Interviewing – The Failure Question

What should you do when you get the dreaded ‘tell me about a failure’ question during a job interview? How you answer can be very revealing. Luis von Ahn, Co-Founder and CEO of Duolingo, a language-learning platform with more than 500-million users, provides some insight in the following clip from his recent appearance on The Tim Ferris Show.

https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx9Hr-94sHU65_JiQR86vIpR-9iuCyJF97

The conventional wisdom is to be positive during an interview, but sharing your failure shows your authenticity and that you can accept accountability. You should also explain what you learned from that failure to demonstrate your ability to learn from mistakes and your capacity for growth.

~ Linda

Job Search on a Global Scale

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Just a brief thought on today’s job market…

With the astronomical growth of remote work as a result of the Covid pandemic, you’re now competing for jobs on a global scale. That means it’s more important than ever for your resume to stand out with a strong marketing message that really calls out your personal brand (the value you bring to an organization and what makes you special). To accomplish this, you must go beyond legacy resumes and create a document that tells your story through your achievements, strengths, and illustrates what sets you apart. If this is something you struggle with, feel free to contact me for assistance. ~Linda

What’s Your Brand and Why Does it Matter?

Joe Cool

Are you Joe Cool?

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Or perhaps you’re the queen of the call center?

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Or just the girl on the go… regardless of snow?

In today’s competitive market, it’s more important than ever to have a personal brand to separate yourself from the pack. But for executives who have experienced a great deal of success, what should go into your brand?

When I have an initial conversation with executives, they communicate a litany of skills and accomplishments, often far ranging and far reaching. Very few are able to succinctly sum up what truly differentiates them and makes them unique. In other words, very few have thought about or developed their personal brand. That’s because to a person, they’ve been wrapped up and committed to developing their company’s brand, focusing on driving performance and profitability.

Having a personal brand not only helps you as an individual, it also reflects well on your company. One of the best examples of this is Steve Jobs, a genuine visionary whose personal brand helped shape Apple as a company that drives innovation.

But when you’re ready to leave your company, what does the marketplace know about you? Have you been diligent and deliberate about developing your brand, calling out what makes you a unique and desirable leader? In today’s digital age, when a quick search and a couple of clicks can reveal so much, are you showing up?

Most executives are not and that’s why it’s crucial to avoid being a digital dinosaur, step into the 21st century and embrace today’s technologies to develop a consistent, cross platform personal brand. It should include a web portfolio, a polished LinkedIn Profile and, if you have time, a Twitter account and perhaps a blog to show off your skills as a subject matter expert. In this way you take control of the content and message and create a unique, memorable personal brand.

Developing your personal brand is what it takes if, instead of running with the pack you want to lead it.

~Linda