5 Ways to Use QR Codes for Your Personal Brand

5 Ways to Use QR Codes for Your Personal Brand QR codes â€" small, black and white square barcodes (or large, colourful fancy barcodes, depending on your brand), are codes that can be scanned using your smartphone to display a whole host of information about your business, and more importantly, your brand. QR codes used to be used exclusively by high-end businesses, but they are now so easy to create and distribute, they can now be used by small businesses and individuals alike. But QR codes are not effective unless you use them properly, so follow the tips below to effectively integrate and make the most of QR codes for your personal brand. 1) Make It Interesting If your personal brand is all about fun and creativity, dont use the QR code to direct the user to a boring page with only your contact details on.   Use it to direct them to a page that makes them laugh, or that evokes interest, or that makes them want to know more about you. Make sure that the page very clearly shows your personal brand â€" the colours, logo and font that you use will all add up to give an overall impression of you and of what you are about. Many businesses make the mistake of using a QR code just because its the “done” thing â€" but if its not interesting, its not useful. If you want to use the QR code to convert users into consumers â€" for example, if you want them on your mailing list or if you want them to sign up to a special offer, keep the opt-in form short and sweet. Asking for just their name and email address is enough â€" anything more and youll lose their interest. 2) Make it Scannable and Accessible QR codes scan differently on different smartphones, and the more information encrypted into the QR code, the more difficult it is to scan. All you really need to encrypt is the URL and a tracker â€" nothing more. Keep the information on the page itself relatively simple â€" fancy flash graphics could slow the whole process down and make users switch off. Equally, you need to make sure that the code is accessible. Test, test and test it again before it goes out â€" test it on different devices and different platforms to ensure that it works across the board. The last thing you want to do is to put out a QR code that is buggy on the Apple platform, for example, as youll cut out a huge proportion of users and youll project an unprofessional image â€" which is no good for your personal brand. 3) Direct Users to a Mobile URL This might sound completely obvious, but time and time again, businesses use QR codes to direct users to a desktop URL rather than a mobile URL. A desktop URL will not run correctly on a smartphone or tablet device and it will be difficult to navigate â€" instantly making users switch off. A mobile URL that loads instantly on a mobile or tablet device, that is easy to navigate, easy to use and that doesnt skip out on any information is the best bet. This projects a professional image, boosting your brand. 4) Track It and Adapt It A QR code without a tracker isnt useless, as such, but youll be missing out on a ton of useful information. Tracking where your scans are coming from, how long users stay on the page, and what time of day they scan the code will enable you to adapt and change your QR codes so that they are more visible and more useful and so they convert more users into consumers, if thats your goal. For example, if the majority of scans are coming from your business cards, but none from your personal website, you could have a rethink about where to position the code on your site and how to make it more interesting. Adapting your codes as and when you need to is key to keeping your brand fresh and interesting. 5) Make It Fun QR codes dont just have to be boring black and white squares â€" the codes themselves can be incredibly creative and they can reflect what your brand is all about. You can adapt codes so that they include the colours, style and fonts of your personal brand. Some super creative codes also include images and photographs, some are in different shapes â€" for example, the Red Cross has a QR code in the shape of a cross, and some are even 3D. One wine manufacturer has created a QR code from wine corks, while another company has created a 3D QR code that can only be scanned during lunchtime when the shadows line up correctly. Try to be creative with the QR code itself and use it as another opportunity to put across your personal brand. There you have it! 5 simple tips to effectively integrate QR codes into your personal brand. Author: Laura Francis is a freelancer writer and editor from the UK who is passionate about providing quality, engaging content. She occasionally writes for Noesis.

Gasp! I Have Been Given a Bad Job Reference! What Do I Do Now

Gasp! I Have Been Given a Bad Job Reference! What Do I Do Now Gasp! I Have Been Given a Bad Job Reference! What Do I Do Now? You have had a fantastic job interview and have been given a conditional offer on receipt of references. However, your last employer has given you a bad job reference. What do you do next?Bad job references can sometimes happen. Not every boss that you work for will have only positive things to say about you. Whether you had a negative personality clash with your previous boss, or you thought that they were pretty hopeless at their job and obviously working in the wrong role, there will be times when you cannot expect to get a glowing job reference. So what exactly do you do with a bad job reference? Can your old manager give you a bad reference?Many people believe that your old boss cannot give you a bad reference. They think that referees can only tell your new employer about your skills and performances that will help you in your next job. However, this isnt strictly true.Getting personalThere are no hard set rules about what should be included in a reference. The only requirem ent is that references should be truthful and accurate. Personal grievances or issues that a person has with you that are not directly related to the workplace should never be mentioned in a work-related reference.Should you have done anything wrong in your previous job that resulted in any sort of discipline taking place, then this can be mentioned in your reference â€" but only if the matter was properly investigated and resolved. What a referee cannot do is to mislead your new employer.Many bosses can actually be too scared to give a bad job reference just in case anything negative they mention that isnt 100% accurate could result in legal action being taken against them. In most cases bosses will simply stick to mentioning the very basic facts about your employment with their company rather than go into anything about your personality or character.Mostly, a typical reference mentions your length of employment with the company, the role you worked in, the duties you performed, yo ur timekeeping and sickness absence. Pretty basic stuff that a new employer would need to know about your work experience and reliability as an employee.So, what can I do if I get a bad reference?Read your negative reference thoroughly. Sometimes it can be hard to read the tone of a message while in printed form. If you believe that the reference isnt actually bad and there is nothing critical about it, then your new employer may be picking up a negative vibe from your reference that isnt there. Talk you your new employer and discuss what they found to be negative about your reference. Note down each issue that they have and calmly try to explain why there is no cause for concern. It may be that your last boss was a particularly stoic character and that his or her reference was simply a reflection of their character. Explain that it was never in their nature to be enthusiastic or positive about anything, so you didnt expect them to write you a glowing reference. This may be enoug h to appease and reassure your new employer.Should you read your bad reference and find the statements made to be untrue, then you have good cause to take this further. If you believe this negative reference could potentially harm your job prospects, then you can write an official letter to your previous employer to challenge them.If you are sure that any statements made in your reference to be untrue, you could have a case for suing your previous employer for negligent misstatement.To push for a successful challenge, you must be able to prove that the statements made in your reference are misleading, and have had a negative effect on your employment prospects. This would be true if you had a job offer made to you that was later withdrawn after drawing references.Sometimes the simple act of writing to your previous employer to challenge your reference will be enough for them to take action. This can often make them retract your reference and issue you with a new one that is more fit ting. Should your former employer refuse to acknowledge your challenge, then you would be wise to seek legal help.Refusal to provide a referenceBut what if my employer refuses to give me a reference? What can I do now?Refusing to supply a reference when asked can sound warning bells for your new employer. While this can be very frustrating, it isnt against the law. Many bosses are becoming so worried about former employees taking legal action against them that some now refuse to issue references completely.In this case, it may be wise to have a backup solution by providing a list of contacts that you know will be happy to supply a reference upon requests. If your new employer calls for four references, but only three respond, they are not going to complain if all three received references are all positive. They will probably not be worried about not getting the fourth.Obtaining positive references shouldnt really be an issue for most people. But hopefully, this advice will help you out should you get a rare bad reference. previous article Clean Sections Resume Freebie next article The Efficient Red Resume Template Freebie you might also likeThe Best Way to Explain Your Sabbatical To a New Employer

Hope for Bryans Recovery

Hope for Bryans Recovery Its 3:00 AM and Ive finally made time to get back to the passion that started it all (this very blog).  Why am I up at such an odd hour writing?  I couldnt sleep. Yesterday I received some bad news about one of my JPMorgan co-workers who became a good friend.  My friend Bryan hit a deer while riding his motorcycle.  He broke his femur and fractured his pelvic bone and right shoulder.  But the worst part is that hes in a coma and doctors arent sure if he will wake up. I found out when my Mom called me yesterday. Why was my Mom the one to tell me?  Because Bryan was scheduled to start his first day of work at my parents company on Monday. Bryans hobbies and passions revolve around big engines: racing, adding more power to his classic Mustang and riding his motorcycle.  Hes been severely injured before which gives us hope that he will recover from this awful accident. Bryan is 26 and just a month or so behind me in making a career transition to something he is really passionate about; in his case big engines and machines. Both of us enjoyed, appreciated and learned a TON from our jobs at JPMorgan but left  to pursue careers at small companies.  Its tough to jump ship from big safe corporate america yet honorable to want to be  around what you love every day.  Both Bryan and I liked the idea of working for small companies because the  opportunity for growth is so great and the challenge of wearing many hats is rewarding. This situation is part of why Im writing today.  Writing this blog is one of my passions but Ive been severely neglecting it for a while now.  Sometimes we need a reminder to get back to our core after lifes chaotic over-scheduling gets the best of us. It gives me peace of mind knowing that Bryan was strong enough to make a positive change in his life and to that he can face the challenges presented to him.  I hope he will take his passion, spirit and energy and channel it toward making a full recovery. Please send your thoughts, prayers and positive energy Bryans way.  It is said that patients who recover from comas often do so because they felt the energy of those around them who were pulling for them. This story should make all of us stop and think: Am I on the right path and doing whats best for me right now?

Use Book Launch to Promote Your Next Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Use Book Launch to Promote Your Next Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Publishing is a great way to promote your brand and build expertise. Not only can you create a buzz about your message, but attract new clients. So if you havent written a short (or long) book, yet -put that on your to-do list.   Once completed, it takes the right promotion strategy to make this successful for both print and digital books. Would you like more visibility for your next publication? Amazon alone is just a small piece of the marketing puzzle. By being active on social media with a professional website and blog your personal brand can direct readers to your book. Pre-release book launches are the next step after building your community and reputation online. Even with a low budget your brand can encourage a high level of expectation and attract readers before you book is published. How to Create a Stand-Out Book Campaign There are several ways you can plan a book launch event to build an audience for your upcoming release. • Reach out to book bloggers Get involved with book reviewers where your brand’s audience are active readers. Communicate on their blogs and join groups on places like Goodreads where you can post helpful information and interact with readers. This can all lead up to a book giveaway event with a specific timeframe, and open the door of opportunity for bloggers to review your work. • Host a webinar Your personal brand can build up an audience for your upcoming release by hosting a free webinar or live streaming event. By highlighting some of the main points and providing valuable information people will want to know more about your book, which increases your chances of a sale. • Take advantage of Amazon’s pre-release option Authors can sell their books on Amazon before their publication is released. This option is a good way to generate a buzz for your brand and anticipation for your book. • Invest in online advertising Social media offers more ad options that brands can take advantage of at a low cost. Both Facebook and Twitter have affordable rates for short timeframes, and now both Instagram and Facebook are allowing a buy button for mobile users. This may be well worth the investment to kick off an awareness online for your book. A successful book launch involves building the right relationships and having a solid marketing strategy in place. Make preparations a few months in advance before you begin your promotion, and take advantage of your existing fan base with pre-release announcements that encourage your community to share.

Going To Create Your Personal Brand Nope, You Already Have a Brand - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

Going To Create Your Personal Brand Nope, You Already Have a Brand

Summary Sunday Brush Up On The Basics of Job Search

Summary Sunday Brush Up On The Basics of Job Search Isnt time you brush up on the basics of job search? To stand out in todays job search, you will need to master the basics of job  search.  Sadly, these skills are seldom taught or sought out, that is, until they are needed. This weeks collection of articles will help new grads or those new to job search brush up on the basics. Each week, I scour Twitter for articles to help up your skills and shed new light on what recruiters are looking for to give you the competitive advantage. Feel free to follow me on Twitter to get real-time job search news you can use! Follow @careersherpa JOB SEARCH How to Tell If a Company’s Culture Is Right for You by  Rebecca Knight | Harvard Business Review This article talks about how to decide if you should take a job. Fitting into the companys culture is as important if not more, than being able to do the job. Use these tips to help you evaluate culture before during and after the interview! Job Hunting? 15 Ways To Stand Out From The Competition by Forbes Coaches Council | Forbes When you round up job search pros, youre bound to get some good advice. Check out what these coaches recommend! Heres a tip from one of my favorites: Testimonials from former managers, colleagues and customers on LinkedIn work well. So do quantified achievements on your resume and social profiles. Don’t say you can do it prove you’ve already done it.  Mark S. Babbitt,  YouTern Udacity and Google launch free career courses for interview prep, resume writing and more by  Frederic Lardinois | TechCrunch When Google gets involved, its sure to be good! Ive checked out segments of the video training on resume writing and if youre new to job search, the info will help. You just cant get enough advice on how to job search and interview better so why not check out the FREE courses! NEW GRAD The Biggest Mistakes Job Seekers Make After College by Ronda Suder | Top Resume There are some mistakes new college graduates tend to make when searching for a job.   Based on a livechat  conversation with Danny Rubin, Amanda Augustine covers many of the mistakes to avoid. RECRUITING TRENDS What the Latest Hiring Trends Mean for Job Hunters by Nancy Collamer | Next Avenue Employers want to hire the right candidates and this conference was geared to help them understand what they can do to make better hires. This is a career coachs take on the Indeed.com conference for recruiting talent. LINKEDIN The Best LinkedIn Summaries And Advice On How To Make Yours Shine by William Arruda | Forbes The Summary section of your LinkedIn profile is probably one of the most important ones. Arruda shares his advice and examples of the summaries hes seen. Arruda says The complete narrative should share your values, passions and strengths, telling people who you are and why they should care. Secret to Powerful LinkedIn Profile SEO: Leverage Skills Endorsements by Susan P. Joyce | Job-Hunt.org Dont overlook the Skills Endorsements section of your LinkedIn profile. Having the right skills will help build credibility AND improve where you show up in search results when recruiters search LinkedIn!

Cv Stand For Small Businesses - Provide Information To Help Them Find The Best Opportunities

Cv Stand For Small Businesses - Provide Information To Help Them Find The Best OpportunitiesTo provide the best services to the customers, a CV stand for small businesses has to be able to provide the best resources to them. It needs to be able to provide information and content to the visitors to be able to share their information. The opportunities that are being offered online are massive and with this comes the need for the resources to be provided to help them get the best from these opportunities.A CV stand for small businesses can provide them with the resources that they will need to find the best job opportunities. These tools will also be able to provide them with an opportunity to showcase their skills. In order to get the best opportunities in the world, they will need to use the right tools and resources to help them.The first resource is the information. The information can be found by simply surfing the internet and reading what people have to say about the opportuniti es. By seeing the different websites that are providing information on this, the individual will be able to see that there are different websites that offer the same information. However, one thing will remain the same, the person will have to take the time to find the information that is the most valuable and useful to them.The second resource is the resources. There are many different resources that are out there and they will need to be used to find the best ones that will fit the needs of the person. Once these resources are used, they will need to be able to compare the different options that are available.With these online resources, the individual will be able to learn a lot about the different programs that are available. These resources will not only include the jobs that they are going to be interested in but they will also be able to learn about the different steps that are needed to get into the jobs. They will be able to learn about the amount of money that they will ne ed to pay to get into the job. Finally, the CV stand for small businesses can provide them with the resources that they will need to help them with the information that they are seeking. These resources will help them understand the different programs and the requirements that are required in order to get into the jobs. This will help the individual to learn more about what it takes to get into the positions and the amount of time that it will take to get into them.The information that will be found in these online resources is the information that will be needed to help the individual find the best opportunities. Once the information is found, they will be able to learn the information that is needed in order to get into the positions.