The emergence and proliferation of Web 2.0 has not just changed the way we use the internet, its impact is also being felt in the career world. In the 21st Century you are the CEO of your own business, ME INC, which is your career. In this new world with new rules, new knowledge and skills are required to create and live a successful and fulfilling career. Here you will learn about Career 2.0 Success Strategies that will see you thrive today.
Sutherland Shire Council is running a free workshop for people aged 15-19 yrs who are looking to find their first job. This is the perfect opportunity to hear from industry professionals and get the inside scoop about how to apply for the job you want.
This free workshop will be held from 10am – 2pm on Saturday 20 March at the University of Wollongong Loftus Campus and includes lunch.
Bookings are essential and can be made by emailing workshops@ssc.nsw.gov.au or phoning 9710 0155 by 17 March.
Sonia Williams, Author of "Start Me Up!", wrote an article for us all about one of the most powerful marketing strategies today - Word of Mouth Marketing (WoMM). Although the article looks at how you can grow your business with the power of WoMM, we reckon it's useful for anyone promoting a business, product, project, or event, or even just in promoting yourself (that's right, why not talk yourself up a little this year?!)... So, read on for the low-down on WoMM.
--- How can you make 2010 the year for your business? Well listen close, I am about to provide you with the best business advice you are ever going to hear… Word of Mouth Marketing (WoMM) is what it’s all about!
If you want a sensational and successful year in your biz, it’s as easy as focusing on word of mouth to promote your business. WoMM is the key to your business success because it is the only guaranteed way to get through to customers who are bombarded with an endless stream of ads and media noise on a daily basis. When buying products or services, customers look for recommendations from their friends and family. And this, my friend, is the most powerful tool of all. RIP advertising!
Biz success in 2010 and beyond will be driven by real conversations between customers who are motivated to talk about your business, product or service. Of course it’s easier said than done - so how do you motivate complete strangers to tell their friends and family about your business, products or services?
Well here is where the hard work really begins… you need to start a conversation. Smart companies get people talking about their products and service by focusing on what makes their product or service truly remarkable. The good news is, it doesn’t cost a fortune to get a prospective or actual customer talking about your business! So, how do you show how remarkable your business really is?
Take a fresh look at your products and services
Let’s start with your product or service: does it truly satisfy the needs of your target market? You will be surprised to learn many business owners think their product or service serves a real need… but, ask the paying customer and you get an entirely different story! Have you looked at the features and benefits of your product through the eyes of your customer? Does it really satisfy their need?
Not sure…. ask them!
Hey, why not ask your customers directly “How are we doing?” “How could we improve?” - genuine attempts to improve your product or service will not only get people talking about your biz, it will help you make improvements and create an even better product or service! And, better products have more people talking about them!
Trust me, it’s not beneath you to ask! Just look at Coco Cola. Even the big boys occasionally get it wrong and have to go back to the drawing board! Coke were so desperate to crack the growing energy drink market they made a spectacular flop with the launch of their version, Mother. But, within no time they announced a re-launch of the very same energy drink, with an open apology ‘We got it wrong!’. Even the tops of the new cans were emblazoned with: “Tastes nothing like the old one”! Coca Cola listened to their customer feedback, and saved face with their loyal customer base (and maybe if they had done so earlier, they would have saved lots of time and money!).
Customers start conversations and recommend the products and services they use when the product or service truly satisfies their own needs. How does your product or service rate?
Ding, ding - service anyone?
Another thing that is very easy to improve is your customer service. Sadly I could write pages on the bad customer service I see on a daily basis – I’m sure you could too! Why is it so hard to provide quality customer service? The short answer is, it isn’t. When you focus on giving your customer a great experience, you give them something to talk (even gloat!) about to the people around them!
This is such an easy area to improve on - customer service is cheap (often free!) so why not start right now! It can be as simple as making sure customers can access your product information quickly and easily. Also, make sure everyone in your biz (yes, that’s you!) is up to date with the latest product and industry info and where your product fits in. Jump on and have a fresh read of your website… does it provide detailed product/service descriptions, testimonials and other relevant info? How easy is it for your customer to actually purchase your product? Small changes can make a huge difference!
To be a remarkable business you need to focus on the small stuff because these are the things customers notice and these are the things your competitors aren’t doing.
Open your eyes to a new way of doing business – it’s all about WoMM. Being remarkable makes more money and sense, because customers will talk about you, your business and your products and services. That’s advertising for nix.
This year the key to your success is to learn how to be the remarkable company that people want to share with their friends.
--- Written by Sonia Williams Sonia Williams is a high-energy entrepreneur and author of Start Me Up! a compilation of more than 100 business ideas that any budding entrepreneur can run with, as well as great tips for those wanting to start a business. http://www.start-me-up.com.au/
Interrupting an interviewer to look at a text message or take a call.
Reeking of that last minute cigarette as you walk into the job interview. Yuk. Overpowering colognes/perfumes are also bad form.
Dressing inappropriately – the way you look should match the image of the company you are interviewing with. Also jewellery that jangles irritates the interviewers.
Not setting up a quiet space for a phone interview. Pet noises, house mates/family asking questions or loud music in the background are interview killers.
Sharing too much personal information.
Bagging your former employer or boss.
Not doing your homework about the employer – and worse – calling the employer by the name of their competitor.
“How well you conduct yourself at each step of the recruitment process speaks volumes about how you will act in the job – if you get it”, says Kate Southam, Editor, Careerone.com.au.
Kate’s top 10 tips on how to ace a job interview:
Research, research, research – on both yourself and the employer.
Tailor your resume and your interview prep for each role.
Rehearse for the interview – at least three times.
Prepare to use real examples from your work history to answer interview questions.
Pick your job interview outfit days ahead to make sure it fits and is stain free.
Be positive about your past work experiences.
Prepare questions to ask the employer.
Always be 10 minutes early for an interview.
Follow up with a thank you after the job interview.
Be on your best behaviour but be genuine. If you have to pretend to get the job then it is not the job for you.
Careerone.com.au spoke to employers and recruiters who offered up some of their worst interview experiences.
Angela Vithoulkas who runs the VIVO Cafe franchise in Sydney said that one candidate came in for an interview dressed in a clown costume.
“I felt like sticking a sign on my forehead saying ‘are you serious?”. It’s hard to take someone seriously when they’re dressed as a clown.”
Helen Olivier, of the Olivier Group said that there was a degree of desperation in the market so people overstate their skills and salary.
“Often people assume they are going to earn a lot more than market reality just because they are moving jobs. If you are head-hunted it doesn’t necessarily mean you are worth higher than market value.”
Andrew Brushfield of Robert Half in Australia says spelling mistakes on resumes is a pet hate for consultants.
“If you make errors on your application, employers assume you’ll make mistakes on the job.”
