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Become a Thought Leader in Your Industry: The Power of Social Media Posted: 27 Apr 2012 06:55 AM PDT Social Media has become one of the most powerful influences on the global society to-date. It is an amazing prospect when you consider that everyday members of society are considered just as and sometimes even more inspirational than magnates of any industry. Social media has given every man and woman a voice and creates a unique, far-reaching platform to share their trials and strengths. Who is a Thought Leader? Thought leaders come from every walk of life, have jobs that range from junior to executive and tap into the very basics of humanity by distributing themselves to the masses, freely. Drawing from the strength, availability and ease of use of social media, thought leaders have found their soap box. The every-man and every-woman of the 21st century is able to reach out and touch thousands, even millions of fellow humans, unlimited by race, gender, orientation, age or location. Likewise, they can refine their audience without sacrificing numbers for designation. By inspiring people with the expertise and honesty of your words, you too can be a modern day leader! How Can Social Media Help? Everyone is wired in and those who aren't at least have access to those who are. We are a living, breathing, thinking network of people who go through life, succeeding and failing along the way – we may be from different ends of the spectrum but the network, aided and abetted by social media, interlinks us at a visceral level. Social media networks like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Tumblr are free and connect friends, family and enthusiasts to each other's thoughts and opinions. More than that, their formats give account holders the opportunity to broadcast their thoughts, opinions and advice to vast numbers of people. Thought Leaders are able to rouse excitement and provoke thoughts and actions by the power of their words and social media is the universal megaphone! Tips On How To Use Social Media To Be A Powerful Thought Leader: •    When you think it up, post it up – How many great ideas have you lost because you didn't get them out there when you could have? Tweet it or weave it into your Facebook status as soon as it strikes and give yourself and your message a fighting chance at visibility and relevance. •    Bigger than a blurb? Blog it! – Sometimes 140 characters aren't enough for you to say what's on your mind. No need to rent a conference room – put it on your blog! If you want to draft it in Word, toggle with the style and spell-check first, that's great, but go green and be seen! No need to waste paper on a flyer when you can employ a weblog like Tumblr or WordPress. •    Put a face to your name – You want people to know you, know who you are and have faith in whatever maxims you’re preaching? Put a picture up or make a video! There's something of a personal touch that comes with a body in motion and sites like Youtube and Vimeo help thought leaders spread their word. Abby Evans is an avid blogger who writes on everything from how to find jobs in Toronto to outlining the principals of how to write a killer blog post.

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The Work Buzz's Latest News: How to conduct a job search with a criminal record

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How to conduct a job search with a criminal record Posted: 27 Apr 2012 09:22 AM PDT According to a 2010 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management, 73 percent of polled HR professionals said their company, or an agency hired by their company, conducted criminal background checks for all job candidates. That you may receive a background check upon applying for a job isn't noteworthy, but for job seekers with a criminal record it can feel like an inevitable uphill battle. "While persons with a criminal record cannot be discriminated against, they may be prohibited from working in some industries such as health care and financial services," says Bruce Hurwitz, president and CEO of Hurwitz Strategic Staffing. "Except in rare cases, employers will want to do a background check on the candidate." Yet not all hope is lost. Because you know a background check is likely coming, you can take steps to prove to hiring managers that you are an upstanding member of society. Ultimately employers want to know you have the skills necessary to be successful in the civilian workforce. Here are some ways to do so: Look into getting your criminal record expunged Depending on the type of crime committed, it may be possible to get your criminal record expunged, or sealed. While this doesn't mean your record is erased completely, it does limit who can access it. Consult a legal professional about your options or visit your state government's website for more information. The website eHow.com provides additional information on how this can be done and the process it takes to get one's record expunged. Know everything about your conviction Donna Ballman, a Florida-based employment attorney and author of "Stand Up For Yourself Without Getting Fired," says it's important to know exactly what you've been convicted of and whether the record was expunged. "Lots of people have no idea [about] the actual charges that they were convicted of," Ballman says. "It makes a difference. If you don’t care enough about your criminal record to explain the details, employers may assume you think committing crimes is okay." Explore volunteer opportunities "If people want to shake the stigma of a questionable past, they need to find at least two civic organizations to volunteer at so they have solid references behind their applications," says David Perry, co-author of "Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 3.0." "Six to 18 months of volunteer work — and I do mean sincere volunteer work — will go a long way in getting a useable reference." Consider the type of company to which you're applying Depending on the type, size or management style of a company, it may or may not conduct a criminal background check or be more lenient in terms of accepting applicants with a criminal past. "Most applications ask whether you have been arrested or convicted of a crime," says Mary Greenwood, attorney, human resources director and author of "How to Interview Like a Pro." "Some will say felony so that conviction of a misdemeanor might be allowed." John Millikin, clinical professor of management at Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business, adds, "For a convicted felon, it may be better to look for something in small business, where you may have an opportunity to explain what happened directly to the owner.” Participate in a re-entry program There are programs available to help job seekers with a criminal record re-enter society and secure employment. One such initiative is the Prison Entrepreneurship Program, a Houston-based nonprofit whose mission is to "stimulate positive life transformation for executives and inmates, uniting them through entrepreneurial passion, education and mentoring." According to Jeremy Gregg, the organization's chief development officer, their "entrepreneurship boot camp" connects convicted felons with top executives, MBA students and politicians, and provides education, training and support. While this is just one example, search the Web for local organizations that offer similar services. Be honest Perhaps the best piece of advice? Be honest. It's true for all job seekers — whether you're talking about work history, references or past salaries. It's especially true for job seekers with a record. "If you fail to disclose a criminal record when asked, and you aren’t allowed to say it didn’t happen — as with an expunction — then the employer can fire you for failing to disclose it, even if you’ve worked there for years with no problems," Ballman says. Adds Millikin: "A job seeker with a felony record who has 'paid his or her debt' should be transparent about it without having to wear it on his or her sleeve. You should mention it after real interest has been expressed in you but before you get an offer. You should always answer questions about it truthfully, and never act as if you are hiding something, as it is worse to have it exposed in a background check."

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