Debra Feldman, known as the “JobWhiz,” is a professional networking expert and executive job search talent agent. These are her suggestions to build a network to help you land your next opportunity. Read the entire post on my U.S. News & World Report column.

1. Develop a short list of target employers.

2. Refine your list by identifying if you know anyone who works in these organizations

3. Set up informational meetings (also known as informational interviews).

4. Once you further narrow your target list, research the people who may have authority to hire someone like you.

5. Use all the data at your disposal to become extremely knowledgeable about your target organizations.

6. Review your job search materials.

7. Contact a company insider.

8. Say thank you and follow up frequently.

photo by michael.heiss

Business Trip | CareerBuilder 2012 Big Game Commercial from CareerBuilder For Employers on Vimeo.

Tiquan Underwood, a defensive lineman for the Patriots, was released from the team just before the Super Bowl, as reported by the Yahoo! Sports Blog. According to the article, it’s the third time the Patriots have cut him this season, and the move was not punitive, “The Patriots simply wanted another defensive lineman on the roster.”

Social media (especially Twitter) allows us to hear directly from people of interest — uncensored — as soon as news happens.

In these cases, it’s not unheard of to find derogatory tweets bashing the offending organization. People would probably understand if an angry player lashed out at a team that let him go right before THE big game. But, as you can see from a series of tweets captured here, Tiquan handled himself like a class act. I took a look at some of his tweets during the game, and they were supportive of the organization that just fired him.

It’s a good lesson in how you want to be remembered…Most of us don’t have a slew of people interested in our career ups and downs, but it isn’t difficult for potential employers or networking contacts to judge you based on how you behave under pressure.

You can be the employee who angrily lashes out and is considered a loose cannon, or you can take a play from Tiquan Underwood’s book. Your choice.

This is particularly true for veterans. Most employers are not familiar with your military service, positions, jargon, or acronyms, so it can be even more challenging for veterans to make a strong case. What can job-seeking veterans do to help transition into civilian positions?

Identify your skills. Evaluate your military service. What did you do on a daily basis?

Note your accomplishments. Do not underestimate the value of awards and accolades you received, but do translate them into terms non-military personnel will understand.

Focus on what you enjoy doing. Don’t ignore your “soft skills,” or emotional intelligence.

Research potential opportunities. Once you have your lists, plug your skills (your keywords) into job-board search engines to see what types of positions come up.

Make a list of job titles and company names. Was there a particular industry that appeared repeatedly in your results? Continue to search online for more information about those fields or organizations.

Inform your network. Once you know what you want to do, be specific when you describe your goals to your network. Don’t just say you are looking for “a job.”

Translate your experience. A common problem for job-seeking veterans is helping civilian, non-military hiring managers understand their work history.

Be sure to include specific, quantifiable points in your descriptions. For example, do not assume the reader will know how many troops you led based on your rank and title.

Tell your story. In an interview, be sure to describe your experiences in a way that a layperson will understand.

Read the FULL POST on my U.S. News & World Report blog.

Photo by StevenM_61

“One of my proudest possessions is the flag that the SEAL Team took with them on the mission to get bin Laden. On it are each of their names. Some may be Democrats. Some may be Republicans. But that doesn’t matter. Just like it didn’t matter that day in the Situation Room, when I sat next to Bob Gates – a man who was George Bush’s defense secretary; and Hillary Clinton, a woman who ran against me for president.

All that mattered that day was the mission. No one thought about politics. No one thought about themselves. One of the young men involved in the raid later told me that he didn’t deserve credit for the mission. It only succeeded, he said, because every single member of that unit did their job – the pilot who landed the helicopter that spun out of control; the translator who kept others from entering the compound; the troops who separated the women and children from the fight; the SEALs who charged up the stairs. More than that, the mission only succeeded because every member of that unit trusted each other – because you can’t charge up those stairs, into darkness and danger, unless you know that there’s someone behind you, watching your back.

So it is with America. Each time I look at that flag, I’m reminded that our destiny is stitched together like those fifty stars and those thirteen stripes. No one built this country on their own. This Nation is great because we built it together. This Nation is great because we worked as a team. This Nation is great because we get each other’s backs. And if we hold fast to that truth, in this moment of trial, there is no challenge too great; no mission too hard. As long as we’re joined in common purpose, as long as we maintain our common resolve, our journey moves forward, our future is hopeful, and the state of our Union will always be strong.”

So true, I thought, when I heard those words. Who could imagine charging into that situation — putting yourself into harm’s way, with the weight of the world on your shoulders? What an amazing group of people who made their country proud that day. Hopefully, your problems and challenges don’t seem as huge as that mission…You may be looking for a job, or you want to start a business. It’s tough — very tough. You may be going it alone. That is tough, too.

I’d like to suggest you think not only about who has YOUR back, but whose back YOU have as you face your daily challenges. Are you spending so much time trying to find a job that you are not thinking about the people around you and what they need? It’s easy to be overwhelmed with your own stuff, but if you open your eyes, there is probably someone else you can help; someone whose back you can have. It could make all the difference.

And, don’t go it alone. It’s tough to find a job, but it’s not impossible. Learn what you need to know to look for a new job. Don’t ignore the writing on the wall: if you haven’t landed an interview with your current materials, you probably need a new resume and strong, online profiles. Find some help for your job search — someone who has YOUR back, too.

A Fast Company article says the average tenure at one job in the U.S. is 4.4 years. The article asserts men have around 11 jobs in their lifetimes and women have 10 jobs. As the article suggests, “Shorter job tenure is associated with a new era of insecurity, volatility, and risk. It’s part of the same employment picture as the increase in part-time, freelance, and contract work; mass layoffs and buyouts; and ‘creative destruction’ within industries.”

The onus is on the employee to manage all of these ramifications.

One point in an employee’s favor? Increased transparency and access to and availability of information. If you work for an organization and don’t monitor the company’s Google mentions or keep an eye on Twitter and other social media sites to learn what people are saying, you are missing a rich resource. Especially if you work for a large company (or, if you want to work for one!), “following” the organization on LinkedIn can help keep you abreast of staffing changes and trends. You don’t have to rely on a rumor mill. Ignore these monitoring tools at your own peril.

Everyone needs to realize we are unlikely to return to the old economy. Don’t be complacent! Embrace change and flexibility. Always be looking for opportunities to expand and enhance your skills, even while in your current job. That may mean you volunteer for projects outside of your typical areas of expertise.

Attend professional development opportunities your employer offers to improve and update your skills. If your employer doesn’t pay for training, you may want to invest in your own career by taking courses or certifications in areas where you have an interest and that you’ve identified as potential growth markets. If you don’t manage your career and future, you are more likely to be left behind when things change and the focus is on people who are flexible and multi-talented.

Closely examine your core, transferable skills. What do your supervisors tend to praise about your work? What skills do you enjoy using, and use well? Don’t ignore the “soft skills,” or emotional intelligence. (For example, are you an exceptional communicator? Do you have a knack for leading teams? Maybe you’re a great negotiator?) Purposefully select your best skills and do some research to identify other fields or jobs where you can use them. Make a habit of self-evaluating regularly, not only when you may want a new job.

Once you have your list, try plugging your skills into job board search engines to see what type of positions come up. Consider using LinkedIn’s new “Skills” feature (find it under the More tab) to help identify types of jobs requiring the skills you have and are developing.

Learn how to market yourself effectively in this new economy. This may be the most important of all these points. The resume is always at the heart of any new job search strategy. It’s up to job seekers to communicate their skills and accomplishments to appeal to target employers. Make a strong case describing why you are the perfect solution to the hiring manager’s problem. For career changers, this can be difficult. The key is to focus the resume more on the future than the past. Avoid jargon specific to previous industries and use language and key words to suit the new employer.

Once you know your key skills and have some ideas of fields to focus on, social media offers tremendous opportunities to steer your career in a new direction. In my book, Social Networking for Career Success (LearningExpress, 2011), I explain how, if you have expertise in a particular topic, but you don’t have paid experience working in that field, you can still market that expertise online, via LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. (Google+ is another great resource.) It’s possible to become a go-to expert in a topic and to join a community of thought leaders based only on your skills.

For example, a postal worker who always enjoyed event planning (but has never been paid to plan events) can create a digital profile online, including a social resume (professional website) and presences on all the big social networks to showcase her event planning skills. She can access current thought leaders via these tools – often without requiring an introduction – and she can begin to contribute ideas and resources, thus becoming a member of the community of event planners online. Perhaps earning a certification from a community college would add to her credibility, but if she has the key, underlying skills needed to do this work, and can effectively articulate and communicate her expertise online, she will be well on her way to being able to change careers.

Social media is not a magic wand – users need to have the skills they want to market – but, for those with transferable skills and an eye on a new career, social media can serve as a metaphorical bridge from one career to another.

Another trend in today’s market? Becoming a business of one – hanging a (virtual) shingle and working for yourself. It’s not for everybody, but the same tools allowing you to recreate your professional image online to land a new job can also help you attract your own clients. Don’t ignore research reporting companies are outsourcing instead of hiring people. By creating a strong digital footprint (online presence)– via a professional website (YourName.com), and optimized social media profiles (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Google+), you will be on your way to embracing – and thriving in – the inevitable new economy we all face.

photo by blackthorne

Dr. King delivered his “I Have A Dream” address  in a time when most of his “dreams” really seemed to be just that. He and other leaders of the Civil Rights movement recognized that hard work and sacrifice was key to success. Thinking outside of the box, organizing peaceful marches…Civil disobedience. All of these at a great cost, but prepared and enacted with great hope.

Every job seeker can take something away from these optimistic messages. Maybe the message is as simple as a reminder that hope is important, even when it is hard to muster. Maybe the more important take-away is that nothing worthwhile comes without hard work and effort.

No matter the message, as the nation pauses to honor Dr. King, this is a good time for job seekers to stop and think about how to harness hope with hard work to move forward with an optimistic job hunt. Or, take another lesson from King and turn this day into a day of service and volunteer. It’s a great way to spend the holiday, with added benefits for job seekers.

photo by mixedmediadistrict

Are you approaching your job hunt without  perspective? If you haven’t looked for work for a while — or, you’ve been looking for work for a long while, but with no success, my guess is you are probably missing some key perspective that could help you succeed. If you look carefully, you can almost tell that there is a barrier all around this fruit…Is there a barrier preventing you from getting the job you want?

Consider these potential speed bumps:

Are you sending a dated or boring resume? Does it come from a Word template? Are you saying “Responsible for….” in every line? Do you have paragraph after paragraph listing stuff you did, and it has nothing to do with what you want to do next? Is it full of useless jargon and buzz words that don’t come with actionable details to prove you are what you say you are? Did you pay any attention to the job description before you applied — does your resume reasonably indicate why and how you are a good match?

Have you Googled your name? What comes up? Do you have a digital doppelganger – someone else with your name who ranks higher than you online? (Unless you are active online or have a very unique name, this is likely.) What are you doing to create content about you online so people will learn about your professional qualifications? Did you consider the fact that you may share a name with a criminal or otherwise be suffering from mistaken identity online? It’s your job to look. And to take action if necessary.

Have you been tagged or labeled in photos or associated with information that will deter your job search plans? Someone I know recently told me the story of a person his company was trying to hire, until a Google search found unflattering (illegal drug related) photos on Facebook. The candidate claimed not to even know about those photos. It’s your job to find out if there is information out there preventing you from landing a job.

Are you doing everything you can to demonstrate you’re up-to-date with modern technology, especially if you are an experienced job seeker? Having a LinkedIn profile is required, at the least. If you are truly savvy, you’ll maintain other appropriate networks (Twitter, Facebook, Google+) and demonstrate your expertise online. Having your own professional website (a social resume) could really help you own your name online and create a portfolio of your work.

Are you getting out and meeting people? Are you making an effort to extend your network, in person and online? Have you been meeting people, even if you don’t think they can help you? Are you taking the attitude that anyone — even your son’s soccer coach — may be the key to your next job?

What about your attitude? Are you posting negative status updates every day on Facebook or knocking your last interviewer on Twitter. (Because, “who reads that stuff, anyway?”) If you are, you’re probably making people hesitate to try to recommend you. No one wants to stake his or her reputation on a loose cannon. Don’t be a loose cannon.

When you land an interview, are you ready? Do you know the answer to the question, “Why should we hire you?” If not, you are not likely to get the job. How about, “Tell me about yourself?” (Please, do not start, “Well, I was born in…”) I don’t think you need to memorize answers, but you should be prepared to address key topics, and these are two biggies. If you lose the interviewer with a boring intro, you may blow your chance to advance in the process.

Have you been remembering thank you notes? Do they have typos? Yes, you can stand out from a crowd (positively and negatively) via your follow up. No one is saying someone will hire you only because of your nice thank you note, but in a field of similar candidates, if you are the one who can follow up well, it will probably help.

These are only a few of the items that may be affecting your ability to land a job…If you’ve been looking without luck, maybe it’s time for some perspective. If you are planning a search soon, why wait until you are frustrated and annoyed with the process before you reevaluate? Sometimes, having a little expert advice makes all the difference. At the very least, take a few steps back and really survey what you’re dealing with. If you are looking at a plate of over-sized fruit, be sure you know it!

Consider these questions:

• What do you want to do?
• What do you offer?
• Where do you want to work?
• What are the touch points between you and that target organization? (In other words, why would they want to hire you?)
• How can you leverage social media tools (including ones who may not have considered) to get the word out about your expertise?
• What will you say in your online profiles and other job search materials to help you stand out from the crowd?

Ultimately, it is your job to know what is unique and special about you, and to package it in a way to appeal to your audience.

If it is difficult to decide what to focus on, you should take some time to decide on the right angle — and the right presentation — to showcase your talents.

Take a close look at this picture (above)…It’s a piece of art by El Anatsui hanging in the de Young art museum in San Francisco. Standing in front of it, it’s hard to believe it’s not a cloth quilt. But, look closely: it’s made of aluminum bottle caps and copper wire.

What do your materials look like to employers? If they stand back and evaluate your profiles (including your online information and your application materials), will it look like a beautifully woven quilt, or more like a rag-tag collection of recycled bottle caps?

Maybe you haven’t put much effort into driving your career, and all you HAVE is really a collection of odds and ends — you can’t see an obvious connection between what you have done and what you want to do next.

I think the lesson in El Anatsui’s piece is that you can take what you have and weave it into something special — even if it isn’t obviously spectacular by itself. It may take some work to create a piece of “art” from your materials — maybe you could use some expert advice to be sure you are telling a story that has the power to get you from where you are to where you want to be.

Regardless of how you get there, don’t ignore your presentation. How you look to employers will either land you a job or keep you looking. It’s in your hands!

As with anything related to job search strategies, there are many correct approaches; it is up to each job seeker to identify an authentic, strategic way to job searching. Sometimes, this may require stretching your comfort zone and taking a risk.

Darren Hardy, author of The Compound Effect: Jumpstart Your Income, Your Life, Your Success, believes getting aggressive can help job seekers. He explains, “Don’t be afraid of being too aggressive…You might be for some, but who cares? You have a thousand times better shot at the others on your list. Get some people to call you, your boss, your association, your congressman, whatever, to complain that you are becoming a nuisance. You will then know you are on the road to victory.”

Here is a brief summary of Hardy’s suggestions for job seekers:

Narrow your list to your highest-priority targets. Then unload every bit of arsenal you have. Call, fax, email, FedEx, telegram, show-up, court the gatekeeper, bring lunch, send gifts (books, magazine articles, swag, etc.), and network with the contacts around them (peers, underlings, superiors, vendors, attorney, CPA’s, etc.).

Get referred in. If you don’t know someone who knows your target contact directly, find someone who knows someone one to two degrees away. Make a new friend and climb the rings on the daisy chain to your target.

Do the unexpected. Research all the people in the organization. Take that list and run it by your entire network to see if they know anyone who might know someone in this organization. Search every name against your LinkedIn database.

If you’re facing 2012 thinking you have done everything you can do to land a job and it has not been successful, you may want to try these techniques to give yourself an emotional jump-start.

Read the complete post on my U.S. News & World Report Column

photo by sakeeb