All posts in category Pop Culture

How Celebrations Can Boost Your Career


Nearly every day of the year is “National Something Day” here in the U.S.  And every month is “Official Whatever Month.”  For example, March is Women’s History Month, and August 13 is Lefthanders Day.

While many of these odd holidays are marketing ploys to raise awareness of a product, health issue, or social cause, many do offer a reason to stop and think. They are a reason to learn more about a topic or look into a medical issue. They’re also a good excuse to party, or just have a laugh.

Recognizing these topics of the month can also boost your career.

Look at each theme listed below and think of ways you can incorporate it into your networking, training or personal development plans for a month. Some suggestions:

  • Send your networking contacts e-mails or status updates with quotes and news items related to a theme.
  • Challenge yourself to learn more about one topic each month and attend related events.
  • Host a networking event related to the monthly topic.
  • Contact potential employers to congratulate them during a week or month that commemorates their industry or product.

There are many ways you can creatively incorporate weekly or monthly themes into your job search or career development.

Pick only the themes that you want to know more about, or that fit your personal brand. When you contact employers and your network, put your own spin on each theme. Doing so will set you apart from other employees.

Calendar of Monthly Themes
& Topics

January

Also:

February

Also:

March

Also:

April

Also:

May

Also:

June

Also:

July

Also:

  • July 24: National Parents’ Day
  • July 26: Anniversary of the Signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act
  • July 7: Chocolate Day
  • July 10: Teddy Bear Picnic Day
  • July 30: National Cheesecake Day

August

  • Family Fun Month
  • National Golf Month
  • Romance Awareness Month
  • American Artist Appreciation Month
  • National Home Business Month
  • National Inventors Month
  • National Water Quality Month

Also:

September

Also:

October

Also:

November

Also:

December

Also:

  • December 3: International Day of Disabled Persons
  • December 1: World AIDS Day

More Themes & Odd Holidays

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by Denise Felder on March 28, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Career Advice, Pop Culture
Tagged , , , , , , ,

Posted by Denise Felder on March 28, 2011

http://denisefelder.com/2011/03/28/how-celebrations-can-boost-your-career/

How to Have a Red Carpet Job Search


We’ve all had job interviews that went well, and were shocked when we didn’t get a job offer. I bet it’s like a Grammy nominee favored to take home the music award but left empty-handed. Don’t let one (or a few) job rejections get you down.

Here are some tips to handle job interviews like you are part of the entertainment awards season:

Lean on your entourage.
Have a few friends or colleagues with which you feel comfortable talking about your job search. Ask for their perspective. Do they think there were things you could have done differently in the application process? Or were there factors out of your control that kept you from getting a job offer?

Be gracious in defeat.
There’s no TV camera focused on your reaction, but handle your disappointment with dignity. Thank the employer for considering you for the job. Ask if you can keep in touch to learn about future openings. Send a thank you note to all of your networking contacts who helped you get the job lead and interview. And move on to the next opportunity.

Attend the after party.
I said after party, not a pity party. Celebrate that you made it that far in the hiring process. Focus on what you are doing right and build on that. Take a minute to reward yourself for progressing in your job search. Look at it this way: It’s an honor just to be nominated for a Grammy. And it’s an honor and accomplishment to be called in for a job interview.

Get ready for the next event.
As soon as the Golden Globes are over, celebrities prep for the Grammies and other award shows, and then it’s on to the Oscars. Job interviews are similar. As you are mourning the loss of one opportunity, you are following up on other resumes you’ve sent, then you get a call for another job interview.

Are you ready for your spotlight?

  • Know your personal branding statement and elevator speech.
  • Practice your interview responses.
  • Keep your reference contacts up to date.

Your goal is to get a job offer. Instead of imagining you’re giving an awards acceptance speech, picture yourself getting a job offer and succeeding in your new position.

The only way to get nominated for a Grammy or an Oscar is to do good work that people notice. Likewise, if you stop sending out resumes or talking to your network about job leads you will never get a job offer.

Keep at it – and keep looking up.

Also from DeniseMpls:

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by Denise Felder on February 14, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Job Search, Pop Culture
Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Posted by Denise Felder on February 14, 2011

http://denisefelder.com/2011/02/14/red-carpet-job-search/

Have a Theme Song for 2011? You Do Now!


Last year’s theme song, “Morning’s Breaking,” is a powerful song of perseverance and hope in troubling times. It’s message has, and will continue to, reassure me.

“Weeping may endure for the night, but joy is coming in the morning light.”

Hard times have lasted longer for some of us than others. And it’s hard to stay positive when the money problems, relationship troubles, work stress, health issues, and everything else keeps coming. But you must know “your deliverance, your help, your breakthrough is on the way.”

These hard times will end. And “after the hurricane comes the rainbow.”  That’s why the song for 2011 is Katy Perry’s “Firework.” This is a song of self-assurance, triumph and celebration.

“Firework” is about knowing who you are, what you have to offer the world, and living your best self. “If you only knew what the future holds … Maybe you’re the reason why all the doors are closed. So you can open one that leads you to the perfect road.”

This is a New Year. A new beginning with new positive energy.

Let your light shine – and keep looking up!

~~~~~~~~~~

Lyrics to “Firework” by Katy Perry

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag,
drifting through the wind
wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
like a house of cards,
one blow from caving in?

Do you ever feel already buried deep?
Six feet under screams but no one seems to hear a thing
Do you know that there’s still a chance for you
‘Cause there’s a spark in you

You just gotta ignite, the light, and let it shine
Just own the night like the 4th of July

‘Cause baby you’re a firework
Come on, show ‘em what you’re worth
Make ‘em go “Oh, oh, oh”
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby, you’re a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make ‘em go “Oh, oh, oh”
You’re gonna leave ‘em all in awe, awe, awe

You don’t have to feel like a waste of space
You’re original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow

Maybe your reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will glow
And when it’s time, you’ll know

You just gotta ignite, the light, and let it shine
Just own the night like the 4th of July

‘Cause baby you’re a firework
Come on, show ‘em what you’re worth
Make ‘em go “Oh, oh, oh”
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby, you’re a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make ‘em go “Oh, Oh, Oh”
You’re gonna leave ‘em all in awe, awe, awe

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It’s always been inside of you, you, you
And now it’s time to let it through-ough-ough

‘Cause baby you’re a firework
Come on, show ‘em what you’re worth
Make ‘em go “Oh, Oh, Oh”
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby, you’re a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make ‘em go “Oh, Oh, Oh”
You’re gonna leave ‘em all in awe, awe, awe

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon

Leave a Comment
by Denise Felder on January 7, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Job Search, Pop Culture
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by Denise Felder on January 7, 2011

http://denisefelder.com/2011/01/07/theme-song-for-2011/

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