Lamplighter Volume 5 Issue 4 August September 2013

Volume 5, Issue 4 August-September, 2013

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Volume 5, Issue 4 August-September, 2013

From the Editor I would like to share with you a short story about the “Celebration of Life.” (a parallel between the cycle of nature and human life).

The Anxious Leaf Once upon a time a little leaf was heard to sigh and cry, as leaves often do when a gentle wind is about.

And the twig said, "What is the matter, little leaf?"

And the leaf said, "The wind just told me that one day it would pull me off and throw me down to die on the ground!"

The twig told it to the branch on which it grew, and the branch told it to the tree. And when the tree heard it, it rustled all over, and sent back word to the leaf, "Do not be afraid. Hold on tightly, and you shall not go till you want to."

And so the leaf stopped sighing, but went on nestling and singing. Every time the tree shook itself and stirred up all its leaves, the branches shook themselves, and the little twig shook itself, and the little leaf danced up and down merrily, as if nothing could ever pull it off. And so it grew all summer long, till October.

And when the bright days of autumn came the little leaf saw all the leaves around becoming very beautiful. Some were yellow and some scarlet, and some striped with both colors. Then it asked the tree what it meant. And the tree said, "All these leaves are getting ready to fly away, and they have put on these beautiful colors because of joy."

Let your mouse guide you through this issue of Lamplighter Article Page Welcome Message Gaming The Job Hunting System My Heartfelt “Thank You” to All From Around the World Wide Web America is Asking You to Call Welcome to Your Summer Tech Tip! Coach Rod's Message Remix: How to Boss Your Content Around Lamplighter Survey Did You Take The Summer Off? Lamplighter Looks at Sam Anson Lamplighter Contributors Lamplighter Staff ETP and You To Help Veterans

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and turned it over and over, and whirled it like a spark of fire in the air, and then it dropped gently down under the edge of the fence, among hundreds of leaves, and fell into a dream, and it never woke up to tell what it dreamed about.

Source: Apples4theteacher.com – Autumn Short Stories for Kids. Children’s Printable Fall Stories

September 2, 2013 – Labor Day – Let us be proud and celebrate the contributions of America’s workforce!!!

"We must keep on our work-clothes, for our life is not done - but your clothes are for holiday, because your tasks are over," said the branches.

Speaking of contributions, I would like to thank our generous contributors for their articles: Jerrold (Jerry) Clifford - Gaming the Job Hunting System James Scott – My Heartfelt “Thank You” to All Eric Nilsson – Compilations for: From Around the World, Wide Web, America Is Asking You to Call, and the front cover collection Barbara Daisak – Welcome to Your Summer Tech Tip Rod Colon – Coach Rod’s Message Sandee Hemphill – Remix: How to Boss Your Content Around Tony Cretella – Did You Take the Summer Off? Lamplighter Looks at Sam Anson Carl Reid – ETP and You to Help Veterans

Just then a little puff of wind came, and the leaf let go, without thinking of it, and the wind took it up

Aida A. Rodriguez

Then the little leaf began to want to go, too, and grew very beautiful in thinking of it, and when it was very gay in color it saw that the branches of the tree had no bright color in them, and so the leaf said, "O branches! Why are you lead-color and we golden?"

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GAMING THE JOB HUNTING SYSTEM

Volume 5, Issue 1 February-March, 2013

By Jerrold (Jerry) Clifford

It has been a while since I have even played a game, but I decided to create one within my column. I can do that because, after all, it is my column. The idea of this game is simple.

Find any flaws in the following “hypothetical” scenario. Then review the scoring at the end to see how you did.

Joe was tired. He felt he deserved a rest. After all, he had worked hard all day trying to find a job. First he created a resume that he felt was perfect. It clearly stated all the tasks he performed in each of the jobs he held since he graduated college 20 years ago.

That way, he reasoned, anyone looking at it could see that he was highly experienced and with a little analysis could deduce that he could adapt and learn how to do new tasks. Joe took only a few moments to admire his creation before visiting the internet job boards.

Here, he spent several hours uploading his resume. Now, he was sure company HR people would come to him and ask him to join their organizations. In case they didn’t, however, he emailed his new creation to companies whose names he was familiar with. He felt good that he was doing them a favor since now they didn’t even have to go to the internet job boards to contact him.

In fact, he felt so good that he went on the internet several hours a day for the next several months to make sure he didn’t miss any job leads.

WHAT TO DO Review the above scenario and evaluate how Joe did. To get the highest score, look for any tasks or omissions that Joe could have utilized to support his actions. Then apply the scoring below.

SCORING

Assign yourself points based on the following: 1. Joe did everything right. He worked really hard. Give yourself 10 points.

2. Joe worked very hard. However, he could have made his resume even more impressive through adding his picture and imposing formatting. Give yourself a 10 point bonus.

3. Joe could have better utilized the internet job boards by examining the popup commercials and responding to all that applied to his background. Give yourself both 10 points and an additional 10 point bonus.

4. Joe didn’t emphasize some of the important activities he performed even though they were not recent, so a hiring manager could analyze and see if some of his skills might be used within a current opening. Give yourself 5 points.

5. Joe was spending his job search time on the internet and that is the most productive use of his time. Give yourself 15 points.

6. Joe did not research to determine companies that require his experience and for whom he might like to work. You lose 10 points.

7. Joe applied to only well known companies and didn’t waste time applying to smaller ones. You have earned 15 points.

8. Joe did not try to determine any hiring managers. You lose any bonuses you earned.

9. Joe did not try to find company employees who could vouch for him or present his resume to a hiring manager. You lose all points you have earned.

10. Joe utilized a “one size fits all” resume and did not research companies for potential jobs and tailor his resume to job requirements.

Take away 15 points.

Did you get a high score?

But this is my game and rules. In this game, as in the person with the lowest

Congratulations.

I get to set the your job search, score wins.

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Volume 5, Issue 1 February-March, 2013

My Heartfelt “Thank You” to All

most of all to my wife and children and family. The Lord has richly blessed my life with so many wonderful people and opportunities.

By James Scott

In June of this year, I was fortunate to have been nominated for a New Jersey Technology Council CFO award by our company CEO and a professional business contact. The award was for lifetime achievement, Hall of Fame CFO. It was an honor to have been nominated; it would have been nicer to win the award but unfortunately, I didn’t win. However, since upon nomination, I expected to win, I decided to put together a short speech to thank the following people who had contributed to the success of my more than 30-year career: Steve – At my first real job with Greater Media, Inc., Steve was my one LinkedIn contact. I worked there with Steve from 1977- 1979. Steve is a good friend and probably the best accountant I ever worked with. He got me my next job at Blessings Corporation, where I worked from 1979-1981. He now lives and California and even with an invitation there is no way he would be coming to my award ceremony. He is a Christmas card friend now but we share updates through LinkedIn. The two Bobs - who greatly changed the course of my career. Bob, my friend and co-worker at Blessings, who introduced me to my next job at Augat Vitek (1982-1984). He left Blessings for a huge career jump to an accounting manager. At Augat Vitek, I had my biggest career jump, from divisional accountant to divisional controller. Bob, and the president of Augat Vitek- another Bob, are still my LinkedIn contacts.

The bunch of folks from the NJTC, my co-employees, and my current accounting team who deserve to be thanked, too. More thanks directed to schools and churches, teachers and priests, companies, professional organizations (Like ETP and ETP colleagues), and

There was no way to thank everybody in a speech. Since a speech is only heard by the audience. The folks to thank most weren’t even going to be there.

Our company had bought a table for 10 (Thank you Binary Tree)! There was an extra seat at the table, so I started calling folks to invite them to the Awards Breakfast. Nobody I called could make it. Every “no” meant another call, and every call meant another personal “thank you” from me. Some folks were quite touched, and I realized that I was lucky (blessed) again by having this opportunity to reach out to them in such a positive way. Getting a “no, but thanks” as the recurring message was a good thing. If I ever want to contact someone, but can’t think of a reason to, saying “thanks” for something - - -anything seems as good a way as any to get a conversation started.

Through LinkedIn I sent messages to more folks who had been helpful and supportive of me along the way. More good karma, everybody replies to a thank you message. A few days before the event, the guy who nominated me for the award (not the CEO-the other guy) called to ask if there was an extra place at the table for him as he was coming alone. “Sure is”- the seat I couldn’t give away became his.

Our circle was complete.

On the day of the big event, I received the runner-up award and a small plaque and a chance to address the 200+ NJTC members.

I thanked my wife and love of my life, Carolyn, for our 34-year marriage and the sacrifices she made to support my career. I thanked my coworkers who were there and gave a general thanks to the NJTC and community. No big speech, no big award. A big reward for me was being able to reconnect and say thanks to so many people by phone and email before and after the event.

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Volume 5, Issue 4 August-September, 2013

And yes, I did get to thank Steve, Bob and Bob who had helped me way back in those early days.

Thanks to LinkedIn and phone. They are now, once again, warm connections. And in thinking about folks to thank, I found some other older contacts (1977, 1987) on LinkedIn and recently invited them to connect. And when they do I will thank them, too.

Getting a nomination for an award is a wonderful thing. It’s wonderful because you are reminded of all of the people who have helped along the way and how much there is in life to be thankful for.

Don’t miss a chance to say “thanks” ---- life is too short. When contacts share their celebrations (new job, new skill, promotion, endorsement, and update) jump on board and congratulate them, too. Blessings, in the form of opportunities are given to us every day. Stop to give thanks and celebrate. Maintaining your contacts in a “give and take” relationship is like saving money in the bank. Good to have, even if you never get to use it.

5 Things To Consider When Evaluating Online Career Advice

By Heather Huhman

It seems like everyone writes about careers and the job market today. As a job seeker, the amount of online career advice available can be overwhelming. But what advice is the “right” advice? Who should you listen to? How will you distinguish bad advice from good advice?

Consider the following when evaluating online career advice: Article continues at this link: http://www.careerealism.com/online-career-advice/

LinkedIn Is the Key to Your Next Job

By Alex Freund

If you’re in transition and looking for a job or you contemplate changing jobs, there’s nothing more powerful than learning how to be efficient at using the power of LinkedIn. Being listed on LinkedIn is a must. A study by Microsoft revealed that 70 percent of employers have rejected job candidates because of information they found on those candidates online. Yet the same study suggests that 85 percent of employers say a positive online reputation influences their decision. Those are pretty convincing numbers.

Here are some facts: 

Does Volunteering Lead to Jobs?

by Ellis Chase Last week the Corporation for National and Community Service released a study on volunteering as a path to paid employment: “Volunteering as a Pathway to Employment: Does Volunteering Increase Odds of Finding a Job for the Out of Work?”

Those who volunteered were 27% more likely to find work. Impressive, but not surprising.





Recruiters and employers prefer dealing with applicants they can check out and trust.

People spend more time on social media than on e-mail. LinkedIn is in the social media for business.

The Internet can make or break your image.

Article continues at this link: http://www.landingexpert.com/job-searchtips/linkedin-is-the-key-to-your-next-job/

Article continues at this link: http://www.socialhire.com/career--interview-advice/3313/doesvolunteering-lead-to-jobs

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America is Asking You to Call

Volume 5, Issue 4 August-September, 2013

From 1957 to 1962, Dinah Shore sang the praises of America while asking the viewer to see it in a Chevrolet. This article does not intend to promote any motor vehicle, but the song was snappy and conveys how the writer feels about visiting the Southwest, from Nevada to New Mexico. This article will highlight a few objects along the way, such as the Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon and the very sobering National Museum of Nuclear Science and History. As Steppenwolf suggested, "Get your motor running!"

Hoover Dam On the cover are two views of the Hoover Dam: from the air and below the spillway, on the Colorado River. That river wends its way from Colorado, through the Grand Canyon and stopping to fill Lake Mead, the largest man-made reservoir in the United States. The water is diverted through two channels, one for southern Nevada and the other for southern California.

Although the dam was started in the Herbert Hoover administration, the closest town in Boulder City, Nevada, where workers were taken by train to the work site. These tunnels for the trains can still be seen from the surrounding areas. When Franklin Roosevelt won the 1932 election, he renamed the dam to Boulder Dam to honor the nearest town and to avoid mention of Hoover.

According to eHow:

How [Hoover Dam] Works The dam was built in a narrow part of the canyon through which the Colorado flows. By arcing the shape of the dam upstream, the force of the water is transferred from the center toward the sides, where the force is distributed along the banks of the canyons. A spillway is located on each side of the dam. These spillways are used to release water downstream and prevent the dam from overflowing. Turbines inside of the dam are turned by the water passing by and create electricity.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/about_6577084_true-hoover-dam.html

As a hydroelectric dam, electricity is generated. The following is again from eHow: The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operates the dam, says the largest share of the power (28.5 percent) goes to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, followed by the state of Nevada (23.4 percent), the state of Arizona (19 percent), the city of Los Angeles (15.4 percent) and the Southern California Edison Co. (5.5 percent). Other recipients include Anaheim, Azusa, Banning, Burbank, Colton, Glendale, Pasadena, Riverside and Vernon, all in California, and Boulder City, in Nevada.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5164758_hoover-dam-make-electricity.html

The dam is not far from Las Vegas, the largest town for miles. There are three ways to get from Las Vegas to the dam: drive yourself; take a bus tour; or fly over the dam in a helicopter. Driving yourself presents a few problems, not the least of which are traffic and parking. A tour takes one to various sites unavailable to the general public, such as an excursion on the Colorado River below the dam; in addition, the tour guide walks groups through the labyrinth of the dam itself, where the group sees the the various generators used for electricity generation.

The Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon is almost a complete circle, yet there is no easy way to drive from the North to the South Rims of the canyon. In fact, birds fly about 12 miles from one rim to the other, yet the drive is about 3½ hours. about 220 miles. As one can see by the two Grand Canyon pictures on the cover, there is quite a difference between the North and South Rims.

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Volume 5, Issue 4 August-September, 2013

The Southern Rim is the most visited for this reason, yet the Southern Rim is quite a daunting area.

In fact, most of the Grand Canyon is rock and sand, boulders and pebbles, and the river coursing through the canyon. The ways to the Southern Rim are by helicopter, motor vehicle (cars and buses), and downstream from points between the two rims.

One thing about the Southern Rim is that, on a cloudless day, it gets very hot. The sun bakes the walls of the canyon, reflecting heat, Anyone who says, "But it's a dry heat!" has never really understood that heat (measured by temperature) is differs greatly from humidity (the amount of moisture in the air). Water boils at 212º, regardless of the location and the humidity, so hot is hot. To see more about the conditions in that area, please click this link from the World Climate Report (it's nearly 3 years old, but it remains fairly accurate): http://www.worldclimatereport.com/index.php/2010/08/25/southwest-drought/ The Northern Rim, on the other hand, is about 80 miles from Kenab, Utah and through the Kaibab National Forest. Where the Southern Rim is fairly monochromatic, the Northern Rim is quite green.

In fact, the visitor to the Northern Rim (after paying $25 for a week-long pass) is greeted by buffalo.

These animals stick close to each other and are very solicitous of their calves. There are other animals — deer, antelope, bear — in the area, hidden behind the trees.

Ushering in the Atomic Age Hunkered down in the Santa Fe National Forest is the town of Los Alamos, New Mexico. It is less than 2 hours north of Albuquerque. Los Alamos has the same importance as Stagg Field in Chicago, Illinois: each has a claim to the birth of the Atomic Bomb. The theory was tested at Stagg Field and nuclear devices were created at Los Alamos (and tested later in the Nevada desert).

Albuquerque, New Mexico is the home of the National Museum for Nuclear Science and History. It is home to mock-ups of the Little Boy and Fat Man nuclear weapons (used on August 6, 1945 and August 9, 1945, respectively). While the museum shows what the thousands of scientists, their families, and military personnel dealt with in their time at Los Alamos (many of the children were schooled by the wives and mothers, and the town itself became a fullfunctioning city, unheard of in that region at that time), it also shows what was required to keep the atomic tests a secret and what the United States had to do to ensure nuclear weapons would no longer be used.

Tactical weapons (the Atomic Cannon, Nike missiles, portable rocket launchers) are on display, as is a video of a Russian atomic test. Old-style Civil Defense uniforms and fallout shelters are on display, as are warplanes (outside the building) used by the Strategic Air Command.

This is a sobering sight and one designed to ensure that the visitor appreciate what people went through and will go through to ensure peace.

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Welcome to your Summer Tech Tip!

Volume 5, Issue 4 August-September, 2013

Now that you’re actively using Social media…..

Have a social media or great know-how article to read and share?

Email me!

We will publish it in upcoming issues... bndaisak@verizon.net And many continued Thanks to Eric for continual news to use!

Pros and Cons of Social Networking for Job Search Social networking is used beyond connecting with friends and family.

Various social networking tools like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn can help people in finding their new job. Nowadays, your online image in any social networking services is becoming very crucial.

Your image is just as important as your customized resume and cover letter is.

Make sure you know how to operate social networking technology leveraging it to your advantage.

Get involved in learning new things and becoming a social networking expert.

Below are a few merits and demerits of using social networking sites for job research.

Read more: CrossRoads - Pros and Cons of Social Networking for Job Search http://www.nettemps.com/careerdev/crossroads/index.htm?op=view&id=5102&newsletter_id=1196&archive=1#ix zz2WgI1PWDq Your posts are always welcomed!

Check our next issue for another great Tech and Social Media Tip!

Your LinkedIn profile is COSTING you the job It is well established that most potential employers look at LinkedIn profiles as a part of the hiring process. You are already well aware not to do things that could obviously hurt your chances of getting the job such as using a beach picture for your profile, writing rambling diatribes to your network or using unprofessional language in a job description. So what is the problem? It is the inconsistency of the message that you are putting out! What do I mean? In support of my newest books, The LinkedIn Butterfly Effect and From Linked Out to LinkedIn, here are 8 examples: See the full article at this link: http://www.lioncubjobsearch.com/2013/07/your-linkedin-profile-is-costing-you-job.html

The Company We Keep Diane Fennig’s recent post about the importance of creating a digital signature prompted me to consider the ways in which our LinkedIn connections influence the way people perceive us. Do people with 500+ connections seem somehow more impressive than those with far fewer, or do we suspect that people with several hundred connections are indiscriminate when it comes to creating their networks? According to LinkedIn, it is best not to accept invitations from people we don’t know, but I regularly receive invitations from people I have never met before, and I’m betting they believe bigger is better when it comes to crafting on their online personas.

See this article at this link: http://chronicle.com/blogs/onhiring/the-company-we-keep/39871

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Coach Rod's Message

Volume 5, Issue 4 August-September, 2013

My “Big Themes” for the CEO of ME as they manage their Business Development Department of ME, Inc.

Making Effective Connections Because we take networking very seriously, we take the precursors of good networking very seriously too, including small talk, making connections and establishing trusted relationships. Small talk usually kicks off the connection process followed by a gradual mastery of the art of networking. Knowing the importance of when, how, and why to connect with others and how to build long-term, trusted relationships is key.

The Trust Matrix As two individuals get acquainted and form a relationship based on genuine reciprocity, they establish a bond of trust. This trust deepens only as long as both parties continue to honor the relationship. Trust over time is a magic formula that can work wonders.

Relationships and Reciprocity Good connections lead to good relationships.

In business, relationships are everything.

You’ll know if a budding relationship has the chance to evolve into a deeper relationship if the scales of reciprocity remain balanced.

The Warm/Trusted Network As you build a collection of trusted relationships, you are in reality building what I call a warm, trusted network (as opposed to The Black Hole where no one even knows you exist). It is this warm, trusted network that you will leverage when you need to find advocates for your job search.

Advocates are individuals who know you well and believe in you enough to put their reputations on the line by connecting you to key contacts within a company of interest. This is the real reason why The Black Hole fails and the

our Network succeeds at helping people find jobs. We actually show how to “network their way to their next job!” by leveraging the power of people, not machines.

Good vs. Bad Networking There are many great books written on networking. One of the best is Keith Ferrazzi’s Never Eat Alone (copyright © 2005, Broadway Business), the “final word” on networking in the view of our members. Keith explains with great clarity what constitutes good and bad networking and cites numerous examples of each (you’ll probably find his chapter on the “Networking Jerk” enlightening, amusing, and maybe even disturbingly familiar).

Build Your Network Before You Need It Most members quickly understand that having a warm trusted network beats anything you can find in The Black Hole. But they don’t always recognize one key piece of network-management: You must have the network in place before you can tap it.

This problem is especially noticeable just after landing a new job. Some people are tempted to abandon their network and their networking activities. They mistakenly believe they will remain with this new company for decades and have no further need for a network or networking. This is a huge mistake!

Build Your Case for the Job One of the greatest benefits of our methodology is the extensive training we provide on how to build your case for a particular job. With CEO of ME, Inc. thinking, the R & D Team of ME, Inc. handles the networking; the Sales & Marketing Team handles the interview and the value proposition.

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While that may sound easy, you still need the written and verbal skills to defend the proposition that you are the most qualified person for the job. The written defense is made up of a targeted resume and a concise, compelling cover letter (such as the one known as a “TLetter”). The oral defense will take place during the interview itself.

Your Value Proposition Your value proposition consists of three interrelated documents: 1) a suitable job description (one which confirms the matchup between your core skills and the position’s stated requirements); 2) a targeted resume; and 3) a cover letter.

You’re Hired: Now What?

Fantastic! You’ve landed. The waiting is over — for now. The paychecks begin rolling in again. You turn your focus to doing the essential day-to-day work. As crazy as this may sound, getting the job is actually a setback for some members. Why? Very simply, they fall into the Complacency Trap.

Volume 5, Issue 4 August-September, 2013

pendent employee again? Did you forget you are the CEO of ME, Inc.? Networking never stops. That needs to be your mantra.

Leveraging the Power of Social Networks Social networking sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook are getting so much attention in the media these days that it’s often difficult to keep track of them. Since they do play a role in your job search, it is imperative that you effectively and efficiently leverage Social Networking. You must have a strategy that suits your CEO of ME, Inc. Enterprise.

Follow Up or Fail This is where many job searchers simply get derailed. After a certain period of time following an important conversation, appointment, or interview, it’s critical that you follow up with the “principals” of the meeting. They have no obligation to keep your name in the forefront of their minds; it’s your job to put it there as a reminder that a decision is due so that both parties can move on.

Here is the key to avoiding that trap: Once you land, in my view, you’re landing as the CEO of a business, the business of ME, Inc. Why would you suddenly slip back into a de-

Remix: How to Boss Your Content Around

by Sandee Hemphill – www.sandeehemphill.com

Have you ever found yourself stuck at the very moment you need a quick article? Do you sit down to write only to find there’s nothing new to compose? Sure you have. It’s a problem hundreds of content writers face every day.

And if you’re like most, you’ve forgotten that you have content sitting in a file when it could be producing revenue.

on it. This is where your content gets a second chance. Any profit-making marketing campaign will include several ways to keep your audience informed of your products and services.

Hot Content The internet has been likened to a roaring fire. If you want to keep it hot, you’ll have to keep putting wood Page 10 of 15

Constant Content Successful online marketing is based on consistency.

Consistency builds the momentum you need to excel.

Without this key feature you’re just wasting your time. Engage in a combination of marketing venues―social media, articles, Click here to return to index

blog, e-zines, etc.―to catch and capture a consistent audience; and to attract new prospects. You can repurpose your content to expand your inventory and keep your marketing fires ablaze. One article can be repackaged into more than fifteen other products.

From Here to Eternity Content repurposing can be added to your marketing calendar to extend its shelf life.

Your January articles can be repurposed and delivered on your April schedule. There’s no limit to the combinations you can create from your content. For example, you can begin with a well-crafted, client-attracting newsletter of 500-800 words. From this simple document you can create these products, and more:  E-Book  Special Report  Mini-Course  Tip Sheet  Audio  Video

Leveraging Your Time It’s the first week of the month and you’ve scheduled a day to get your e-zine completed for this week. You included two major articles, a product announcement and a book review.

You have a fairly good list but you’re always on the prowl for new prospects. You have three more weeks of marketing to work on.

Here we go again!

Volume 5, Issue 4 August-September, 2013

How much time will it take for you to compose a fresh article? It could take you several hours to create new content. This is important because time is a limited resource. The truth is you can take the article you just completed and repurpose it. This way the article gets to serve you a second, third, or fourth time—and more. Therefore, you’ll want to maximize every minute you invest in your business. Wasted time provides a zero dollar return, making it a poor investment for any business owner.

Second Time Around As noted, creating fresh content is an ongoing challenge. Instead of creating new content every time you need it, you simply reuse the content you’ve already created. This allows you to save time, effort, and energy. And you’ll watch your mailing list grow with your newly repurposed content.

As a general rule, you should rewrite at least 30% of your original content. This gives your content a fresh face and avoids the pesky duplicate content problem that results in article directory rejections.

Simply apply some basic content writing principles for the strategy you select.

Saving Grace

Don’t neglect your content – make it work for you again and again. Make use of as many opportunities as possible to repurpose your online content. The more places your audience can find you, the more your business will grow.

Lamplighter Survey Lamplighter wants to hear from you. As you know, Lamplighter has changed since it first started and much of this change is due to the comments of our readers. Please take a few minutes to tell us what we're doing right and — it's hard to believe — what we are doing wrong.

Lamplighter Survey.

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Did you take the summer off?

How to get back into action, NOW!

Volume 5, Issue 4 August-September, 2013

By Tony Cretella

As a member of a variety of networking groups, Chambers of Commerce and service organizations, I often hear people comment that the summer is a slow time. “People are on vacation, the weather gets hot, people seem distracted with family events” - - - so on and so on. Funny how my business and those I serve never seem to slow down. As a matter of fact we find that people are busier than ever.

Yes, some of it is because businesses have to do more with less and that includes staff vacations, so the ones left behind are working harder.

True - - - people are working and things are getting done.

So how can you capitalize on these supposedly slow times? What can you do right now to get more involved, keep active, and show others you have not slowed down?

1) Keep your network alive. Stay in touch in person --- with a phone call, a quick email, a card, reaching out on linked-in, Face Book, or twitter. Staying top-of-mind will build awareness for when the time comes and help is really needed. Building your network is an essential survival strategy and can’t be neglected. It is an ongoing must-do activity that requires effort to yield positive results.

2) Be a connector. In a conversation with a group, listen for catch phrases such as “I need,” “I don’t know,” “I can’t find,” “I am having difficulty with” - the next thing someone says will be an opportunity for someone in your network. Offer to connect these two people, thereby doubling your personal value and keeping in touch with

two new friends. This also helps with #1, too.

3) Get involved. Find an event you are passionate about, excited about where you can bring a skill or expertise you have to the group. Ask if you can take part or where can you help out. Maybe it is a local concert supporting a worthy cause, a bikerun, or walkathon that benefits the local community. Get on that golf committee running the event to support the local nonprofit organizations.

Building a structure for Habitat for Humanity or cleaning and organizing donated goods for storm victims - - just make you feel really good knowing you are helping those in need. This also helps with #1 too and may lead to an opportunity for #2 as well.

4) Ask for help. In my role as a district chairman for a Scout Council, I find that many people when asked say,“yes” and thank you for thinking of them. When I ask why they did not get involved before, they tell me no one ever asked them then. All we had to do was ask.

Need help with your next career move or how to get involved in a worthy cause? - - Just ask ETP and my guess is help will come in a variety of ways.

So, you can see that those who think things have slowed down are the ones who get passed by. What will you do tomorrow to be the one who gets involved? How will you be the person who stays connected and in turn connects others?

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Volume 5, Issue 4 August-September, 2013

Sam Anson works as a Business Development Manager for TechnoSphere, an IT staffing company in Bergenfield, NJ. TechnoSphere recruits candidates for direct hire (permanent) and consultant/contractor positions, primarily in the financial services industry.

Sam says that hiring is starting to increase but that many companies are hiring consultant/contractors and then after a period of time (usually six (6) months) converting the position to permanent. His message to people in transition is to be open and seriously consider a consulting position; you never know where it might lead. Sam enjoys the dynamics of effecting a matchup between a hiring company and a candidate.

Prior to TechnoSphere, Sam spent many years as an account manager in the telecommunications networking equipment industry. He worked with large service providers like Verizon and AT&T. He worked at Timeplex, a leading highend multiplexer manufacturer in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey for fourteen (14) years.

He has been a member of Empowering Today’s Professionals (ETP) since 2007 and leverages his familiarity with the 7-Step Job Search methodology to help his candidates land.

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Sam shares this important knowledge and advice to his candidates and other job seekers: 

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A very important component of the 7Step Process is Step 4, “Prepare a Value Proposition: Cover Letter.” The quality of supporting documentation is the key (it’s the door opener). If you are unsure of your resume preparation skills, find a good professional writer with strong references. It’s a good investment.

Same thoughts go for a knock out LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn, not a substitute for a resume, is your web site; it attracts potential employers. Take the time to develop a first class, engaging LinkedIn profile.

He encourages those in transition to take charge of their job search activities and to be active networkers with a “pay it forward” attitude. Interesting statistics: over 70% of jobs are obtained via networking. Who you know and who

can help are key drivers of landing your next opportunity quickly.

When evaluating a new position give careful consideration to “cultural fit.”

Do the values of the company and your immediate boss align well with your values? Does the company (not the job) feel right? If there is a cultural fit mismatch it will be difficult to reach your full potential and the job won’t provide a high level of emotional satisfaction.

To take a well-deserved rest from his busy schedule, in a few weeks, Sam and his wife, Lynn, will go to Sri Lanka for two weeks to visit their daughter and her family. They are looking forward to a family visit, touring the southern part of the country, and spending time at Sri Lanka’s beautiful beaches.

After Sri Lanka, they’ll travel with their daughter and family to Saudi Arabia where she is a teacher at the King Abdul University of Science and Technology; classes start in mid August. Sam and Lynn will spend four (4) days in Saudi Arabia and then back to New Jersey.

Quite a trip! It’s a long flight, 20 hours, but surely well worth it.

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Volume 5, Issue 4 August-September, 2013

Lamplighter Contributors Jerry Clifford is a Project and Program Manager experienced with all aspects of software project development. As both employee and consultant he worked with some of the nation’s premier companies including AT&T, Cisco Systems, and Merck. He holds a graduate degree in mathematics, earned certifications in project management and information systems auditing (CISA) and was elected to two terms as President of the EDP Auditors Association, New Jersey Chapter.

He is the published author of several technical and non-technical books on topics ranging from computer math to car repair and carpentry.

Rod Colón — ETP Founder Master Networker, Professional Development, Executive Coach, Speaker, Author Weekly Co-Host of Radio Show "YOUR CAREER IS CALLING" Rod Colón Consulting, LLC 732-367-5580 www.rodcolon.com Rod is the author of the book Win the Race for 21st Century Jobs

TONY CRETELLA Tony Cretella is founder and owner of Custom Sign Source, celebrated their fourth year in business this past March. They recently doubled their space, hired an additional employee and have refocused their business by way of a strategic planning exercise. Past employment included 23 years in corporate America with a large privately held confectionary company. He was involved in sales, marketing, franchise building, business information, IT project and program management, business process improvement and manufacturing. He is a Certified Business Process Program Management Professional (CBPMP), Certified Knowledge Manager (CKM) and a recent recipient of the Order of the Arrow, Boy Scouts of America’s National Honor Society.

Sandee Hemphill Sandee is a Knowledge For Profit Mentor. She’ll shift your marketing focus from single-serve to recurring profits. If you’re ready to abandon the dollars-for-hours treadmill and learn to rapidly increase your visibility, credibility and profitability, connect with her. Sandee can be reached at GetProfits@sandeehemphill.com or http://www.sandeehemphill.com.

Carl E. Reid, CSI — Executive Director www.carlereid.com Chief Operations Officer| Running the Business of "ME" Tel: 201-222-5390 Empowering Today's Professionals - www.ETPNetwork.org Carl is Foreword Author in book Win the Race for 21st Century Jobs James Scott Binary Tree - The CFO- Focused Financial Growth Optimizer Creative creator CFO with twenty years of senior executive level leadership experience supporting fast growing technology enabled-companies.

Provider of organizational and financial framework to enable managers, employees, vendors, and customers to contribute optimally to company success as measured by customer satisfaction and bottom line results.

He is also an Ambassador for the NJ Technology Council and a member of the NJTC CFO Advisory Board.

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Volume 5, Issue 4 August-September, 2013

Lamplighter Staff Adelaida (Aida) Rodriguez is the Editor-in-Chief and Contributing Writer of the Lamplighter Newsletter. She is a Project Manager Professional (PMP), Business Analyst/ Consultant at the Warranty Recovery Specialist, LLC adelaida.rodriguez1@verizon.net 732-404-0255 Eric Nilsson is the Compositor and Contributing Writer for Lamplighter. Eric enjoys the art and science of newspaper layout. He has been an IT consultant at the Professional Service Group of New Brunswick and previously worked for North Jersey Media Group (Bergen Evening Record) as a Project Manager and Programmer/Analyst. Interests include economics, history, and journalism.

Email: ericnilsson@earthlink.net; LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/ericsnilsson Barbara Daisak is the Lamplighter Contributing Writer & Proofreader. In addition, she is a Learning, Training, & Development Specialist and Microsoft Certified Master Instructor. Barb is also an Instructor Adjunct with the County Colleges of New Jersey with specialties in the Technology Training Divisions and Corporate Training Programs.

Phone Numbers:732.863.4948 â&#x20AC;&#x2022; 732.616.2397-mobile Email Barbara at: bndaisak@verizon.net

ETP and You To Help Veterans Please share this with your network.

We are also looking for other volunteers and partner organizations to help with this initiative to get more military veterans employed.

Non-profit, Empowering Today's Professionals (ETP) is on a mission to help as many military veterans as possible land jobs in the next 90 days. SIGN UP is free at www.ETPnetwork.org - Since 2004 proven job search training, career management education programs and our book "Win the Race for 21st Century Jobs" by ETP founder Rod Colon, ETP has inspired thousands to safely land jobs.

As Chief Operations Officer [pro-bono] at Empowering Today's Professionals, I remember what it was like transitioning out of the United States Marine Corps and being on unemployment. I felt embarrassed, I had low self esteem and it hurt that my military service did not seem to matter much to non-military citizens. I would not wish those feelings on anyone. Leveraging my experience, I'm spearheading this initiative for those who served in the military as an ETP priority. With a global support network, Empowering Today's Professionals is doing it's part to get America back to work.

In your SIGN UP application Please type "VETERAN" and credit the person who sent you this email as the referrer. I'll be on the look out for your application to connect with you and provide a personal job search /career game plan.

We are also looking for other volunteers and partner organizations to help with this initiative to get more military veterans employed.

SIGNUP free at www.ETPnetwork.org - Empowering Today's Professionals Carl E, E Reid, CSI (USMC 1979/1980) Chief Operations Officer Empowering Today's Professionals (ETP)

Tel: 201-222-5390 Web: http://www.etpnetwork.org/ Carl is the author of the book: Win the Race for 21st Century Jobs) Click here to return to index Page 15 of 15

July 20, 1969