My Job Search Recipe

I've been job searching for a few months now. I read a lot of online advice. I'm on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. I have this blog and others.

The key message I'm hearing is that job searchers need to shift the way they have been traditionally looking for work. The job sites, such as Monster.com and CareerBuilders, are black holes for resumes. The focus is online networking and searching people.

Based on what I've learned and experienced so far, I've developed my own recipe for job searching. My ingredients are based on searching for Marketing Manager positions.

Here's my recipe for job searching:

• LinkedIn - (1) I keep my profile up to date, search for new connections that I know, and request for recommendations when appropriate. (2) I only apply for jobs on LinkedIn and through LinkedIn if there is a way to connect with someone in the company - get an introduction - and there usually is. If I can't find a connection to introduce me, I go straight to the company's website. Though I don't know for sure, I'm guessing that there are fewer resume submission from a company's website than on LinkedIn.
• craigslist - I've had success with getting interviews from jobs listed on craigslist, so I'll continue to search and apply. When I find an opportunity, I go straight to LinkedIn to look up the company and see if I can make a connection with someone.
• Twitter - The objective is to build a network of followers and followings. I follow people who tweet about things I find helpful. I tweet and re-tweet about things I hope people who follow me find helpful. By doing so, more people are following me which builds an extensive network for me to tap into while gaining valuable information.
• Competition - I have identified the competitors of the last company I worked for. I am in the process of finding out the names of the Marketing Directors/Managers. Then I will research the names on LinkedIn in hopes of finding a connection. I will tailor a cover letter for each person and send it along with my resume via mail. Whether or not these companies have a job opening, I'm hoping they will be impressed with my resume and approach.
• Traditional Networking - Not everyone is on a social networking site, so I sent mass emails out to my address book contacts. I divided my contacts in subgroups: family, friends, all others. I used an affordable (.02-.05 each) and easy online email service called VerticalResponse which allowed me to personalize each email and get real-time results.

Like any recipe, you make changes based on your personal taste.

What's your winning recipe?

7 Social Media Secrets To Get a Job

Another great article by Dan Schawbel, "7 Secrets to Getting Your Next Job Using Social Media."

This one has some new ideas - at least to me - I thought were great. Schawbel not only has helpful ideas, but provides specific steps and examples to help you get started.

Schawbel's 7 secrets are revealed:

1. Conduct a people search instead of a job search.
2. Use attraction-based marketing to get job offers.
3. Be proactive on Twitter.
4. Capitalize on LinkedIn.
5. Advertise your brand using AdWords and Facebook social ads.
6. Construct a video resume and upload it to YouTube.
7. Subscribe to blogs that have job listings.

I found secrets 5, 6 and 7 most interesting, but I don't think I'm ready for a debut on YouTube quite yet.

If you have other secrets you want to share, please comment.

Online Networking For Career Success

Social media - blogs, posts, tweets - is online networking and networking has always been an effective way to find a job.

Dan Schawbel says "Your digital assets — blog, podcast, and social networking profiles — are your online identity and how people discover and connect with you. You have the ability to leverage one or all of these social media tools in order to present a positive image and be recruited for a position that aligns with your passion."

In Schawbel's article, "HOW TO: Leverage Social Media for Career Success," he claims "social media tools are becoming mandatory for career success." Schawbel goes through several steps to help you identify your personal brand, select the best social media tools to connect with your prospects, build your online brand, and market yourself for career success.

Dan Schawbel is the author of the newly published book "Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success" and owner of the award winning Personal Branding Blog.

Answering Tough Interview Questions

I'm retweeting this from a recruiter, Dan Green of VP of Marketing.

Dan's tweet cites an article, "How To Answer Tough Interview Questions," where the author, Ram, addresses 10 tough questions:

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. Why did you leave your last job?
3. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
4. What were your weaknesses?
5. Why were you laid off?
6. Tell me about the worst boss you ever had.
7. How would others describe you?
8. What can you offer me that another person can't?
9. If you could choose any company to work for, where would you go?
10. Would you be willing to take a salary cut?

I found it very helpful. Thanks Dan.

Online Identity Calculator

These days everyone Googles. And they Google everything! Especially other people.

Knowing what Google says about you is not only interesting, but allows you to proactively managing your online identity. Experts say your online identity can effect your professional goals.

Reach Communications has developed the first and leading tool to help you make sense of your Google results - the Online ID Calculator. Reach says, "In the new world of work, your online profile plays a critical role in your ability to achieve your professional goals. Until now, there has been no way of evaluating the strength of your online personal brand."

It took me about 5 minutes. My score was "Digitally Distinct." I guess I talk alot...online.

It's free and fun. Check it out.

The Resume Critique

How are you going to get your resume to stand out among all the others?

By making sure it is organized for easy reading with the information prospective employers are looking for and showing how you are a unique individual.

I took advantage of a free resume critique from GetInterviews.com that offered me some advice on how to update my resume. I liked their comments and updated my resume using most of them. Following are the suggestions given to me which I thought was worth sharing with you.

A resume is read in 45 seconds. If a resume can't be read that quickly, it won't be read. Suggestions:

• Summary: The most valuable real estate is the first half of the first page. The summary establishes the focus of the resume and should provide the reader with a concise picture of the value you offer.
• Core Competencies: These should be specific areas of expertise and knowledge that can be supported by solid accomplishments, such as HTLM programming, using Eloqua, Google Analytics. Computer skills such as Microsoft Office do not add weight to your candidacy. They are normal, expected skills and should not be listed.
• Professional Experience: (1) For each position held, summarize your duties and company information in paragraph format and then use up to 5 bullets for your accomplishments and results achieved to maximize their impact. (2) Take out personal pronouns - I, me, my. (3) List only the past 10-15 years experience because it is most relevant to the challenges employers face today. If you are concerned about showing depth, there are ways to truncate your older experience while still showing you have good background from which to draw upon. (4) Don't use "References available upon request." It's not done anymore, especially for upper level resumes.
• Education: Employers are looking for education and omitting it is a red flag.
• Associations: A hiring manager only has your resume to get to know you. Include group memberships and volunteer work to make you stand out from your competition.

After you've updated your resume, send it to a few people to get their comments. Once you've got it where you like it, don't forget to upload it to all the job sites you are currently registered.

If you've got more ideas on how to get your resume in tip top shape, post it here.

Uncomfortable Interview Questions

On the Secrets of the Job Hunt blog, Laura Whitelaw writes about some common questions asked in job interviews that make us feel tense. They are:

1. What are your strengths/weaknesses?
2. Why are you leaving your current employer?
3. What are your salary expectations?

Preparing answers for these three questions can help you feel more confident and come across as a strong candidate. You can read the full article here: How To Answer Three Uncomfortable Interview Questions.

Laura Whitelaw is the founder of Best Choice 4 Resumes and a Certified Resume Strategist. Her background includes several years working in the employment services field as well as some time working in corporate training and development. Visit http://www.bestchoice4resumes.com for free job search and interview tips and to download a free report “Top 10 Q & A’s To Help You Ace That Job Interview.”

If you have other interview resources to share, please post here.