Our friends over at Common Craft do some great work. There videos are simple, yet full of great information. Today I want to share with you this 3 minute goodie on using LinkedIn for more than just making contacts. (read more . . .)
Today’s post is a guest post by Joshua Waldman (http://CareerEnlightenment.net)
Everyone is on LinkedIn these days. Let’s face it. Almost
every CEO from every fortune 500. Last count was over 60 million users.
In contrast, job boards only have about 3.5% of available
jobs. This is common knowledge in the career industry, but why do so many
people spend so much time on job boards? (continue reading . . .)
Remember the game your mom used to make you play on long road trips to keep you from whacking your little sister in the head the whole time? It went something like, “I’m going on a trip, and I’m taking with me …” Then everyone would take a turn telling what you would bring along. You had to pick something that used the next letter of the alphabet, but first you had to remember what everyone ahead of you said for their letter.
Hey, I know, let’s try it using only things you need for your job search.
I’ll go first. “I’m going out to look for a job and I’m taking…(continue reading)
The following question came from one of our readers. “Which job search engine works the best? I like indeed.com, and it looks like my monster search is not returning hardly anything. I was also wondering if ladders.com worth the fees that they charge for the job seekers.”
Great question! Here’s the truth about using Job Boards in the job search process:
First, you must remember that only about 4-6% of people find their jobs through the job boards. That’s because job boards are NOT set up for job seekers – they are set up for company recruiters. You are not the customer – the company is. They are the ones paying the bill to post a position. Job boards provide the “raw materials” to these companies – job seekers. YOU are the raw material. YOU are a commodity. YOU are the product. Job boards make their money by selling volume to companies who pay significant fees for a posting – anywhere from $400-$1,000 each. These things aren’t cheap. However, from the employer’s perspective, they are effective.
Second, MOST people find their job through some form of networking. Remember, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Since networking is the most effective job search method (at somewhere between 60 and 80%), you should spend MOST of your time talking to people. Too many job seekers go wrong in their job search because they spend most of their time behind a computer searching the job boards. If you want to accelerate your job search you should be sitting face to face with several people EVERY DAY. Find out what they need and offer to help them achieve it. That’s what networking is all about, “finding opportunity for you, the person with whom you are networking, and your respective networks.”
That being said, there are some job board strategies that will HELP you in the job search.
- Consult local job boards (such as Craig’s List, or http://portlandtwitterjobs.com/). Since networking is about finding opportunity, the chances of you knowing the person or company who posted the position on the local board is much higher, which allows for more networking.
- Update your Monster/JobDango/CareerBuilder profile frequently.
- DON’T post to job boards during the daylight hours. That’s when you should be talking face to face with your networking contacts.
- Use specialty job boards that target your specific industry or position. For instance, people who are in pharmaceutical sales and healthcare have had some luck with medzilla.com while engineering & techie-types have found good postings through dice.com. What boards do recruiters in your field consult?
- To fee or not to fee? I would steer clear of job boards that want to charge you something. Remember, for job boards you are a commodity, the “raw material”.
- Don’t forget about LinkedIn. LinkedIn has its own job board. Some of the postings there can’t be found anywhere else. The good thing about LinkedIn is that if you submit an application through them, the recruiter can go directly to your LinkedIn profile where they will see your resume, your contacts, and your recommendations. (You DO have LinkedIn recommendations, don’t you?!)
Finding a job in this tough economy is a full time job in itself. No matter what career position you have held or seek, to be most effective you will need to become an expert at sales. As a job seeker you are selling the most important thing you have to offer – the ability to help a company achieve their business goals. Job boards can help you in the sales process, but they are limited in their ability to produce. Use your time wisely. Spend 80% of your time face-to-face with your network and 5% of your time searching the internet. That’s where the real results are!
Happy hunting!
Here’s a link to a recent Forbes.com article with predictions about jobs in 2009: http://is.gd/cWiZ.
Basically, the author says, “If you’ve got a job you like, hold on to it with all your might.” Sound advice, IF you can follow it. But what about those who have been recent casualties of the economic crisis facing our nation/world? If you’ve recently LOST your job, you need more advice than simply, “hold on to what you’ve got.”
Here are some resources that will be helpful in your job search:
With the new economic stimulus package being proposed by President Obama in Congress, I believe that there will be a significant amount of money being poured into the alternative energy, healthcare and highway/infrastructure sectors. If you aren’t prepared to enter either of those areas, perhaps this is a good time to get some additional training. Some state workforce development departments have funds to re-train people through their dislocated workers programs. It’s worth checking out with your state employment department.
Folks, the news we get is that the economy continues to slide. DON’T let that discourage you! People are still finding work. Develop your network, build a personal brand, and embark on a career marketing campaign. These things WILL make a difference in your job search.
Best wishes.
According to a recent NY Times article, President Elect Obama has upped his goal of providing new jobs in the first two years of his presidency from 2.5 million to 3 million. Many of these jobs will be in areas that will enhance our current transportation infrastructure (roads and bridges) and help us cut our addiction to foreign oil (new energy sources such as solar and wind power). My fervent belief is that Mr. Obama and the new Senate will want to get started on this project within a few weeks of his taking the oath of office. New jobs should be coming online within the next few month. Are YOU ready? Here are some things you can do now to be prepared when those new jobs come around.
Obama’s innaguration is just 2 weeks away. Are YOU ready for the new jobs this new administration plans to create?
If you haven’t submitted a resume in a while, you may not be aware that things have changed significantly in the past 5 or so years regarding what employers, hiring managers, HR folks, and recruiters are looking for. Here is a brief synopsis of what used to be and what is, along with some suggestions for making your resume “pop” for that potential employer!
OLD STYLE — we used to think of a resume as simply an accounting of the jobs we have held over our career-life. The old style of resume (the one I was taught to put together in college) focused on describing what you did on the job. It was heavily dependent upon responsibilities and was more of a job description.
NEW STYLE — the new style of resume places heavy emphasis on helping your potential employer see how hiring you will bring them a return on that “investment.” This new resume style is all about results and achievements. How will you help your potential employer make or save money?
Here are some tips for making your OLD STYLE RESUME into a NEW STYLE RESUME:
The OLD STYLE of resume is out. If you want to get yourself seen by potential employers you must upgrade your resume to show them what you can do for THEM. The NEW STYLE of resume is the way to go.
Its almost 2009! WOW! Where did the year go?
Have you achieved all your career goals this year? Did you find that perfect job you were hoping to get? Are you satisfied with your performance? We are in the end of the year “Red Zone” – the time to take a look back at 2008 and prepare for 2009. Here are 5 things you can do NOW to improve your career next year.
1) Fix Your Files.
For many of us the end of the year (or beginning of next year) is the time to clean out our files. As you go through your files trying to decide what to shred and what to keep, here are a few ideas that can help you improve your career. NOTE WINS – what did you do this year that you consider to me a “win” for your career? Keep track of them and quantify results (as best you can). NOTE KEY CUSTOMERS/PARTNERS – who did you work with that might be willing to give you a recommendation? THANK THEM – you are already planning on sending out Holiday cards, aren’t you? Why not include a brief note of gratitude for what they have done for you. A hand-written note goes a LONG way these days.
2) Brush-off Your Personal Brand.
What is your personal brand? Who do you want to present yourself as “Brand You”? Take a few minutes to look over and update your brand for 2009. You may want to revise your USP (unique selling proposition), or update your collateral material (business cards, etc). Don’t forget to update your blog and website.
3) Look at LinkedIn.
Your LinkedIn profile is one of the most important tools you have in the job search and in your career development. In today’s world, potential employers and recruiters will Google your name to learn more about you – that’s a given. LinkedIn helps your name and profile jump to the top of the Google search results. You might want to ADD or DELETE something from your profile to update it. (hint, what “wins” did you find while cleaning out your files?) It may be time to ADD or DELETE links from your profile. How about contacts? ASK FOR 3 RECOMMENDATIONS. Now is the time to do it, while you are still on the top of your customer’s mind.
4) Fire Your 5 Worst Customers.
If you are in sales, run your own company, or have clients; you no doubt have some who suck away your time and energy. They are never happy with what you do for them, and you probably aren’t too happy to work with them either. Well, you don’t have to. You are hereby granted permission to fire your 5 worst customers. Don’t forget to replace them with 5 new customers who fit your PERFECT CLIENT profile! You will glad you did!
5) Review Your Annual Review.
Did you get an Annual Review last year? Maybe it was in the beginning of the year, or perhaps it was in the summer. NOW is the time for you to dig through your files and find it. Look for areas where you got good marks and include that into your LinkedIn profile and “wins” list. Now take a look at the areas for improvement you and your superior set out for this year. What have you done to move forward in those areas? If you have already shown improvement it may be time to shoot your boss an email indicating your progress. S/he will likely put it in your file so you can discuss it at your next review. Be sure to share your “wins” with you boss as well.
What you do now, at the end of 2008, can help you propel your career forward in 2009. We hopes these tips help you end the year strong, and begin the next with a bang!
Lately I’ve been listening to a book on my ipod entitled “Mozart’s Brain and the Fighter Pilot” (Richard M. Restak). I was interested to “read” about the way the brain works to re-connect networks, even after years of dis-use. Apparently the brain has an amazing amount of plasticity, and the networks that are created never really go away. Dr. Restak tells us that in order to become proficient at something like playing a particular sport or musical instrument, the brain makes a series of network connections. If we don’t use those connections for a long time they will atrophy. The good news is that they never really disappear. The plasticity of the brain makes it easy for us to re-learn those activities very quickly when we attempt them again, even years later.
This makes me think of my grandmother. She played the piano and organ when she was a young woman, but as she aged her fingers became grossly disfigured by arthritis. She stopped playing because her hands hurt so badly. However, one day I was with her when she spotted a piano in the corner of a friend’s house. She walked over and began to play as if she had never quit — a bit slower than her old days, perhaps, but she hit every note. She hadn’t played the piano for years, but the connections in her brain that told her hands what to do never went away. She was able to call upon them years later. The human brain is indeed amazing!
What is true for networks in the brain, is also true for the personal networks we make with friends and colleagues. Even if we haven’t talked to a network contact in years, the contact never goes away. Now, mind you, you may have to mend a fence or two if you have left that relationship due to some sort of conflict. But most of the connections we make fall into dis-use because of a lack of proximity of time or space. Our lives move off in different directions and we lose the connection we once had with the other person.
The good news is that those connections are never REALLY lost. They can be re-engaged a just a few minutes if you want.
So, here’s what I suggest. Look through your rolodex, facebook friends, or LinkedIn contacts. Find a person or two that you haven’t had contact with in awhile, and shoot them an email or give them a phone call. We all have a few connections that we haven’t talked to in a while — maybe even in years! I’m sure that you will find it rather easy to re-connect with those people. You may even learn something new and exciting as you catch up with each other.
What are you waiting for? Why not make it a habit of refreshing one network each week? You will be suprised at how quickly those contacts re-connect, and you will BOTH be glad you did!
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