Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

How to use your time in a job hunt

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Are you looking in the mirror when you search for a job – to take a good, hard look and see if there is something about your attitude or approach that you can change? Staying positive and upbeat is important to your ultimate success.

Another important tip? Use your time well if you are not currently working. It’s easy to let hours, days and weeks pass by before setting up a strategy that will help you succeed in your  hunt.

I’ve already shared great reasons to volunteer if you have some free time. Here are a few additional tips to consider if you’re not quite sure what to do with your time.

If you haven’t started, dive into social media and Web 2.0 applications! Yes, this can take some time if you are going to do it full force. But, you have time, so go for it! Start searching for blogs in your niche. Guy Kawasaki’s Alltop list is a perfect place to find blogs in an array of topics, but you can certainly use Google to find current information in your field of interest. Spend some time researching and exploring. See if you can identify the stars in your field. Use online mechanisms to connect to them!

How? Post smart comments on their blogs. See if they use Twitter and follow them. (Read more of my suggestions about using Twitter for the job hunt HERE or check out my book, Social Networking for Career Success. (You can even get in on Kindle for a great price on Amazon.) Make sure you are using LinkedIn effectively. You may be amazed at  how quickly you can connect and “befriend” people online. (Learn more about my book and my Google+ Guide!)

Consider authoring a blog. If you are a strong writer, there isn’t a better way to influence your Google rankings and demonstrate authority in your subject matter. If you have the time, why not try? You have nothing to lose. (If you want to learn more about what you’d put on your own website/social resume, but sure to check out my site. I can even help you get into your own site if you’re not technically inclined.)

Stop and think about what you really want to do. Use your time to assess yourself, your goals and plans for the future. How often are we forced to take a moment to really think about the future. This is your chance. Do you like the way your life is going? Are you happy with your path? If not, consider a coach to help you figure out a new direction.

Learn a new skill. Have you been thinking about taking a class in something that will help you with your job? Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn how to knit? This is a good time. Doing something new and learning a new skill is good for your attitude and will help you in multiple ways.

There is so much information and opportunities to learn new things online for free. High-profile and talented people are offering free teleclasses, webinars and seminars all of the time. If you plug in, you’ll learn about these opportunities and benefit from them. Take advantage of your public library as a resource for information. Check in with the librarian for information you might be missing!

Don’t wait until you have an interview scheduled to prepare for the interview! Do you know what you’ll wear to an interview? Does it fit? Is it clean and pressed? How about your shoes? Do they pass muster? Dont’ wait until you’ve been searching for two months and get a call for an interview tomorrow to look in your closet!

Once you have an outfit ready, start planning and practicing what you will say in an interview, in a networking situation…Use your time to get ready. I work with clients on mock interviews, so you will really know what skills you can improve. If you are prepared, when you start pulling in opportunities, you won’t panic!

Of course, much of your “free” time will be taken up with job hunting. Don’t forget, many of the activities listed above are part of your job hunt. I would be remiss if I didn’t specifically mention that networking (in person and online) is key – spend more time doing this than searching for online postings. Make sure your resume and materials are top-notch and use your time to prep for everything you will need.

What ideas do you have?

photo by Earls37a

How to job hunt in a stubborn job market

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The job search news isn’t great…The feds report no new jobs added in August.

What can you do to improve your chances in this stubborn market?

Pause, but don’t stop.

If you don’t have a great network and job search materials at-the-ready, facing an unexpected job loss can be very overwhelming. Take a moment to take stock, but don’t take a month. Consider potential next steps. Assess your skills and figure out what you offer that is unique and special. In an environment where many people are looking for opportunities at once, you need to be able to identify what sets you apart.

Avoid sending applications without giving each one your full attention. Applying for every job that crosses your path is not going to help you land something sooner.

Clean up your digital footprint.

Especially if you’ve been thrown into a job search unexpectedly – IMMEDIATELY clean up your social networking profiles so that they are professional and wouldn’t cause any potential employer to think twice about hiring you. (Including your photos – make sure you are dressed like you are ready for work in your highlighted pictures.) Set a Google alert so you know when your name comes up online. With the majority of employers researching candidates online, an un-professional comment or picture may be the difference between getting the job and being the #2 choice.

Network smart.

You already know. Network, network, network. But, do you know how? If you’re not familiar with social networks (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, blogging, etc.), now is the time to get familiar!

When you are planning your networking, focus on information gathering and sharing. Don’t ask for informational meetings to discuss your need for a job. If that person doesn’t have a job to offer, he or she will probably not want to meet with you and will suggest you contact HR.

The key with your networking is to expand your group of “loose contacts” – people who don’t know you well, but are willing to do what they can to help you achieve your goal. If you can present yourself as talented and skilled and make a personal connection, you will get much further with your job hunt.

Job hunt full time, but don’t be a workaholic.

Make a plan. Get up, get dressed, make appointments, keep a to-do list. Have goals for your job hunt as you do for your work life. I don’t have to tell you that this is a stressful time, but don’t feel the need to be job hunting 100% of your day. Take time to enjoy yourself and seek supportive groups to help you get through this tough time. Take time to vent and to be angry, but try to achieve a positive outlook, as that will help you in the long run.

Consider the cost benefits of seeking career advice.

The fact is, most people don’t have a very good resume and have no idea how to search for a job in today’s economy. In a competitive environment, your job seeking materials (this includes your linkedin profile and web 2.0 presence) will be even more important. Money may be tight, but hiring a coach and/or a resume writer might be just the boost you need to propel your search.

Consider the cost of unemployment and the fact that you are much more likely to land a job in a timely way if you have a great resume, understand how to market yourself and are well prepared to interview and negotiate.

The list of things to do when suddenly facing a job hunt is very long…Those who make a plan and   methodically move toward their goals are most likely to achieve them.

photo by magnusfranklin

Your job search questions answered!

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UPDATE: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT and RTs of this post and for spreading the word to your communities. Due to the death of my father this weekend, we will be postponing the launch of this chat until next week. We will re-post and advertise it when we’re ready to get going.

I’m taking a bit of a break from blogging and social media posting to concentrate on remembering my dad and focusing on family matters. I appreciate your kind support in this difficult time. My social networking community is a big part of my life in good times, and I am lucky to be able to appreciate your thoughts in tough times, too.

I’ve been thinking about how to bring the great aspects of Twitter chats into Google+, and you’re invited to join in the fun!

I’m a big fan of Twitter chats. My favorite, and one I try to participate in regularly is #jobhuntchat, Monday nights at 10 ET. It’s moderated by Rich DeMatteo, @cornonthejob and Jessica Miller-Merrill, @blogging4jobs  If you’re familiar with Twitter chats, they are somewhat informal opportunities to engage with people you know — and meet new contacts, colleagues and experts.

I’m excited to announce my Career Collective co-leader, Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter and I will be launching an interactive Q & A we are calling Career+ Convo on Google+ in conjunction with several Career Collective members and other experts whom we’ll invite to join us. The plan is to meet on Wednesday nights, 9-9:30 pm ET on a G+ page. We’ll post questions (you can send them to me in advance) and you’ll have instant answers from us and any of our colleagues and expert friends who hop on!

We hope you’ll join us for this experiment, which will provide job seekers:

  • Answers to your “need to know now” questions.
  • Connection points with other job seekers on G+.
  • Introductions to career experts (coaches, recruiters, HR experts, etc.) who may be answering questions. This will help you add some experts to your “circles” so you can keep up-to-date on trends and resources.

This week, the chat will be happening on my Google+ homepage. You can click that link or search for “Miriam Salpeter” on Google+ to find the conversation.

Consider checking out the Chrome extension for Google+ to help make it easier to follow the conversation.

To summarize –

YOU ARE INVITED TO THE FIRST CAREER+ CONVO

When: Wednesday, August 3rd, 9 – 9:30 pm Eastern Time

Where: On my Google+ page. Or, just search for “Miriam Salpeter” in Google+ to find where we’ll be.

What you need: A Google+ profile and a willingness to try something new

Please comment to let us know if you’ll be joining, whether you are an expert or a job seeker! Looking forward to trying this out with all of you! Please let your social media communities know about Career+ Convo.

Google+ icon by Samuel McQueen

Via Mashable

Job search inspiration from New York City

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When I travel, I try not to worry about how often I blog. For me, I’ve found it’s better to try to have some new experiences to inspire my posts. I recently returned from New York City, where I visit every year to meet colleagues and to see family and friends. I have a list of job search related ideas to consider adding to my blog. I already wrote about how the horse-and-buggy driver provided a great lesson about defining your unique value proposition.

It’s been a hectic week returning from being away, so I thought I’d re-share a post I wrote several years ago after visiting NYC. I think it’s still relevant. Stay tuned for a few more career lessons inspired by my trip to the Big Apple!

Recently, I had an opportunity to ride the New York City subway. I say “opportunity,” because watching other passengers and what goes on in and around the subway offers an array of ideas for my blog.

One passenger stands out in my mind. Anyone who’s ridden the subway knows that you rarely get from point A to point B without encountering someone asking for money. Sometimes, it’s in exchange for some type of “entertainment,” other times simply because the person is hungry.

While sitting and minding my own business, I noticed a man in a wheelchair making his way through the train asking for change. At the other side of the train, another panhandler burst into the car with a loud and boisterous call for assistance. “Uh oh,” I thought, “Dueling panhandlers. What now?” The loud newcomer immediately noticed the man in the wheelchair. He stopped calling for a handout and came to sit down next to me.

I watched him go through his pockets and pull out all of his change. He counted it. It wasn’t much – maybe several dollars worth of coins. He sorted and fingered through it as I watched on the sly. He stood up and approached the man in the wheelchair. “What now?” I thought. I lived in NYC and rode the trains daily for years, but I don’t remember ever seeing two people in the same train car asking for money. (Maybe this is a sign of the times and is now commonplace.)

I admit that I was pretty surprised to see the man who had carefully counted his change offer a portion to the panhandler in the wheelchair. Here was someone who clearly didn’t have much offering part of his take to someone else who may have an even more difficult life.

I thought this made an inspiring story. Looking for a job is tough and trying work for even the most intrepid job seeker. Stop and take stock: how can you assist someone who needs help even more than you?

I’ve suggested volunteering as a great activity for a job seeker, as it offers networking opportunities as well as a chance to really give back to your community. But the panhandler offering some of his “loot” to another really put a spotlight on the issue of helping your neighbor.

photo by Shuggy™

What is your unique value proposition?

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Have you ever been to New York City? Near Central Park’s south end, you will find hundreds of horse and carriage proprietors — each hoping you’ll sign up for a ride around the park. In a more recent addition in the last several years, there are also many peddling tours pulled by a cycling guide. With so many choices, how can anyone make a living?

It made me think about how important it is to identify and focus on a unique value proposition — for people seeking business from tourists in New York City and job seekers trying to differentiate themselves in a crowded job market.

Walking along Central Park West, I saw one horse-and-buggy driver who would have earned my business if I were planning to take a tour of the park. He let me take his picture (displayed here), but I noticed he wasn’t sitting at the curb for long — he was soon galloping around the park with customers in tow. What was different about him? As you can see from the photo, he went the extra mile in terms of his attire and that of his horse. Most of the drivers were dressed casually, almost sloppily in comparison to this one proprietor. Despite the heat, he went the extra mile to “dress up” his horse with a festive feather, matching his own purple vest. A top hat was the perfect addition to his look.

Finally, his carriage was special and a bit unique compared to the other horse drivers. I envision tourists considering their photo opportunities. A tour is an investment; why wouldn’t customers want the most for their money? If they assume most of the drivers are capable of providing a safe ride and basic, useful information, choosing a carriage clearly depends on aesthetic considerations, and this driver made the most of that fact.

This month, the Career Collective (a community I co-coordinate with my colleague Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter) addresses the question of the mid-year job-search check-up. There’s nothing more important than knowing what makes you special when you’re looking for a job. If you haven’t already spent time thinking about this important topic, the mid-year point is a good time to re-evaluate (Please click through to the links at the end of this post to my colleagues’ ideas about the topic.)

Obviously, for the job seeker, neither attire (nor a top hat!) are necessarily distinguishing factors. (Although, make no mistake, how you dress can and does make a big difference in how you may be perceived.)

Aside from aesthetic features, what can a job hunter do to help him- or herself stand out?

Discover Your Hook

What is special about you? What skills and accomplishments set you apart from every other person in the room? In your industry? It’s not easy to determine what makes you special and unique, but it’s important to think about it if you’re going to market yourself. Think about your work. What do you accomplish better than anyone else? (Or, better than most people?) Have you been able to solve a problem and come up with solutions no one else could? Think about the results you create; how do you make a difference?

If you don’t know what makes you stand out from the crowd, it will be difficult to convince anyone else why they should hire you.

Context of Your Target Audience

Once you begin to focus on what makes you special and unique, don’t forget to consider how you fit into your target employer.

You will find out the employer’s needs via research, informational meetings and networking. Don’t forget to investigate industry conferences. Many post their speaker programs online, so even if it is not feasible for you to attend, it’s easy to learn your field’s major pain points. How do your skills and accomplishments help address the topics top-of-mind to people in your field?

Can you help the organization:

  • Earn more money?
  • Handle their work more efficiently — saving money?
  • Attract more customers?
  • Solve some problem?
  • Create a new product or service?

Focus on the target audience’s needs – not on what YOU want

Think about it…If someone approaches you and starts talking about themselves and what they want, how closely will you listen? Statistics demonstrate that people don’t typically have very long attention spans to listen to other people talk.

Now, think about talking to someone who focuses on YOUR needs. A little more interested? I bet you are! Who doesn’t want to hear someone describe how he or she solves your problems!

The lesson for job seekers: when you identify your unique value proposition, be sure it isn’t all about YOU!

Big brands like Disney decide what they offer before they create and place their advertisements.  When they want to advertise Disney World, they appeal to families and parents’ need for an affordable, yet magical vacation.  Their brand is all about magic and family fun.  Their television ads appear on shows with a high viewership of people Disney targets.

If Disney didn’t consider what they offer, they wouldn’t be able to target their marketing.  By defining themselves and what problem they solve, they can offer a hook (an affordable family vacation).

What is brand YOU all about?  What makes you special and unique?  Think about what you offer an employer.  Consider your top five work and personal accomplishments.  Write them down and think them over.

Marketing Brand YOU

It’s great to know your value proposition, but if no one has heard of you, it won’t do you much good!

Make sure you put together a 360-degree marketing plan, including a high-quality resume detailing exactly how you are a good match for the position. Optimize your LinkedIn profile with keywords and a story that makes people want to learn more about you.

Consider creating an online profile, or a social resume — YourName.com — to showcase your expertise and value. The site may include a blog focusing on your insights and accomplishments, or it may simply serve to help you own your name online and give you the opportunity to highlight what you want people to know about you if they search for you online.

Create a Google Profile. This has always been a good idea, but with the introduction of Google+, it is even more important, since Google+ draws on your profile information. (I haven’t had a chance to write about Google+, but it is a new social network combining elements similar to Facebook, Twitter and several other networks. Learn about it HERE. It’s still new, and not available to everyone, yet. The jury is still out regarding how useful it will be for job seekers, as right now, only early adopters have jumped on. Stay tuned for more information about Google+, but create a Google Profile even if you never plan to use the new social network.

Evaluate your Twitter and Facebook presence. Are you using them to your advantage? I could write a book about how to make these networks work for you…In fact, I did! 🙂

My book describes how to use social media tools (including Twitter and Facebook). The basics:

  • Be sure your profiles are suitable for anyone to view and represent the best, professional YOU.
  • Don’t waste the opportunity to connect with new potential colleagues.
  • Learn what you can via social media channels about what is happening in your field or industry Following Twitter hashtags during conferences is a great way to accomplish this.
  • Share what you know online to demonstrate your expertise and attract people to YOU.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, landing a job is a lot harder than donning a top hat and a purple vest, but with some planning and a real focus on what you have to offer your target audience, your mid-year career check-up couldn’t come soon enough. Let me know if I can help.

Here are links to Career Collective member responses!

 

4 Summer Strategies to Step Up Your Job Search, @DebraWheatman

Putting Your Job Search Up On The Rack For Inspection, @dawnrasmussen

Mid-Year Job Search Checkup: Are you wasting your time? @GayleHoward

It is Time for Your Check-up Ms/Mr Jobseeker, @careersherpa

Mid-Year Career Checkup: Are You “On Your Game?” @KatCareerGal

How to Perform a Mid-Year Job Search Checkup, @heatherhuhman

Reposition your job search for success, @LaurieBerenson

Mid-Year Job Search Checkup: What’s working and What’s not? @erinkennedycprw

Mid-Year Job Search Check-Up: Getting Un-Stuck, @JobHuntOrg

Mid-Year Check Up: The Full 360, @WalterAkana

5 Tips for Fighting Summer Job Search Blues, @KCCareerCoach

Are you positive about your job search? @DawnBugni, #CareerCollective

Where Are The Jobs? @MartinBuckland, @EliteResumes

Mid-Year Job-Search Checkup: Get Your Juices Flowing, @ValueIntoWords

When Was Your Last Career & Job Search Check Up? @expatcoachmegan

Is Summer A Job Search Momentum Killer? @TimsStrategy

Is It Time for Your Resume Checkup? @barbarasafani