Saturday 17 March 2012
Book Review: Now What: A Young Persons Guide to Choosing the Perfect Career by Nicholas Lore
As a career consultant I try to read as many books on this topic as I can. I just finished reading Now What: A Young Persons Guide to Choosing the Perfect Career by Nicholas Lore. I had very high expectations going into this book based on the last book that I read from this author. I must say that I was not disappointed.
The first couple of chapters are pretty basic and kind of boring as the author describes various tests that college students can take to learn about their personality types and which careers they would be best suited for. The best part of the book is the tool kit that Lore provides. This allows the reader to become engaged and learn as they read. The book forces you to take action towards your career and actually provides encouragement and motivation along the way.
There were a couple of negatives though. The one thing that I did not like was the author plugs his testing and coaching services and at times I felt like I was reading a promotional piece for his business instead of a book that was supposed to inform and educate. The other negative was there was never any mention of the negative economy we are in and how that impacts people that are starting off in their career.
Overall, I do recommend this book for any high school or college student that is ready to start searching for a career. It is tough out there so the more you can read and prepare for the better off you will be.
Friday 16 March 2012
Career Book Review "101 Ways To Successfully Market Yourself" by Jay Miletsky
In today's marketplace, your career is 100 percent your responsibility, including marketing your strengths. Unfortunately, marketing can be maligned, especially when you're the product being marketed. Honest attempts can appear boastful, so we hesitate to do so. Yet, if people aren't aware of your strengths, how will they know when, where, and how to use them?
The best self-marketing centers around building relationships and having fun doing so. Successful self-marketing can, among other things, enhance your job search, promote your own company, grab a piece of the spotlight (i.e. become a thought leader/industry innovator), and make new friends.
Following is the second of three articles summarizing "101" career books published by Course Technology. A different author highlights what it takes to achieve professional success in the 21st century for each book. Here, it's businessman and marketing expert, Jason Miletsky. His new book is entitled 101 Ways To Successfully Market Yourself."
Miletsky is CEO and executive creative director for a leading marketing communications agency in New York City. He's a featured speaker for numerous companies and seminars and guest lectures for universities.
"101 Ways To Successfully Market Yourself," is a short read of 88 pages, long on self-marketing tips. You're bound to learn some new applications to advance your career. Use Miletsky's ideas to gauge how many techniques you currently incorporate to promote yourself, and decide which ones best suit your needs.
The book reads in three easy parts. The first is entitled, "27 MYM (Marketing Yourself Mandates);" and establishes the foundation of your self-promotional efforts. Miletsky's tips include:
Understand Your Personal Brand. Your personal brand is your personal reputation. It's key to successfully market yourself and sustain relevant long-term connections. People will decide to befriend or distance you based on your personality, sense of style, unique qualities, what and how you say it, commitment follow through and what you potentially bring to the table.22. Do Something Specific to Stand Out. Accomplish something that separates you from the crowd, and you'll find yourself in more demand. Suggestions include write a book, or articles for popular print/online publications, record a series of Web videos, and hold a seminar.
27. Don't Give Up-It Won't Happen Overnight. "Marketing yourself is a process," says Miletsky. It takes time to meet new people and build a following. Persevere.
Part II is titled, "Make The Most of The Web." Miletsky emphasizes that to effectively market yourself today, you need to include the Web. "Social networking may die down a bit over time, but it's here to stay," he says. For space interest, Miletsky assumes you have a basic knowledge of the three big social networking sites: Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. If not, he advocates learning their attributes as soon as possible. Highlights include:
28. Make Social Networking Part of Your Daily Routine. Social networking does take time and effort. It can take a while before you see results. "This can be frustrating, because thanks to the speed of the Web, most people have lost their patience to allow things to happen over time," says Miletsky. Incorporate social networking into your daily routine, using the Big 3 sites. Send an e-mail blast once a month to your contacts. Inform them of your new blog posts and other information.
63. Get Your Name in a URL. Make sure you secure your name as a URL. It's good marketing for any of your online activities you engage in. Defensively it prevents someone else from cashing in on your name, as you become better known.
69. Broadcast What You Write. Get the URL for any blog post you write or comment you leave on someone else's blog (shorten the URL through bit.ly or some other shortening service). Broadcast it on Twitter, use it in LinkedIn conversations, and post it on relevant Facebook groups and your Facebook wall.
"There's Life Offline-Get Out and Meet Real People," is Miletsky's third message. Among his suggestions are:
78. Become a Regular. Frequent various places. Over time, people will recognize your face, making connections easier.
82. Seek Out Public Speaking Opportunities. Meet numerous people all at once. Be a featured speaker in a room full of people listening. Speakers command attention, are focal points for attendees; and many will want to befriend you afterwards.
101. Make Follow-Up a Ritual. Make sure you follow up with each new contact within 24 hours after your initial connection. Send a quick e-mail to remind new contacts who you are, how you met, and conversations had. Suggest a future meeting when you sense mutual benefits.
Six appendices enrich the book; with the first listing Miletsky's top 30 Twitter tools. "Twitter is one of the absolute best ways to get people to notice you," he says. Endorsements include:
Tweetdeck. Provides numerous columns to allow simultaneous monitoring of people you follow, tweets mentioning you, direct messages and any other keyword/group you choose. Twitterholic. Checks your relative ranking and graphs your followers over time. Nearby Tweets. Enhances local marketing by entering desired geographical location/keyword. Site shows the people within that radius that fit the description.
The " Who You Should Follow On Twitter" List is Appendix B, and details 31 active links to find good people to follow on the site. Included are:
25 SEO Gurus. 50 Users to Follow for Job Searching. Top 237 People to Follow on Twitter Who Will Follow You Back.The most comprehensive appendix, titled, "Strategies for Success," specifies how to maximize your achievements at work. Its nine tips include "Visualize Success," and "Learn How to Advance within the Company;" which features 30 soul-searching questions pertaining to seeking a management position. Those queries include:
Are you decisive? Can you see yourself calmly and objectively handling crisis situations? Do you do your best work all the time?Other appendices highlight LinkedIn groups, networking events and additional social networking sites.
Marketing yourself is no longer an option. To enjoy long-term career success, learn and hone a process that works for you; and have fun doing it.
Complement Miletsky's message with Rashika Fernando's "101 Career Success Tips," and Carol A. Silvis's "101 Ways To Make Yourself Indispensable at Work," to jump-start your career, whether employed, unemployed, seasoned or novice.
You can follow the author on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/jaymiletsky.
Timothy Zaun is a blogger, speaker and freelance writer. Visit him online at http://timzaun.com/.
Is Your Boss Difficult?
Most people get stuck on the ladder of career advancement just because they lack the skills of effectively managing their boss. For those experiencing retardation in their career despite having the skills required to succeed, they need to review their relationship with their boss. If they know it is not cordial, then they need to urgently do something about it. And I have provided solution in this text interrogatively entitled "Is Your Boss Difficult?"
It is authored by Richard Dare Ajiboye, a human resource practitioner who holds a Higher National Diploma (HND) from the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State; Post-graduate Diploma from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, Lagos State and Master of Business Administration from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, all in Nigeria.
Ajiboye is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria. A motivational speaker, the author is Assistant General Secretary, Corporate Affairs of the Bible Society of Nigeria.
Note that the background information about the book is embedded in chapter one.
Structurally, this text is segmented into ten chapters. As already said, the introduction constitutes the chapter one of the text. In this chapter, the author, through a random survey carried out in mid-2006 in some Nigerian companies, offers aggregation of views of subordinates about whom a boss is, based on the relationship existing between them and their bosses.
According to one of the respondents, "A boss is a person of authority in a workplace or situation. He or she is accountable for action taken in a department or an organisation. My relationship with my previous and present bosses has been cordial, and this has helped in shaping my corporate life."
Another respondent said, "Typically, my current boss is an autocrat. He throws paper at me when I do the wrong thing, shouts, abuses and walks me out of his office. He likes to give queries even when he is expected to dialogue with me...The only option to get out of his pressure would be to seek transfer or change my job."
According to Ajiboye, it is quite obvious that if more people were allowed to express their views, they would still revolve around positive or negative comments about whom a boss is and the relationships that exist between them and their bosses.
The author adds that the obvious is that individuals have described their relationships with their bosses and whom a boss is from their personal backgrounds. Ajiboye asks if any of the negative respondents' view describes the relationship with your current boss, stressing that if it this is the case, all hope is not lost.
The author says it is easy to manage subordinates by virtue of the power and authority a leader has. Ajiboye educates that the boss has the carrot he dangles for good performance and the stick he uses when the subordinates breach the organisational or work standards.
He explains that most people are good at managing their subordinates even though there are problems at times in doing this because of human complexities. Managing the boss is usually more problematic because the influence in this case can only be persuasive and non-directive, asserts Ajiboye.
He adds that the boss reserves the right to or not to concede to subordinates' persuasion. Ajiboye advises that if you are conscious of the simple fact that the success of your boss is yours in a way, you will do everything possible to succeed.
Chapter two is based on the subject matter of types of bosses. According to the author here, as human beings are different in personality, so also are bosses different from one another. He explains that there are no two people with exactly the same personality traits. Such differences, no matter how slight, would make a great difference in relationship, perception, decision-making and problem-solving approaches, adds Ajiboye.
In his words, "You may make a serious mistake comparing your boss with others or any of your former bosses. He is a unique and different person altogether. The earlier you realise this and treat him accordingly, the better. The secret of ever succeeding in any relationship, work environment inclusive, is the ability to understand and appreciate differences among people."
The different types of bosses identified by Ajiboye are the achievement-oriented/autocratic boss; people-oriented boss; laissez-faire boss and situational boss. This author says an achievement-oriented/autocratic boss is the one driven by result and does not care how results are achieved especially that he has dictatorial inclination.
As regards a people-oriented boss, Ajiboye educates that this type of boss though interested in getting results, is mainly concerned about staff welfare and is democratic in nature and conscious of collective commitment or team work.
According the author, a laissez-faire boss is lackadaisical in his style of getting things done and often sees his subordinates as technocrats who should know what to do at any given time. As for a situational boss, Ajiboye educates that this is a complete person in leading subordinates. The author stresses that a situational boss is a combination of the three types of bosses earlier mentioned and leads according to situation, person and time.
In chapters three to six, Ajiboye analytically X-rays concepts such as functions of an executive; how to understand your boss; managing relationship with your boss and competences required to manage your boss.
Chapter seven is entitled "Tips on managing yourself". According the author here, it is quite obvious that managing your boss successfully starts with how well you are able to manage yourself. The author adds that it will be absolutely difficult for a person who lacks the right qualities to manage him- or herself to manage another person properly.
He says most leadership problems that have been experienced are not unconnected with the fact that people who are not mature enough to manage themselves are for one wrong reason or another made to manage others.
Ajiboye stresses that to be a good manager, you need to be able to plan your days and activities; be calm under pressure; develop yourself; maintain good health and minimise your expectations from people.
In chapters eight to ten, he discusses the tips of managing your boss; why your boss could be hard and conclusion on how to achieve effective relationship with people.
Stylistically, this text is on the high rung of the ladder. For instance, the language of the text is standard and embroidered with good word order and accurate diction. The concepts, too, reflect a high level of primary and secondary forms of research as well as logical presentation.
To reinforce readers' understanding and consistently remind them of the thematic direction of the text, Ajiboye employs a technique of paraphrasing to achieve conceptual restatement. What's more, the interrogative mode of the title creates suspense, easily arouses and sustains readers' interest while the outside front cover design reinforces the title.
However, a few errors of punctuation and interpretation are noticed in the text, e.g., "Executive Director Human Resources, Cadbury Nigeria Plc" (page 28), instead of "Executive Director, Human Resources, Cadbury Nigeria Plc"; "He is the AGS - Corporate Affairs of the BSN" (page 28), instead of "He is the Assistant General Secretary, Corporate Affairs of the Bible Society of Nigeria", etc.
Generally, this text is a specimen of a high level of intellectual interface, reflecting perfect combination of human resource management and motivational forms of discourse. It is a must-read for all subordinates, managers, chief executives, entrepreneurs and organisations that cherish corporate success and harmony.
GOKE ILESANMI, Editor-in-Chief/CEO of http://www.gokeilesanmi.com/ and Managing Consultant/CEO of Gokmar Communication Consulting, is a Certified Public Speaker/Emcee, (Business) Communication Specialist, Motivational Speaker, Career Management Coach, Renowned Book Reviewer, Corporate Leadership Expert and Editorial Consultant.
Tel: +234(0)8055068773; +234(0)8056030424
Email: info@gokeilesanmi.com; gokeiles2010@gmail.com
Tips to Choose the Right Accounting Management Books
When you enroll for a university degree, it is mandatory to choose a subject that you will be majoring in. Most students decide the subject based on their talents, aptitude and the career prospects of the chosen profession. Accounting has been an all-time favorite with students because there is a growing need for qualified accountants. This makes accounting management a very lucrative career option, and you will need an adequate collection of accounting management books to excel in your career.
Accounting management books serve as an effective guide and a wonderful source of reference for students of accounting. They allow students to comprehend the knowledge, which is imparted at university lectures. Accounting management books help an amateur accountant master the profession with characteristic ease. Most university professors recommend an exhaustive list of books, which are extremely handy in the study of accounting. University education is a very competitive field, and it is necessary to stay one step ahead of your mates at college.
Accounting is a subject with many sub-branches, such as advanced accounting, management accounting, accounting information system and financial statement analysis. Before you invest in accounting books, it is important to ensure that you have the right list of books. Many accounting books are available with the identical titles; therefore, it is important to verify the name of the publisher and author before you make the purchase. The book should perfectly match the recommendation made by the university professors.
Some accounting management books are mandatory to read, whereas others are often complementary. These books are crucial if you wish to widen your horizons in the field of accounting because the subject is extremely vast. Online shopping is a good way to acquaint yourself with bestselling titles, which have not been recommended by your teachers. A plethora of websites are available that publish book reviews, which are extremely helpful. One advantage of browsing through these websites is that the price is always mentioned, allowing you to plan your finances.
It is a fact that college textbooks can burn a hole in your pocket. Accounting books can be very expensive, and you need to be wise in order to make the right purchase. Most students have limited financial resources, and it would be advisable if each student develops a strategy to procure the most important books.
One advantage of online shopping is the wide range of discounts and special offers on accounting management books. Online vendors are known for speedy and accurate delivery of books, making the purchase hassle-free. A large number of bookstores deal with second hand books, and it would be a good idea to browse through their collections. Such books are generally in a dilapidated condition, which is of secondary importance. A book is defined by its content, and students should pay more importance to this aspect.
Before shopping for accounting management books, it is advisable to glance through book reviews, to ensure that your purchase is not futile. These books should meet your budget and requirements, and budding accountants need to make wise purchases.
The author is a professor of accounting at a reputed university, who has also co-authored many books on accounting. He shares his experiences and insights through his blog. For the complete range of accounting management books, visit http://www.tmhshop.com/.
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