Me 2.0 is Officially Out Today – Purchase Your Copy Now!

Me 2.0 launches today!

Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success (Kaplan Publishing) is officially out today in bookstores everywhere and in all major online retailer sites.  You’ve read my blog, flipped through the pages of Personal Branding Magazine, viewed my videos, even skimmed the articles I write on other websites and now you’re ready for the big time.  Me 2.0 will change your life by teaching you how to use social media tools to attract opportunities, without applying for them.  With a proven four step personal branding process, case studies, examples, infinite amounts of tips, expert quotes and more, you’ll have everything you need to get started today.  Buy one copy for yourself, one for your children and one for a friend.  This book will inspire you, give you confidence and allow you to live your dreams.

I hope you enjoy reading Me 2.0 and I look forward to your feedback.  Thank you for supporting me the past few years and good luck on your personal branding journey.  I’ll be back blogging on Monday!

Press Release: New Book Explains How College Students Can Use Social Media to Attract Jobs

Note: as of 8:30 AM EST this release has been picked up by MarketWatch and the EarthTimes.

BOSTON, April 7 /PRNewswire/ — In the past few years, the competition for entry-level jobs has increased substantially, and the 1.4 million college graduates this year are about to face the toughest challenge to date.  The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) reports that companies are hiring only 1.3% more graduates in 2009, which is down from 16% in 2008.

The way we manage our careers is changing and the Internet has become the new ticket to post-graduate success. In his new book, Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success (Kaplan Publishing, April 7, 2009), Dan Schawbel explains how anyone can become successful by using social media tools, such as blogs, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, in order to stand out and make a name for themselves. Me 2.0 is the first book about personal branding written for the millennial generation by a millennial, that bridges the gap between the current business environment and the progressive best practices of the future.  “In a tough employment environment, it is absolutely essential to move past old rules and embrace job hunting 2.0 — Dan Schawbel’s new book will show you how,” explains Sydney Finkelstein, Steven Roth Professor of Management, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

“If you want to get a job out of college or succeed in the job you’re currently in, you have to be the commander of your career, which means that you’re accountable for your own destiny,” explains Dan Schawbel, the leading personal branding expert for Gen-Yers. Me 2.0 teaches you how to use social media tools for personal empowerment, confidence building, and professional networking that can actually result in  attracting jobs directly to you, without applying!  Recruiters will find you.

“Not only do you have to aggressively promote yourself, but you also have to protect your brand, by claiming your domain name and actively grooming your Google results,” says Dan.  A recent Careerbuilder.com survey showed that one in every five hiring managers used social networks to conduct background checks on candidates.

Highlights from Me 2.0 include:

• A 4-step proven personal branding process for career success.
• Over 40 expert quotes from leaders, including Don Tapscott, Guy Kawasaki, Penelope Trunk, Chris Brogan, Laura Ries, David Kirkpatrick, and Steve Rubel.
• More than 70 research reports, three personal case studies and examples to offer a broader perspective on the topic.
• Tested advice on how to create an online and offline presence for career protection and self-promotion.

Today’s business world is filled with economic uncertainty, no job security and relentless competition.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US shed 3.6 million jobs since the recession began, which is the most since 1945. Economists state that another 2.5 million will be lost in 2009 (1.8 were lost by March 2009).

Me 2.0 is the handbook for surviving and thriving in the digital age, and the recession.