How social networking tools can help in your job search
By Connie Thompson
Story Published: Jan 20, 2011 at 9:55 AM PST
More than ever, if you're looking for a job, social networking holds the key. But it's a lot more involved than tweeting to your followers, or posting a notice on Facebook.
Even as the economy picks up, a recent survey by employment researchers at Challenger, Gray & Christmas, shows one in 6 job seekers expects to spend more than a year trying to land a new job. Career counselors say to shorten that time, maximize your social networking.
Nationally recognized career coach Robin Ryan helps employers select top candidates. She also helps job hunters land work. Which websites does she recommend to job seekers?
"We want to go to websites like Indeed.com," she said.
Indeed.com is not a social network site. It's a sweep site that scours job openings from employers sites, newspapers, and other job listings across the country. You can find out about job trends and openings in your area.
"Another great tool on the Internet, too, is called LinkedIn. Now this is the social media you should be using, not Facebook and definitely not Twitter," Ryan said.
A lot of people know about LinkedIn. But Ryan says many people who use this professional networking site are missing opportunities. Experts say the most successful job hunters routinely expand their contacts, research potential employers, get insider leads from their connections, and track down former colleagues and bosses.
"I've had people that were clients, land a new job, because they went on LinkedIn, found old bosses, connected with them, and they either hired them at their new company, or connected them to someone who had an opening and got hired that way," she said.
They key is to find contacts who know someone in the field you're looking for and get your resume in the hands of someone who works at a company where you want to be. But don't live online just sending out resumes. Your computer is only one tool. A big part of the networking formula is connecting in face to face- something many job seekers fail to do.
Employment experts say many job hunters also make the mistake of being too general about what they're looking for.
"Employers do not hire people to work at their company. They hire people to do a specific job. So when somebody says, 'Well, what kind of job are you looking for?' a response like 'Something in management.' is way too broad," said Ryan.
As an example, Ryan suggests a preferable response: "'In my last position I was a supervisor in the customer service call center.' Now that's more specific. You do customer service. You've done a call center. You've been a supervisor. So now you've told us the three things that are important about you."
Employers want specifics: the job title, the duties and what you bring to the table.
Spread that message to everyone on your contact list, and continually expand your list both online and in person.
MY THOUGHTS
yes, employers want specifics. but they want specifics that an applicant can back up by credentials. i remember coaching someone who's looking for a job. he was very specific. he wanted a post in marketing. not just marketing, mind you. he wanted a management post in marketing. a graduate in human resources who worked 2 years in a small family business won't be able to back that up. so, go ahead. be specific. but be realistic, too. i doubt you'd get seriously hired for a position you have no preparation for. not even in school. unless it's a call center. or your dad has the job opening.
Showing posts with label networking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label networking. Show all posts
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Job Search Tips 2011
Best Job Search Tips 2011
Here are Bizzable’s Job Search Tips for 2011.
1. Set goals and map out your day.
How many emails? How many phone calls? How much time networking online? Face to Face?
2. Research the companies that you want to work for, don’t be afraid to propose a position that can help them.
It’s a gutsy move but a well thought out, attainable and lucrative business plan will intrigue an prospective employer.
3. Write a targeted resume for each company, each position.
Never send a blanket resume and cover letter to every employer. It shows through and gets passed up in a nano second.
4. Look under free hidden rocks.
Bizzable’s staff searches 24/7 for hidden jobs and gives you centralized access in the free job search section.
5. Network, network, network.
Don’t underestimate the power of social media, the phone and face to face.
6. If you are not employed, volunteer at companies so that you retain a professional presence. Get out of the house every day.
7. Stay on track and don’t give up.Don’t expect results immediately.
8. Be prepared for the call back.
Many a job is lost by the poorly prepared. Give out the right contact info, answer your phone, walk with a cheat sheet on your strengths, be ready for an impromptu video conference call. Step outside if the dog is barking. Turn the TV off.
MY THOUGHTS
if you're not looking for a job, forward this to someone who is. I don't understand why you need to get out of the house everyday. i guess, maybe you might like it too much you'd want to remain unemployed for life.
Here are Bizzable’s Job Search Tips for 2011.
1. Set goals and map out your day.
How many emails? How many phone calls? How much time networking online? Face to Face?
2. Research the companies that you want to work for, don’t be afraid to propose a position that can help them.
It’s a gutsy move but a well thought out, attainable and lucrative business plan will intrigue an prospective employer.
3. Write a targeted resume for each company, each position.
Never send a blanket resume and cover letter to every employer. It shows through and gets passed up in a nano second.
4. Look under free hidden rocks.
Bizzable’s staff searches 24/7 for hidden jobs and gives you centralized access in the free job search section.
5. Network, network, network.
Don’t underestimate the power of social media, the phone and face to face.
6. If you are not employed, volunteer at companies so that you retain a professional presence. Get out of the house every day.
7. Stay on track and don’t give up.Don’t expect results immediately.
8. Be prepared for the call back.
Many a job is lost by the poorly prepared. Give out the right contact info, answer your phone, walk with a cheat sheet on your strengths, be ready for an impromptu video conference call. Step outside if the dog is barking. Turn the TV off.
MY THOUGHTS
if you're not looking for a job, forward this to someone who is. I don't understand why you need to get out of the house everyday. i guess, maybe you might like it too much you'd want to remain unemployed for life.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Job Hunting in Secret
Job Hunting in Secret: 6 Smart Tips
By Farnoosh Torabi | Jan 12, 2011
After two years of wage cuts, slashed bonuses and watching co-workers get laid off, American workers have finally built up enough frustration to tell their bosses, “I quit.” According to a survey last month by Right Management, 84% of workers plan to actively seek a new position in 2011, up from 60% in 2008. That might explain the dozen or so LinkedIn requests I received this week alone.
Job hunting now is certainly an ambitious task, especially after last week’s underwhelming jobs report. And as the saying goes, it’s often easier to find a job when you already have one - so don’t start packing up your cubicle just yet. Meanwhile, you want to be discreet. Here are some suggestions on how to secretly hunt for a new job as you dream of the day you hand in your two weeks’ notice.
1. Keep Communication Private
Printing out your resume at work and faxing it to another company’s HR department is like playing with fire. Avoid potentially compromising situations by keeping all job hunting-related communication away from your 9 to 5; if you don’t have a printer at home, find a friend with one, or use a nearby Kinko’s. Keep email discussions with prospective employers on a personal account. And if you must take a call from a prospective employer during work hours, do it on your cell and outside the building where you can speak freely.
2. Submit Your Online Resume Carefully
If you submit your resume to a public site, be careful. Your boss could come across it since many times your resume gets blasted to hundreds of companies, perhaps even your own. Instead, post on job sites where you have the option of keeping your company name and contact information hidden. Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com and SimplyHired are a few major job listing sites that offer confidential resume postings.
3. Watch What You Wear
Got a lunchtime meeting with a prospective boss? Unless everyone at your job wears suits, that interview suit will give you away. Men, if your attire is typically business casual, keep your interview tie in the car. Women, think about adding a jacket over a dress or keeping a pair of heels in your purse (or both) to take your outfit up a notch professionally.
4. Take Vacation or Personal Days for Interviews
Avoid taking sick days to interview. What happens if you actually do get the flu and need time off? Instead, take personal time off or a vacation day to schedule interviews. Book several in one day to maximize your time off and still have vacation time left for relaxing.
5. Video-Interview from Home
If a potential new job is out of town or out of state and you can’t take time off for the initial interview, ask if you can meet via a webcam-enabled service like Skype. A growing number of companies are doing this to save money and time. Make the appointment during a time when you are home - early, before you head into the office, or at lunch time or after work. My friend is actually going to a “speed interviewing” session one night this month, where she’ll meet a dozen or so prospective employers in an hour. They group is holding the session via Skype: It’s not only convenient, but it eliminates the risk of running into a co-worker.
6. Interview After Hours
Don’t be hesitant to suggest a time to meet beyond the 9 to 5 schedule. Meeting up after work or on the weekends is not unusual if you have a current job. Suggest a nice bookstore or coffee shop that is convenient for the interviewer.
MY THOUGHTS
i call this professional job hunting. don't you get amazed with those guys who are finding ways to leave the company but using the same company's resources? doesn't say much about them, right?
By Farnoosh Torabi | Jan 12, 2011
After two years of wage cuts, slashed bonuses and watching co-workers get laid off, American workers have finally built up enough frustration to tell their bosses, “I quit.” According to a survey last month by Right Management, 84% of workers plan to actively seek a new position in 2011, up from 60% in 2008. That might explain the dozen or so LinkedIn requests I received this week alone.
Job hunting now is certainly an ambitious task, especially after last week’s underwhelming jobs report. And as the saying goes, it’s often easier to find a job when you already have one - so don’t start packing up your cubicle just yet. Meanwhile, you want to be discreet. Here are some suggestions on how to secretly hunt for a new job as you dream of the day you hand in your two weeks’ notice.
1. Keep Communication Private
Printing out your resume at work and faxing it to another company’s HR department is like playing with fire. Avoid potentially compromising situations by keeping all job hunting-related communication away from your 9 to 5; if you don’t have a printer at home, find a friend with one, or use a nearby Kinko’s. Keep email discussions with prospective employers on a personal account. And if you must take a call from a prospective employer during work hours, do it on your cell and outside the building where you can speak freely.
2. Submit Your Online Resume Carefully
If you submit your resume to a public site, be careful. Your boss could come across it since many times your resume gets blasted to hundreds of companies, perhaps even your own. Instead, post on job sites where you have the option of keeping your company name and contact information hidden. Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com and SimplyHired are a few major job listing sites that offer confidential resume postings.
3. Watch What You Wear
Got a lunchtime meeting with a prospective boss? Unless everyone at your job wears suits, that interview suit will give you away. Men, if your attire is typically business casual, keep your interview tie in the car. Women, think about adding a jacket over a dress or keeping a pair of heels in your purse (or both) to take your outfit up a notch professionally.
4. Take Vacation or Personal Days for Interviews
Avoid taking sick days to interview. What happens if you actually do get the flu and need time off? Instead, take personal time off or a vacation day to schedule interviews. Book several in one day to maximize your time off and still have vacation time left for relaxing.
5. Video-Interview from Home
If a potential new job is out of town or out of state and you can’t take time off for the initial interview, ask if you can meet via a webcam-enabled service like Skype. A growing number of companies are doing this to save money and time. Make the appointment during a time when you are home - early, before you head into the office, or at lunch time or after work. My friend is actually going to a “speed interviewing” session one night this month, where she’ll meet a dozen or so prospective employers in an hour. They group is holding the session via Skype: It’s not only convenient, but it eliminates the risk of running into a co-worker.
6. Interview After Hours
Don’t be hesitant to suggest a time to meet beyond the 9 to 5 schedule. Meeting up after work or on the weekends is not unusual if you have a current job. Suggest a nice bookstore or coffee shop that is convenient for the interviewer.
MY THOUGHTS
i call this professional job hunting. don't you get amazed with those guys who are finding ways to leave the company but using the same company's resources? doesn't say much about them, right?
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Recession Survival Tips
Waiting for the Phone to Ring? Recession Survival Tips
By Steve Tobak | June 16, 2009
After a bit of a drought, I recently got a call from a former CEO who just landed at a new startup and needs my help. I don’t know how long it’ll last, but consulting in a downturn being what it is, it’s all good … until the next time the phone rings.
That’s really the hard part for too many of us these days. Whether you’re looking for a job or in a struggling business that’s seen better days, sometimes it feels like you’re just waiting for the phone to ring. I know that’s not all you’re doing. You sell, market, network, have meetings, whatever. You stay busy. But you know what you’re waiting for, and as Tom Petty said, “The waiting is the hardest part,” although I’m not sure he was referring to business.
Look, I’ve been working for nearly 30 years. I’ve seen booms and busts, bubbles that burst, and recessions that seemed like they would never end. But they always do. Here are a few tips for surviving until then:
Just as every bear market has up days, even in a recession there are good days from time to time. Use them to sustain you, fill up your tanks, so to speak. I’m not just talking about your business or financial tanks; I’m talking about your emotional tanks - that well of inner strength that enables you to persevere through tough times. It’s not bottomless, you know.
Imagine your work-life as a marathon, not a sprint. With any luck, you’ll be around for a long time and the only thing I can guarantee is that you’ll have lots of ups and downs. Settle in for the long haul. Facing obstacles is part of work and business - if you don’t have them, you’re not working. Embrace challenge.
Keep putting one foot in front of the other every day. Call a former boss or associate, meet somebody for lunch, explore a job opportunity, think about a new idea and bounce it off someone you trust. Keep networking - not just social networking, but old school.
Pay attention to the little things: family, friends, pets, the garden, hobbies, whatever works. Take a day, from time to time, go to the park or somewhere to remind yourself there’s a beautiful world out there and you’re alive and in it. It’s called perspective and you need a dose of it every so often to stay positive.
Take care of yourself. Exercise, sleep, and eat right. Really. And try not to drink too much. I know it’s hard, but try.
These are my tips, but you probably have a few of your own to sustain you until the phone rings.
MY THOUGHTS
this is a surprising article. i thought it would be full of advice about finding work. it's more than that. it tells us how to wait. and to wait wisely. it tells us how not to stay in a rut. and rot ourselves away. it tells us that no matter how trying times can be, there's hope. for those who dare to hope. and dream. of better days.
By Steve Tobak | June 16, 2009
After a bit of a drought, I recently got a call from a former CEO who just landed at a new startup and needs my help. I don’t know how long it’ll last, but consulting in a downturn being what it is, it’s all good … until the next time the phone rings.
That’s really the hard part for too many of us these days. Whether you’re looking for a job or in a struggling business that’s seen better days, sometimes it feels like you’re just waiting for the phone to ring. I know that’s not all you’re doing. You sell, market, network, have meetings, whatever. You stay busy. But you know what you’re waiting for, and as Tom Petty said, “The waiting is the hardest part,” although I’m not sure he was referring to business.
Look, I’ve been working for nearly 30 years. I’ve seen booms and busts, bubbles that burst, and recessions that seemed like they would never end. But they always do. Here are a few tips for surviving until then:
Just as every bear market has up days, even in a recession there are good days from time to time. Use them to sustain you, fill up your tanks, so to speak. I’m not just talking about your business or financial tanks; I’m talking about your emotional tanks - that well of inner strength that enables you to persevere through tough times. It’s not bottomless, you know.
Imagine your work-life as a marathon, not a sprint. With any luck, you’ll be around for a long time and the only thing I can guarantee is that you’ll have lots of ups and downs. Settle in for the long haul. Facing obstacles is part of work and business - if you don’t have them, you’re not working. Embrace challenge.
Keep putting one foot in front of the other every day. Call a former boss or associate, meet somebody for lunch, explore a job opportunity, think about a new idea and bounce it off someone you trust. Keep networking - not just social networking, but old school.
Pay attention to the little things: family, friends, pets, the garden, hobbies, whatever works. Take a day, from time to time, go to the park or somewhere to remind yourself there’s a beautiful world out there and you’re alive and in it. It’s called perspective and you need a dose of it every so often to stay positive.
Take care of yourself. Exercise, sleep, and eat right. Really. And try not to drink too much. I know it’s hard, but try.
These are my tips, but you probably have a few of your own to sustain you until the phone rings.
MY THOUGHTS
this is a surprising article. i thought it would be full of advice about finding work. it's more than that. it tells us how to wait. and to wait wisely. it tells us how not to stay in a rut. and rot ourselves away. it tells us that no matter how trying times can be, there's hope. for those who dare to hope. and dream. of better days.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Is There Hope for a Job-Hopper?
Is There Hope for a Job-Hopper?
By Suzanne Lucas | November 12, 2010
Dear Evil HR Lady,
I am 48 years old with an MBA in business management from a non-traditional university. In my younger years, I would skip around from job to job as boredom would quickly overtake the excitement of a new career path. Today, I find myself unemployed after being part of a department-wide downsizing a year and a half ago.
For the past year and a half, I have been self-employed and have worked to build name recognition, but now I want to go back to being an employee. My broad and diverse background is a gentle way to express the many things I’ve done in life. I have been that front desk person, the admin person, the HR recruiter, the holistic wellness expert, the emergency room clerk, the DJ, the newspaper reporter, the entrepreneur, the tradeshow consultant, the non-profit employee, the sales rep, the disaster response worker, the staffing specialist … I even spent some time attempting to build the next QVC (obviously, that was a dismal failure!).
I have been released from, or asked to leave, five different positions. Why? Because each time I was told that since I could do the job of the CEO, the HR Director, the Business Manager, and/or the Regional Manager … there simply “wasn’t room for the two of us”. From my perspective, all I did with each position was the job I was hired to do (I hope this statement doesn’t make me a jerk).
Today I am gun-shy, so to speak. Have you come across others with this same dilemma? It is my experience that companies want their prospective employees to be an expert at one thing only; they do not want a “jack of all trades” such as I on their payroll. Am I a hopeless case, or is there light at the end of the tunnel?
There’s always light at the end of the tunnel. The problem is that it is sometimes a train.
As you’ve surmised, your “broad” background looks an awful lot like job-hopping to those of us who figured out what we wanted to be when we were 7 and stuck with it for the rest of our lives. (Okay, when I was 7 I wanted to be a nurse, but then I found out that you had to deal with bodily fluids, and well, ick.) It’s true that people are far more likely to move from company to company and from career to career now than they were years ago, but it’s also true that we like to hire people who know what they are doing in the particular job we are hiring for.
I’m going to give you what I hope is a bit of insight into your firings. I have no doubt that you’re a fabulous worker and that you’re bright and that you have great ideas. But, I also have no doubt that you overstep boundaries.
Being told, “There isn’t room for the two of us” isn’t a compliment on your abilities, but a “nice” way of saying, “you are doing things way outside your job description, making decisions you shouldn’t be making, and attempting to manage people and processes that you should not be managing. Meanwhile, you’re neglecting the tasks you should be managing.” They don’t need two people in the lead job because what they do need is one person doing the job you were hired to do.
Of course, as you know, getting the job in the first place is going to be hard. Here are some tips:
You cannot go into the job search with the idea that you are a hopeless case. That will show through in the interview.
You’ve obviously got some talent interviewing or you wouldn’t have been able to make so many career moves. Use that to your advantage.
Your best bet is to network with your former coworkers. They know your skills and may be able to spot positions you’d be good at.
When you find out about a job through networking, try to speak to the hiring manager before presenting your resume. Convince him that you’re the right person before he sees your job-hopping past.
Pick out what you want to do, and rewrite your resume to reflect the skills you have that apply to the new job. For instance, if you decide you want to go back to being a tradeshow consultant, you’ll need to demonstrate your organizational skills. So, under the “disaster response worker” portion of your resume, don’t write “responded to disasters” (duh!) write about how you organized the other workers, managed the relief supplies, or whatever it is that you did.
Don’t spread a wide net in your job search, hoping for anything. Job searches almost always go better when they are targeted.
Be prepared to answer why you want to be an employee. Really prepared, because you’ll be grilled on it.
You also should do some introspection and decide if you really want to be an employee again. I suppose you aren’t doing fabulously well at your current venture or you wouldn’t be looking for a job, but perhaps you should try a different line of business. If you have issues with overstepping your manager’s boundaries, it might be best for you to be the boss. (But of course, you’ll have to learn how to delegate and trust that the work will get done once you have people working for you.)
And keep in mind, even if that light is coming from a train, just move to the side a little bit, and hop on it as it passes.
MY THOUGHTS
what else can i say. sometimes you get to a point where the only door that opens is the oddor opened through a friend. what does it matter? you need that open door. get your foot in and show your new employer that your friend is not lying when he said you're the best. you owe that much to your friend. and to yourself. then stop hopping.
By Suzanne Lucas | November 12, 2010
Dear Evil HR Lady,
I am 48 years old with an MBA in business management from a non-traditional university. In my younger years, I would skip around from job to job as boredom would quickly overtake the excitement of a new career path. Today, I find myself unemployed after being part of a department-wide downsizing a year and a half ago.
For the past year and a half, I have been self-employed and have worked to build name recognition, but now I want to go back to being an employee. My broad and diverse background is a gentle way to express the many things I’ve done in life. I have been that front desk person, the admin person, the HR recruiter, the holistic wellness expert, the emergency room clerk, the DJ, the newspaper reporter, the entrepreneur, the tradeshow consultant, the non-profit employee, the sales rep, the disaster response worker, the staffing specialist … I even spent some time attempting to build the next QVC (obviously, that was a dismal failure!).
I have been released from, or asked to leave, five different positions. Why? Because each time I was told that since I could do the job of the CEO, the HR Director, the Business Manager, and/or the Regional Manager … there simply “wasn’t room for the two of us”. From my perspective, all I did with each position was the job I was hired to do (I hope this statement doesn’t make me a jerk).
Today I am gun-shy, so to speak. Have you come across others with this same dilemma? It is my experience that companies want their prospective employees to be an expert at one thing only; they do not want a “jack of all trades” such as I on their payroll. Am I a hopeless case, or is there light at the end of the tunnel?
There’s always light at the end of the tunnel. The problem is that it is sometimes a train.
As you’ve surmised, your “broad” background looks an awful lot like job-hopping to those of us who figured out what we wanted to be when we were 7 and stuck with it for the rest of our lives. (Okay, when I was 7 I wanted to be a nurse, but then I found out that you had to deal with bodily fluids, and well, ick.) It’s true that people are far more likely to move from company to company and from career to career now than they were years ago, but it’s also true that we like to hire people who know what they are doing in the particular job we are hiring for.
I’m going to give you what I hope is a bit of insight into your firings. I have no doubt that you’re a fabulous worker and that you’re bright and that you have great ideas. But, I also have no doubt that you overstep boundaries.
Being told, “There isn’t room for the two of us” isn’t a compliment on your abilities, but a “nice” way of saying, “you are doing things way outside your job description, making decisions you shouldn’t be making, and attempting to manage people and processes that you should not be managing. Meanwhile, you’re neglecting the tasks you should be managing.” They don’t need two people in the lead job because what they do need is one person doing the job you were hired to do.
Of course, as you know, getting the job in the first place is going to be hard. Here are some tips:
You cannot go into the job search with the idea that you are a hopeless case. That will show through in the interview.
You’ve obviously got some talent interviewing or you wouldn’t have been able to make so many career moves. Use that to your advantage.
Your best bet is to network with your former coworkers. They know your skills and may be able to spot positions you’d be good at.
When you find out about a job through networking, try to speak to the hiring manager before presenting your resume. Convince him that you’re the right person before he sees your job-hopping past.
Pick out what you want to do, and rewrite your resume to reflect the skills you have that apply to the new job. For instance, if you decide you want to go back to being a tradeshow consultant, you’ll need to demonstrate your organizational skills. So, under the “disaster response worker” portion of your resume, don’t write “responded to disasters” (duh!) write about how you organized the other workers, managed the relief supplies, or whatever it is that you did.
Don’t spread a wide net in your job search, hoping for anything. Job searches almost always go better when they are targeted.
Be prepared to answer why you want to be an employee. Really prepared, because you’ll be grilled on it.
You also should do some introspection and decide if you really want to be an employee again. I suppose you aren’t doing fabulously well at your current venture or you wouldn’t be looking for a job, but perhaps you should try a different line of business. If you have issues with overstepping your manager’s boundaries, it might be best for you to be the boss. (But of course, you’ll have to learn how to delegate and trust that the work will get done once you have people working for you.)
And keep in mind, even if that light is coming from a train, just move to the side a little bit, and hop on it as it passes.
MY THOUGHTS
what else can i say. sometimes you get to a point where the only door that opens is the oddor opened through a friend. what does it matter? you need that open door. get your foot in and show your new employer that your friend is not lying when he said you're the best. you owe that much to your friend. and to yourself. then stop hopping.
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