Twitter is about exchanging ideas and letting people know more about you based on the content of your tweets. No one really wants to know that you had a whole wheat bagel for breakfast, and they probably shouldn’t know if you had one too many the night before. But if you tweet on a development that has direct bearing on your industry (with your own take on it), other members of the community can experience what you bring to table. Essentially, you’re giving the Twitter world a taste of the value you bring as a member of a real-world community—an excellent way to build your network, which can lead to new job opportunities and even recommendations.

Essentially, if you become part of an industry-focused Twitter community, you will have a better chance of finding out about, and thus snagging, primo job opportunities than the non-Twitterer. Take a look at these resources to help keep your tweets—and your career—stay on the right “twack”:
• “Twitter Job Hunt Mistakes to Avoid”
• “Twitter Tips: How to Use Twitter to Job Hunt”
• “Twitter Etiquette: Five Dos and Don’ts”

Laura Dobbins
Copywriter & DMOC Blogger
info@dmoc-inc.com
http://www.dmoc-inc.com

Follow Heather Frayne on Twitter

The Overwhelming Case for Positivity

admin — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:47:21 +0000

It’s easy with layoffs, job reductions, and a giant economy slump for it all to get to us. But now more than ever is a time to stay positive—a number of scientific studies show that the power of positive thinking (similar to the trendily named “laws of attraction”) is a far more potent force than we ever suspected.

Here are just a few examples of how staying upbeat and “looking on the bright side” can help you, whether you’re on the job or looking for one:
• Positivity affects your network: A recent study published in the British Medical Journal found that happiness and positivity lifts the moods of people even three degrees removed from you—friends of friends of friends…which is also known as your “network.” And what is the number one source for job referrals and placements? Your network—which includes your friends, neighbors, family members and your friendly managers at Direct Marketers on Call (http://www.dmoc-inc.com).
• Positivity brings opportunity: Winston Churchill said it best: “The optimist sees opportunity in every danger; the pessimist sees danger in every opportunity.” Positive thinking puts you on the lookout for the possibilities in new situations, rather than just the potential pitfalls.
• Positivity increases productivity: Nine out of ten people say they are more productive when they are around positive people, according to the book How Full Is Your Bucket—important both on the job or if you’re looking for work. Logic dictates that because positivity is contagious (see bullet one), your positivity will rub off and be mirrored back to you, thus making you more productive.
• Everyday life is better: Positivity can take practice, especially with today’s challenging atmosphere. But try it—Take five minutes each day and write down one thing you’re grateful for. This small action can shift the way you look at your entire day. Another technique: Commit a random act of kindness and see what comes your way. Or as the granddaddy of positive thinking Norman Vincent Peale put it, “If you have zest and enthusiasm, you attract zest and enthusiasm. Life does give back in kind.”

Science backs it up, but when it comes down to it, thinking positively, no matter what happens, means you are far more likely to overcome challenges because you don’t give up—you see opportunities everywhere. Check out these eleven positive thinkers you can follow on Twitter or Facebook and get regular, thoughtful positivity “boosts” each day. For additional work coaching, contact GetWorking (http://www.getworking.com).

Laura Dobbins
Copywriter & DMOC Bogger
info@dmoc-inc.com
http://www.dmoc-inc.com

The Benefits of Freelancing “In the Meantime”

admin — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:26:08 +0000

CNNMoney recently reported that “freelance is the new full-time,” and it’s true: The number of unemployed people who have accepted short-term assignments is up 73% over the past year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The indicators don’t lie: Even if full-time employment is your final goal, freelancing, particularly on site, offers a wide range of positive possibilities for you and your long-term career.

What Short-Term Assignments Can Do for You in the Long Term

If you’ve been laid off, you might be feeling the pressure to get another full-time job as soon as you can. But you may want to consider the benefits of being an independent worker before signing on permanently somewhere. With short-term projects, you have the opportunity to:

• Network and build referrals while on the job: By taking short-term contract positions, you’ll have the opportunity to show companies that might one day be hiring what you can do. You may be a hired gun at the moment, but you have a lot to offer them in the long run. Plus, where better to meet the office “influencers”—the hiring decision-makers—than on the job? The value of building a quality network for career success cannot be overstated. If a company is one you’re interested in joining, treat the assignment as a “constant interview” because your performance—not just your resume—will be the greatest advertisement for your potential future there.

• Audition an employer before signing on: Not only will companies be looking at you, but you have the chance to check the company out too before committing a big chunk of your future to them. After all, would you marry someone before dating them for awhile? Short-term contract work lets you find out about the foibles of individual companies so you can know if the work atmosphere is one where you can thrive in the long-term

• Close up gaps on your resume: While in the current economic climate, gaps on resumes are becoming more the norm, it is still better to show that you are taking action to keep your “hand in the game” by keeping your skills current and adding to your repertoire. Temporary assignments, such as the ones offered at DMOC (http:www.dmoc-inc.com), are one of the best ways to show future employers what you’re made of.
• Keep cash-flow steady: If you’ve been laid off, you know the heartbreak of the unemployment check—and just how far it doesn’t go. Gainful, short-term employment can help stem cash-outflow and keep your finances steady.
• Learn to be in business for yourself: According to a number of career advisors, you should still treat a full-time job as if you are in business for yourself. Short-term, freelance projects can teach you how to shift your thinking about your approach to work, your finances, and healthcare.

Even if a full-time position is your ultimate goal, working on short-term assignments can be a source of growth, excitement and challenge. And with more than half (55 percent) of companies having relied on freelance or contract workers or intending to in the future according to a recent Harris Interactive survey, it’s just smart to go where the jobs are—and keep your career on track.

Laura Dobbins
Writer and Guest Blogger for DMOC (http://www.dmoc-inc.com)

To reach Laura Dobbins, please contact the Direct Marketers On Call office at info@dmoc-inc.com

Pockets of Hope

admin — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:52:52 +0000

With a stagnant economy in New York City and many other Northeast cities, there may be opportunities in other parts of the country for recently laid-off workers, including marketers. Several cities in the South and West have seen steady growth despite a grinding recession. So casting a wide net for job opportunities could bring in a fish or two.

The American Marketing Association, the largest organization of industry professionals in North America, recommends that job-seeking professionals target specific companies and industries that seem to be financially stable, wherever they are located. This approach could yield better results than only focusing on the known marketing driven businesses in this area. For instance, tech and energy companies also employ marketing professionals.

If you are moving out of your field of comfort, one possible way to learn more about an unfamiliar industry is through freelance opportunities. To minimize risk, many companies are open to a freelance trial before a full-time commitment is made. Direct Marketers On Call recently conducted a survey of some clients and learned that over 50% of them were more inclined to hire freelancers before permanent staffers, when the company’s hiring freezes are lifted.

Like oil prospectors hoping to stake their claim to success, downsized professionals may find the Lone Star State fertile ground for new jobs. Five Texas cities topped the Forbes list of locales for jobs, with Austin grabbing the top spot, followed by Houston, San Antonio, Fort Worth and Dallas. Known as the “Silicon Valley of the Southwest,” Austin hosts technology giant Dell, its biggest private employer with 17,000 workers. Although Austin has seen its share of layoffs like other parts of the country, it’s projected to see the annual job growth of 2.3 percent over the next. AMA also recommends that job seekers look at Houston and Dallas for their IT and energy sectors, like Hewlett-Packard, Conoco Phillips, Texas Instruments, and Exxon Mobil.

North Carolina has been a bright spot for job growth as well, especially in Raleigh, with opportunities in the information and government services sector. Forbes.com lists parts of the Northwest as choice for a job search. Portland and Seattle, they report, are within the top ten of big cities of desirable job markets, primarily due to opportunities in the healthcare, technology (think Microsoft), and educational sectors. A similar trajectory of rising information technology opportunities balanced against a weakening natural resources sector is fueling growth in Utah.

AMA recommends that job seekers looking in other states network through their college alumni associations, online social hubs like Facebook and LinkedIn, and regional recruiters or professional temp services (like Direct Marketers On Call).

Happy hunting!

Maurice Boyer, freelance writer
Maurice is a guest blogger for Direct Marketers On Call, http://www.dmoc-inc.com.
Direct your comments to info@dmoc-inc.com

The Generation Gap at Work

admin — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:31:58 +0000

A recent article in Careerbuilder.com cited that this is the first time in history in which there are
four different generations working together in the workplace. In theory it’s a fascinating concept to have a range of ages all working together. But in reality, the situation can present challenges for the oldest working group: The Boomers.

Even though Boomers came of age in the wild and crazy 60’s, they were still brought up to believe that seniority in the workplace was awarded to those who had years of achievement to warrant the top positions. However, the criteria for career advancement are no longer based on years of experience. As more Boomers stay in the work force and Gen X’s and Gen Y’s drive businesses today, it’s very likely that Boomers will or do have younger bosses already.

Here are a few suggestions for the Boomers:

1. Keep an open mind. We all have different skill sets.
2. Just because your boss or co-workers are younger, don’t assume that they want to know how you did things in the past.
3. Be willing to learn new tools for business and to look at situations from another point of view.
4. It’s critical that you remain current on the latest online marketing opportunities, whether it’s social media, optimization, blogging, etc.
5. If you get to know your younger boss’ interests, you may find a common link that wasn’t obvious at first.
6. Accept the fact that workers under 35 do not have the same division of work and life that you have. More than likely, the Gen Yer is checking email on his Blackberry during the weekend.
7. Younger workers are committed to a collaborative workstyle, so build consensus with all team members before finalizing your strategic plan or business proposals.

Have you had an experience working with a younger boss or having an older employee? We would like to hear your tips for making the experience work successfully.

Barbara Nelson
Barbara@dmoc-inc.com

Heather Frayne
heather@dmoc-inc.com
www.dmoc-inc.com

DMOC’s Speed Coaching Event

admin — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:44:14 +0000

On January 12th, DMOC hosted its first Speed Coaching and networking evening. Each of the attendees was invited to meet individually with Barbara Nelson, Christine Stark, or Jim Ward to ask that one question that would help with his or her job search. It was a lively affair that everyone seemed to enjoy. Several attendees followed up with emails telling us that it was a “fabulous” evening, “wonderful and informative.” One attendee wrote, “Judging by the crowd, this event was much needed.” We loved reading these emails.

There was quite a crowd Monday night. Thankfully, everyone seemed good-natured about the crush, as we spilled out into the halls. When we were planning the evening and deciding how many people could fit into our offices, we honestly forgot how big winter coats are and how much room they take up. Even so, nothing stopped the talking, networking, and reconnecting of old acquaintances. Cards were passed around, emails exchanged, luncheons set up. And the conversations were just the warm up to the mini-coaching sessions.

I spoke with people after their meetings with Barbara, Christine, or Jim, and only heard positive feedback. As we all know, this is a challenging time for experienced marketers who are out of work. So it wasn’t surprising that all of the questions focused on strategies to improve one’s chances of finding employment. Some of key topics discussed were: Ways to improve a resume; transferring skills to another industry; ageism; moving back to marketing after a hiatus. While chatting with folks before their coaching meetings, I was frequently asked about the freelance job marketplace and when we can expect a turnaround. Overall, it was heartening to hear stories of perseverance, focus, and even optimism.

Our friends from WDMI were also in attendance, as we asked them to join us for this event. They networked with the DMOC group and found many friends and former co-workers as well.

We have been asked if we will host another Speed Coaching event. In light of the enthusiasm generated by this one, we are considering another evening for the late spring/early summer – well after coat weather! In the meantime, anyone interested in pursuing more one-on-one coaching is being referred to our affiliate: GetWorking LLC (www.getworking.com)

Heather Frayne
heather@dmoc-inc.com
www.dmoc-inc.com

P.S. Please enjoy a few pictures from the evening.

2009 Hiring Trend Survey Results

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:34:01 +0000

To get a pulse on upcoming hiring trends, in December we contacted several of our key clients (both agency and corporate side) for their feedback. Here is an overview of our findings:

1. The majority think that the first half of 2009 will reflect the same or slightly less volume than fourth quarter 2008 in terms of media and marketing plans. A few were still awaiting final campaign results to decide.

2. Overall, the clients don’t foresee significant increases in hiring in the first two quarters of 2009. However, if new or additional marketing programs warranted hiring, most (over 60%) would tend to hire freelancers rather than permanent staffers.

3. What are the most important skills the clients are seeking in a marketer? Most of the respondents want a candidate with a proven track record with specific skills in specific industries. Mass media and generalists are no longer as desirable. CRM, database marketing/analytics, and integrated marketing are highly valued. General strategists are not in high demand. The majority of our interactive clients, not surprisingly, place a high value on knowledge of SEO, SEM, new technology tools, social networking, and online media planning/implementation. Several prefer “quick, competent, and hungry” self-starters with good communications skills.

We hope you find this informative, and we welcome your comments.

Regards,

Barbara Nelson

barbara@dmoc-inc.com