Career Hub

Does social media in my job search make a difference? - Ask an expert.

There seems to be a constant blur between what some people say is personal branding and what others think it is, it is naturally going to happen as it's importance rises and a number of articles have been written on the subject recently and I am sure we will continue to see a growth in the for and against camps. 

One such area of confusion is in social media and social networking. There was post by Drew McLellan over at his blog Drews Marketing Minute - - that got me thinking - this was prompted by two more extensive joint posts by Geoff Livingston and Beth Harte - who had written and generated a lot of comments on their posts -Top 25 Ways to tell if your social media expert is a carpet bagger and 25 Signs You've Got A Strong SM Consultant or Agency. 

Drew's list is a good place to start and adapt for the individual if you are thinking of using social media and networking as part of your job search (and you certainly should be) and are looking to employ the services of an expert. 

How do you tell if the social media / networking expert you are talking to should be helping you with your job search? 

1. Does not believe that everyone should blog (or can). Nor do they believe a blog is the b-all and end all. A well put together on line portfolio can be just as good and may be more suited to someone who does not want to blog or are not comfortable writing. 

2. Constantly reminds you that social media and networking is just a tool. You still need to understand your personal brand and have something of value to an employer. If you do not have a clear value proposition then you are going to fall in to the 'maybe' or 'no' pile much sooner. 

3. Have a successful social media strategy themselves and have a presence in the key social networking areas. Very quickly check them out by putting their name in Google - put in the quote marks - e.g. "Joe Smith" - that way you get a cleaner search to find them. Are they there? Are they there for the right reasons! 

4. Helps you weave your social marketing strategy in to the rest of your job search strategy. So you are on LinkedIn - now what - how does that help you get in the door, start a conversation or find someone or something out about a company you are interested in? 

5. Does not promise that their social media efforts are so incredible that they are going to protect you from the recession, land you a job or make you the next CEO of ............ (enter dream employer). You can certainly build an online presence quite quickly and effectively, but it needs to be working for you beyond having a good Google ranking (to check out what it is now go to the Online ID Calculator)

As my Dad always says - "But how do you cash it?" - what are the rewards of doing all this - ask them.

Cover Letters - Get Noticed!

The past few weeks, I have received a handful of e-mail messages that go something like this:

Hello, I am looking for a job. Your name was given to me by 'Jane Smith.' If you know of any openings or have any referrals for me, please get in touch a.s.a.p. My resume is attached. Thank you.

As a hiring manager or recruiter, do you receive e-mail messages or cover letters in some variation of the above? If so, do these messages grab your attention or do you readily dismiss them?

If you're a job seeker who sends e-mails similar to the above example and your queries are going unanswered, perhaps now would be a good time to rethink your online communication strategy. With the intense competition in today's economy, make sure to view your career marketing documents from the hiring manager's vantage point. In a matter of seconds, would the above e-mail message entice you to get in touch a.s.a.p. and/or take time to download an attached document? Yes? No? Maybe?

In her newest work, Cover Letters for Dummies 3rd Edition, nationally syndicated careers columnist Joyce Lain Kennedy has assembled "more than 125 outstanding samples from top career professionals, including a mix of new-style, traditional, creative, friendly, hard-hitting and clever letter" samples that can be used for both online and offline career marketing opportunities." Check it out -- it may be the perfect solution to help you get noticed in 2009.

posted by: billiesucher

Who's Me?

There have been numerous posts here and elsewhere attesting to the value of personal branding and various ways to establish a personal brand. One can extend their visibility in the virtual world by posting to relevant discussion forums affiliated with professional groups, industry elists, and jobsite discussion boards, commenting on blogs focused
on your particular niche of expertise, publishing an article or writing a
letter to the editor of respected media in your industry. One other suggestion: deliver a presentation at an industry meeting or conference. Alumni groups are another platform to share your knowledge and
display expertise.

Keep in mind that "It's not just what you know, but who knows what you know". Be sure that your presentation is not only as good as it can be, but the audience is one that will recognize your value and provide future
opportunities, leads, resources, etc. Furthermore, you want to be selective in where your brand is exposed; avoid venues that may not be well regarded
since your affiliations definitely influence how others perceive your brand
value. It’s still very early in 2009, so create a plan to increase your visibility and then take steps to increase your presence where targeted individuals, especially decision makers, are apt to notice you!

Posted by Debra Feldman

Tweet Your Way to a New Job

If you're not using Twitter, you're not alone. Although the social networking site is growing at a rapid pace, it is still far smaller than giants like Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace. And yet it may provide more opportunities for job seekers than any of those sites. To understand why, you first need to understand how Twitter works.

What is Twitter?

Twitter is often called a micro-blogging site. Basically, it allows users to broadcast messages to the world as long as those messages are 140 characters or shorter. Your messages, known as 'tweets,' are publicly available to anyone (here's my page) but with millions of people tweeting, the real benefit comes from the fact that you can choose who to listen to. In effect, you tune in to another person's Twitter feed and in doing so, you see everything they write. One of the things I've learned about Twitter is that you can't explain the benefits to someone else in a way that's convincing. I can hear you now: 'why would I want to be on a site where I can only post a few words at a time?' All I can say is that once you try it, you'll start to see the benefits. I use it to keep up with news sites, to follow industry happenings and to understand job seeker concerns. Others use it to keep up with friends (I haven't been able to sell any of my friends or family on using it yet!) or for countless other reasons. But I want to talk about how you can use it for your job search.

5 Secrets of Using Twitter to Find a Job

1. Connect with Recruiters

First and foremost, Twitter is a social networking site. Like LinkedIn or Facebook, it allows you to make connections with others. However, unlike those two sites, there is no requirement to know the people with whom you connect because on Twitter you don't ask someone to accept you as a connection, you simply hit the 'follow' button and from that point on you see everything they write. And conversation is the lifeblood of Twitter, so you are perfectly free to reply to anything you read. This gives you endless opportunities to connect with recruiters and hiring managers in your target industry. It also allows you to listen and learn from the very people you want to attract attention from. To get started making connections, I recommend using either Twellow or Twitter Search to find people you would like to follow. By the way - many of these people will follow you back, but some won't. It doesn't matter. You just need the ability to communicate with them. Now you can follow conversations and reply if you have something interesting to say. Even a 'thank you for this informative post' message is welcome. We all like to know that other people are listening to our words of wisdom.

2. Listen for Opportunities

Twitter Search allows you to follow conversations that include keywords you choose. This is an excellent opportunity to passively surf for vacancies as many hiring managers will tweet about their openings. Simply go to Twitter Search, type in the key words (for example 'web design jobs' or PR internships') and in the upper right hand corner you will see a button that says 'feed for this enquiry.' Now you can subscribe to the RSS feed using this button and just check the feed a few times a day. Any time your keywords arise in conversation, you'll see the tweet in your feedreader and you can instantly respond. I just had a perfect example of this myself when I tweeted that I was looking for a web designer. Several designers instantly responded even though none of them were followers of mine. One of them, David Harry shot me an email explaining that he was tracking Twitter for mentions of SEO and saw my post come up. I'm not sure if we still need the help, but regardless, he and I are now following each other, I'm writing this post and linking to his site, he plans to link back to me and I've bookmarked his business site should I decide I need his help. That's a connection that couldn't have been made without Twitter.

3. Use Twitter to tell people that you need a job

Recently Jonelle Marte wrote about this in the Wall Street Journal.

Looking for a new job, Alexa Scordato didn't email or call her contacts about possible openings. Instead, she messaged them via the social-networking Web site Twitter.com. Her brief message: "Hey there! Looking for a Social Media job up in Boston. Are you guys doing any entry level hires?" Within a week, she had an interview. Within two weeks, she had a job.

It must be said that this isn't the norm. You need a good network of followers and some luck for that to happen. But it's certainly possible and especially if you have taken the time to research and follow the right people (many of whom will be folllowing you back, remember). For example, if you're seeking a position as a marketing manager for a technology company, and have followed recruiters who specialize in that industry, and hiring managers or employees who currently work at some of your target companies, there's every chance that when you say 'I'm looking for a marketing job in a tech company' that someone will know of such a vacancy. This is why targeting people to follow is so important. Don't just add people as fast as you can so that your own number of followers increases - instead focus on finding people who can help with your search.

4. Be impressive - add value

Which brings me to my fourth point. No matter how well you do at attracting followers and making the right connections, no one will want to hire you if your tweets are all about what your kid just did, what you're making for dinner, or how you got smashed at a party last night and couldn't find your way home. Sure, it's nice to see the personal side of people as well as the professional, but keep a balance and remember your goal. You want people to want to hire you and that means you need to be impressive and add value. So if you're a marketer, tweet about marketing. Share your ideas, link to your blog posts or blog posts written by other people. Offer tips and insights. In other words, establish yourself as knowledgeable so that when you do make contact with a recruiter, they are impressed with what they hear from you. If you absolutely must write things you wouldn't want an employer to see, set up a separate account that is private and can only be accessed by people you authorize (this is easily done in settings).

5. Communicate well with Your Twitter Page

Twitter allows you to write a brief bio describing yourself and to link to one external website. If you have a blog or a personal site, link there (provided the content is professional!) If not, link to your LinkedIn profile, or set up a Visual CV. It's important to make sure that people who click on your link find good, solid information about you that will make them want to know more. This is so important. Every time someone follows me, I check out their page to see if I want to follow back. I look at their bio, I look at the content of their tweets and I often click on the link to see where it takes me. An unprofessional image at any of these points can be a real dampener on your job search prospects.

In summary

I think Twitter is a wonderful opportunity to connect on a personal level with people you might not otherwise have a chance to reach. Of course, if it's important that you keep your job search secret, Twitter won't be a good solution for you, so keep that in mind. These are my 5 tips, but if you have others, please let us know in the comments.

Cross-posted on Louise Fletcher's blog

These Challenges... Will Be Met!

No matter what your political persuasion, it’s nearly impossible to not feel buoyed up by the unified excitement our nation is feeling with the inauguration of our new president, Barack H. Obama. For those fortunate enough to be in Washington, I’m sure the energy was palpable.

So, with a new agenda for our nation about to unfold, what can we expect? And for those for whom employment is a foremost concern, what can you anticipate? In the weeks and months ahead, plans might be expected to unfold at the national level and through the federal government. However, job search - in my opinion - is always most effectively launched at the grassroots level, using the trusted, reliable networking approach that, consistently employed, can yield the best results.

I do think, though, through a potential combination of stimulus packages, federal programs, and good, old-fashioned renewed energy and enthusiasm, there will be a trickle-down effect that will ultimately prove positive for our country.

Said President Obama... "And if we walk away now, if we simply retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like health care, or education, or the need to find good jobs for every American" (the full inaugural address is at The Huffington Post).

Jan Melnik, MRW, CCM, CPRW

Are you a Kate or a Katie?

How knowing your personality can help you find your next great job.

This guest post was written by Tim Tyrell-Smith, whose blog Spin Strategy is always filled with interesting and useful advice for job seekers and those looking to advance their careers. Thanks Tim!

During a drive to San Diego a few weeks back, I heard an interesting question on a radio station. The question from the DJ was:

Are you a Kate or a Katie?

 

The question came at the end of a segment so I didn't hear the original context.  Normally that would be frustrating for me.  In this case, however, it was such an interesting question that I let it go. 

 

The implication, regardless of how it was framed, is that being a Kate or a Katie suggests something about you.  That you and your supposed opposite are truly two different peas in the same pod.

 

Now we should probably step back a bit and remember that we don't name ourselves.  Our parents do.  And that name is usually chosen for you well in advance of your birth.  But, as with all kids, your unique personality defines your working name throughout your life.  

 

So when you arrived in this world, your parents lovingly placed the name Katherine on your birth certificate.  A few weeks, months or years later you became someone else by being you.  The inescapable you.  The way you smiled, played with your toys and played with others.  Did you play quietly by yourself or did you dance around, always needing a partner?  And then one day, Mom and Dad stopped calling you Katherine and began using a form of what you would eventually be called.  Kate or Katie.

 

Does this work for guys?  Absolutely.  Andrew vs. Andy.  Mike vs. Michael.  I don't see a big difference here.

 

As the segment ended on the radio, I started to think about practical uses for the question in job search.  Here are a few:

 

1. The dynamic of an interview and how, at times, we can be matched up with people who are just our opposite.  Kate meets Katie.  Or Katherine meets Andy.

 

2. How and when to let your personality come out within your resume or cover letter.  Also a question: If you are a Katie, why do you use Katherine on your resume?

 

3. At networking events, do you let the Katie out or do you wear a Katherine mask because that's what people expect to see at these functions.

 

4. If you are a Katie and you interview with a Michael (the hiring manager), should you become more Katherine-like to match his style?  What if he was really a Mike (or even a Mikey to his pals) and was just stuck in that "professional interviewer" mindset?

 

5. If you get an offer based on your skill and experience, how should you weigh any personality differences with your future boss?

 

Obviously there are a lot of other ways to extend this idea.  My goal here, though, is to get you thinking. Go back and review your materials and your typical style. How do you adapt? 

 

My opinion?  Be yourself.  You have to allow your true personality an outlet during the job search process.  Your personality does not need to take over the discussion, but it needs a role.  And you need to prepare for interviews and big decisions with an awareness of who you are, how you like to work and what environments allow you to be successful.  

 

For example, I have a friend who is a very social person.  He likes a lot of banter around the office and opportunities to grab a drink after work.  He accepted a job with a company where everyone showed up at 8:00AM, grabbed a coffee, walked in their office and shut the door.  Why did my friend take this job?  He has always coveted the industry and the role.  When offered the opportunity, he jumped at it.  Had he been a David, this might have been perfect for  him.  But he's a Dave leaning to Davey.

 

If you are a Kate and you play the role of Katie for a fun, outgoing and very social company, will you fit in long term?  Will you succeed despite the sacrifice of your true self?

 

So during the entire job search process, try to be aware of who you are.  Find ways, subtle if necessary, to let the real you appear in your resume, elevator speech, business cards and in your direct interactions with real people.  You will be memorable and interesting in a room where many others are wearing a disguise.

 

Then, when the job offer comes, you can rest easy knowing that they hired you . . . the real Kate (or Katie).

How To Get Your Career On Track with the 20-10 Test

•   If you inherited $20m right now, would you spend your days the same way you spend them now?
•   If you knew that you had only 10 years left to live, would you stick with your current job or career?

---------------------------

2009 is widely predicted to be a challenging year for business and employees alike. There are lots of problems and lots of questions being asked about the job market, unemployment and the impact on individuals. 

I don't profess to have all the answers, but I do hope to have some very good questions for you this year. Questions which will make you really think about what you are doing. Questions which will help you make the right decisions for you.

The 20-10 test is one such set of questions.

The 20-10 Test

The 'test' is courtesy of Jim Collins, author of the best selling book 'Good To Great', and consists of two very simple (yet powerful) questions for you to answer:

1. If you inherited $20m right now, would you spend your days the same way you spend them now?
2. If you knew that you had only 10 years left to live, would you stick with your current job or career?
If the answers are 'No', that should tell you something....

2009 Goals

Having thought about these two questions, let me ask you some specific questions that will help set some 2009 goals. Goals which will inspire you to take actions towards a career and lifestyle you really want rather than pursuing something you think you 'should' be doing.

If you inherited $20m and knew that you only had 10 years to live:
1. What lifestyle changes would you make in 2009?
2. What career decisions would you make this year?
3. What would you stop doing in 2009? What would you start doing more of?
4. Who would you spend less time with? Who would you spend more time with?
5. What habits would you stop this year? What new habits would you develop?
6. Who would you spend less time supporting and helping? Who would you support more?
7. Where would you spend your spare time? Where would you travel to in 2009?

Reality Check

The reality is that most of you will not inherit $20m this year and I certainly hope you all have more than 10 years left in you!
But it's also true that many of you will feel the sharp end of the downturn - more pressure to deliver, fewer resources, stagnant pay, job insecurity, the threat of redundancy and a challenging time getting back into the job market if you lose your job. Let's not sugar coat things - that's the reality of the market we're in.
But your success this year will depend not on the market, the economy or on what happens to you. It will be much more dependent on how you respond to the situation you find yourself in.

Answering the above questions honestly will tap into what is really important to YOU and help you respond intelligently. The answers will provide some clues as to how you handle many of the roadblocks and set backs that may come your way this year.

How?

Well if the answers to the above questions reveal that your big lifetime goal is to travel and see the world, then being laid off could be the catalyst for you to set off on your travels. If spending quality time with your family is the most important thing to you, then you can use the current uncertainty as a motivator to spend more time with them now, rather than later. If your answers reveal that you're really searching for more meaning and purpose within your career and life, then make it a priority to do something about it this year.

Your Field Work

Within the next few days:
1. Book 60 minutes with yourself to honestly answer the above questions.
2. Scribble down your answers as quickly as you can within the 60 minutes. The time pressure forces you be honest, instinctive and creative. Plus it ensures you actually do this exercise instead of adding it to your 'must do at some point list' which never gets completed
3. Based on these answers commit yourself to just ONE big goal for 2009. The one thing that would change everything if you achieved it

A tough market forces us to face up to decisions we've been putting off. Decisions around what it is that we really want to do, be and have. So if the current market conditions act as a catalyst for you to do the things you've always wanted to do, then the current recession could well turn out to be the very best thing that ever happened to you and your career.

It may well be scary and certainly won't be easy to ask yourself these important questions. But if you have the courage to answer the questions and face up to the challenges that come your way this year, 2009 could, in a perverse way, be your best year yet. Happy new year and my very best wishes for 2009.

By Sital Ruparelia, Cross posted on the 6 Figure Career Management Blog

Email Schlmail- New Year Resolutions

Penelope Trunk, in my opinion, hit a few nails on their heads last month in her blog post, "How to write an email that generates a useful response."  Adding further value to this are the numerous comments with even more solid advice on emailing tips that are worth knowing and doing. In today's cyberworld full of savvy authors, pundits and experts, if you have a question or want to share ideas with someone that shares yours, Google the topic and you'll probably find a resource. Then, use your networking skills to connect with the source, begin a dialogue and share your own expertise and perhaps start a new relationship based on your shared interest.

Posted by Debra Feldman

!@#$%? is not an appropriate email address

While it was once cutesy to dream up a clever moniker to display as an email handle. Now that email has gone mainstream and is one of if not the main form of business communication, email addresses should be professional, proper and identifiable.

Not only is this an image thing, if your address is not traditional, some email blockers will automatically divert your important correspondence to the junk mail or spam folder which you definitely do not want to happen.

To better ensure that your email gets into the intended recipient's inbox, use an email address that is as close to your name as possible. Not only will this be more likely to pass the filters, but it enables the recipient to quickly determine who the sender is when reviewing their inbox which may increase the likelihood of your message being opened, which is the whole point of sending it.

Save the funny labels for informal correspondence or ditch it all together and create a new account for personal use that shows you are capable, reliable, know the ropes and mean business.

Think of your email address as a networking introduction - it may be the first impression you make on a new contact.

Posted by Debra Feldman 12/11/08

Get in Shape - Career Fitness Goals For 2009

We are already into the second week of 2009 and I suspect that you are well underway to fulfilling your New Year’s Resolutions. If you are anything like me, “getting in shape” is one of your highest priorities. I actually began this process last September, when I hired a personal trainer to give me guidance and keep me motivated. I have to admit that I back peddled a little over the holidays, but I am on track again and in charge!

Just like with diet and exercise, we sometimes get complacent, and as a result our careers “get flabby” or worse yet, are side-lined by a poor economy and company cuts. When a sport’s team is looking to cut players, they prefer to cut those who are out of shape; much the same happens when companies are looking to reorganize or reduce expenses.

Before you find yourself cut from the starting line-up, or if you are currently recovering from a recent cut, take today to set your “career fitness goals” for the coming year. Following are some suggestions to help you get and keep in the best shape possible - now and into the future:

Read online job postings for your profession or, if you are currently in career transition, for the types of positions you are targeting. What better way to know what types of candidates an employer is seeking and what skills are required to remain competitive in the ever-changing world of work. Highlight required skills – job specific, transferable and interpersonal - and make note of those you currently possess and those you need to attain.

Join a professional association and/or get active in one to which you currently belong. Associations are a great way for you to stay connected with others in your industry and keep tabs on what is happening.

Learn a new skill. Find out what skills are in highest demand and enroll in an online class or check out your local community college. Your local Chamber of Commerce or similar community organization may have a “lunch and learn” series where you can develop new skills during your lunch break. Many professional associations also offer training and certification relevant to your career or occupation.

Subscribe to and read an industry or occupation journal. Stay abreast of new challenges and developments affecting your industry and/or profession. You’ll be better informed while also acquiring new topics to discuss with colleagues.

Make plans to attend one professional convention or tradeshow this year. You may be able to renew old acquaintances and definitely will make new contacts to expand your network. You’ll learn additional new skills. And best of all, you will get out of the office and into new surroundings. I guarantee you will return with new energy and enthusiasm for what you do – or you will be further motivated to more actively pursue another career path.

Find a mentor or mentor a colleague. All around you are successful professionals who are eager to share their knowledge and experience to help other professionals become more successful. Look around you and take note of the movers and shakers in your company or community – then ask if they would consider a mentoring relationship. Don’t need a mentor? Then how about looking for someone who does? There is no better way to challenge what you know and reinforce your skills than to provide mentoring to a less experienced professional.

Track your achievements. This goes hand-in-hand with updating your résumé and keeping it updated. Create an achievement log and every time you solve a problem at work, improve a process, take initiative, lead a project, increase revenues or earn formal or informal recognition for a job well done, write it down. And you know those e-mail messages you get from colleagues or customers thanking you for some small way that you helped out, don’t delete them – print them and put them in your “kudos file” along with copies of any certificates and awards. This will not only serve as a constant reminder to you of how much you are valued, but it will also streamline the process of keeping your résumé up to date.

Plan, schedule and take a vacation. Not the kind of vacation where you are connected to e-mail and voice mail 24/7 but a real vacation where you have time to recharge and refocus your energy. American workers are notorious for foregoing rest and recuperation, which are essential to maintaining peak performance and ensuring a secure place in the workforce throughout your career – no matter what happens to your job or company.

May 2009 bring you new dreams to fulfill, new goals to reach, and new opportunities to discover. And, remember this - if you are not managing your career, than no one is.