Greg's Corner

Recent Updates Page 260 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

• 

  Greg Collier 9:50 am on April 19, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  Tip #3: Create a Stand-Out Resume 

  In today’s job market, you need every advantage you can get – and your resume is an important part of that equation. In most cases, this is your first opportunity to make a good impression on prospective employers so, in order to get an interview, you really need a resume that will stand out from the pool of applicants applying for the same positions.

  Here’s my advice for creating stand-out resumes:

  1.  Customize your resume and cover letter to each job advertisement you respond to. Emphasize the skills and past accomplishments that best match the skills and experience asked for in the job description: devote more space in your resume to these areas, and spell them out in greater detail.

  2.  Make sure your resume is both well written and visually appealing. If writing is not your strong suit, consider hiring a professional to help. For design assistance, Microsoft provides several resume templates built in to Word, and there are more on the Microsoft.com web site. In addition, RockportInstitute.com offers a great set of web pages on writing a masterpiece of a resume.

  3.  Consider posting your resume online. There are several ways to do this. You can use a site like VisualCV.com, share your resume via Google docs, or add it to your blog. You don’t have a blog? Blogger.com and WordPress.org provide free, easy systems for creating a new blog in minutes.

  4.  If you work in technology or new media, a video resume may be a great alternative for you. For examples, check out the many video resumes posted on YouTube.

  5.  If you work in a field that values creativity, consider creating a resume that shows off your skills in innovation. One jobseeker, Ed Hamilton, achieved near-celebrity status for creating his resume in Google Maps. And animator Shea Richardson posted an animated YouTube video to serve as his cover letter.
  

  I hope these ideas are helpful to you in creating your own stand-out resume. And I wish you all the best in finding that next great job!

   

  Leave a ReplyCancel reply
• 

  Greg Collier 11:54 am on April 18, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  Get Inside My Head 

  Ever wondered how Geebo became socially responsible, culturally relevant, and developed the ability to facilitate you and your business? As Geebo’s man behind the mission, I provide these answers and more in an exclusive interview with Robert Scoble.

  Back in March 2010 I had the opportunity to sit-down with Robert at his home in Half Moon Bay, CA, to discuss why Geebo is different than Craigslist. This interview took some serious guts from Scoble, being as he is from “the valley,” and good friends with Craigslist founder, Craig Newmark. I credit Robert for taking the time to get both sides of the story.

  While the differences between Geebo and Craigslist are vast any many, I specifically discuss Geebo’s personal dedication to protecting, managing, and accommodating the diverse needs of our users with Scoble.

  As the main attraction in the Scobleizer Channel’s “tech geek interview with business innovators”, I detail Geebo’s path, progression, and power as both a community connector and a classified site. During my interview with Scoble, I also covered the early days of the internet boom and the more recent developments regarding social networking, internet safety, and more.

  Come get to know me by checking out my exclusive interview with Robert Scoble on the Scobleizer Channel.

   
• 

  Greg Collier 5:03 pm on April 17, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  Follow Us on Facebook 

  Everybody tells you to follow them on Facebook. We want you to interact with us on our brand new Facebook page! Whether you’re job hunting or bargain hunting, we will be posting everything Geebo has to offer on our Facebook page as well. So become a Facebook fan of Geebo right now by clicking on the Facebook icon and make sure to tell your friends too.

  
   
• 

  Greg Collier 12:24 pm on April 14, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  Tip #2: Improving Your Odds 

  If you are wondering how position yourself more effectively in today’s competitive job market, you are not alone. As I travel around the country, I get more questions on this subject than any other. The good news is that there are a few strategic practices that will put you ahead of the pack, and help you find that next great job. Here they are:

  Set Goals
  Set daily goals and stick to them. Researchers at the University of Missouri studied 327 job seekers, ages 20 to 40 and found that starting a job search with plan (such as sending out three resumes per day, networking with three people each day, making five phone calls each day, etc.) led to greater success.

  Narrow Your Search
  It may be counterintuitive, but think about it: in the end, you only need one job. Most job hunters try to send out as many resumes as they can. This is a big mistake. Instead, spend more time on pursuing those few job openings represent a great fit with your skills, interests, and experience.

  Google Yourself
  Pay attention to your Google “resume.” Do you know what shows up when someone types in your name and city, or your name and job title or former employer? Research commissioned by Microsoft found that while only 7% of jobseekers thought that information about them online hurt them, 79% of hiring managers actually looked up online information on job applicants. Most said that what they found affected their decisions and 70% said they had actually rejected candidates because of what they found.
  Quick tip: You can save time in keeping track of your Google resume by setting up a Google Alert. Every time a new source includes your name, Google will send you and email with a link. To set up Google Alerts, go to http://www.google.com/alerts.

  Stay Positive
  A Georgia Institute of Technology study found that certain behaviors increase the chances of finding a job, even during economic hard times. This study found that people worked harder at their search and had more success if they were: 1. Optimistic (even to the point of being able to view their job loss as an opportunity to improve their position); 2. Confident in their job search skills; 3. Extroverted; and 4. Organized. They also found that people who changed their daily routine – adding more exercise or church activities, for example – were more successful in finding new jobs.

  I hope that these strategies will be as helpful to you as they have been for other jobseekers – and I wish you all the best in finding that next great job!

   
• 

  Greg Collier 9:49 am on April 3, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  Tip #1: Looking for a Job – In All the Right Places 

  

  The Internet is obviously the best place to look for job advertisements. But which sites are the best to use? Most people, if asked, will come up with the same three or four names. And that’s a problem. Because if you’re looking where everyone else is looking, you’re really just ensuring that you have a lot of competition.

  The solution is to expand your reach. Find sites that advertise jobs you don’t see on all the other sites. So, for example, if you are 18 to 35 years old, and looking for an entry to mid-level position, you should know about Geebo.com because we have carved out a particularly large niche for those jobs.

  Another tip: Look beyond the job advertisement. Use the Internet to gather important background information on the company you want to work for. What’s this organization’s mission? What’s new there? Where are they headed?

  Next, network on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc. with people who work at this company, and ask them specific questions related to the job you’re applying for.

  Once you’ve got plenty of information on the job opening, the organization, and the people who work there, you’ll be prepared to craft a resume and cover letter that will stand out from the pack. And when it’s time for the interview, you’ll be very well prepared to talk about how your skills match their needs.

  One last tip: While well worth the effort, I realize that all of this research, resume-writing and networking is time consuming. To keep from being overwhelmed, I recommend that you set reasonable daily goals. And at the end of each day, keep yourself motivated and encouraged by jotting down your accomplishments. In today’s job market, finding a great job is hard work. But take heart. That hard work will pay off.

   
• 

  Greg Collier 2:06 pm on March 10, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  Craigslist Unravelling at the Seams 

  Extortion Drama: Nails in the Craigslist Coffin?

  Did Craigslist founders, Newmark and Buckmaster, welch on a deal with eBay, their largest stockholder, and then extort millions from them? It looks like the answer is “you bet they did”!

  At this point, both sides are waiting for a Deleware judge’s decision while concurrently preparing for another round in a California court.

  Let’s review the highlights:

  · The two companies have been in court now for months. eBay’s biggest contention is that Craigslist promised eBay a board position in return for their significant investment (28% of the company’s stock), and then later reneged on the deal.

  · eBay’s Garret Price told the court that Newmark and Buckmaster “extorted “ $16 million from eBay, and tried to keep this a secret, lest it damage the company’s image.

  · The ensuing legal action by both companies has been called “a dysfunctional… relationship drama better than a nasty divorce case” by NBC Chicago’s Jackson West. Even eBay’s ex-CEO Meg Whitman, currently a candidate for California governor, has taken the stand. This is probably the worst beating to Craigslist’s reputation in recent memory, despite the fact that they are constantly embroiled in criminal investigations across the country.

  Craigslist’s reputation seems to continue to spiral downward. According to CNN, an increasing number of people are avoiding the site because they regard it as unsafe – and with good reason.
  
  Despite the efforts of law officials, from community police to federal investigators, the criminal activity seems to be never-ending. Just this week, a man was sentenced for two counts of raping a child he had found on Craigslist. And last week, at least one other person was arrested for criminal activity on the site.

  With a bad and worsening reputation, the imminent loss of the company’s largest shareholder, and growing critiques from the press, you’ve got to wonder, what will finally bring down Craigslist? Will it be eBay prevailing in court? Will law officials shut it down? Or will people simply quit using the crime-ridden site?

   
• 

  Greg Collier 8:57 pm on February 22, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  Race Based Reasoning 

  Do you believe that love is blind? You may not for long…at least not color blind. A recent article on OkCupid.com explores how race affects the messages an individual receives and their sent messages rate of return. Think this doesn’t affect you? Wrong again. Whether you are Black, White, Asian, Indian, or Native American, this article will surprise you. While the article primarily focuses on rates of connection and dating, the article’s findings may have bigger implications in the business and political arenas.

  Read more!

   
• 

  Greg Collier 10:49 am on February 5, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  A No Good Day for Newsday 

  The old adage, “No news is good news,” is definitely true for the Dolan’s who purchased Newsday, the Long Island daily, for $650 million last October. Attempting to make the jump from a paid paper daily to a paid internet news source, the Dolan’s opted to make Newsday internet and membership accessible only. Possibly “ahead of the Times,” Newsday’s membership hasn’t exactly balanced the $4 million website overhaul. While a return on an investment is every investor’s dream…for the Dolan’s and Newsday, the $9,000 ROI is nothing short of a nightmare.

  Read more!

   
• 

  Greg Collier 11:06 am on January 25, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  What Not to Share 

  

  Social networking is an amazing tool. With one click of a button you can inform you friends, colleagues, family members and random strangers that you are engaged, accepted to graduate school or en route to an amazing vacation. However, with one click of button you can also inform that same group that you are unexpectedly pregnant, inappropriately drunk, or recently fired. Finding a balance that is both appropriate and enjoyable is one few people have yet to master.

  Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace all allow users to upload unlimited amounts of photos. Now, don’t get me wrong, your trip to the Bahamas does look inviting…however, 27 pictures of you and your on-again/off-again boyfriend making out on the beach is boring and gross. I am all for love but the absence of such pictures makes my heart grow fonder of our online relationship. 

  These social networking sites are not simply limited to people in the 15-30 range. Parents, grandparents, and the elderly woman across the street all have the access and ability to become members…and friends of yours! Nothing can make a hangover worse than a phone call from your mother who just saw pictures of you pop-up on her Facebook feed from last night…in the midst of final exams.

  Employers are also social network savvy. You may clean up and look great in a suit but the person interviewing you may have already seen you half-naked doing a keg stand. Though your friends were impressed, few employers are.

  The irony of these social network snafus is that they are all easily preventable. Your first step, think before you post. Are your friends primarily co-workers, family members, close friends? If they are a mixture, tailor your postings to the most conservative group to prevent offending anyone or ruining any opportunities.

  Not in the mood to censor yourself? No problem. Security settings were created for a reason. Take the time to learn how the security settings work on each social networking medium you frequent. By changing and modifying your settings you can determine who can see your pictures, status updates, and even comments made by your friends. You also control who you become “friends” with. If you are interviewing for new jobs, and have already set your privacy settings to only allow confirmed individuals to see your information, be wary of friend requests of people you do not know.

  Life is fun. Sharing your life is awesome. If it weren’t for Facebook, our family “friends” in New Zealand would see or hear very little about us or us about them. I treasure the ability to immediately share ideas, information, events and photos across the hemisphere. Over-sharing, however, is overrated. Be aware of the difference or become painfully aware of the consequences.

   
• 

  Greg Collier 7:01 pm on December 22, 2009 Permalink | Reply  

  A Gift for All Seasons 

  What do I want for Christmas this year?  Civility.  I wanted the same thing for Chanukkah a few weeks ago. Did I get what my heart desired?  No…at least not yet. 

  Regardless of what religious credo you follow, or do not follow, commercialism has commandeered this time of year.  Instead of focusing on the love that exists between family and friends, commercialism has usurped the true focus of the holidays, replacing it with a quest to buy the hottest toys, most expensive gifts and throw the most lavish of parties.  Bah humbug!  

  The spirit of the holiday season is supposed to be about peace on earth and good will to our fellow human beings.  I personally feel that everyone, the world over, should employ such practices daily.  You do not have to be Mother Teresa to accomplish such a “feat”; In fact, it only takes two simple words, “Be Civil”.  I attempt to practice this mantra every day. To be successful, all it takes is opening the door for a stranger or loved one, throwing your loose change into the Salvation Army collection bucket, thanking the person who bags your groceries or allowing someone to merge in front of you on the highway.  

   The lack of civility, especially during the holidays, is disturbing.  How many stories have we read about fights breaking out in the midst of holiday sales?  I doubt this is what any higher power had in mind. 

  I know we are all going through trying times these days but regardless of how bad your life may be going there is always someone who has it worse.  Instead of trying to find a way to place yourself at the top of the “poor me” pyramid, take a deep breath and remember everything you have to be thankful for.  If you cannot come up with anything, though I trust that you can, go out, smile at a sales clerk, hold open a door for a mother shopping with her three young children and in-laws, and meaningfully wish the Santa ringing the Salvation Army bell a “Happy Holidays”.  In doing so, you will give both yourself and someone else something to be thankful for this holiday season.  You will have also given me, and the entire world, the gift of civility! 

  I wish you all a holiday season filled with joy, laughter and civility that carries on throughout the years to come!