The Jobvite Social Recruiting Survey 2010 was conducted online between May and June 2010; over 600 human resource and recruiting professionals participated in the survey. Respondents answered questions using an online survey tools and the response data is available only in aggregate form.

Specifics on the survey include how social recruiting programs are measured; use of social networks like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for recruiting; spending trends and candidate quality of recruiting sources; use of online profiles in reviewing candidates; employee referral program; hiring plans and applicant characteristics.

Since you are looking for a job and should be active on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter (the three social networking websites most popular with employers, according to the survey), remember these four reasons to use these sites and actively manage your profiles.

• You’ll have access to job opportunities at progressive, growing companies.
• You’ll have access to job opportunities first.
• Employers are increasingly using LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to find and vet prospective employees.
• You may not find as many job ads on job boards or job opportunities through recruiters.

Link to Jobvite

Link to Article about Survey

New Year’s Resolutions get a bad reputation for being something you say in January, but quit by February.

This year, make a resolution that you will …

• think about what I liked and disliked in previous jobs and develop the ultimate job description. I will use this to give my search focus and meaning
• network 80 % of the time and use the Web 20 % of the time
• be open to exploring many new options in the job market, understanding that there may be interesting opportunities beyond my traditional field
• review which tactics did and did not yield results in 2009, and I will work to understand how I might improve in those areas that did not do as well as I had hoped
• promise not to apply for positions I am definitely not qualified for
• ask friends or acquaintances who manage and hire people to evaluate my cover letter and resume and give me real feedback – even if it hurts to hear it
• set myself weekly goals during my job search and keep to their deadlines
• consider new industries and career paths, but I will research the likelihood of being able to make that switch easily
• work on building relationships with my recruiter by helping him/her as much as they help me
• will apply immediately (with a tailored cover letter and resume) and search for friends and colleagues who could act as referrals to help me network into the organization
• consider my job search a full-time job and will not become complacent with my current situation. I will prioritize my job search above television, video games, or recreational internet use
• meet (on the phone or in person) three new people a week who can help me with my job search
• be thoughtful about when to send my resume, and I will not send my resume to everyone I know
• not spam my resume to companies where I am seeking employment. Instead, I will tailor my resume to each company, so that my relevant skills are stressed for each specific position of department. The company will know I am serious and intent on working there
• learn to leverage Social Media as a vehicle for communicating about myself, and not just as a distraction for hours chatting with new friends be specific about the type of work and organizations, including names of target organizations that I find most interesting
• send thank-you cards after every interview, whether I thought the interview went well or poorly
• not assume a person cannot help me find a job.  They may know a great contact I need to meet
• set up informal discussions with decision-makers/hiring managers even if they are not hiring right now.  They may be hiring soon be open to exploring many options because an interesting opportunity may exist beyond what I can see on the surface start attending more job fairs and networking events, including those that may put me outside of my traditional industry
• consider that my resume may not be as good as it could be and seek advice
• acknowledge that I may not be an interviewing pro. Especially if I’ve interviewed a lot and have not landed a job.  I will seek professional advice
• start considering a wide array of employment opportunities, instead of only the areas I’ve been used to
• build a plan for my job hunt by outlining resources to research and key people to contact.  I will create a schedule, too.  Milestones and goals are important
• provide or demonstrate my value to my newly-made contacts first, before asking for their help
• share my concerns with a few trusted friends who can offer good advice (instead of giving up hope)
• re-examine what my real financial needs are so that I can be more open to opportunities that may pay me less than what I want
• meet, whether by phone,direct e-mail, or in person, three new people who can help me in my job search each week
• will volunteer.  I will make good use of my time by meeting new people and creating substance for a discussion on “what I’ve been up to recently.”  I will make a difference when many can use my assistance
• evaluate opportunities by recognizing that this job can be a stepping stone to another job (inside or outside the company) – especially as the market improves
• not depend on my network to find a job for me, but will view it as one of several methods of finding employment
• Read.  Learn. Teach.  I will educate myself or others on a subject-matter than is pertinent to my profession
• do volunteer work to keep myself busy, and to also answer the question interviewers will put to me regarding what I have been up to recently in my unemployment
• consider exercise to be a good stress-reliever and pick a program I will enjoy (not necessarily bring the fastest results)
• ask friends or family to give me full and honest criticism of my resume and of my interview tactics, even if it may be difficult to hear
• not become frustrated with my job search, or, if I do, I will not take out that frustration on my friends or family.

• not give up

Don’t forget an important feature of Linkedin Groups!

With the increased competitiveness in the job market, job seekers need to take advantage of every opportunity to follow a job lead and make a good first impression. One of the easiest ways to engage recruiters and hiring managers is through the group function of LinkedIn.

3 Suggested Groups for Job Seekers, not to be missed:

Job Openings, Job Leads and Job Connections!
Get hired. Apply for jobs. Post your Profile. Job, career and employment leads and advice. Network and connect with gatekeepers and decision makers. HR human resources headhunters recruiters recruitment staffing hiring education consultant management coaching alumni headhunter corporate recruiter.   JOIN

Helping Friends Career Network (LI2HF)
Welcome to the LinkedIn2 HFCN group — a business and career network of networkers for entrepreneurs, hiring managers, recruiters, and talented professionals worldwide to make meaningful win win win connections!   JOIN

Personal Branding Network
The Personal Branding Network is a consortium for all of those who are looking to build powerful personal brands, from around the world. We come together to provide each other with expert guidance so that we are better prepared for the future, while being able to delivering our brand promise today.   JOIN

Groups are a great way to develop your online brand presence in addition to the traditional uses and features of LinkedIn.  Use this excellent feature to keep your name and professional profile fresh in the minds of recruiters and hiring managers.

You can join up to 50 Groups on Linkedin – Take advantage of this privilege

Leave comments frequently within your Groups. This is highly recommended:

Leave interesting comments, tidbits, and other information on a regular and frequent basis that are professional and related to the group you are member of.

Also, note that messages between group members do not require an “introduction”.   When you are a member of a groups … you can contact anyone in the group – no cumbersome “introduction” process is required.   Make sure to reference the group you are both a member of when contacting them directly.

Group Management

LinkedIn Groups is your destination to find and join communities of professionals based on common interest, experience, affiliation, and goals. Stay in touch with organizations, schools, and companies that you are and were a part of, network with professionals with similar interests and goals, and collaborate in a professional community online.

LinkedIn Groups allows group organizations to extend their brand’s reach and strengthen the brand with existing users by providing additional value through LinkedIn’s features.

Groups Directory

Linkedin’s Groups Directory allows you to easily find the right group. Click on the “Category” dropdown to sort by different group types (Alumni, Corporate, Non-Profit, Corporate, etc). Once you have found a group you are interested in joining, click on the “Join Group” link to request to join the group. Clicking the  Share button lets you invite your connections to join the group as well.

Clicking the “Join Group” button starts the process of application to that particular group. If you should be denied access to a group you can see who the administrator or managers of a group are and approach them directly about gaining access although this needs to be approached with care.

Underneath the group summary you can also see who is involved in this particular group and is also a member of your network, either as primary contacts (”1st” symbol beside their name) or secondary contacts (”2nd” symbol beside their names – this means that they are  not directly in your network but are linked to someone in your network putting them 2 “links” away).

Once you have chosen what groups to be involved in, have a review of the discussions currently listed and get involved.

Your membership may be subject to review by a group manager. For instance, college and corporate groups may require a valid e-mail associated with the account. If you have any questions about joining a group, you can send a message to the group owner listed on the group information page.

A search able database of groups already in existence within Linkedin. This is the place to start upon entering Linkedin for the first time to establish the selection of groups that interest you and apply for permission to join.

Begin by searching for groups with titles associated with your industry (for example) and take your time.  There is no need to rush into joining groups straight away (although you can leave a group any time you wish). Browse and search different words to see what groups are available.  Alternatively you can use Linkedin Answers and ask what groups other established users would recommend for you in your field, saving you a lot of searching.

Groups are managed by the creators who choose to authorize access to their particular group so upon requesting permission to be accepted you will have to wait until moderation has been completed and you will receive an email informing you if permission has been accepted or denied.

When you select a group you are presented with a brief description of the groups theme and on the right side some basic information regarding the date of creation, group type and current number of members associated with the group.

My Groups

Once you have joined a group, it will appear on your left side navigation bar under “Groups”. Click on the Groups link to view all of your groups. This page gives you a quick overview of all of your groups, and allows you to access the homepages for each of your groups.

Your Group homepage gives you an overview of the activity in your group and allows you to take part in a private discussion. You can also click on the “Group Profile” link to view information about the group such as the owner, managers, website, and other information.

Discussions

LinkedIn Groups are now the best place to communicate with your group or organization online. Click on the “Discussions” tab on your Group to get started and view recent discussions.

This is a great way to keep in touch with organizations you are a part of, such as corporate and college alumni groups, non-profit organizations, trade groups, conferences, and industry-specific groups. You can discuss issues that are of interest to the entire group in this vibrant and professional atmosphere.

On the Discussions tab, you can also use the navigation links on the right side to sort discussions by most recent, popular topics, and those that you’ve participated in.

Members

Your group’s Members page allows you to view all the members in your group. To get started, click on the “Members” tab in your group and enter in your search terms in the “Search Group” box. You can search by name, company, and other keywords such as specific areas of expertise. This is a great way to find experts and utilize talent from within your network.

Settings

The “Settings” tab allows you change your contact and privacy settings for each Group. You can elect to display the group logo on your profile, change your privacy settings for network updates, and also decide how you want group members to be able to communicate with you.

Another important feature is the “Digest Email” option which allows you to receive updates by e-mail from your group. You can receive a summary of the recent discussions and other important messages from the group.

If you would like to change the order that your groups are displayed in, click on the “User Groups” link on the left-side navigation and scroll down to the “Change display order link”. This page allows you to change what groups are displayed on your navigation and groups homepage.

__________________________________________________________

Top 20 LinkedIn Groups recommended for Job Seekers:

1. JobAngels – Non-profit job search network of professionals helping other professionals find job advice and opportunities.
2. Executive Suite – Community of over 100,000 US-based executive-level and recruiter members.
3. Star:Candidate for Hire – Group working in tandem with Linked:HR, the largest Recruiters’ Group on LinkedIn, to help top candidates find jobs quickly and efficiently.
4. Career Rocketeer – Career Launch Network – Fastest-growing professional network for career search, career development and personal branding, bringing job seekers and employers, recruiters and career experts together for mutual success.
5. The Talent Buzz – Group for job seekers, recruiters and HR professionals interested in expanding their professional networks.
6. Helping Friends Career Network (LI2HF) – Business and career network where entrepreneurs, hiring managers, recruiters, and talented professionals worldwide can make meaningful win-win connections.
7. JobsDirectUSA – Official job search group on LinkedIn for JobsDirectUSA.com.
8. Career Change Central – Group linking job changers and professionals in career transition with recruiters, hiring managers and career coaches.
9. CareerLink Network – Community providing job seekers spiritual, physical, social, mental, economic and personal growth to meet their ever-evolving needs
10. Jobs Alert – Job search group for middle and senior-level managers worldwide.
11. A Job Needed – A Job Posted – Group is for all LinkedIn members searching for employment, posting employment or recruiters helping members find employment.
12. Looking for a Job? – Group designed to allow job seekers to share ideas, network, post jobs, advise on job market trends and ultimately help them find work.
13. MyCredentials – Career Presentation – Group helping members to network, expand their resumes and enhance their interview skills.
14. JibberJobber – Career Management – Network for executives, professionals, students and all those involved in the career services industry, including counselors, coaches and resume writers.
15. ResumeMaker Career Network – Forum connecting qualified job seekers with hiring managers and corporate recruiters as well as allowing candidates to discuss and share career opportunities.
16. Personal Branding Network – Consortium for all professionals looking to build powerful personal brands.
17. Indeed.com – Official job search group on LinkedIn for Indeed.com.
18. Project: Get Hired! – Motivational support group exclusively for job hunters to share creative strategies and stay motivated.
19. Job Search Help – Discussion group for job seekers sharing advice and leads and networking to help one another.
20. IMPACT Hiring Solutions Job Search Network – Discussion and networking forum for executives seeking job opportunities.

Additional Feature of Linkedin Groups: Create your own Group. Take control of your networking and create your own group allowing you to control the content and the members.

The creation of your group is a pretty simple and straight forward process.  The only part that needs some sort of skill would be the addition of a logo or brand name.

Creating the type of group, add the summary and description and link it to your site finally sorting out your contact details and geographic location and language.

Summary: Time to start adding professionals to your group by inviting or notifying possible interested parties to its existence. You could also add a link or page to your group on your website or blog  if the group is “public” and you want to expand and increase awareness and membership.

It also takes organization, motivation, a lot of time and energy, a positive outlook, and critical decision-making. In summary, you must also have patience, yet be persistent.

Your ” job” at this trying time is to sell yourself to potential employers. You must promote yourself as a productive worker. You have abilities that an employer can use. You are marketing your skills, your ability to learn, and your willingness to help an employer succeed. Maintaining a positive outlook throughout your job search may require some extra effort.

Review important information about yourself or your portfolio. Remind yourself that you are a valuable member of society. Make sure you exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and stay in contact with your immediate support group of family and friends. Using these and other tools will help you stay positive and be at your best.

So what can you do when you read about hiring freezes, layoffs that crowded the field of available candidates, and long, dragged-out interviews when an opportunity does appear?   In this tough environment, you can still find excellent opportunities under the radar.

Here are some doable steps (in 3 parts) to help you wage a winning job search right now.

Part One: Who are you, and who needs what you have?

Create your own personal brand. Give yourself a “time out” to reflect on your special mix of job skills and personal qualities. How can you piece this puzzle into your own unique brand, one you can spell out in a tag line about yourself?

Naming your own brand can help shape your resume, your cover letter and your “elevator pitch,” a 30-second, easily worded sales pitch you can slip into any chat with people of influence.

Your brand should be head-turning and offer a solution to the market you’re targeting. When companies are cutting expenses, you can position yourself as an investment that pays back.

Demonstrate results. How can you prove you can add value? If you’ve made a name for yourself growing sales, reducing overhead, winning new clients or raising profit margins, highlight these features on your resume and during interviews.

Show your potential employer how you’ll apply your know-how to create value-driven solutions that translate to the company’s bottom line.

Expand your reach. In this tight market, traditional networking doesn’t go far enough. You need a better approach to connect with decision-makers.

Think about developing relationships, not just leads and contacts. Network to build contacts within the industry you prefer – plus competing and complementary industries.

Try joining a social network site such as LinkedIn and see who knows someone at a company you might like. Ask them to introduce you.

Also, contact former classmates and teachers, and start speaking up on Internet discussion boards.

Part Two: Build your foundation so you can stand tall

What is your game plan? Designing a doable plan of action is what the doctor ordered to keep your morale high. Take a look around. Which industries are healthy and growing, and where could you see yourself thrive? Making lists can help you settle down and focus. This list is important.

One week at a time. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Each Monday morning, you can choose goals for the number of contacts you’ll call, industry or social events you can attend (for free if possible) and how many face-to-face meetings you can land.

Good news: President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus plan will create new, relatively high-paying jobs in renewable energy, education, health care and construction.

How to increase your success rate? Get organized. Make yourself a splashy, colorful progress log or Excel chart to record each person you contacted, met with personally, when you talked, who said what, and your follow-up actions. This step matters. By keeping systematic records, you’ll create a network of valuable contacts to use on your new job and beyond.

Can you become the rainmaker? Even if you feel fearful or confused right now, make up your mind to be a lifelong learner. Imagine yourself the go-to woman who knows about industry trends, keeps up with technology and gets comfortable talking to colleagues of any age.

Online webinars and tutorials can keep you current on skills and abilities now in demand. Update your online presence regularly to position yourself as a thought leader, cost-saver, turnaround artist or innovator.

Part Three: Stay on the sunny side

Be flexible. Employers need executives with problem-solving skills grounded in experience. In difficult times, many companies outsource to fill the gaps.

Are you willing to sign on as a consultant? This could lead to a full-time offer. Freelancing, telecommuting and flexible work options become more feasible as employers strive to meet fluctuating workloads.

Use your negotiating skills to create new work options that meet their needs. Remember, “No” doesn’t always mean “Never.”

Lend a helping hand. Women instinctively reach out to help each other. Follow your instincts to offer support, share search tips and introduce colleagues also searching for new opportunities. Stay in touch with your network contacts and exchange information and advice.

By becoming that go-to source, you might be the first to receive word of a position that could be perfect for you.

Volunteer. Regular volunteering is the single strongest predictor of health and longevity. Being passionate about a cause and proactive helping others is rewarding not just for you but for your community. Show future employers your volunteer skills are immediately transferable to the job you desire.

Your optimism will win the day. Everyone can sink down into the dumps during a job search. But every morning, think of what you can do today to move your job campaign one notch ahead. Turn to trusted friends and family for pep talks and reassurance. Take time out to reward yourself and practice powerful stress releasers like yoga or meditation. Walking, jogging, swimming and other aerobic workouts can reenergize and restore you.

Remember: Target organizations where you can be most useful and look for opportunities to emphasize how you can add value to the bottom line. By knowing what drives you, where you excel and how your personal brand can make a positive difference, you can stand out from the crowd.

Source: Carol Malysz, VP, New Directions Inc., a Boston career consulting firm

Analyze Yourself

• Do you have the confident, take-charge personality it takes to run your own show?
• Does your family support your entrepreneurial project?
• Do you have the tenacity to stick with it?
• Are you ready for a significant time commitment? Starting a business often involves more than a 40 hours a week.
• Are you comfortable with a certain level of uncertainty and chaos?
• Are you a risk-taker?

Identify Your Product or Service

• Take the time to choose. Carefully compare the pros and cons, the risks and benefits, of each type of business.
• Look for a business that allows you to specialize and fills a growing need.
• Learn the business by working for someone in the same business first.
• Pick something that you will enjoy doing.

Know the Financial Risks

• Don’t use your retirement income to start a business. Consider a small business loan to get you started.
• Know that you have the resources and cash flow to cover a start-up period of a year or more.
• Consider “moonlighting,” that is, starting a business in your off-hours while still working. But avoid all possible conflicts with your existing job.
• Beware of self-employment scams.

Develop a Good Business Plan

• A business plan shows why your idea is workable, how your business will operate, and how much your income and expenses will be.
• The checklist for starting a company from the Small Business Administration is a good place to start. It helps you assess your situation, identify a niche, analyze the market, and organize your finances.
• It’s not enough to have a good product. You must know how to market and sell it. How will you reach your targeted market? What will make people buy your product?
• Use the online workshops and templates from the Small Business Administration to help you develop your plan.

Get Help

• Contact SCORE—Counselors to America’s Small Business—for free, confidential counseling on starting up a business.
• The Riley Guide has links to many sources of help for setting up your small business.

Source: AARP

This may just be the most common, and the most intimidating, phrase you’ll hear during your job search, from informal chats to formal job interviews. And be prepared, because you’re going to hear it all the time in networking situations.

Why is this question so hard?

Because “tell me about yourself” sounds like a book-length essay question, but people expect a response that’s only a few sentences long. And, in this stage in your life, “So, tell me about yourself” is real-world-speak for, “So, tell me why I might be helping you get a job someday.”

By taking the time to learn the key elements of introducing yourself, you’ll be able to impress anyone you meet in a professional situation, from a networking event to an internship coordinator to a hiring manager at the company of your dreams.  Luckily, you’ve already read about many ways to narrow down your interests and position yourself as a mature professional, so all you need to do now is put all of those elements together.

According to Laura Allen, founder of 15SecondPitch™, a company that trains people how to sell themselves more effectively, “Whatever you do, don’t wing it!” There’s nothing worse than meeting an important contact or job interviewer and completely blanking when they ask this question, usually the first one they’ll pose.

Take some time before you start meeting with people to think about the tangible skills you have, the challenges you’ve overcome, and the specific reasons why you will be a great job candidate and employee.

To get started crafting your answer, Laura recommends that you ask yourself the following questions and write down your answers in your career planning notebook:

•    Which of your previous jobs, even if they were part-time or volunteer positions, provided you with experience relevant to what you hope to do now? If none, what about internships or academic experiences? What about courses you may have taken that gave you an understanding of the industry you’re pursuing?

•    What are your strongest skills?

•    List specific examples of projects that you worked on where you solved an important problem. You can use those to show that you are a great troubleshooter and can think under pressure.

•    What can you say about yourself that will set you apart from other job candidates? In other words, what makes you memorable and special?

Laura’s step-by-step advice on how to craft your own personalized response, using some of the information you determined above:

1. Tell them who you are.
Remember that your primary goal is simply to introduce yourself. What’s the most memorable thing you can say about yourself and your accomplishments? What can you say that will immediately make the other person want to know more about you? Begin with that. “I am _________________.”

Some examples:
•    a magna cum laude graduate of ____________with a B.A. in ___________ .
•    a recent grad and recipient of the ________ award in __________ .
•    an accomplished musician who managed a band and put myself through college.
•    an extreme sports enthusiast who jumps out of airplanes and learned to fly them.
•    A strong researcher who made significant contributions to ___________ .
•    a championship athlete and captain of my soccer team.

2. Tell them what you’re good at.
Leverage the skills you listed earlier, and frame them in a way that is meaningful to an important networking contact who could lead you to, or be, a potential employer. (You don’t have a lot of employment experience on your resume, you say? Talk instead about how you rose to the occasion in other situations.)

Here are some examples:
•    “I’m a great organizer. In my internship as a production assistant I received three promotions in one summer.”
•    “I excel at project management. In my internship as an editorial assistant I read three scripts a day while juggling administrative tasks for an office of ten people.”
•    “I’m an exceptional problem solver. In my work-study job at the registrar’s office I received a special commendation from the dean for fixing the copy machine to make an important deadline.”
•    “I’m a quick learner. In my year abroad, I achieved fluency in two languages.”
•    “I’m great with people. As a volunteer for the Red Cross I consistently won high praise for my ability to put first-time blood donors at ease.”

3. Provide a call to action.
The call to action is how you let someone know what you’re looking for, and also that you’re done talking. The reason it’s critical to convey that you are keenly interested in networking with this person or getting a job from them is that people, especially hiring managers, want to recommend or hire someone who is passionate about a particular position or industry, not someone who is wishy-washy or will decide to leave a job after six months. You can put yourself on anyone’s short list of young people to recommend or hire by making it clear that you really know what you want and will do a great job.

Examples:
•    “My principal career goal right now is ____________ and I’m excited to learn how your company’s leadership position in the industry might open up opportunities for me.”
•    “I believe very strongly in your company’s mission. I’d love to explore with you how my success in this position could make a contribution to that mission.”

4. Practice Your Presentation
Lastly, it’s time to think about how you’ll deliver your answer and practice, practice, practice. Laura recommends that you think of your presentation in terms of the three Cs: be clear, creative, and concise.

Also be sure to tailor your delivery to the interpersonal circumstances of the moment: the goal is to maintain a conversational tone and not sound rehearsed. Think of the above elements—who you are, what you’re good at, and your call to action—as “sound bites” that you can assemble into the flow of the conversation. And be sure to maintain eye contact and appropriate body language during the interview. These non-verbal cues say a lot about who you are and how ready you are to take on responsibility.

MAKE THIS WORK FOR YOU

You can study all the tips in the world about preparing an answer to the question, “So, tell me about yourself,” but the only way to know if you’ve got a great answer is to test it out for yourself.

Here are three tricks to try:

1. Tape yourself. I cringe every time I hear the sound of my voice on a tape, but this reality check can be incredibly helpful.  Speak your introduction into a recorder and ask yourself: Do I sound confident? Am I clear, creative, and concise? Is it apparent what I want? Am I being polite? Do I have any weird speech tics, such as using lots of “ums” or “likes,” or speaking too quickly?

2. Test your introduction with a friendly audience. Once you’re happy with the way your intro sounds to your own ears, try it with friends, family members, advisors, or career services counselors. Remember that every time you test your introduction and get feedback, you’re also getting more and more comfortable talking about yourself.

3. Create a cheat sheet. Write your intro on an index card or on the back of one of your business cards and keep this in your wallet or handbag at all times. (Laura Allen even creates business cards with 15-second pitches on the front for her clients.) Refer to your card before you walk into any situation where you might use your introduction—a networking event, informational interview, job interview, or anyplace else. Take a quick peek for extra confidence and clarity.

Source: Lindsey Pollak, author, speaker, and blogger specializing in career advice for college students and young professionals

There are specific job search sites (besides Linkedin and Twitter).  These sites, known as “Niche Job Search Sites” may be useful to you in your job searhing.  The “niche” websites listed on this posting are lesser-known job-search sites.  I was surprised to see the magnitude of the available jobs listed on these sites.

Check for yourself to see if you can use any of these.  Be advised that only 40% of available jobs are posted on jobboards.  There are 40% for those jobs listed internally within an organization – for employees to make referrals to.  And the remaining 20% of possible jobs are in the minds of hiring managers – your actual target for job searching (even though talking to a hiring manager is the most difficult method to get noticed in this job market, it tends to be the most lucrative).

By the way, niche is defined as:  A situation or activity specially suited to a person’s interests, abilities, or nature!!

Go at this list of job search sites (listed in no particular order) to see what you can come up with!

1. Dice.com: This is the go-to site for jobs in technology. Companies like Dell, NVIDIA and Apple post jobs to the site regularly, along with non-technology companies looking for IT workers. Apply online or upload a resume for recruiters to view. For $29.99 per month you can see who has viewed your resume and be sure your resume places high when your area of expertise is searched.

2.  IT Job Board:  This site is the #2 computer/IT careers niche site.  It works with the UK and Europe’s leading businesses and IT recruitment agencies to offer thousands and thousands of live permanent and contract IT jobs throughout the UK and Europe everyday

3.  Jobsinthemoney:   This #2 financial careers niche site features targeted job postings available in the JobsintheMoney.com database from companies across many industries and locations throughout the United States and cover a variety of positions for tax accountants, auditors, fraud examiners, analysts, controllers and CFOs, as well as many other finance and accounting professionals.

4.  ComputerJobs.com:  The #3 computer/IT careers niche site.  This job board focuses solely on the IT professional. Founded in 1995 by IT professionals who saw a need for an effective way for job seekers and companies to connect, ComputerJobs.com has over thirteen years experience connecting thousands of high-tech employers with millions of qualified job seekers.

5. GovernmentJobs.com:   The influx of cash from President Obama’s economic stimulus plan will lead to a host of new job opportunities in state and local government. Use this site to search for jobs in government offices throughout the U.S.

6. eFinancialCareers.com:  The financial sector has been hit hard, but the surviving companies are still hiring. This site features jobs in areas such as accounting, finance and insurance. Check out the “emergency career toolkit” full of tips for keeping your career in gear, even during the downturn.

7. Medzilla.com:   Healthcare and pharma remain strong industries, even during the recession. This site features jobs from biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies like Amgen, Teva and Baxter. Jobs range from entry-level drug sales reps to full-fledged medical and engineering positions.

8. SchoolSpring.com:  This site saves educators the task of scouring the Internet for jobs in each individual school district. Executive, administrative and teaching jobs from around the country are aggregated here. Applicants can narrow searches based on subjects and grade levels taught. For an even more targeted search, try state-specific sites like EdJoin.org in California or NYEdJobs.org in New York.

9. HCareers.com:  Head to this site for jobs in food service, hotels and tourist attractions. In addition to listings, there are free features like tips on writing cover letters, continuing education resources and a salary and cost of living calculator with advice on negotiating a raise.

10. MarketingJobs.com:  Job seekers with backgrounds in marketing, advertising or sales come to this site to check out offerings from employers including The Walt Disney Company (Stock Quote: DIS) and the blueberry division of Driscolls Berries. Posting a resume is free, as are downloadable resources like industry magazines and more than 350 informational videos about various sales careers.

11. MediaBistro.com:  This site is for anyone involved in the production of creative content, including editorial assistants, journalists and editors as well as those in media sales and advertising. In addition to the free job listings, there is a place to advertise availability for freelancing as well as career-related online courses and seminars.

12. Guru.com:  This site plays the middleman for freelancers looking for contract work in industries like business consulting, graphic design and law. Job seekers can upload resumes and search and bid on jobs. Guru.com helps project managers award bids and even provides a safe online payment method to help guarantee a smooth delivery.

13. Startuply:  This site will list small company posting site; majority tech jobs, but not all

14. Start-up jobs:  This site is a also small company posting site

15. Venture Loop:   Check here for VC-backed company jobs

16. NPost – Mostly tech and start-ups

17. Retirement Jobs:  This is the #1 retirement careers niche site

In Summary, you may also want to check the world’s largest network of niche career communities, powering thousands of local and industry-specific sites. The Beyond.com network is comprised of many distinct channels, each represented by a premier career destination and backed by a powerful group of associated communities.  Link:  http://www.beyond.com/channels/

Beyond’s Motto: “The Focus of One, the Power of Many”

Beyond’s Mission: For community members to experience the targeted exposure of a niche job board, reinforced by the power and volume of their entire network.  Jobs posted to one of their communities are automatically distributed and visible across all relevant network sites, providing for maximum exposure and targeted connections with high-quality candidates.

Linkedin is a business-oriented social networking site founded in December 2002 and launched in May 2003 mainly used for professional networking. As of February 2009, it had more than 35 million registered users, spanning 170 industries.

Check this short video from Commoncraft: What’s Linkedin

Click here to view the embedded video.

The purpose of Linkedin is to allow registered users to maintain a list of contact details of people they know and trust in business. The people in the list are called Connections. Users can invite anyone (whether a site user or not) to become a connection.

This list of connections can then be used in a number of ways:

• A contact network is built up consisting of their direct connections, the connections of each of their connections (termed second degree connections) and also the connections of second degree connections (termed third degree connections). This can be used to gain an introduction to someone you wish to know through a mutual, trusted contact.
• It can then be used to find jobs, people and business opportunities recommended by someone in one’s contact network.
• Employers can list jobs and search for potential candidates.
• Job seekers can review the profile of hiring managers and discover which of their existing contacts can introduce them.

Read more about how you can put this to use yourself (fromGuy Kawasak):    http://tinyurl.com/azkyb8

• Update your status to let people in your network know that you are looking for a job.
• Get LinkedIn recommendations from colleagues and managers.
• Find out where people with your background are working.
• Find out where people in a company came from using LinkedIn “Company Profiles” feature.
• Find out where people in a company go using LinkedIn “Company Profiles” feature.
• Check if a company is still hiring using LinkedIn “New Hire” feature.
• Get to the hiring manager.
• Get to the right recruiter.
• Find out the secret job requirement.
• Find start-ups to join.
• Build your network before you need it.

Note:   Guy’s last point: Now is the time to build up a strong network as a good form of job security.

I am doing this now.  Note what he says about networking (also known as “schmozing”) ….  it’s not who you know—it’s who knows of you and – equally important – think about …

“What can I do for this person?“ not  “What can this person do for me?”

___________________________________________________

LinkedIn SuperGuide -Tutorials, Tips and Tools

Robin Broitman has provided a comprehensive guide to a range of tutorials/how-to’s, tips, advice and tools to help you become a LinkedIn power user.  RECOMMENDED
http://tinyurl.com/qb4tax_

__________________________________________________

201 Page PDF document – the best use of Linkedin

http://tinyurl.com/HowToUseLinkedin

I have found a great deal more about using Linkedin…. I learned that the real value of Linkedin is the Network of your network…. it is not in who you know, but in who they know. RECOMMENDED

The real power of the network is in the second degree. … I see now that the most powerful concept behind LinkedIn is that it finds the right people AND the connections you have with them.

Also, do not forget the power of Groups: an excellent place to build relationships and increase your visibility and credibility at the same time. I want to start asking and answering questions within Groups … to
possibly earn “expert points” for answering questions in the Answers section.

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What recruiters look for in a LinkedIn profile

Social media tools such as LinkedIn make recruiters’ jobs more efficient and often allow them to find job seekers more efficiently.  If you are an active or passive job seeker, there is no better way to cut through the clutter and get yourself noticed than LinkedIn. Nowadays, most recruiters and companies are increasingly using sites like LinkedIn to identify talent.  Matt Schwartz has proved some key characteristics of a LinkedIn user that grab his attention.

Here are his 8 ways to stand out in a crowd when recruiters look for candidates to fill a job opening:

1. Make your LinkedIn profile 100% complete
•    Include all companies, education, and awards. These are the key items on which we recruiters search.
•    References are very important. The more we know about you the better.
•    The more robust your profile, the higher you will be in the Google search rankings.
•    The more information a recruiter has upfront, the more efficient the search process.

2. Use a profile picture that you use on multiple sites
•    A picture helps to create and reinforce your online brand
•    It will help a recruiter identify you on the interview day at “Starbucks”

3.  Use the “Specialties” box to fill in keywords
•    List as many keywords as possible that are relevant to your roles, capabilities, and interests that will help you turn up on LinkedIn Search

4. Update your LinkedIn “Status” regularly
•    Link to articles you have written or in which you are quoted
•    Update status with your latest blog posts
•    Discuss business accomplishments
•    If you are actively looking for a job, tell people what you are looking for!
•    Update your status on other social networking sites such as Twitter. Try services like ping.fm that allow you to update your status across multiple sites.

5. Make changes to your profile after every job change or promotion
•    The recruiters you are linked to will notice these changes
•    It is harder to be found if people don’t know where you are
•    Update your LinkedIn profile as you would your change-of-address at the post office

6. Include your web site and blog links
•    Add suitable weblinks to the “Websites” section on your LinkedIn profile
•    This could range from your career blog to your Twitter profile. Alternatively, you can also link to a guest blog post you wrote recently.

7.  Do not block incoming emails
•    No matter how popular you think you are, you will not be overwhelmed. I promise!
•    The LinkedIn community is all about participation so feel free to accept incoming communication from fellow LinkedIn users.
•    If a recruiter reaches out to you and you are not interested, let him or her know or better yet refer a friend
•    LinkedIn actually allows you to control how you receive emails and notifications.

8. Increase your number of trusted connections
•    Use webmail importer to bring your real world professional relationships online and to find your contacts who are already on LinkedIn.
•    Depending on whether you’re a browser person or an Outlook person, check out the respective toolbars that will help organize your professional relationship either while you browse or check out your Inbox.

Source: Matt Schwartz, President of MJS Executive Search

Do you have a business card to use for networking?

When you’re networking and meeting people, it helps to be able to offer them a business card.

People who meet you will want to know how to contact you. Presenting them with a professional looking business card is essential in today’s’ job market.

Yes there will situations (like job fairs) where passing out resumes is realistic (and expected).  But in situations where passing out a handful of resumes is not feasible …use business cards for your networking.  Also, when you have a business card – and instead of walking around with a piece of paper - you are viewed as being more professional.

Networking cards look like traditional business cards. In place of a company’s name or a job title, job-seekers often list their objective or a tagline, as well as relevant skills.  In place of an employer’s name, insert “Consultant,” or your occupation, such as “Financial Manager,” or “Sales Professional,” below your name.

You can print your key qualifications (or summary of accomplishments) on the back of your networking card — giving you a mini-resume to distribute when carrying your regular resume is not feasible. Remember to focus on your three or four key accomplishments (or qualifications) and not on past job titles or duties.

Typical Layout:

• Name
• E-mail Address
• Telephone No.
• Your website address
• Your job function or title, or 2-3 core competencies

Business Cards can be purchased from a variety of places.  Also, you can have networking cards printed for you at a local printer or on the Web — or, you can try designing and printing them yourself on your computer.

Recommendation: use Vista Print and get 250 business cards free with the cost of shipping.

Check this short video from VistaPrint: How to Create a FREE Business Card

Click here to view the embedded video.

Another option: Use Microsoft Word and design a card yourself, then print it.

Here are the steps:

• Go to the “Tool” menu from the top row.
• Choose “Envelopes and Labels” from the “Tools” menu.
• Under “Options,” find the name of the paper manufacturer (Avery) and then find the correct product number in the lower left corner.
• Type in the information you want on your card in the text box and hit “New Document.”
• You can then format the cards exactly as you want them to print.
• Print the final versions (on a high-quality inkjet or laser printer only)

Conculsion:

Business Cards should be a major tool for your job search.  The cards should not replace your resume — you should still try to take your resume with you when job searching.  But in situations where a resume is not feasible, networking cards are a great self-marketing job-search and networking tool.

Always carry a stash of your networking cards; you simply never know when you’re going to meet someone who may be able to help you in your job search.

It’s time to unleash the single most powerful and proven tool in your job-search tool kit—networking. Survey results vary, but it appears that about 40 to 50 percent of the time, networking plays a major role in helping people land new jobs. That would make networking the single most-effective way to find out about job openings and to succeed at getting a new job.

So What Is Networking?

Networking is simply involving others in your job search and becoming involved in the job-search efforts of others. It can take place one-on-one, in small groups, large groups, formal groups, informal groups, and even online.

If you establish a communication network with 20 people, you dramatically increase the likelihood that you will learn about employment opportunities and contacts you may never have found on your own.

Where Do I Start?

Online social networking platforms are a growing vehicle that people are using for networking. One of the leading online professional networks is LinkedIn, and there are several others (e.g. Plaxo, hi5). On these platforms, you identify your contacts and invite them via e-mail to connect with you. Then you become connected to them and can view their connections and contacts. If there is someone on the profile of one of your contacts whom you would like to meet, you can ask to be introduced to that person. This “gated-access approach” ensures that the expanding network of contacts is comprised of “trusted” individuals.

You can also join special interest groups at LinkedIn to rapidly expand your number of connections. You can search by individual’s names, employers, names of hiring managers, and professional affiliations. These groups can become a meeting place where you can ask questions. Developing your personal network on LinkedIn may take time, but it will probably require less time than trying to build a network in person or by phone.

You can also follow people in your field on Twitter, a social networking site. Once you set up an account on Twitter, you can respond to or comment on “tweets,” or short posts by others. Some people use Twitter to post links to personal or industry blogs or news items. You can search Twitter for people you know or by subjects you want to research. For example, a search on “résumé help” brought up more than 15 tweets of people discussing résumés or asking for advice. You can then decide to follow people on Twitter, and that way, you will regularly see their updates.

You can also type in hash tags (for example, “#resume”) and search for tweets by topic. Some professional organizations are posting updates from conferences and workshops using hash tags.

In addition to your online efforts, you should still explore the traditional networking vehicles:

1. Family and Neighborhood Gatherings – Have your “elevator speech” prepared, and try it out. In case anyone offers help, be ready to elaborate on your job-search plans and on your targeted employers.

2. Social and Religious Organizations – These groups sometimes sponsor job-search networking meetings. If not, just start talking to people to people before or after meetings and services. If you meet someone who is willing to help, try to get a business card or ask for an e-mail and a phone number.

3. Professional, Trade, or Business Groups – Join professional and trade associations. Attend their conferences and offer to work on committees. You’ll be quite surprised to find that many who attend are looking for jobs. Some of these organizations sponsor job-networking sessions.

4. School or Work “Alumni” Groups – Many colleges and major employers establish alumni networks to help their members search for jobs, make contacts, or develop business. For a list of such corporate alumni groups, visit www.corporatealumni.com. You can also find some of these groups online, via Facebook or LinkedIn.

The biggest obstacle to successful networking may be overcoming your nervousness over asking for help and admitting you’re out of a job.

One idea to get started is to open conversations with previous coworkers or acquaintances by saying, “I’m new to networking. What’s your experience, and do you have any suggestions for me about how to get started?”

Don’t discount the impact of networking. And don’t make these excuses:

1. “I’ll be competing directly with the people I share information with.” Not so. It will be rare that you are searching for the same job, in the same industry or employer, as someone in your support network.

2. “I can’t imagine begging people for help. It’s too humiliating.” Get over it. Networking is common practice, and you’re not begging for help. You’re asking for, and offering help, to many people in your network. Being unemployed no longer has the stigma it did 20 years ago.

Losing a job these days doesn’t mean you failed and are unemployable. You’ve simply lost your job and you’re looking for a better one.  Unlike the generation before yours, you will likely work for several employers over the course of your career. It is rare to spend your entire career with one company.

3.  “I don’t know how to network.” Learning to network starts with developing your “elevator speech.” In one minute, you should to be able to summarize what type of job you want, what you do best, and how the person you are talking to can help. Rehearse this with your family and friends. Be direct, polite, and confident. Most people will be flattered to be asked for help. Now, get out there and meet people.

So maybe networking is something new for you.

But get excited about learning a new job-search skill, or to put it more bluntly, adapt or give up!

Take control of your job search.

Be proud of your efforts. You will find a new job, because you know you have to.

So stop creating obstacles for yourself and give it a try.

Source: Bob Skladany, chief career counselor for RetirementJobs.com

More on Networking >>

Social networking websites should be treated as an on-line tool to support traditional networking methods. Its focus is to expand the number of your business and/or social contacts in your network by making connections through individuals you already know. It is a powerful concept when applied to careers and job search because it has the potential to connect you rather quickly to people in your target markets.

Recruiters and employers also search social networking sites to find candidates, and most sites host job listings.

When using a social networking site for job search, you look for other members who are insiders at your target companies. Then you look to see which people you already know can introduce you to those new people, just as you would in traditional networking. You can also tap into your connections at past companies, schools or associations and talk to those people about your targeted organizations.

One of the best uses of social networks is to build up a list of contacts — and potentially connect with someone in a target company. Unlike regular employment sites, which mainly list want ads and applicants’ resumes, social networks are designed for professionals to meet peers and make career contacts.

Social network connections can give you access to:

• contacts by a particular company, industry or interest
• jobs that don’t show up anywhere else
• people that you have not met, including hiring managers and recruiters

Getting Started

In general, here’s how it works: you join one of the social networking sites (such as LinkedIn.com) and invite people you know to join as well.

Those people invite their contacts to join, who in turn invite their contacts to join, and the process repeats for each person. In theory, any individual can make contact through anyone they have a connection to any of the people that person has a connection to, and so on.

In the process of joining a social networking site, you create a profile. Your profile is:

• Your online resume
• An advertisement
• A web page

This profile is your personal presentation to the community of people in your industry and profession.

Most social networking sites have features that allow you to post recommendations from your network. This can work to your advantage if your profile includes recommendations from well-placed connections who say favorable things about your abilities that are relevant to the work you are now looking for. Make sure that your online profile reflects who you are and what you want.

Searching for Contacts

Once you join the network, there are two basic ways to search for contacts:

• Get a referral from a third party to a person you want to meet. You look around for people you know on the network and send out invitations to “connect” to them. The friend who gets the invitation clicks on a link that confirms that he or she knows the you. As soon as that happens, you can easily request contact with all of the friend’s friends.
• Search for people based on a host of factors, such as name, industry location, employers or schools attended. When you spot a likely profile, look to see who can introduce you to the new person you found.

How do employers and recruiters use social networks?

Employers and recruiters use popular social networking sites to:

• hunt for talent
• do informal reference checking by viewing information about you posted by you or others
• look for mutual connections before personally interviewing a candidate

There are numerous other social networking sites on the Internet;  the sites that work and are career-related are easier to use in job search than the purely social sites, but both can be very useful.