Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

Keeping things in perspective for your job hunt

By

cold.children.3133748366_70f7859960_mIf you are not convinced by now that job seeking during the holidays is a good idea, I don’t know what to say! Suffice to repeat – there are opportunities out there. You just need to be willing and ready to meet them.

Have you seen the Wall Street Journal’s series of blogs by job seekers? Weeks ago, when I began my “Holiday Job Search” series, I saw a post that I knew I wanted to share. One of the WSJ’s contributors, Kevin Mergens, wrote a post with a message I thought was the perfect cap to the information I’ve been sharing. Kevin wrote:

So, as the holidays approach I feel it is critical to keep things in perspective. Being an M.B.A. on unemployment stinks for both the ego and the bank account, but I am hardly deserving of any sympathy. When I was in this boat during Christmas six years ago, I remember feeling down about not having a job and then reading a local letter to Santa. The young girl that penned the letter did not ask for a doll or a video game or an iPod. She asked Santa for a coat and boots so she could deal with the Chicago winter. After seeing that, I knew my “problems” were not really that big. I decided that we could certainly afford to contribute a few bucks to the local charity that played Santa for these kids. The funny thing is, less than twenty minutes after I called in my small donation, I got a call with a job offer.

I know that some readers really are in very difficult situations after being out of work for a long time. However, no matter what, it is important to keep things in perspective. Helping someone else at this time of year is yet another way to help yourself. While most people will not land an opportunity upon offering a charitable donation, it certainly doesn’t hurt to think of those less fortunate.

Thank you for reading. If you have missed any of the great advice my terrific colleagues offered, be sure to follow these links. A very special THANK YOU to all the generous and talented friends and contacts who share advice for this series. Feel free to share YOUR ideas for job searching during the holidays in the comments!

Part 1 – My suggestions and a free ebook offer

Part 2 – Walter Akana – Take care of yourself

Part 3 – Anita Bruzzese – Stay ahead of the crowd

Part 4 – Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter – Unplug and embrace rest

Part 5 – Wendy Enelow – Ideas for employed and unemployed job seekers

Part 6 – GL Hoffman – Use time to research and prepare

Part 7 – Meghan M. Biro – Use the holidays as a time for self assessment

Part 8 – Craig Fisher – Recruiters don’t ease up during the holidays – neither should you

Part 9 – Ronnie Ann – Take advantage of other peoples’ resolutions

Part 10 – Alison Doyle and Andrea Santiago – Use parties and festive occassions to fuel your job search

Part 11 – Sharlyn Lauby – Take your job search social

Part 12 – Karla Porter – Be in it to win it

Part 13 – Lisa Caldas Kappesser – Use emotional intelligence to overcome job search hurdles

Part 14 – 4 tips for effective networking follow up for the holidays and the rest of the year

Part 15 – Networking tips and advice from a variety of experts

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.


photo by Divine in the Daily

Holiday networking tips and advice

By

network.pic.2048034334_22b098c829_mIt’s hard to believe, but I have not finished sharing the great ideas my colleagues shared for my holiday networking for job seekers series!

Sandra Naiman, author of The High Achiever’s Secret Codebook: The Unwritten Rules for Success at Work (JIST, 2009) [read my review HERE] echos the sentiment that the “holiday season is a great time to enlarge and reactivate your network.  That is not to say that you ask people if they have or know of a job; however social networking sites, letters and cards are a great way to get back on people’s radar screen.”

She suggests that you create inexpensive ways to bring people together at your house – such as a cookie baking party where everyone cooks and shares cookies and candies with everyone else. “Again, your objective is to connect with as many people as possible and create opportunities for follow up, where appropriate, after the holidays.”

A fun idea – host your own party!

Another author, Richard S. Deems, who wrote, Make Job Loss Work For You (Jist 2010) with his daughter, Terri Deems, suggests job seekers move their focus to direct (in-person) networking during the holidays to take advantage of the generally good mood. Richard reminds us how important it is to follow up, which is key!

Jeff Lipschultz, a founding partner of A-List Solutions, a premier recruiting firm, brings great advice from the “other side of the hiring desk.” I “met” Jeff on Twitter, and I encourage you to follow him @jlipschultz for terrific job hunting tweets and advice! I also highly recommend his blog.  He is also a featured writer on www.job-hunt.org.  Jeff adds:

“The employment world at the end of the year is an unusual situation. Sure, it’s the holiday season and there are many vacations and last minute goals to achieve for the year.  But, it is also a prime time to be interviewing.  Many companies still need to fill a spot on the team that was budgeted this year.  Other companies have a little more time to wedge in some interviews.  Some budgets for 2010 are already set or close.  Which means, some hiring managers already know their January job hires and may get a jump start on the search to grab the best talents available ahead of other companies.  They’re anticipating  the start date of any hire being in January.

Candidates who are actively pursuing open jobs during this time frame should stand out as serious candidates.  Keep the search alive during the holiday season!”

Finally, my friend Ellen Sautter, a senior career management consultant with Right Management and co-author with Diane Crompton of Seven Days to Online Networking (Jist 2008) [read my review HERE], brings her unique perspective as someone working at a large outplacement firm with many job seekers shares some good news!

We see the job market picking up right now.  Many of our candidates are landing new positions and certainly getting more ‘traction’ in the market than earlier this year.  With companies starting to loosen the purse strings, we would advise job seekers to stay engaged and attentive…..while of course taking some time for fun and family activities to maintain ‘balance.’

She reminds us that:

Hiring is not as predictable as it used to be.  There are no weeks / months / periods when companies stop recruiting and screening candidates. New jobs are posted all the time; and interviews are scheduled and offers are extended during all weeks of the year.

So, good news for job seekers. I hope you are totally convinced that prepping your pitch and going to holiday parties with a positive attitude is the best job search strategy! Tomorrow, one final thought to close our series. FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH HOLIDAY JOB SEARCH IN THE COMMENTS!

Be sure to take a look at all the great advice from my colleagues:

Part 1 – My suggestions and a free ebook offer

Part 2 – Walter Akana – Take care of yourself

Part 3 – Anita Bruzzese – Stay ahead of the crowd

Part 4 – Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter – Unplug and embrace rest

Part 5 – Wendy Enelow – Ideas for employed and unemployed job seekers

Part 6 – GL Hoffman – Use time to research and prepare

Part 7 – Meghan M. Biro – Use the holidays as a time for self assessment

Part 8 – Craig Fisher – Recruiters don’t ease up during the holidays – neither should you

Part 9 – Ronnie Ann – Take advantage of other peoples’ resolutions

Part 10 – Alison Doyle and Andrea Santiago – Use parties and festive occasions to fuel your job search

Part 11 – Sharlyn Lauby – Take your job search social

Part 12 – Karla Porter – Be in it to win it

Part 13 – Lisa Caldas Kappesser – Use emotional intelligence to overcome job search hurdles

Part 14 – 4 tips for effective networking follow up for the holidays and the rest of the year

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

image by Nimages

Take your job search social

By

drink.lime2283984141_1b608202fc_mSharlyn Lauby, @hrbartender on Twitter, is an HR pro I had the chance to meet when I attended the ERE conference in September. She is President of Internal Talent Management, a company that “utilizes human resources as the marketing department for a company’s internal clients.” (Don’t miss Sharlyn’s blog – www.hrbartender.com.)

I thought it would be good to have another opinion from the HR perspective, so I asked Sharlyn if she would share some ideas to help job seekers during the holidays. This is her reply:

Miriam – I totally agree with your “don’t stop now” approach.  I believe there is an assumption that organizations don’t hire during the holiday season, which I’ve never found to be true.  Companies are hiring.  But even if you take the approach that companies aren’t, this is a great time to network and remain tops in everyone’s mind.

Some of the things I suggest to people:

  • This is a great time to call colleagues and wish them happy holidays.
  • Invite those people you’ve been meaning to network with to connect with you on LinkedIn.
  • Get a Twitter account and start following recruiters and people in your industry.
  • Volunteer to help out at your favorite charity’s holiday fundraiser so you can meet people.
  • Attend association holiday networking events.
  • Catch up on your business reading and invite some people over for a book club discussion.

The point is: this is a social time of year, take your job search “social.”

For much more advice about job searching during the holidays…

Part 1 – My suggestions and a free ebook offer

Part 2 – Walter Akana – Take care of yourself

Part 3 – Anita Bruzzese – Stay ahead of the crowd

Part 4 – Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter – Unplug and embrace rest

Part 5 – Wendy Enelow – Ideas for employed and unemployed job seekers

Part 6 – GL Hoffman – Use time to research and prepare

Part 7 – Meghan M. Biro – Use the holidays as a time for self assessment

Part 8 – Craig Fisher – Recruiters don’t ease up during the holidays – neither should you

Part 9 – Ronnie Ann – Take advantage of other peoples’ resolutions

Part 10 – Alison Doyle and Andrea Santiago – Use parties and festive occassions to fuel your job search

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

photo by sunnyUK

Use parties and other festive opportunities to your advantage for job hunting

By

holidaypunch3069151645_2c8c4a0877_mHave I mentioned how great it is to turn to a terrific social network for ideas to share with you? Yes – I guess I have! Today, advice about job hunting during the holidays from two terrific experts who both write for About.com…Alison Doyle and Andrea Santiago….

Alison Doyle, author of About.com’s guide to job searching suggests:
View every holiday event you attend as a networking opportunity and accept all the invitations you receive, both personal and professional. You never know who may be able to help. Friends and family, as well as business acquaintances are typically more than happy to assist. A word of warning – don’t overindulge. You don’t want to be remembered as the guest who had one too many drinks.

Andrea Santiago, a medical recruiter and author of About.com’s guide to health careers reminds her readers that the holidays are a prime time for networking. She suggests keeping at your search by focusing on these possibilities:

  • Travel – You never know who could be standing next to you in the security line or sitting in the seat next to you on the plane! Be prepared to strike up a conversation.
  • Parties and Gatherings – Be prepared to meet new people, no matter if you’re gathering at your Aunt’s house, your in-laws, or at a friend’s holiday party. Remember, the people you meet don’t even necessarily have to work in the healthcare industry in order to be valuable contacts.
  • Down Time – Depending on your travel and celebration plans, you may have more down-time than usual during the holidays. If you have extra time off from school or even from a current job if you’re employed, or downtime in between travels or waiting to board a plane, use this time to do some on-line networking, or maybe read a helpful book.

For much more advice about job searching during the holidays…

Part 1 – My suggestions and a free ebook offer

Part 2 – Walter Akana – Take care of yourself

Part 3 – Anita Bruzzese – Stay ahead of the crowd

Part 4 – Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter – Unplug and embrace rest

Part 5 – Wendy Enelow – Ideas for employed and unemployed job seekers

Part 6 – GL Hoffman – Use time to research and prepare

Part 7 – Meghan M. Biro – Use the holidays as a time for self assessment

Part 8 – Craig Fisher – Recruiters don’t ease up during the holidays – neither should you

Part 9 – Ronnie Ann – Take advantage of other peoples’ resolutions

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

photo by trazomfreak

Job search resources for Boomers via Civic Ventures

By

civic.ventures.logo_cvWith record levels of unemployment, all job seekers are looking for new ideas and resources to help move their search forward successfully. I can tell you from experience that Baby Boomers come to the table with concerns that are unique to their generation. They worry about ageism, about interviewing with bosses young enough to be their children and about the fact that job search techniques and methods have changed dramatically since they last looked for opportunities.

For Boomers ready for a real career change after their primary career has ended, a terrific resource is available. Civic Ventures, a think tank on Boomers, work and social purpose, provides information and advice to help Boomers transition to what they term, “encore careers.” Civic ventures recently hired Marci Alboher, a highly respected expert on career issues and workplace trends, author of the book, One Person/Multiple Careers: A New Model for Work/Life Success (Warner Books, 2007) (and one of my favorite writers on the subject of career and job search issues), to help boomers hoping to transition to meaningful and different career opportunities.

I spoke to Marci recently about her new position and about Civic Ventures. She described  The Purpose Prize, which the organization offers annually to social innovators over 60 who are using their talents to make a difference in the world. (They receive between $50,000 and $100,000 for “creating new approaches to solving tough problems – from education and job training to global warming and hunger.” Read about the recently announced prize winners HERE. You may be inspired to follow in their footsteps.)

However, Marci explained that Civic Ventures does so much more. She noted, “Civic Ventures is committed to reinventing the years formerly known as retirement. Most Americans over age 65 are not planning to idle away their ‘retirement years.’ Many want to do work that matters after their primary career has ended. Civic Ventures is creating pathways to connect these talented professionals with meaningful and fulfilling work that provides continued income, personal meaning and social impact.” (Read more about Civic Ventures on Marci’s blog post announcing her new position.)

Marci also alerted me to Civic Ventures’ new guide for for those hoping to succeed in an encore career who want to get started on the right foot.  The guide is available as a series of free downloads HERE. It covers a myriad of topics, including what to expect, job hunting tips, volunteering as a bridge to your new career and updating your skills, among other key topics.

The opening of the guide resonated with me:

“We like to think that the key to a successful career change is knowing what we want to do next, then using that knowledge to guide our actions, writes Herminia Ibarra, author of Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career.

But, she continues,

“Studying people in the throes of the career change process…(suggests that)…Change actually happens the other way around. Doing comes first, knowing second…It’s a transition, not a transaction.”

If you are a Boomer thinking of making a change to a fulfilling “encore career,” don’t miss the resources at Encore Careers. Even if you are not sure of your next step, explore the quality materials and resources. Remember, as Herminia Ibarra noted, “It’s a transition, not a transaction.”

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.