April 2009
Monthly Archive
Mon 13 Apr 2009
Posted by Joan under
Career[3] Comments
I ran across this interesting article on CareerNews.com, listing twelve ways you can network your way to a new job.
It’s a good list and, with a couple of additions, can be a great list.
Here’s what I’d add:
Social networking sites, like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Ning, and more—especially if you can find one that relates to your particular field.
Relationships are everything in a job search and if you’re only relying on traditional ways to relationship-build you’re missing a huge piece of the picture. Certainly, getting out and attending alumni functions or professional events is a valuable part of a job search and shouldn’t be neglected; nor should you rely solely on social networking and pass on everything else. But the more places you are, the more opportunity you’ll have to connect with just the right person and the better your chances of finding that perfect job.
Here’s what I’d delete:
Career fairs and job expos. In this day and age, I’m not convinced of their value. With companies doing the majority of their recruiting online, many are skipping traditional job fairs altogether.
If you do go the job fair route, be prepared for a cattle call. Unless it’s for a niche community (i.e., high-level IT jobs for applicants with an active TS clearance) you’ll be one of tens of thousands of people all milling around with no clear idea of where to go or what to do.
Caveat: If you have applied for a job at a company you really want to work for, and that company will have representatives at a local job fair, then I’d say go for it. You’ll have an opportunity to make a positive, personal impression on someone from the company which may boost your chances of getting an interview.
I know there are more ways to network—hit the comment button and share your best tips and strategies to build relationships to help your job search.
Thu 9 Apr 2009
Photo bylaRuth
If you believe all the news hype, it must seem like every second person you meet is looking for a job. In truth, there are always lots of people looking—either actively searching or just window-shopping to see what’s out there.
So how do you make yourself stand out—in a good way? Here are three steps to get noticed.
1. Get clear on what you’re looking for. Are you in full survival mode, with the wolf at the door and burning the furniture to keep warm, or do you have a little time to look around? If you’re not teetering on the edge, take some time to drill down and figure out what you really want to do. Then establish yourself as an expert in that area.
2. Be the expert. Once you’ve settled on your field of work, start promoting yourself. Set up a blog and write about constitutional law, or rainforests, or whatever you’ve decided your life’s work will be. Research other blogs on that topic; visit and leave comments. Get to know the other players in your arena and start making a name for yourself. Overhaul your profile on LinkedIn and spend some time in the “answers” section, posing and answering questions in your area of expertise. Set yourself up on AllExperts.com and do the same thing. Write articles and submit them to online directories like EzineArticles.com. Use your Twitter account to provide information as well as to get to know other people who are interested in the same area. Set up a Facebook page or group and interact with people there. Start your own social network on Ning.
3. Watch your words. When you’re doing all of the above, be conscious of how you are using words that reflect your chosen field. Make sure your resume, blog, tweets, articles and everything else are rich in the keywords that generate attention from search engines. It doesn’t matter how knowledgable you are if no one can find you on google.
There are lots of other ways to brand yourself as an expert. Readers…please share some of your own and add to this list.
Tue 7 Apr 2009
Does this sound like you?
Works leaves you drained, demoralized and exhausted from hiding who you really are.
You’re so tired of dealing with the crap at work that you numb yourself with TV, drinks, or whatever else distracts you from thinking about the daily yucky stuff.
Trust me. You don’t have to live this way.
Join me and my guest, Leah Shapiro and discover a bold, new way of living that gives you freedom, authenticity and (not incidentally) plenty of money. We’ll be on Career Momentum Radio Wed, 8 April, from 6:30 – 7 PM (ET), 3:30 PM (PT). Don’t miss this interesting and valuable discussion! For more infomation, click here.
Thu 2 Apr 2009
With 75 million users and all of the Fortune 500 companies represented on LinkedIn, it is definitely THE place to be for anyone looking for a job. Many people on LinkedIn don’t use it to the full extent, so how do you make the most of your LinkedIn experience?
Here are 10 steps to get you started out right.
1. Pay special attention to your profile. Put up a professional-looking headshot – under no circumstances should you leave the photo area blank. Make sure your profile is detailed. Include ALL your employment, current and past. Add college and degrees, any specialized training, and any clubs and associations you belong to. The more information, the better your profile looks and the easier it will be to find other people with whom you have things in common. If you have a website or blog (and why don’t you?), include links.
2. Get a Personalized URL. Set your profile to “Full View” and increase your visibility by getting a custom URL for your profile instead of using the default one. Best bet – use your full name, if available. Then, use this link in other places online and add it to your email signature to make it easy for people to connect with you.
3. Keywords and Skills. Include all your resume keywords and skills in your profile so your profile will easily be found in searches. For example, if you do Web Development or Database Design, make sure your profile reflects those keywords.
4. Reach Out to Build Your Network. Once your profile is complete, start connecting with other members to build your network. LinkedIn offers a couple of tools to help you. You can run a search of your email contacts in Outlook, Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail and AOL to see who in your contacts is already on LinkedIn. If you don’t use one of these programs, LinkedIn can import your contacts list from almost any address book software. The more connections you have, the more opportunities you have. To start with, only connect to people you know and trust or have a business relationship with. There’s plenty of time to branch out once you get yourself established.
5. Get Recommendations. Once you have some good connections in your network, ask for recommendations. Good recommendations from people you have worked with carry a lot of weight. LinkedIn makes this easy, but don’t use the default language in the form email they provide. You’ll get more attention if you send a polite and personal request to someone. And don’t forget the quid pro quo – go ahead and voluntarily write recommendations for people in your network.
6. Join Groups. There are a lot of groups on LinkedIn and they are a wonderful way to expand your network. To start, join your college alumni group. Then, find groups that match your interests. If you’re in PR/Marketing, there are a lot to choose from. HR? Again, lots of choices. Don’t overload yourself – pick 3 or 4 to start with and participate in the discussions. If someone writes a question or article that gets your attention, send him or her a connection request. Again, don’t use the default wording in the form email that LinkedIn provides. Write something personal that shows your interest in the connection beyond just another number on your profile.
7. Investigate the Answers Tab. The “Answers” section of LinkedIn is a great placed to enhance your visibility. Maybe you’re a Java programmer or a legal expert; search for questions people have posted about Java or law and answer them. Or, post questions of your own and start a dialogue with people.
8. Search Jobs. Use the job search section to find job listings that meet your requirements. Once you find something, LinkedIn helpfully tells you who in your network works at that company so you can reach out.
9. Instant Connection. If you’re often away from your computer, you can take LinkedIn with you. LinkedIn Mobile connects with your cell phone, offering you the opportunity to view profiles, chat with new connections, research people you’ve just met and get updates while you’re on the go.
10. Research. LinkedIn provides a wealth of information about companies you might be interested in working for. Use the advanced job search feature and enter your keywords to find out where people with the same background or experience as you work.
Do you have any special tips about using LinkedIn for job hunting? Hit the comment link and share them!
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