Career Flux - social networking

5 Tips for Leveraging you Social Network in Your Job Search

Author Byline: CareerAlley
Author Website: http://CareerAlley.com

“Social media is just a buzzword until you come up with a plan.” – Zach Dunn

You know what they say – “It’s who you know, not what you know”. While I’m not so sure the second half of the statement is true these days, the first half of the statement is definitely true. Your network of friends, family and acquaintances is by far your single largest asset. While many people worry that “leveraging your network” means you will need to “cold call” your friends and relatives and ask them to help you get a new job, this is not the case. The Internet combined with your Network makes for a very powerful tool in your job search. Knowing how best to leverage this tool is not always obvious, but if you know what to look for it is quite easy to do. And then, of course, there is your extended network. Before the Internet, it was difficult, at best, to know who was in your extended network. With sites such as LinkedIn, your extended network is immediately known. =>> Ten ways to leverage professional networking

Build Your Networks to Suit Your Needs: In order for Social Networks to have any benefit in your job search, you need to build them in a way that complements your professional background. Search out former colleagues that you’ve worked with and add them to your network. Don’t limit this to “employees”; also look to add consultants you’ve worked with as well. But wait, don’t stop there. Also add former college classmates and friends to further build out your network. =>> Nine Ways to Build Your Own Social Network

Leverage Social Network Sites: The number one site for networking in your job search is, of course, LinkedIn.com. If you are not already a member, now is the time to join (and it is free). Enter your career profile, skills and add your links. Once you’ve entered the basic information, LinkedIn will help you find additional links. Once your profile is up, you and your experience becomes searchable by others (this is a great way to be “found” by others looking to hire). When you identify a lead, use LinkedIn to see who in your network is either working at your target company or who in your network may be linked to someone who can help you. =>> 20 Social Networking Sites for Business Professionals

Leverage Professional Associations: In case you don’t know, Professional Associations are a type of social network that links members based on expertise or functional experience, such as accounting, engineering, etc. There are professional networks for just about everything and most of these will have websites where you can leverage your contacts and make new ones. =>> List of international professional associations

Leverage Alumni Networks: Your college or university is one of the best resources you have (yes, even after you graduate) and your Alumni association is a powerful tool as you can leverage not only your graduating class, but all of the graduating classes. People stay connected to former schools so the depth of experience and connections in your alumni association is likely to be large and deep. => Leveraging Your Alumni Network In Your Job Search

Join Several Networks: There are so many social networks out there, and LinkedIn is not the only site you can leverage in your job search. You will want to be selective and limit the number of social networks you work with as well as the content. Do some research before you join and ask some of your friends as well. You should designate several social networks as your “job search networks” and only post work related information and (generally) no pictures. =>>Key Social Networking and Bookmarking Sites for Job-Seekers

Good luck in your search.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Filed Under: Guest Experts, Job Search, Networking For Jobs Tagged With: Job Search, networking, Social Media, social networking

CSI and Veteran Explains Job Search Advice

By Jarrod Swart Leave a Comment

Jarrod Swart works for JustJobs.com and is one of their content specialists. He takes keen interest in a variety of computer related disciplines and enjoys doing design and programming work in his spare time.

In this interview a CSI explains the techniques that helped him on his most recent job search. Noteworthy advice includes developing strong social networks, using refined job board searches and selling yourself during the interview process.

Responsibilities of a Crime Scene Investigator

I work as a CSI, a Crime Scene Investigator. I process all different types of crime scenes; major crime scenes, homicides, rapes, all motor vehicle accidents involving fatalities. I look at the underlying causes of the accidents. I also process all unattended death cases and will take a look to see what the cause of death was if there was no doctor in attendance. I work for a local government, but it is also a legal position as I testify in court. A CSI job will rarely come up as law enforcement on a job board. I am a civilian, but ninety-five percent of CSIs are police officers with arrest powers. I was also in the Army Criminal Investigative Division for twenty years.

Hiring Process

I found this job through one of my best friends in the Army, who was an investigator for the medical examiner’s office. He told me about this job. It was posted to the county website, 15-20 people applied for the position, the board looked at the applications, then they called us in and conducted interviews. This process took about three to four months from the time the position was opened until hiring.

Positions like this are open three weeks or so, and then closed to select from the applicants who applied during the open period. I was in another job when this opened up, but I did have several websites I checked on a regular basis. I was using specialized veteran job search websites, not any of the major job board sites. Each of the counties in my state has their own job board for local government sites.

No, I wouldn’t do anything different on my application to make myself stand out, as the application is strictly qualification and training based. I can list all the training I’ve had to make my application stand out from the crowd.

Role of Social Networking

I use some specific websites that cater to my special position to find job openings. I was an Army CID agent, and there is a professional organization that helps retired agents to find jobs. Also, there are groups of fellow agents on Facebook keeping in touch on a daily basis. So on those groups, someone could call out for a couple of qualified people and find applicants particularly suited to their need. Those looking for work can let it be known where they want to go, and what their specialties are. The development of strong connections to people in your industry is important.

Also, conferences and training sessions help professionals in my industry find open positions. The police academy is another good source as every department in my state sends their people there. Some people use LinkedIn, and I belong to some groups on there as well.

“You have the right to remain silent……..”

I haven’t had many interviews during my career. When I retired from the army I went right to work for a private security company. From there, I took a job selling cars. I didn’t know anything about it. I sat down and interviewed with the guy who was hiring, screening one hundred and fifty applicants to hire only about ten. He asked me, “Why do you think you can convince someone to buy a car from us?” I told him that for twenty years I sat down and said, “You have the right to remain silent…now tell me why you murdered that little old lady? I could get them to talk to me. If I can convince some guy who is facing the death penalty to talk to me, I can convince someone who just wants to spend a few thousand on a car to make the sale”.

Refine Your Job Search Properly

Probably the lesson I learned on my own that had an impact on my job search was that you have to refine your search properly, especially when using a big search engine. When using large job boards, you can’t just say, I want a clerical job. On the other hand, you can’t be too narrow. You might find that your skills are useable in an unexpected way. I learned after the fact about other jobs that I could have had but I was only searching within twenty-five miles and they were thirty miles away. I lost a much better job by narrowing my search too far.

Experience Vs Education

I was only required to have an associate’s degree in the Army, and to be working toward a bachelor’s degree. I have almost enough hours, but haven’t finished my degree. I have twenty years of experience, and that is enough to get me the job I have. I may someday take the last few hours I need and gain my degree. If I were to be paid more for having a degree, then I would do that. I went to school in another state, and didn’t stay there, so I didn’t use the Career Services.

Deciding Between Risk and Security

When you are in the military, at the ten-year mark in the army, you are halfway home to your retirement. You’ve spent ten years and earned a lot of credit; only ten years more and you get a retirement check for the rest of your life. I had an opportunity to get out and apply for a federal job at the ten-year mark. Because of my enlistment term, I couldn’t risk taking that job, and I wish I had done the risky thing and I’d be making more money. But I was married with a family and chose the secure path.

This job search advice was told to VeteranJobs.net and is one of many such interviews; others include a Finance Specialist and a Prison Sargeant.

Filed Under: Guest Experts, Job Search, Real Workplace Stories Tagged With: Interview, Job Boards, job interview, Job Search, Real Workplace Stories, Resume, social networking

A Non-traditional Educator Describes Her Job Search

By Stephen Tanner Leave a Comment

Stephen Tanner works for LatPro.com, DiversityJobs.com and JustJobs.com and is one of their content specialists. He has a degree in Business Administration and likes to relate with people from all over the world.

This director of academic programming describes how she used technology and web applications to help her find her actual job. She also explains how social networks are becoming increasingly important in today’s job market.

Job Search Becomes an Opportunity

I work in the education industry as the director of academic programming at a non-traditional learning center. My job search began years ago when I lost my position teaching in a local public school system due to county-wide budget cuts. The loss was devastating to my family’s finances. However, it was also a welcome opportunity for me to seek alternative ways to educate students. I wanted to personalize education and give it more meaning and power than state restrictions allow classroom learning to have.

In an attempt to support my family throughout my job search, I have taken on several freelance and part-time work opportunities, and I attained my current position via a writing client who wanted me to create a press kit for his band. He ultimately tabled the project. However, a member of his band e-mailed me about creating promotional materials for a community inspiration center. During my interview with the center’s executive director, I spoke about my teacher certification and was invited to attend a board meeting for the center’s new academic program. I took an active role in planning the new program’s operations and ultimately created my own job description, which was unanimously approved.

Technology Plays a Major Role

Technology played a major role in finding my current position because the center’s executive director reached out to me via e-mail. We remained in contact via e-mail and interviewed over the phone. Following my in-person participation in a board meeting, we began using Skype to conduct the meetings via video conference since I live around an hour from the center’s headquarters. In addition to maintaining paperwork for the center and creating course content, my professional responsibilities include working with students who choose to learn online. Therefore, my ability to demonstrate computer skills was important to me being accepted as director of academic programming.

Considering its non-traditional nature, I think it would be difficult for me to find the same position with another company. However, if I were applying for a similar job elsewhere, I would tailor my resume to focus on my work with education. I would also make sure the updated resume is available online, and I would update my blogs to contain posts about education. I use my blogs both as a means for expressing myself and for regularly interacting with business colleagues, students and families. I utilize specific web applications and social networking sites to spread the word that my blogs have been updated and to introduce myself to professionals with whom I share interests. I also use the community center’s blog as a means of sharing news about student accomplishments and new courses that we’re offering. I would definitely use my success at my current job to market myself to a new learning center should the need to do this arise.

Having an Online Presence Helps

In addition to using social networking to promote my blogs, I also find it helpful to have a personal website that links to my blogs and my resume. I recommend linking to your website each time you apply for a job. I’ve also found it helpful to actively read blogs of other industry professionals and to link to my website in the comments section. The key is to be become actively engaged in the conversation by making relevant engaging comments and then providing a link to your personal website when you sign your name. This strategy has been an effective way for me to communicate with colleagues but only works when I comment regularly and gain a reputation for adding worthwhile content to the conversation.

Be Open-Minded and Honest In the Interview

My interview for my current position went very well and taught me to be open-minded throughout the interview process and to share additional information about myself. My interview began on the grounds that I could be a freelance publicist for the center and ended with the offer to attend a board meeting for the new academic program, of which I’m now the director. My advice is to show that you meet a job’s requirements in an original way.

Likewise, my university career center taught me how to compose a cover letter and write a one-page resume. However, my life experience has taught me that these skills are less important than the ability to see connections and to show my potential employers how I can expand and evolve the position to which I’m applying and other positions that I would like to create. Honest enthusiasm is an important attribute. Likewise, the most important thing I’ve learned about the interview process is that it’s critical to be honest with yourself when deciding whether you can be authentically passionate about the company with which you’ve applied.

Focus On the Work You Enjoy

As the wife of an entrepreneur and a mother of three young children, I understand financial hardship and the need to work. However, I also know that profit seems to come more easily when I am focused on work I enjoy and that achieving financial stability remains a struggle when I try to make ends meet within a setting in which I’m uncomfortable, such as the public school system. My greatest mistake has been accepting positions which I knew I COULD fill but did not feel I SHOULD fill. If I could re-do any step in my career, it would be to become more proactive about voluntarily leaving, rather than being forced away from, jobs that I know do not fit. I would actively seek opportunities that resonate with my life’s purpose.

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