2010 10 Final (1)[1]

Volume 2, Issue 4 October 2010

Dear PSG Members and Friends,
Every day we have to make small and big decisions.
Some of them are crucial and can affect our lives for a long time. What process you apply to make the
most important decisions is very important. Do you make decisions on the spur of the moment, using your
intuition, or do you actually analyze multiple choices and weigh each of them to
make the best possible decision?
Maybe you should consider applying chess strategies in your decision-making
process. Most people tend to think of chess as just a boring, dull board game.
However, it really teaches you important skills: independence and responsibility,
patience and focus, critical thinking and problem solving, imagination and creativity.
It teaches you how to build and execute plans.
When you play chess you have to think several moves ahead and predict possible
moves of your opponent if you want to win the game. If you make a wrong move
without analyzing the positions of all the figures on a chessboard, you’ll probably
lose.
The current economic situation is forcing some of us to consider multiple options to survive and make a
living, at least for now. Have Plan A, Plan B, etc., ready.
Based on current job market analyses there are five applicants
for every job available. Maybe you will have to switch careers
or get part-time jobs, consider early retirement, start your own
business or keep looking for a new position in your field.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Whatever your options, when you are facing tough decisions,
Inside This Issue, Media think of a chess game. What if I do this, and then that
Communications Committee ..........p2 happens: how would it affect me, my family, my status, future
The Economy ................................p3 income, etc.? Go through different scenarios, analyze possible
outcomes and discuss them with your family or friends; the
Personality Tests ...........................p4
process will help you analyze the situation and make a good
Green Jobs ...................................p6 decision.
Attitude Adjustments ....................p8 As Anthony Robbins said, “It’s our decisions, not the
LinkedIn Invitations ......................p8 conditions of our lives, that determine where we are and what
Avoiding Resume Bloopers ...........p11 will be our destiny.”
PSG Networking Picnic ................p12
August Landings, PSG Committee Good luck,
Chairs ........................................p13

PSG Dover Networker, October 2010

Page 1

INSIDE THIS ISSUE
We kick off our October issue with Peter
Herbst’s transcript of an informative
conversation with the head of the Morris
County Chamber of Commerce, Peter
Boudreau about the economy and jobs.
Caroline Bucquet looks into how knowing
your psychological profile can help you
during your transition. What does the green
economy mean for the job market? Jeana Bob Loder, Co-Chair Bruce Goldman
Wirtenberg answers Peter’s questions
about this growing field. Stephen Caroline Bucquet, Peter Herbst
Matthaey’s article this month discusses how Co-Chair Mary Jean Jones
changing the way you think can help you in Andrew Brandt Idelle Kursman
the job search and elsewhere. Confused Michael Davy Mark Yonskie
about how to use LinkedIn’s invitation Suzanne Elward
feature to meet new contacts? Andrew
Brandt will clear this up for you in his The Media Communications Committee (MCC) encourages
article. We hope that you’ll never make the article submissions to the Dover PSG Networker newsletter.
silly mistakes found in Barbara Safani’s However, the committee reserves the right to accept, or not,
story about resume bloopers, but you’ve articles offered for publication to the newsletter. All articles
been warned! Bruce Goldman’s editing, will undergo the standard review and editing process in order
Bob Loder’s production and Andy’s to best ﬁt the readership of this publication.
distribution finish off this month’s issue.
The committee further reserves editorial rights to alter,
Happy fall! shape or delete text as deemed suitable and appropriate for
-Bob and Caroline article size and clarity. The committee is dedicated to
producing a high quality journal each month that meets your
expectations.
We encourage you to share this newsletter with interested
parties, but only in its entirety, and not in a manner that
would be in violation of any copyright.

The MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE meets following the Morris County Career Networking
(MCCN) session at 70 Maple Ave., Morristown on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 11:00 a.m.

PSG - Driving Employment Through Member and Organizational Strength
OUR VISION:
PSG will dedicate membership resources to become the leading provider of services to help fulfill our
mission. Through active participation, members will obtain valuable new knowledge, expand
personal and life experiences and leave each meeting revitalized for the tasks of securing gainful
employment and enhancing our economy. These efforts will create the organization of choice for
linking job seekers to employers and alumni.
OUR MISSION:
PSG is a self-help volunteer organization for professional level job seekers. Members pursue three
goals:
• To find employment as quickly as possible
• To help other PSG members find employment
• To help the group as a whole


Page 2

THE ECONOMY cut property taxes but we can offer training and
other services. The Morris County Economic De-
velopment Corporation can assist in this regard.
MORRIS COUNTY CHAMBER HEAD We also work with the state’s Economic Develop-
ASSESSES LOCAL ECONOMY ment Authority (EDA) to assist companies with
long-term financing and capital requirements.
Paul Boudreau is the president of the Morris Along these lines we are pleased that Honeywell
County Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber will keep 1,200 jobs in Morris County. The state
represents more than 790 companies and or- and local community will also work with the
ganizations and is the eleventh largest chamber in Honeywell to help develop its 150 acre campus in
New Jersey. Prior to joining the chamber, Mr. Morristown.
Boudreau served as vice president for State and
Corporate Relations for Honeywell. In this capacity PSG: How would you characterize the
he worked with public officials to secure incentives employment situation in Morris County?
for business expansion as well as environmental Boudreau: In 2008, Morris County’s
clean-ups and brownfields development. Earlier in unemployment rate was 3.6 percent. In 2010 it
his career, Boudreau served two terms in the has risen to 7.9 percent against a statewide
Maine House of Representatives. average of almost 10.0 percent. Manufacturing is
Boudreau spoke recently at the PSG General clearly not the largest player
Meeting regarding employment and the state of here. The local economy today
the economy in Morris County. is mostly white collar with the
key industries anchored by
PSG: How would you describe the current state of pharmaceuticals and financial
the economy? services.
Boudreau: There are significant issues. There is The economy today is clearly
an air of uncertainty. Companies are seeing more soft. The commercial office
regulations coming out of Washington, the ex- vacancy rate in Morris County
piration of the Bush tax cuts, health care reform is 23.5 per-cent. Companies
and questions about our export policy. In this cli- that downsized are reluctant
mate people with capital are sitting on their to restore employment to the
hands. previous levels. On the other Paul Boudreau
Small business is struggling. Cash flow is an issue hand, there are pockets of
in particular. Small business is also frustrated by bright spots. Pharmaceutical companies find the
loan underwriting. Banks have made it much human talent here that they need. The Dutch
tougher to take out loans. A company needs to company, Leo Pharma, with over $1.0 billion in
have the right balance sheet to secure financing. annual sales lo-cated to Parsippany earlier this
year. Watson Pharmaceuticals will also be moving
The challenge today is how we get business con- to new space in Parsippany. BASF Corporation will
fident and the economy expanding again. In invest $100 million in a new facility on the New
March and April there was some optimism. In York Jets campus in Florham Park.
August, the however, the perception is that
economy is very soft. Among members of the chamber, most of the job
growth is concentrated in small companies and
PSG: What about the condition of business here mid-sized companies that have $100 million to
in New Jersey? $1.0 billion in annual sales. There is little growth
Boudreau: New Jersey is a tough place to do in the high end companies with annual sales
business. Companies have been under pressure greater than $5.0 billion.
to move out of state or offshore. The current gov- PSG: What suggestions would you provide for
ernor is working hard to keep the jobs that we conducting a job search?
have. He contacts business leaders directly to
solicit their ideas and concerns. Boudreau: After I worked at Honeywell I spent
about a year in retirement. I decided, however, to
At the suggestion of Freeholder Margaret return to the work force. Your phone doesn’t ring
Nordstrom, the chamber has teamed up with local just because you have a good resume. I needed
and state officials to reach out to CEOs of the to get out and meet people.
largest companies in Morris County. We cannot


Page 3

Niche industries are where the hiring takes place suppliers are from around the world and
today. Employers are seeking very specific skill competition is stiff. We have to recognize that
sets or experiences. In a job search today you business has changed and has become truly
have to be strategic. A job seeker must work at global.
showing how he or she can add value to an
Paul Boudreau was invited to speak at PSG by
organization. Above all you need to find ways to
Julie Smolin (Julie is the former marketing chair).
get in front of people.
The transcript of Mr. Boudreau’s remarks was
PSG: Do you anticipate much hiring in the non- prepared by Peter Herbst who is a CPA associated
profit or government sectors? with Parsippany Tax and Accounting Corporation.
Boudreau: At the Morris County Chamber we
have a Non-Profit Committee to promote best
practices in that area. About 10 percent of YOUR PERSONALITY
chamber members are non-profit. Non-profits
have been hard hit by the slowdown in the What Personality Tests Say
economy with a decline in support. At the same About the Real You
time, the profile of recipient is changing. Clearly,
non-profits are challenged by limited resources By Caroline Bucquet
with an increasing demand for their services.
Psychological testing, matching candidates to
Over the last several years the private sector has careers and companies, has been around for more
downsized while government has grown. At the than 60 years. One of the most popular is The
local level, however, elected representatives have Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), based on a
to deal with the pressure of increasing property psychometric questionnaire that measures how
taxes. I have not heard of any local officials one sees life and assesses situations. Aligned
seeking to increase their workforce. I don’t see with the psychological types described by Carl
employment in the public sector as continuing to Jung, the tests are used to “read” and understand
grow. people better by having insight into their inner
workings. While, behavioral/personality tests
PSG: Do you see companies continuing to utilize
should not be used as a sole indicator of judging
outside contractors rather than employees in the
someone, some companies use them as part of
future?
the hiring process.
Boudreau: If I have a project that will last only
According to Training and
for four months I will contract it out. This trend
Organization Development
began years ago. Companies will continue to tap
Consultant, Joanna Winquist,
in individuals with very specific skill sets and
who recently addressed the
experiences for projects of limited duration.
Morris County Career Network
PSG: What impact is the green technology having (MCCN), the Myers-Briggs
on the local economy? tests provide a guide as to
how you operate. They are not
Boudreau: Our membership from green
meant to expose your
businesses is growing. Energy from solar and wind
character in a negative way or
will continue to grow as long as tax credits,
to exclude anyone from any
financing and other assistance is provided by the
job. The Indicator helps a Joanna Winquist
state and federal PSG: Are there international
person understand which jobs
issues that may have an impact upon our local
may be a good typological match, suggesting
economy and hiring?
occupations that draw upon a person’s strengths.
The Chamber of Commerce has always favored It does not report on skills, interests, aptitude or
free and fair trade and open markets around the mental health.
world. Unfortunately, trade agreements with
Winquist suggested that, in general, people
Colombia and a number of other countries have
gravitate to others who are like themselves. This
not been signed in Washington.
is rarely a conscious process. Because most
Thirty years ago I participated in auto parts interviewers have been sensitized to avoid dis-
supply negotiations. The players included the “Big crimination based on “protected classes,” they
Three” U.S. auto manufacturers and domestic believe they are being objective in the selection.
parts manufacturers in the Midwest. Today


Page 4

However, an ISTJ (Introverted Sensing Thinking feels that, “The advantage of having your MBTI
Judging) interviewer is likely to feel more analyzed by a certified MBTI consultant is that he
comfortable around another ISTJ than around the or she can help you determine your ‘real’ type.
opposite of ISTJ, which is ENFP (Extroverted Even though the official version of the MBTI is
Intuitive Feeling Perceiver). It is hard to get valid and reliable, a person’s state of mind when
around stereotypes, and this is perhaps why taking the instrument may not reflect his true self
psychological testing cannot be the only factor when he or she is not under the stress caused by
used to determine whether a person is hired, let job loss. Additionally, the consultant will address
alone be a sole indication of the limitations of “type,” especially in making
their job performance. career decisions.”
“The MBTI is used to You may also visit http://bit.ly/9lk99c to take the
recognize your own Myers-Briggs test online for $29.00 or visit the
typological strengths and Myers-Briggs Foundation online at http://
weaknesses in the job www.myersbriggs.org/ for more information. For
search process,” says more information and/or to take the Myers-Briggs
Winquist. “Understanding test and have it analyzed, you may contact
‘type’ also can help a job Joanna Winquist at JRWinquist@aol.com
candidate if he or she is
able to determine elements Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Table
of the interviewer’s type.”
Winquist proposes mirroring The table depicting the 16 personality types was devel-
Caroline Bucquet your interviewer. “If you oped by Isabel Myers. This table indicates the approx-
are an extrovert, but your imate percentages of each type in the U.S. population.
interviewer is an introvert, you probably don’t
want to ’think out loud’ but rather pause ISTJ ISFJ INFJ INTJ
momentarily to consider what you are saying
before voicing it. This is because introverts tend to (11-14 %) (9-14 %) (1-3 %) (2-4 %)
process their thoughts internally before speaking,”
Winquist says. “Skilled interviewers typically allow Introvert, Introvert, Introvert, Introvert,
pauses in the interview process. This silence is Sensing, Sensing, Feeling, Intuiting, Intuiting,
more likely to cause discomfort to the extrovert, Thinking, Judging) Feeling, Judging Thinking,
who may fill that silent space with information Judging Judging
they later regret sharing.” ISTP ISFP INFP INTP
Winquist continued, “If you prefer Intuition to
Sensing as a way to take in information, you may (4-6 %) (5-9 %) (4-5 %) (3-5 %)
tend to be better at global thinking than at being
detailed and specific. This could present a Introvert, Introvert, Introvert, Introvert,
problem during an interview for those who are Sensing, Sensing, Feeling, Intuiting, Intuiting,
asked to give a specific example of a time when Thinking, Perceiving Feeling, Thinking,
they confronted a particular situation in a previous Perceiving Perceiving Perceiving
job. The Intuitive knows he or she has had such ESTP ESFP ENFP ENTP
experience many times, but recalling a specific
example on the spot is tough.” (4-5 %) (4-9 %) (6-8 %) (2-5 %)
“Working with the MBTI could help build better
teams,” Winquist noted. “Some teams run on their Extrovert, Extrovert, Extrovert, Extrovert,
Sensing, Sensing, Feeling, Intuiting, Intuiting,
own ‘type’ meaning that one group may adhere to
Thinking, Perceiving Feeling, Thinking,
rigid timelines no matter what, whereas another
Perceiving Perceiving Perceiving
group may be more flexible with their deadlines
depending on how all the factors stack up, so it ESTJ ESFJ ENFJ ENTJ
pays to know what kind of group you’re getting in
to and if your personality meshes with the (8-12 %) (9-13 %) (2-5 %) (2-5 %)
culture.”
Extrovert, Extrovert, Extrovert, Extrovert,
For more information and/or to take the Myers- Sensing, Sensing, Feeling, Intuiting, Intuiting,
Briggs test and have it analyzed, you may contact Thinking, Judging Feeling, Judging Thinking,
Joanna Winquist at JRWinquist@aol.com. Winquist Judging Judging


Page 5

GREEN JOBS outlook on the world. It takes into account the
effect of actions on the environment. It factors
“externalities” into the economic model and takes
Working in the Green Economy a long-term view. Sustainability is much more
than a resource allocation model. Look at BP in
The following is an interview with Dr. Jeana the Gulf. There was a short-term focus. People
Wirtenberg, president of Transitioning to Green were treated as a commodity. A sustainable
Foundation (www.TTGFoundation.org), a organization values equally investing in its people
professional and networking group dedicated to as well hard or physical assets. Sustainability is
helping people find their place in the new world of inclusive. No business can succeed in a society
the green economy. She is also the co-founder that fails.
and senior adviser for the Institute for Sustainable
Enterprise at Fairleigh Dickinson University Networker: Green business practices such as
(www.fdu.edu/ise). She writes a weekly reducing energy and other resources seem more
newsletter on sustainability prevalent in certain industries such as
for The Wall Street Journal architecture, building, public utilities versus
and is lead editor of The certain service industries. Why is that so? Is it
Sustainable Enterprise related to the rising price of fossil fuels?
Field Book: When It All
Comes Together (Greenleaf Wirtenberg: The building industry is going green
Publishing/AMACOM, by leaps and bounds. In a growing number of
2008). Most recently, she cities such as New York, San Francisco and
edited a special issue on Washington, D.C., there is virtually no major
“Transitioning to the Green construction that is going up without being
Economy” for the Human certified as Leadership in Energy and
Resource Planning Environmental Design (LEED). It’s easier for
Society’s People & Strategy industry connected with natural capital to institute
Jeana Wirtenberg Journal www.hrps.org. green practices rather than service industries.
Initiatives in energy-related industries are no
Networker: How would you define the “green doubt related to concerns related to global
economy?” warming and national security. Green or
sustainable business practices, however, are
Wirtenberg: The green economy has many taking shape in finance, IT, marketing, education,
definitions and operates in many different sectors. employment engagement and other areas.
Joel Makower, a writer on corporate environmental
practices, has described it as “...economic activity Networker: Green business practices seem also
by companies and customers in the form of to be more prevalent in Global Fortune 500
products, services, and business models that companies rather than small- and medium-size
promote economic growth, reduce environmental businesses. Do you see this as an opportunity or a
impacts, and improve social well being” ("State of challenge?
Green Business" by Joel Makower, GreenBiz.Com,
February 2009). Wirtenberg: Better capitalized large companies
have the ability to introduce green or
Above all, the green economy is driven by a mind- environmental practices. Smaller organizations
set that takes into account the three P's (People, are often more oriented toward the immediate- or
Planet and Profit). There are no trade-offs short-term. In this light, small businesses present
between any of the elements such as profits at an opportunity as well as challenge. For example,
the expense of planet or people. some of their needs may be met through shared
or pooled services provided by third-party
Networker: Is sustainability just Six Sigma with providers.
a focus on resource usage and greater energy
efficiency? Networker: Are there green jobs per se or simply
a green aspect for existing jobs?
Wirtenberg: I worked with Six Sigma extensively
at PSEG. It should not be confused with a green Wirtenberg: Every job can be a green job. Green
mind-set. Sustainability is a new paradigm or jobs are emerging in all sectors of the economy.


Page 6

First, in traditional industries such as utilities. program may be covered by a training grant from
PSEG would be an example here. Second, jobs are the Department of Labor.
being created in new green industries such as
energy monitoring by companies such as Noveda Another is a 12-credit graduate program offered
Technologies in Branchburg. There are green through Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Institute
franchise opportunities in cleaning and for Sustainable Enterprise called the Graduate
maintenance. Green restaurants are common in Certificate Program in Managing Sustainability. It
the Northwest and New England. Finally, is a five-month program and meets Friday and
traditional companies are looking for green Saturday about every three weekends and
product lines and other services. Every company includes a trip to Costa Rica. The program focuses
has to find a green strategy tied to its business. on preparing individuals and teams to integrate
sustainability into their organizations’ strategy and
Networker: Are there emerging green skill sets operations. This uniquely transformational
or subject matter expertise? program builds world-class leaders in sustainable
business, includes a powerful immersion
Wirtenberg: “A good source for employment experience in Costa Rica, the most sustainable
information is www.GreenCareerCentral.com and country in the world, and its
the recently published book Green Careers for cohort of faculty and students
Dummies by Carol McClelland [for builds a community of like-
which Wirtenberg served as technical editor]. minded sustainability change
Career paths include caring for the earth (e.g., agents.
environmental science), managing natural
Networker: Does having
resources (e.g., organic agriculture),
skills related to green or
alternative energy (e.g., solar and wind),
sustainable business practices
rebuilding infrastructure (e.g., green building,
make a candidate more
smart grid), shaping environmental policy (e.g.,
attractive for being hired?
green law, policy development), developing
emerging industries (e.g., eco-tourism, green
Wirtenberg: Absolutely.
chemistry), providing green services (e.g., green
Having green or sustainable
hospitality and restaurants), creating and Peter Herbst
business skills gives a
marketing green products and services (e.g.,
candidate a huge advantage.
usage of electronic media) and inspiring more
It shows that he or she is able to manage change
sustainable actions (e.g., environmental training
and has an eye towards the future.
and corporate responsibility reporting).
Networker: How does one introduce green
Networker: Where does one get training in this
business practices at work, in the community or
area?
some other organization?
Wirtenberg: For displaced workers there is a
Wirtenberg: It all starts NOW and within
three-month non-credit program at FDU to help
YOURSELF. Think about your lifestyle. Start with
people progress from where they are today to
the low hanging fruit such as using two-sided
where they wish to go in their career development
printing. Get involved at the local or community
and in their lives. We are committed to creating a
level. Remember, you cannot ask somebody to do
more sustainable world by supporting people in
something that you are not prepared to do
transferring and enhancing their skills to build
yourself. The underpinning of the green economy
bridges between the gray, nonsustainable
is a fundamental shift in values … which will help
economy of the past, into the new emerging
us all work together to create a more sustainable
green economy of the twenty-first century.
world.
The program is customized to the worker and
includes assessment, skill development, one-on- The interview with Jeana Wirtenberg was
one coaching and job development support, a conducted by Peter Herbst with input in the
world of possibility forum, career development questions from PSG alumnus Beth Kujan. Herbst
workshop, a robust knowledge exchange and is a certified public accountant associated with
subject matter expert network. The cost of the Parsippany Tax and Accounting Corp. while Beth is
an adjunct professor at County College of Morris.


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SMOOTHER LANDINGS WITH strategies in your search for the next big thing. So
the evolutionary challenge is to think of questions
ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENTS that you can ask that produce the best answers,
and further you towards the mark of the high
Transition and the Presuppositions of calling. Some questions you may wish to consider
NLP: There is No Such Thing as include:
Failure, Only Feedback (Part I) • What may I do differently today to get me closer
to my goal of landing a new position?
By Stephen Matthaey PHR
• Who might I speak with today to give me
I am completing my studies to become a certified different feedback on my approach?
Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner. I have
been struck quite positively about how • What is the most important thing for me to do
applications of NLP can be today for me to reach my goal?
successfully applied to The quality of our lives is governed in large part
professionals in transition, by the quality of the questions we ask, and of the
helping them to realize individuals with whom we associate. The surest
the ultimate goal of way to get excellent results is to ask excellent
landing a position. questions, and associate with excellent
For those unfamiliar with individuals.
NLP, it is a branch of Next month: People Are Not Their Behaviors.
behavioral science
concerned with the Stephen Matthaey is the founder of GPS Career
intersection of how we Mapping LLC, helping transitional professionals
store and process land their ideal positions. He can be reached at
information via sensory Matthaey@optonline.net.
Stephen Matthaey input. NLP was developed
during the 1970s by © GPSCM LLC. Rights for PSG to reproduce this
Richard Bandler and John article and distribute granted; all other rights
Grinder, who originally intended NLP as a vehicle reserved.
for effective and rapid psychological therapy. NLP
concepts are applicable any time human behavior
is involved. BETTER LINKEDIN
One of the presuppositions of NLP is, “There is no
such thing as failure, only feedback.” For all of the Why LinkedIn Invitations Suck
actions we take, we receive feedback in one form and 7 Ways to Fix That
or another. NLP suggests that when we
characterize incoming information as failure, the By Andrew Brandt
negative connotations overload our thoughts and
sabotage our behaviors. For example, suppose I LinkedIn spends a lot of time preaching the
was not chosen for a particular position for which importance of
I had applied. If I view it as a failure, I might ask relationships when
myself the question, “Why didn't I get the job?” building your network.
The brain, being a faithful steward, would attempt They tell you to connect
to answer the question, probably negatively. If I only with people you
instead characterize this result as an outcome, I know and trust.
could ask a more empowering question: “What Networking gurus agree,
could I have done differently to attain my desired "It's all about personal
goal?” The change in the manner questions are relationships."
phrased will change the answers, and change your
personal empowerment. So why do LinkedIn
generic invitations suck?
By asking good questions, two important things I.e., I'd like to add you to
are accomplished. You start to develop better my professional network
“sensory acuity,” understanding of the feedback on LinkedIn. Andrew Brandt
that you are given, and you can develop evolving


Page 8

Not only is the invitation boring and impersonal (both being things to avoid when trying to connect
socially), LinkedIn makes you jump through hoops when you want to write something more personal. For
example, when you go to write an invitation to connect, LinkedIn adds that a personalized message is
"Optional." How is this remotely in keeping with its injunction to build networks of people you trust?

Maybe LinkedIn should just change the default message to: Either I am so uncreative that I cannot write a
personalized message to you or you are so unimportant that I can't spend more than five seconds sending
you an invitation. Nevertheless, I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.

In the past year, LinkedIn actually made it more difficult to send a personalized message by restricting the
length of an invitation to about 200 characters. This is an incredibly boneheaded move for a social media
site.

For newbies, when you upload a list of your contacts with their email addresses, you are encouraged to
send all the matches an invitation. They don't tell you that when you click Send Invitations, you are
mass mailing an impersonal generic message to your contacts.

As a LinkedIn user, I am now so annoyed with the generic invitations that, when I get one, I usually
respond back, "LinkedIn generic invitations are boring. Why do you want to connect?" Strangely, half of
the people I send that reply to don't even bother to answer.

Even granting that many open networkers accept invitations as a matter of course, let me emphasize,
YOU SHOULD NEVER, NEVER SEND A GENERIC LINKEDIN INVITATION!

So, what can you do to personalize a LinkedIn invitation?

1. State who you are, where you met, or where you worked, lived or went to school together. (I don't
know about you, but I can forget a person's name in just a few seconds. Reminders are good.) If you're
writing a classmate or colleague from years ago, briefly say what you've been doing in the interval.

We met at the BOHICA Networking Club yesterday. I'm a longtime member of BOHICA International and
currently looking for a position as an internist. Let's connect on LinkedIn.

2. If you don't personally know the person you're inviting, say why you want to connect. This needn't be a
big, ego-boosting message, but compliments never hurt. Be honest.

I'm really enjoying your blog posts about job hunting with social media, especially the article about using
Twitter. Your ideas complement my research on tweet effectiveness. Let's connect on LinkedIn and
compare Twitter analyses.


Page 9

3. Offer to help them in their job
search, career or research topic. Neal Schaffer , author of Understanding, Leveraging & Maximizing
LinkedIn, gives this advice on LinkedIn invitations:
… Please let me know if I can
recommend you to any of my "...be honest and genuine. Remember, this paragraph becomes
contacts or if there is anything I part of your LinkedIn Brand, so choose your words carefully. When
can do to help you in your job writing this note, ask yourself the following questions:
search.
• How do I want to be perceived? (brand yourself)
4. List friends you have in • What am I trying to achieve? (your objective)
common, either on LinkedIn or • What value does this person receive in accepting my invitation?
(even better) personal friends. (how can you offer Pay it Forward help?)

5. My best advice is to forget In my eyes, the last point is the most important one. If I am
using LinkedIn's invitation. If receiving invitations, what’s in it for me?"
you have the person's email
address (and many LinkedIn (Read more at http://timsstrategy.com/best-practices-in-writing-
members post their email linkedin-invitations-whats-in-it-for-me/)
addresses on their profiles), send
a personal email. Introduce
yourself, say why you think it's a
good idea for the two of you to network together, and ask if he or she would be willing to accept a
LinkedIn invitation. This way you overcome the limitations of LinkedIn invitations, you make a more
personal connection and you stand out from the "crowd" of invitations. You also have the opportunity to
share your email address, your phone number and links to other social networks or websites. Maybe the
person prefers interacting by phone or on Facebook than on LinkedIn. You just made it possible.

6. If you feel uncomfortable sending a personal email message (or don't have the person's email address),
ask a mutual acquaintance for an introduction via email (and, again, skip LinkedIn). Don't know who is a
mutual acquaintance? Go to the person's LinkedIn profile and LinkedIn will show a list of mutual (second-
degree) connections.

7. Skip LinkedIn and link to the their Twitter or Facebook address, read their blog posts and add
comments, go to their website and connect through there. (Just note that some people separate their
business contacts on LinkedIn and their family and friends on Facebook and don't like to mix the two.)

Using these techniques, it should be easy to connect with people in your LinkedIn groups and second- and
even third-level connections. After all, that's what LinkedIn was built for (even if they make it hard to do
so).

For more ideas on invitations, read
http://timsstrategy.com/11-ways-to-personalize-a-linkedin-invite/

For step-by-step instructions on creating personal LinkedIn invitations, see
http://www.askdavetaylor.com/how_do_i_invite_someone_to_join_my_linkedin_network.html

Do you have questions about a specific aspect of LinkedIn? Do you have LinkedIn tips, tricks or tools that
work for you? Email andybrandt531@yahoo.com and you may see the answer or be featured in a future
article.

Get Andrew Brandt's free PDF collection of Frugal Job Guides by emailing andybrandt531@yahoo.com,
introducing yourself and requesting a copy of The Frugal Job Hunter's Guide Compendium. You can
also get an updated copy of The Job Seeker's Guide to Online Networking and Using LinkedIn the
same way.


Page 10

AVOIDING RESUME BLOOPERS • Language Skills: Exposure to German for two
years-but many words are inappropriate for
business
Resume Mistakes That Keep Hiring
Managers Amused But Cost You the • Reason for leaving last job: the owner gave new
meaning to the word paranoia
Interview
• Achievements: Nominated for prom queen
By Barbara Safani
• Education: Finished
Think resume typos are no big deal? Last year, eighth in a class of ten
Accountemps, a temporary staffing firm,
interviewed 150 senior executives from some of • Interests: Gossiping
the nation's largest companies. Forty percent of • Awards: National
the respondents said that just one typo on a record for eating 45
resume would cause the candidate to be eggs in two minutes
eliminated. Thirty-six percent said it would take
just two mistakes before the resume was put in • References: Bill, Tom,
Eric - but I don't know
the "no" pile.
their phone numbers
Here are some of my favorite resume bloopers I
found via Job Mob, Resume Hell, and Zimbio. • Salary: The higher the
better
Obviously spell-check isn't all it's cracked up to Barbara Safani
be. • Cover letter: Please
disregard the attached
• Objective: Seeking a party-time position with
resume; it's totally outdated
room for advancement
I've blogged about resume typos before, but here
• Professional headline: 1 year old marketing
are a few more suggestions for avoiding them.
executive
• Print out a copy of the resume to proofread. It is
• Achievement: Planned new corporate facility at
easier to catch mistakes on the printed page
$3M over budget.
than on the computer screen.
• Explanation of
employment gap: career • Set the resume aside for a few hours and come
back to it later. This may help you spot new
break in 1999 to
typos.
renovate my horse
• Ask three people to read the resume. Among the
• References: Referees
three of them, one is bound to catch an error.
available upon request
As for other resume bloopers -- err on the side of
• Skills: I am a rabid typist
caution and use common sense. A resume isn't a
• Strengths: Impersonal data dump of everything you have ever done or a
skills window into your soul. It is a succinct marketing
tool that should put your best foot forward. Your
• Hobbies: Enjoy cooking
resume may very well be the single most
Chinese and Italians
important document you ever write. Pay attention
• Education: College: August 1880 to May 1984 to every detail and be memorable for the right
reasons
• Cover letter: I would like to assure you that I
am a hardly working person.
Barbara Safani, owner of Career Solvers, has over
And just how much information on a resume is too fifteen years of experience in career management,
much? recruiting, executive coaching, and organizational
development.
• Objective: To have my skills and ethics
challenged on a regular basis
Reprinted with the author’s permission. Story was
• Personal Information: Married, eight children, previously published on AOL Jobs.
prefer frequent travel


Page 11

PSG
Networking
Picnic

Photos by
Elena Collins


Page 12

August 2010 Landings
Committee Chairs
CONGRATULATIONS
PSG Steering Committee:
1. Thomas Burdzy - Electrical Technician Thomas Brankner (brankner@aol.com)
(Dietrich Metal Framing) Dale Favia (dfavia@optonline.net)
2. Sheryl Wilensky - Transition Manager Tom Martin (ltcmartin@aol.com)
(IBM, through CDI) Computer:
3. Nancy Northrup - VP Data Governance Peter Katzenbach (pkatzen1@yahoo.com)
(CITI) Ali Flint (aliflint@comcast.net)
4. Robert Plass - Scaleup Chemist (AZ
Electronic Materials) Instructors:
5. Kathy Worth - Admin. Asst. P/T Frank Magdits (frank.magdits@yahoo.com)
(Centenary College) Dale Favia (dfavia@optonline.net)
6. Christina D-Areas - Admin. Asst. Business Process
(Picatinny) Michael Alterman (mikealte@ieee.org)
7. Abbe Dolobowski - Interim HR
Generalist (Bergen Community College) Documentation:
8. Laura Mitteer-Peart - Project Manager Thomas Brankner (brankner@aol.com)
(Joseph Hamilton Construction) Career Events:
9. Patrick Tomasulo - Sales Rep. (Comcast) Mark Muschko (mwmuschko@toast.net )
10. Ramesh Gulrajani - Sr. Mechanical
Alumni Events:
Engineer (Saginaw)
Ira Sieber (iesieber@aol.com)
11. Bradford Nye - Inform. Serv. Consultant
Mark Muschko (mwmuschko@toast.net)
(CompuCom, Phizer in M.P.)
Andy Brandt (andybrandt531@yahoo.com)
12. Anthony Russo - Asset Recovery
Specialist (CIT Group) New Business:
13. Vincent Esposito - Controller (Triad Vincent Iannaccone (vianacone@aol.com)
Communications Group) Membership:
14. Bill Harrigan - Financial Writer (Cohen & Dan Harrison
Steers) (d.harrison454@hotmail.com)
15. Maureen Staples - HR Generalist Bob Delpizzo (rmks_2000@yahoo.com)
(Novartis)
16. Paul Morrow - Account Executive Opportunity Center:
(Interglobal Communications) Kristen Bishop (krbishop1@optonline.net)
17. Lynn Kafalas - Training Support, SAP Media Communications:
(Addecco for B&D) Bob Loder (bob.loder@gmail.com)
18. Dennis Brand - Consultant (Kforce for JP Caroline Bucquet (caroline@bucquet.us)
Morgan in DE)
Marketing:
19. Robert Bates - Senior VP, IT
Mary Pellecchia (marypell@optonline.net)
Transformation (CitiBank)
Caroline Bucquet (cbucquet@hotmail.com)
20. Jeffrey Johnson - Senior Consultant
(J.H. Cohn) PROFESSIONAL SERVICES GROUP
21. Koshy Philip - Operational Manager 107 Bassett Highway, Dover, NJ 07801
(Millenium Consultants) Phone: 973.361.1034 Fax: 973.361.8727
22. Cadambi Rajagopal - Systems Email: psgdover@dol.state.nj.us
PSG Website: www.doverpsg.com
Administrator P/T (Serive Metal Mfg.)
Sponsored by the NJ Department of Labor
The PSG Dover Networker is looking for writers! and Workforce Development
Whether you want to become a regular member of © 2010 Professional Services Group,
our team, or just contribute a story now and then, Dover, NJ
we want to hear from you! Drop us a note at
PSGMorrisNewsletter@yahoo.com, and introduce
yourself! Or, talk to any member of the Media
Communications Committee.


Page 13

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