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Posts Tagged ‘Jobsearch’

Job Search with Twitter Hashtags

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

For Twitter newbies … a Twitter hashtag is essentially a keyword or label following a “#” symbol that people post in their tweets to “tag” their messages in specific categories and/or make it more search-able for those seeking tweets on specific topics.

For job seekers, this is an excellent way to find job opportunities and job search tips for your resume, interviews, company contacts, etc.  Whether you are seeking career advice or job opportunities, developing your personal brand, taking the next step in your career or simply just want to keep track of news and updates from the career industry – use the hashtag method of searching on Twitter.

A couple of key points about hashtags before the list of 90 hashtags:

  • A hashtag is not a source of tweets; it is a way to label (tag) tweets so they can be easily pulled together.
  • It is important to use hashtags only when you add value to the topic; the the point in a hashtag is that Tweets are supposed to be more informative and relevant.
  • A hashtag is nothing more than a character string inserted into a tweet, it’s something that you can search on – in Twitter:
  1. Go to Twitter Search.
  2. Search for a hashtag you want to track. Include the “#” in your search query. Here’s a search for #jobhunt
  3. Keep that page open in a browser tab, and refresh it periodically to see the latest results. Or subscribe to the feed for your search in your feed reader, and check there occasionally for updates.

I use hashtags in my Twitter account;  while I have picked out a few from this list to use, here are 90 hashtags specific to job searching:

  1. #areallygoodejob
  2. #avoidthisjob
  3. #benefits
  4. #business
  5. #candidate
  6. #career_change
  7. #career_coach
  8. #career_evolution
  9. #career_fair
  10. #career_suicide
  11. #careerchange
  12. #careering
  13. #careerism
  14. #careers
  15. #coaching
  16. #compensation
  17. #Consultant
  18. #crealism
  19. #creative
  20. #CV
  21. #dreamjob
  22. #employee
  23. #employer
  24. #employer-branding
  25. #employers
  26. #employment
  27. #employment_trends
  28. #employment-counselor
  29. #employments
  30. #entrepreneur
  31. #exec
  32. #executive
  33. #finance
  34. #franchise
  35. #freelance
  36. #gettingthegig
  37. #greenjobs
  38. #happy_2_be_employed
  39. #hireme
  40. #hiring
  41. #hired
  42. #home-employment
  43. #hotjobs
  44. #hr
  45. #humanresources
  46. #internship
  47. #interview
  48. #interviews
  49. #interviewing
  50. #interviewmistake
  51. #jobadvice
  52. #jobangels
  53. #jobhunt
  54. #jobless
  55. #joblisting
  56. #jobposting
  57. #jobposting
  58. #jobs
  59. #jobsearch
  60. #jobsearching
  61. #jobshouts
  62. #jobtips
  63. #laidoff
  64. #management
  65. #marketing
  66. #needajob
  67. #norestfortheself-employed
  68. #pay
  69. #personalbranding
  70. #pre-employment
  71. #recruiter
  72. #recruiting
  73. #recruitment
  74. #resume
  75. #resumes
  76. #rtjobs
  77. #sales
  78. #salesjobs
  79. #self-employed
  80. #sustainable-employment
  81. #thejobsguy
  82. #too_much_work
  83. #training
  84. #tweetmyjobs
  85. #unemployed
  86. #unemployment
  87. #wirelessjobs
  88. #work-life
  89. #work-life-balance
  90. #WSJcareers

Where you can find about what hashtags people are using:

#hashtags.org is the first place to find most recent / popular hashtags.  The link also shows each hashtag popularity trend when you hover over.

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B-R-A-N-D-I-N-G

Monday, August 31st, 2009

An effective way to set up your personal branding effort is to use Social Media to Promote You ….. to create a unique branding statement that sums up your value proposition

Before we go any further, watch this video – Understand Social Media:  (Time: 4 minutes, 22 seconds):

YouTube Preview Image

Now, answer this 4 word statement: “Tell me about yourself”

If you’ve ever attended an interviewing workshop, or found yourself head-to-head with this request in an actual interview, you are truly aware of the anxiety that these 4 words cause.

The natural inclination is to respond with:

“My name is ______________.
I am interested in ___________.
I majored in ___________.”

The same kind of information that you can find at the top of your resume; the same facts and “vital statistics” that your interviewer may have already received before you sat down for the interview.

But (and you likely know this already), you don’t want to tell someone exactly what they already know.
Instead… you need to tell the recruiters (who are looking for the differentiators) what is unique about you>

Answering this 4 word statement well is a perpetual challenge:

You need to engage the interest of your audience without going “off topic” (what brought you to the interview in the first place) or repeating the “known knowns.

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Job Interview Tips from eHow videos

Sunday, August 16th, 2009

Looking for a job can be a chore…  I found a Video Series of short, less then 2 minutes, helpful search advice from eHow How Tos on the job interview.

I have included this You Tube video – How to Ace a Telephone Interview and Get the Job:

YouTube Preview Image

Also, click the links for these 4 videos from Shannon Terry (resume writer and interview skills coach); a video transcript is included for reference.

How to Prepare for an Interview

How to Prepare for an Interview

Video Transcript

  • “Abraham Lincoln said if I had eight hours to cut down a tree, I would spend six sharpening my ax. Hi, I’m Shannon Terry, I’m an interview skills coach and resume writer with Resume Confidence here to help you prepare for your job interview. The first tool, of course, is preparation. Research the company, use their website, use newspaper articles, network of course, friends, colleagues, neighbors, whoever might know something about both that company and the position. I want you to bring extra resumes so you can distribute them. You’d be surprised how many interviewers aren’t ready for you when you get there and it saves them from having to search through their desk awkwardly to look for your resume. Do a test drive to the job site beforehand so you know what’s the parking situation, how long does it take me to get there, things like that. And, I always want you to arrive early anyway because the best preparation, is not feeling rushed. Review the qualifications for the job before you get there and then plan how are you going to incorporate your skills and experience into what they’re looking for. Make sure you’re answering those questions for them. Last but not least, and most important practice, practice, practice, practice with a trusted friend, an interview coach, a trusted colleague. This will help you feel comfortable with the most common anticipated interview questions, so that when they throw you a curve ball or two, and they will, you don’t lose the whole game. Hi, I’m Shannon Terry, an interview skills coach and resume writer helping you prepare for your interview.”

How to Answer Questions in a Structured Oral Interview

How to Answer Questions in a Structured Oral Interview

Video Transcript

  • “The best indicator of future performance is past performance. This is a key tenant to structured interviewing, or also called behavioral interviewing. Hi, I’m Shannon Terry. I’m an interview skills coach and resume writer with Resume Confidence here to help you answer questions in a structured interview. What a structured interview actually is is an interview in which they ask the same series of questions in the same order to all the participants and then the interviewers score your answers. The point here is to try to be fair to all of you, asking the same things. What they are looking for is specific examples of your skills and experience. In effect, by asking you for these stories, you are proving your skills and experience by explaining in detail these examples. Your answers all need to have the following information, kind of a structured answer, right, for a structured interview. First, give a description of the situation: when I was a…give a job title, at such and such company, here’s what I was faced with. Something like that. Next, state your objective. What was it you were supposed to accomplish. After that, make sure you spend most of the time in your, in your answer talking about your action. What did you do? These prove your skills and experience and therefore what you can actually do in the future as well. Lastly, but also very important, make sure you explain in detail the positive end results for the company and of course, the client. Every employer wants to know how you made something better for your fu, your past rather, your past employers. I’m Shannon Terry, an interview skills coach and resume writer with Resume Confidence, helping you answer questions in a structured interview.”

How to Follow Up After a Job Interview

How to Follow Up After a Job Interview

Video Transcript

  • “So, you’re sitting at home after what you think was a good job interview, you got done, but you’re like what do I do now, how do I follow up with this company. Hi, I’m Shannon Terry, I’m an interview skills coach and resume writer with Resume Confidence here to help you learn how to follow up after a job interview. So, your follow up actually begins at the end of the interview. I want you to ask what are your next steps in the process, how can I follow up with you after this, I’m really interested in the job. Make sure you say that, state your interest. I want you do avoid saying things like, if I don’t hear from you, I will call you on, it seems like you’re being assertive but what you’re actually doing is implying by saying, I doubt, by saying if I don’t, don’t do that. Be a little more positive and confidant by saying well, I look forward to hearing from you, when can I expect your call? Something like that, that subtly implies of course, you want to hear from me, without being arrogant. Send those thank you notes. A lot of people don’t, so it’ll make you stand out. Send them within about a business day or so. If you used e-mail in the past to communicate with the employer, feel free to do that, otherwise, mail a note, in a time crunch, you can even fax it. If the employer gave you a specific time frame for follow up and they don’t call on that day, call them the next business day. If they didn’t give you a specific follow up time frame, then wait two or three business days till after the interview and call to follow up. Be brief in your follow up call, restate your name and the day and time that you interviewed, and the position to jog the employers memory. And, just simply say again, I’m interested in the job, just calling to follow up and seeing when I can expect to hear from somebody. Hear that? When can I expect, you’re assuming of course, they’re going to call you back. Last but not least, in the meantime, keep looking, it’s always good to have options. I’m Shannon Terry, I’m an interview skills coach and resume writer with Resume Confidence helping you learn how to follow up after a job interview.”

How to Do a Second Follow-Up After a Phone Interview

How to Do a Second Follow-Up After a Phone Interview

Video Transcript

  • “They say that the squeaky wheel gets the oil, but in job searching you have to find a balance between being persistent and being annoying. Hi, I’m Shannon Terry, I’m an interview skills coach and resume writer with Resume Confidence, here to help you learn how to follow up after a second phone interview. The follow up actually begins at the end of the interview. Ask what the next steps are in the job search process. State your interests, make sure you do that, so they know that you want the job. Send a thank you note, yes, again, right away, and if they specified a time frame that they’re going to be getting back to you, and they don’t actually call you on that day, call them, the next business day to follow up. If they didn’t specify a follow up date, then I would wait two or three business days before you make your follow up call. Keep all of your follow up calls brief. Simply call say your name, hi, I’m so and so, and I’m calling to follow up on the, and list the name of the job that you’re applying for. I interviewed on and give the date and the time and this helps jog their memory. Again, repeat your name and your contact information for their convenience and then just simply end your call with I look forward to hearing from you soon, or I’m really looking forward to that call. In the meantime, keep on looking for other jobs, it’s always good to have options. I’m Shannon Terry, an interview skills coach and resume writer with Resume Confidence helping you follow up after a second phone interview.”

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Check Unemployment Stats

Saturday, August 15th, 2009

Unemployment, Labor Force, Average Income Data By State

This is a interactive map showing unemployment rate, employment, unemployment, labor force, population and average income by state. Unemployment rate in 2008 and 2009 to date is shown; plus the change in unemployment rate and average income for each state.

    Black dots: unemployment rate is between 1% and 5.9%
    Blue dots: unemployment rate is between 6% and 9.9%
    Red dots: unemployment rate is over 10%

To explore click and drag map with your mouse. To view detailed info on each state click the red, black or blue dot

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Your Online “IMAGE”

Saturday, August 15th, 2009

Have you thought about your online image?

The Internet is a highly public medium, and personal information in cyberspace could unfortunately work against you. Business Week reported that 35 percent of surveyed employers have eliminated candidates based on online information.

Social-networking sites are everywhere – sites like Zoominfo, Linkedin, Flicker, Twitter, Facebook etc. (see Wikipedia – it lists more than 100 social-networking sites!).  Did you know that recruiters are using these sites to find candidates? And you, the job seeker, are using some of the sites to get “found.”

The search engine leader – Google

Recruiters will use Google to find out all they can about a candidate.  And in the professional arena, having a LinkedIn profile is becoming as expected as being searched on Google.  Linkedin is used not only to seek connections, but to find information.  Your LinkedIn profile is must be and look great – even if you are working and successful. Be discriminating and emulate a profile that clearly that is a “head above the rest.”

Keep in mind, though, that employers and recruiters aren’t just looking for your “Googlability” – how many times your name pops up in a search. They’re also interested in how positive your online image is. Thus, be very careful about how you project your story online.

Twitter for Short Messages

Another key trend is the use of Twitter as a “micro-blogging” phenomena where users are communicating in no more than 140 characters (there is usually a spillover of text, and normally a link to a website using a shortened URL).

This post was written August, 2009 when relatively few recruiters actually source from social networks. But, according to Kevin Wheeler of the Electronic Recruiting Exchange, “Recruiting is moving rapidly from a find ‘em and screen ‘em, to a court ‘em, stay in touch with them, and sell them profession. These networks (Linkedin, Flicker, Twitter, Facebook ) will power that charge.”

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Working With a Recruiter

Friday, August 14th, 2009

Recruiters exist to find people for jobs, not jobs for people. Once you have chosen a recruiter (who is specializing in your field) and he/she has agreed to represent you, you still have to do you part.

These five actions will help you succeed when working with placement professionals.

1. Be Forthcoming

Be honest and upfront about any personal information that may impact your decision making process when it comes to job offers. For instance if there are geographic locations to which you won’t travel or if your availability to work is limited speak up. A placement person can’t work toward a win-win if she’s operating in the dark.

2. Be Honest about your Pay Requirements

The right placement professional works from your best interests as well as the hiring manager’s best interests. He/She is working to match your needs with the hiring manager’s needs. To do that effectively he/she needs to know what you’re really looking for in the way of pay as well as the least amount you’re willing to accept. By being up front you can avoid being overlooked for positions you would actually be interested in because the recruiter thought the pay rate was too low.

Don’t worry that he’ll/she’ll sabotage you’re negotiating leverage. The vast majority of recruiters work on a contingency basis. That means it’s in her best interest to help you negotiate the highest possible salary.

3. Utilize Coaching or Constructive Feedback

A quality based recruiter will have insight into the hiring manager’s decision making criteria. To help you prepare for an interview he/she may make suggestions about what experience to emphasize or what personal mannerisms to play down. Be ready to act on those suggestions. Don’t put your recruiter in a position to regret recommending you for an opening by behaving in a way that would reflect poorly on her or the firm.

4. Be Responsive to Requests

There may be times during the placement process when your placement agent or recruiter needs quick answers to client specific questions. This may come up when your candidacy is first submitted or it could happen after an interview. Your immediate response (or lack thereof) to these requests for information can make the difference in whether or not you get the job.

If your recruiter asks that you call him/her at a specific time, do it. As a professional recruiter I knew of upcoming openings (positions waiting for the hiring go ahead) or pending offers that required time sensitive contact. By asking certain candidates to contact me at specific times I saved both of us a lot of back and forth phone tag. The number of times this sped up placements was significant enough to continue the practice. A professional recruiter won’t waste your time or his/hers if he/she doesn’t truly think he/she has the potential to place you.

5. Stay Top-of-Mind

If you apply with a staffing firm but aren’t placed immediately, don’t disappear. Timing is everything. The position you were first interested in may get filled with someone else. And the next great opening could come in that afternoon. Placement firms are constantly recruiting which means your candidacy could get pushed down the list.

Stay in touch as long as you are actively looking for work (assuming the recruiter specializes in your field). Help your recruiter help you by keeping her up to date on your job seeking status.

Vary your communication between email and phone calls. Contact her once a week or every two weeks. (When in doubt ask the recruiter about the appropriate time interval between contacts.)

Choosing the right recruiter, having her want you as a candidate and then holding up your end of the bargain is the way to win a job through a placement professional. When handled correctly you and your recruiter will forge a relationship that has the potential to serve you both for years to come.

Source: Shirley Ray, a former hiring professional turned infopreneur empowering job seekers

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“Headhunters” – Put Them to Work for You

Friday, August 14th, 2009

An Executive recruiter may call you – be sure to answer their call!

Why? …because they can help your career! An executive recruiter may be the perfect match for you – if you are looking for work, or seeking a mid-career challenge, … you may want to have and Executive recruiter at your disposal.

Job listings are becoming obsolete these days; companies are using search firms to scour the Internet, looking for a suitable candidate whose background may be a match to the opening they have in their listings.

Executive recruiters are assigned the responsibility to find and place candidates, some may be for high-level positions, but not always. Companies hire recruitment firms to find talented employees and bring them in to take high-profile jobs that are not often publicly advertised. Most firms are specialized in some manner, either regionally, by profession (such as accounting, legal, advertising, marketing), or industry—such as high tech or pharmaceutical. Some firms have exclusive contracts to do all of a company’s outsource hiring.

How Recruiters Work

Recruiting firms are employment agencies. Companies hire executive recruiters to find and bring in candidates for a variety of positions—anyone with two years of professional work experience on up. The company is the client of the “headhunter” and the job seeker is the “target”.  Essentially, the Executive recruiter (”headhunter“) is seeking out a person for the job, not a job for the person.

Recruiters are compensated either on retainer or a contingency basis; either way, the standard fee structure is 25 percent to 35 percent of the position’s first-year salary. Retainer firms have exclusive contracts to handle higher-level positions involving six-figure salaries.

Locating Your Recruiter

Your first step is to locate a recruiting firm that works in your field. Network around to find a speciality recruiter. Once you’ve found a firm, choose an individual recruiter with whom you can develop a relationship with. You want to develop a “bond of trust” for the relationship to be productive and rewarding.

Put the recruiter to the test. How established is the firm? How long has the person been recruiting? Where has he/she practiced before? Does he or she have a solid working knowledge of your field? How many years of experience do they have?

Maybe you can locate one or two whom you trust and with whom you want to work. Recruiters rely heavily on their personal contacts and arrangements with certain companies, so each recruiter you network with will widen your “circle” of contacts.

Making an Impression

How can you best help the recruiter help you? The more you put into the process, the more you’ll get out of it. Be honest and clear about your career goals. Describe the type of position you want, your salary requirements, where you want to work, etc. Remember that you’re the the “target” that the recruiter is selling.

Recruiters send people out to interview all the time, and they get feedback afterward from both sides on what worked and what didn’t. A good recruiter may be able to tell you the interviewing style of the person you’ll be meeting, and perhaps even some of his or her trick questions. Even if you’ve spent a number of years in your field and know who you are and what you’re worth, a recruiter can point out key details that will make your presentation of yourself more enticing to a potential employer.

Passive Job Seeker

If you’re a passive job seeker, you can post a resume and let the recruiters come to you, or, better yet – create a Web page and blog about your skill set. Recruiters Online Network posts business information and website addresses for hundreds of recruiting firms worldwide, and also features resume-posting sites and job banks.

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Interviews: Hiring Manager perspective

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

So, what exactly is the hiring manager looking for?

No matter what field you are in or what position you’re applying for, there are some similarities across the board that all hiring managers seek in ideal candidates.

Preparing for interviews to the best of your ability is time consuming but extremely important. You must know and understand the interviewer(s), organization, clients/products/services and the industry itself—plus how you fit into that big picture.

The List

  1. Likeability. Do you get along with the hiring manager? Does the hiring manager feel you will get along with his or her team? This is a big factor. I know when I see myself in candidates, I find myself leaning toward them more than individuals who remind me nothing of me. (That sounds self-centered, but hiring managers want a cohesive team!)
  2. Strategic thinking. Are you thinking ahead about the future of the organization? Do you have a suggestion already in mind you’d like to brainstorm with the hiring manager? In this economy—or any, for that matter—organizations want (and need) results. If you can show you’re a results person—or at a minimum thinking about results—you will prove a strong candidate.
  3. Clear communication. Is your tone and word choice professional? Do you get your message across effectively the first time? Chances are, you’re going to have to communicate with others in some fashion in order to do your job. Throwing in any type of slang word, giggling or other methods of unprofessional communication will make the hiring manager forget what you’re actually trying to say.
  4. Professional appearance. If you’re interviewing at an organization where you know the hiring manager will be wearing ripped jeans and a T-shirt, you can probably get away with far less than a suit and tie. However, at most organizations, you want to not only dress the part for which you are interviewing, but one step above. Again, it’s these little things that stack up in a hiring manager’s mind about whether or not to hire you.
  5. Enthusiasm. Be happy you are there! And not just because this is the first interview you’ve had in weeks (or months), but because you are genuinely looking forward to the possibility of working at the organization.
  6. Good eye contact and “engaged behavior.” Don’t stare and not blink throughout the whole interview, but make sure you have decent eye contact. Also, lean forward slightly when the hiring manager is speaking—this is what I call “engaged behavior.” Both tactics show the hiring manager you are listening and interested in what he or she has to say.

Source: Heather Huhman, mentor to individuals seeking entry-level positions, particularly in the public relations field

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Hiring Managers Need to Hear …

Friday, June 26th, 2009

5 Things You Need to Tell Hiring Managers

Competition in the job market is fierce, and if you hope to land a new position, you must stand out from the crowd — but for the right reasons. You want to provide hiring managers with a positive impression, so here are a few messages you should get across right from the start.

1. “I’m professional.”

Potential hires who take the application process seriously will be treated similarly by prospective employers. This means, for example, proofreading your application materials for grammatical or spelling errors. It never hurts to have someone else review your cover letter and résumé as well, in case you overlook something. Also, be careful with the type of language you use. Remember that your application materials are business documents, so avoid slang or casual speech, such as the kind you might use when text messaging with your friends.

2. “I’m a go-getter.”

Because hiring managers are being inundated with résumés, your application materials may get only a cursory glance. That’s why you need to take some initiative. For instance, when you initially contact the employer, instead of ending your cover letter or e-mail with a standard statement like, “I look forward to hearing from you,” be proactive. Try: “I will contact you next Thursday at 3 p.m. to discuss the opportunity and my fit for the position in greater detail.”

Also, unless you’re specifically asked not to, follow up with an employer if you haven’t heard back after sending in your résumé. In fact, 82 percent of executives polled by Robert Half International said job seekers should contact hiring managers within two weeks of submitting application materials. By doing so, you can reassert your interest in the position and remain at the top of the hiring manager’s mind.

3. “I’m an expert.”

Employers want to hire people who can hit the ground running. That’s why you need to demonstrate your expertise from the beginning. Three great methods for doing so are enhancing your online reputation, joining a professional association and earning a certification.

Options for increasing your exposure include starting a professional blog or Web site, submitting articles to an industry publication or even simply contributing to message boards. For instance, blogging about the industry that you want to work in and including the blog’s link on your résumé give prospective employers an easy way to see that you are well-informed.

By joining industry groups and trade associations, you can remain up-to-date with recent trends through interaction with others in the field. Use your résumé to highlight your membership in a professional group and show hiring managers your interest in furthering your industry knowledge.

Finally, consider earning a relevant industry certification. Many employers value candidates who have these credentials because they demonstrate a desire for continual professional development.

4. “I can save your company money.”

In today’s economy, companies are looking for ways to reduce costs. If you’ve implemented successful cost-cutting measures for previous employers, describe how you did so in your résumé or cover letter. For example, when applying for a role as an administrative assistant, you might note that in your last position, you helped renegotiate your company’s contract with an office supplies vendor, reducing spending in this area by 10 percent. Hiring managers will take notice of these types of accomplishments.

5. “I can fill your need.”

To show that you are an exact fit for an open role, make sure your application materials are targeted to each position and company. Use phrases from the job description within your résumé and cover letter, so long as they accurately describe your experience. Many employers use software programs that scan application materials for relevant keywords, so even if you are qualified but don’t use the employer’s terminology, your résumé may never be seen.

Sending the right messages to a prospective employer may not guarantee that you are offered the job, but it will increase your chances of being called for an interview. Then, you can make your case in person.

Source: Robert Half International

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5 Tips for Telling Better Stories

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

Better Stories – like in your interviews!

This is a good list for job seekers who need to get their stories straight.

The author has referenced the increasingly popular storytelling movement where people stand up before a live audience and tell stories. I have adjusted a few items to make it relevant to the job seeker.

You are aware that being a good storyteller is a useful skill when you are looking for work (like when you are in an interview setting). We need to tell stories all the time — to position ourselves in the job market, to pitch a new business idea to investors, to explain why a failure was actually a success, and so on.

5 tips

1. Keep it simple. The brain gets overwhelmed when trying to process too much information.

2. Openings and closings are very important. Be sure to begin and end the interview with your strongest material since this is often what stays with the listener. That is the same reason skilled public speakers often memorize the beginning and ending of a speech but allow themselves to improvise more in the middle.

3. Be mindful of your story’s “spine”. If your story has six parts, all six parts must be essential. Beware of tangents: if something goes too far astray, you will probably lose the recruiter / hiring manager’s attention.

4. Make sure not to alienate your target (the recruiter / hiring manager). When speaking about delicate subjects (like why you have been out of work for 6 months, or longer) or things that have the potential to offend (like taking it out on your last company), carefully plan your approach.

5. Tell the truth. If you are not telling the truth, the recruiter / hiring manager will know it.

Even stand-up comics — who are permitted exaggeration — perform best when their material stems from the truth. Failure to make comfortable eye contact (usually by looking away or looking too long) or providing too much information are two common tip-offs that someone is not telling the truth.

Remember, good stories can be told in simple language.

Source: Marci Alboher, writer for The New York Times Company

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Job Seeking Tips with Podcasts

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

As part of your job search -  don’t forget podcasts…

Why not listen to a podcast of job seeking tips while you are checking your job boards and networking on Linkedin?

  • A podcast can help you find local jobs, identify trends, research salaries, and secure that offer letter.
  • Podcasts include audio or visual files that are available through subscriptions.
  • Podcasts can be live presentations, webinars, teleseminars, radio shows or anything that contains and audio or video file.
  • you can also use iTunes – a hub for job seeking podcasts.

Most organizations are recognizing the value of social media but clueless how to use it.  A job seeker who understands this Web 2.0 technology (podcasts) will automatically can have an edge over the competition (your fellow job seekers).

Get Started (3 steps):

  1. You need to have Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) installed on your computer to play audio clips and you should have JavaScript enabled.
  2. A new window will Open (in your Browser) when you select the Podcast Link (see choices below)
  3. Turn on your speakers or put on your headset

That is all, Now you can listen to job seeking advice while you are networking via the web

Recommended podcasts:

JobRadio.fm -  the only radio station devoted to career advice,  24 / 7

Note: This is a key Podcast that is highly recommended – Adding Keywords to your Resume

HireEffectVideo (Click here for podcast)

Jennifer M Scott of Hireeffect.com gave a great talk on adding keywords to your resume at last month’s Career Resource Expo in Stamford, CT. She took many questions from the audience of jobseekers.

Examples from Job Radio:

  • How to instantly connect with anyone
  • 5 things you need to know about headhunters
  • Whats your best career advice?

Follow on Twitter

Job Radio Archives Link

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JobSearch Radio -   your job search simplified; hosted by Kyle O’brien, broadcast on Mondays @ 10:00am PST

SmallPlateRadio-Episode2

(Click image for podcast)

Dave Coates of PCC Structurals and Steve Jones of Monument Consulting talk about building job search strategies and how to emotionally approach searching for a job.

Examples from JobSearchRadio:

  • A chat with Job Search Coach Rita Ashley, author of Job Search Debugged
  • Hear Mark Cummuta, CIO of Job Angels
  • A talk with Alfonso Lerma of My Job Searcher and job seeker Todd Hutchens

Job Search Radio Archives Link

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Do you have Winamp or another Media Player?

Just copy & paste this link into your mediaplayer:   http://war.str3am.com:8010/listen.pls …for the streaming of the last played broadcast.

Example of Player:

WinAmp Player

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Another Option: BlogTalkRadio

BlogTalkRadio is the social radio network that allows users to connect quickly and directly with their audience.  Go to this link and search on Jobseeker (for example).

Example:   Savvy Jobseeker Podcast

BlogTalkRadio

Savvy Jobseeker Podcast, hosted by Job Search Consultant, Roxanne Ravenel, discusses topics important to job hunters – just like you – ranging from resume building tips and interview strategies to methods for tapping into the unpublished job market and salary negotiation tactics. Pull up a seat, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and let’s get acquainted. Listen to our most recent show or browse the archive for past shows.

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Job Searching with Google

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

Use Google as an Online Job Search Directory

You can perform a search though Google for companies by type of company or service as opposed to just looking for job openings.

For example, if you are interested in Computer Networking Technologies, you can search, for “Computer Repair” in zip code 94102 by entering in the Google search box:

“Computer Repair” 94102 … you will then be provided with a results page to “Local business results for “Computer Repair” near San Francisco, CA 94104”

Click on the link and see local listings for companies that may have job opportunities for you.

Go to their website to search for job openings, email or send a letter to the hiring manager or call directly to inquire about job vacancies.

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More Google usage for job searching

Are you taking advantage of its advanced search features in relation to your job search?

See how to drill down to obtain more meaningful job search results.

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Better yet, see how to automate your Google searches via Google Alerts and receive results via email.

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Job Search Gadgets and Widgets

There are widgets, gadgets, and tools (courtesy of About.com) that will help expedite your job search and manage your career. If you’re actively job hunting, you can add an application to your Facebook or MySpace profile so you can view the latest job listings without having to search.

The key to successfully using these tools is to pick and choose. Don’t download every widget and gadget that’s available – you’ll clutter up your desktop and your browser, and the jobs will get lost in the shuffle.

Browser, Desktop, and Web Widgets

  • Google Gadgets – Google has a selection of handy gadgets you can download and add to your desktop.
  • Indeed Email Job Alerts – Sign up to receive new job postings from Indeed via email.
  • Indeed Job Search Tools -Indeed has job search plugins for Firefox and for your Google Desktop, an application for Facebook, a button for your Google Toolbar, and more services from Indeed.com.
  • my.indeed.com – Create a my.indeed account and access your saved jobs, notes, and searches from any computer.
  • SimplyHired Job Search Tools – Add job alerts to MySpace and Facebook, add a job search widget to your iGoogle homepage, your blog, or your desktop, access job listings from your cell phone, or sign up for one of the other services that will help you find jobs fast.
  • SimplyHired Email Alerts - Set up an email alerts so you can get new job listings on a daily or weekly basis.
  • Yahoo! Widgets – Download widgets to help expedite your job search.

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(Be Able to) Introduce Yourself

Sunday, May 31st, 2009

“So, tell me about yourself.”

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

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A Personal Web Site

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

Ever thought of setting up a personal web site?
For getting the word out about your job search?

A personal website is a very effective job search technique!

You can build and customize your own professional looking Web site using materials you have already prepared, such as your resume and marketing plan.

Check this short video from Commoncraft: Blogs (a personal website) in Plain English

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Here are a few of the most popular reasons to make a personal Web site part of your communications strategy:

  • Directing contacts to your site after an initial meeting adds another dimension to the meeting and reinforces your abilities and availability.
  • Your general networking contacts can review your resume, marketing plan, and target list at any time – and refer their contacts to it as well.
  • A personalized Web site with an address that includes your name is an impressive addition to your business cards, resumes and networking letters.
  • A site with a customized and professional look and feel suggests that you are computer literate and up to date on Web usage.

Many sources can help you set up a new personal Web site or re-purpose an existing one for a job search. Usually no HTML or programming skills are needed. Often you can copy and paste text and use online text formatting tools with button bars much like your word processor. Most personal Web site suppliers offer a variety of templates and graphics so you can customize the look and feel of your site.

Points to Consider:

1.    Your Internet Service Provider may offer free web storage space, an online tool for building a simple personal Web page and technical support for personal Web page issues.

2.   Often this service is bundled with your high-speed internet connection for free or for only a modest additional charge. Major telephone carriers, cable television providers, and web sites like Yahoo, Google, AOL and others have online services that can help you create your space on the Web.

3.   Some professional networking and association web sites offer members tools to build a profile, portfolio or a multi-page web site.

4.   Consider the URL web address, page titles, graphics and other text you put on your personal web site part of your overall communications strategy.

5.   Most personal Web sites are publicly accessible and therefore you may have unintended viewers of the information you post.

6.   If you participate in public Web discussion groups or blogs, your colleagues and potential employers may see what you’ve posted.

7.   Keep your personal Web site current with updates that reflect recent career and educational achievements.

Ensure the provider of your personal Web site is perceived by others in your industry as reputable, professional and attractive. Using social networking sites, such as LinkedIn® strengthens and extends your existing network of trusted contacts. Casual social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook may be useful in some circumstances, but can also seem far too casual for professional communication needs.

Make sure your “Internet presence” is appropriate and will not hinder your job search. A presence that features pictures of you in inappropriate dress or “edgy” material can render you a less than desirable candidate. Human Resources managers commonly check such sites, and even the sites of those to whom you are linked.

Choose an e-mail address for your resume and other job search communications wisely. Avoid using addresses such as
nocando@yourISP.com or geometric@yourISP.com. You can get a free email account at Gmail or Hotmail for your job search purposes.

More About A Web Presence…

A Web Presence From Scratch

With unemployment at a 23-year high, job seekers need to expand the ways in which they search, say career and workplace experts. These days setting up and maintaining an online presence is often critical to finding work. But for an accomplished professional, it might seem daunting to build up a social-networking presence from scratch. Here’s how to do it:

Claim your name.

Before someone else does it, you’ll want to “claim your name” on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, says brand strategist Catherine Kaputa and author of “U R A Brand.” You’ll also want to try to purchase the domain for your name — they typically are priced starting at less than $10. This way, you control how you will be perceived, says Ms. Kaputa. If your name is taken, use a slight variation, such as a middle name or initial, suggests Ms. Kaputa. Then begin developing a Web presence, starting with basic information like your résumé and then add to it as you go.

Practice prudence.

Sree Sreenivasan, a professor of digital media at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, made the decision early on to limit himself to three social-networking sites: Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. “There is just not enough time,” he says. “Pick two or three, then cultivate a presence there.” If you only manage to join one site, most experts agree that it should be LinkedIn. “It is the one crucial place to be if you are a business executive, professional or entrepreneur,” says Ms. Kaputa. It might help you land a job. For example, more than half of the candidates in Salesforce.com Inc.’s recruiting process are connected to someone at the company, says Scott Morrison, director of
recruiting programs. Many of those connections come from the 98% of the company’s more than 3,500 employees who have LinkedIn profiles. “It’s a tremendous resource for us and our recruiters,” says Mr. Morrison.

Choose connections wisely.

You’ll also want to choose your network carefully; only add people you actually know or with whom you’ve done business. Whether it’s on LinkedIn, Facebook or any other networking site, “it’s much more of a quality game than a quantity game,” says Krista Canfield, a LinkedIn spokeswoman. A recruiter may choose to contact one of your connections to ask about you; make sure that person is someone you know and trust.

Consistency is key.

You’ll need to update your profile regularly. “Curate [your online profile] the same way you would curate your one-page résumé,” says Mr. Sreenivasan. And remember, many recruiters Google candidates before the interview, says Ms. Kaputa. Google yourself to see how you stack up on the Web compared with others and whether your “personal brand” is compromised in any way.

Source: Elizabeth Garone, cjeditor@dowjones.com

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Social Bookmarking – with Delicious

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009

Delicious is a social bookmarking tool.

First, for those of you who are unfamiliar with Delicious, watch this show video from Commoncraft:  Social Bookmarking in Plain English

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Why use Delicious? As you load your bookmarks you can have the delicious tool add subject tags to your websites. Then you can searchyour own bookmarks to find the items on a subject. I have so many bookmarks (like for Job Seeking) I needed more organization that just the file folder format.  Here is how you can benefit from Delicious:

  • Search your own tags (subjects)
  • Edit and add new tags to your current bookmarks
  • Share your bookmarks with friends (or keep them private)
  • View other peoples bookmarks to get ideas of what other people think are great sites
  • Add other people to your network and review their bookmarks regularly.

You can register for you own account on the Delicious website. As you create your account you will have options to upload your favorite (existing)  links from your current bookmarks (for example, from your Microsoft Internet Explorer browser).

Background on Delicious

Delicious (formerly del.icio.us, pronounced “delicious”) is a social bookmarking web service for storing, sharing, and discovering web bookmarks. The site was founded by Joshua Schachter in 2003 and acquired by Yahoo! in 2005.

Delicious uses a non-hierarchical classification system in which users can tag each of their bookmarks with freely chosen index terms (generating a kind of folksonomy).  A combined view of everyone’s bookmarks with a given tag is available. The collective nature makes it possible to view bookmarks added by similar-minded users (like us fellow job seekers).

Use of Delicious is free. All bookmarks posted to Delicious are publicly viewable by default, although users can mark specific bookmarks asprivate, and imported bookmarks are private by default. The public aspect is emphasized; the site is not focused on storing private (”notshared”) bookmark collections.

Here is how you can get started

The San Francisco Public Library – courtesy of Susan Cohen, Librarain – Jobs & Career, has a Delicious presence for job seekers.

See how Susan set up the tags – one-word descriptions that are assigned a web link – specific to the jobs and careers.

http://delicious.com/busscitech/Jobs%26Careers

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