Archive for June, 2012
Shocking Statistics About The Hidden Job Market
Tuesday, June 26th, 2012
Are you sitting down?
Over 50% of the job opportunities shared on social networking sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook are NOT listed on leading job search sites like Monster.com. Over FIFTY PERCENT!
That’s just one of the reasons why today’s savvy job seeker needs to have a strong social profile, keep their social presence high, and set aside time to perform keyword searches for job leads that may be hidden in unusual places online.
For example, if you’re a Chicago area marketing, communications or PR professional, you’ll want to subscribe to MarketingJobWire.com. It’s a free website I’ve been running since 2005 where like-minded job seekers (and hiring managers) can share job leads with one another. If you’re looking for work in the Rocky Mountain region, you might consider subscribing to Andrew Hudson’s job list. Looking for a job as a linguist? Follow @linguistlist on Twitter.
That stat I cited earlier comes from JobsMiner.com, a social media job search engine. There’s also TwitJobSearch.com. a job search engine just for Twitter. As we discussed in February, job boards still matter, but don’t forget to leverage your offline connections, social network, and the “hidden job market” to find your dream job faster.
* Image credit
Posted in Job Search Strategies, Social Networking |
Volunteer to Quickly Make New Connections
Friday, June 22nd, 2012
Just today, I participated in an association-sponsored volunteer event at a food pantry. During the three hours I spent packing peas and corn, I got to chatting with four other people. By the end of the time, I felt like I knew them all fairly well. If I had been looking for a job, I absolutely would have felt comfortable mentioning it. Where else other than volunteering can you bond with people from four different organizations in such a short period of time?
Of course, it doesn’t always happen like that, but you’d be surprised how often it does. As with school and the workplace, whenever a group works on a project, those involved get to talking. If you’re not in school and are currently unemployed, you probably won’t have many of these opportunities. Volunteering gives you a chance to connect with others while in transition.
The same rules for networking apply here – ask questions, get to know the person, offer help, exchange business cards, and connect on LinkedIn afterwards. If you continue to see each other great – you’ll be able to build a stronger relationship. But, even short-term projects give people an opportunity to get to know each other on a deeper level than through a traditional networking event.
How do you choose where to volunteer? First, think about your interests – there’s bound to be an organization for whatever it is you’re passionate about! Second, locate the places that serve these interests by doing a Google search with your location (i.e. Volunteer with animals, Chicago), or checking out VolunteerMatch.org. If your first experience isn’t what you hoped for, don’t give up – there’s truly something for everyone, and you just have to find what works for you!
Tags: building relationships, job search, Networking, volunteering
Posted in Networking |
Leveraging LinkedIn? Play Safe And Do This Now!
Monday, June 11th, 2012
I spend a great deal of time encouraging you to take full avantage of the world’s most professional networking site, LinkedIn. So when the company reported early last week that it had suffered a security breach in which nearly 6M user passwords were stolen, we felt it was our obligation to make sure all our readers were in the know! If you have not received a notification from LinkedIn, chances are you were not affected, but I encourage you to play it safe and update your password anyway. You can find more information at http://bit.ly/LI_alert.
Posted in LinkedIn |
How To Ace The Interview – Tips From A Hiring Manager’s Perspective
Tuesday, June 5th, 2012
Even if all things were equal in terms of qualifications, Rick Kroner, General Manager of The Metropolitan Club of Chicago had a clear winner after a recent interview. Consider his experience with the two candidates below. We’ll call one “Candidate A” – the one you want to be like, and “Candidate F” – the one you don’t.
Be On Time: Candidate F was late. Keep in mind Candidate F had also called earlier in the day to find out the time of the interview (bonus tip – put it in your calendar as soon as it’s scheduled!). Candidate A on the other hand, arrived 15 minutes early.
Make Sure Your Presentation Is Professional: Candidate F brought her resume – but it was a mess! Rick said it actually looked like she crumpled the paper and then tried to smooth it out. Candidate A brought her resume in a nice-looking portfolio folder. Not only did the paper hold up better, she clearly cared more about the impression she made.
Come Prepared with Questions: At the end of the interview, Rick asked both candidates if they had any questions. Candidate F? Not one. Candidate A could not have been more different. She came prepared with questions after researching The Metropolitan Club and its parent company, as well as viewing Rick’s LinkedIn Profile.
Send A Thank You Card/Letter: Though it’s probably no shock to you now, Candidate F did not send anything to thank Rick for his time or express her interest in the job. Candidate A sent a hand-written note, and she sent it immediately after the interview ended.
There are plenty of things outside of a job seekers control. Don’t miss your chance to greatly improve your odds by following these four simple tips – something anyone can do!
Tags: interview preparation, interview questions, Interview Tips, Questions to Ask During Interview, thank you letter
Posted in Interviewing |
Your Headshot And Your Job Hunt
Monday, June 4th, 2012
Recent heatmap studies show that when a recruiter visits your LinkedIn profile, they spend a full 19% on your headshot. I have met many a job seeker who feels that posting his or her photo online throws open the door to age discrimination or lookism. By the same token, most recruiters tell me that, since the majority of candidates do post their photo online, it seems odd when a candidate goes incognito.
Right or wrong, it is a matter of personal preference. If you are going to post your photo online, make sure it positions you in the best possible light. Here are a few tips from my personal photographer, Audia:
- Dress as you want to be perceived. Casual or corporate? You decide, just make sure your clothes match your intent.
- Stay away from plaids, prints, checks; solids work best. Your arms usually look better with garments that cover upper arms.
- Men, if you’re wearing a tie, choose a solid or muted blend of colors. Generally speaking off-white or light blue shirts work a little better if you are wearing a jacket and tie, but if a bright white shirt is your norm, go for it.
- Make-up helps everyone – men and women alike. You can hire a contract make-up artist for an hour or visit a local salon, such as Ulta. Just ask for “photography make-up” – the pro’s will know what you mean.
- Make sure your headshot focuses is on you and not any distracting background images.
- And finally, leave the family photos for Flickr, just focus on you!
If you are hiring a professional photographer, be sure to get references and find out if they include basic retouching in their fees. As picture-perfect as you may be, it’s nice to know that you can soften those fine lines or make an errant strand of hair disappear.
In summary, a recruiter’s job often starts online and if they find you there, do what you can to be sure you’re putting your best digital foot forward.
Posted in Social Networking |
