Landing a job by blowing your horn
[originally posted on the Pasadena Star News website. Click to enlarge ]
Firm teaches self-promotion
Sometimes, there’s nothing harder than blowing your own horn – or even knowing you have a horn to blow.
But Lilli Cloud is out to change all that.
Cloud is the founder of Blue Feet, a South Pasadena-based business that helps job seekers and businesses better promote themselves.
And in today’s economy – a climate in which millions have lost their jobs – self promotion is vitally important.
“I work with clients and also do workshops,” said Cloud, a former vice president with Fleishman-Hillard and PainePR.
“I deal with personal branding and marketing for job seekers and entrepreneurs. A lot of people are both now.”
People who have been laid off and are looking for work often have a tough time assessing their own strengths, she said.
“They don’t know how to differentiate themselves, and they’re just not comfortable talking about themselves,” Cloud said. “And it’s even worse for them to speak it out loud. … People fear being the obnoxious networker or bragger.”
But Cloud advises entrepreneurs to “put out their shingle” and create a professional looking Web site that showcases their strengths.
“It allows you to present yourself in a much more professional way,” she said. “I recommend that you have a Web site even if you’re looking for a job. This allows you to control your own image – and you can include your resume.”
Valli Herman, who was laid off from her job as a reporter with the Los Angeles Times, attended some Cloud workshops and came away impressed.
“At first we identified our aptitudes,” Herman said. “What’s interesting about Lilli is that she’s really good at taking her pr experience and applying it to people, not just products. She helped us learn how to package ourselves.”
Much of the work that’s available these days is in the field of consulting, according to Cloud.
“A lot of people are looking for full-time work, but at the same time they’re also looking for project work,” she said. “In some industries, that’s all that’s available.”
But consulting work can be a good thing, she said, because it gives employers a chance to try someone out and job seekers can use the experience to see if a particular company is a good fit.
“There is absolutely no shame in looking for a job,” Cloud said. “I think in the next few years the tide will begin to turn, and the power will shift back to the job seekers – and they will be very picky.”
Cloud can be reached at www.yourbluefeet.com or by phone at (323) 441-1931.
(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2701