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

The post Your job search questions answered! appeared first on Keppie Careers.

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 employerâ€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 donâ€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 doesnâ€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 didnâ€t consider what they offer, they wouldnâ€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

The post What is your unique value proposition? appeared first on Keppie Careers.

This month, the Career Collective (a community I co-coordinate with my colleague Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter) addresses the question of how to use social media in a job search. (Please click through to the links I’ll add soon at the bottom of this post to the other responses to this question.)

There are so many great ways to use social media in your search, most of which I address in my book, Social Networking for Career Success.

There’s no doubt social media tools offer an underutilized opportunity to:

• Help you connect with new people and keep track of contacts.
• Easily learn new things.
• Share your expertise and expand your brand.

LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook all provide easy-to-use, free tools to get-in-touch (and keep-in-touch) with people who may be interested in learning more about you and what you have to offer. However, I think the best, and most important tool the majority of job seekers do not have is a personal website, or social resume.

Why have your own website?

• Hiring managers will Google you. What will she find?
• A personal site is a way to control how your name appears online.
• Statistics show your online presence matters, and that employers are looking for personal and professional data about you.
• NOT putting up your own site only gives people an incentive to look deeper in the web for information about you. Take a look at these sites to learn what the “deep web” knows about you: pipl.com, Polymeta.com.
• Managing a site is important for career insurance and professional development. Showcasing your expertise online (even if it is in a new field) helps demonstrate what you have to offer, even when you aren’t looking for a job. An online presence can grow and change along with your career and help attract people to learn more about you. This could result in opportunities to speak at conferences or events, or even invitations to apply for jobs down the road.
• Having a website suggests you have some technical savvy and understand how to use online tools to communicate. That, in and of itself, is an important skill many employers value. It’s known as “social proof.” You may say you know about technology on your resume, but actually using it to showcase your own information goes a long way to prove you have what employers want.

Especially if you are transitioning to a new job or an experienced job seeker who needs to overcome age discrimination, having an up-to-date online presence and maybe even a viable blog helps show prospective employers you’re willing to learn and are perfectly capable of keeping up with technology.

In my book, I suggest starting out using WordPress.com to try out an online presence. It’s a great resource, and it’s free. However, there are limitations to free tools — not the least of which is you don’t really “own” that online real estate. With some know-how, or an investment in someone who does know how, you can have your own site. If you’re lucky, you can even have “YourName.com,” which will help you rank high for your name in search and help direct people to find the information you want them to find about you.

I hope you’ll visit my site, GetASocialResume.com, to learn more about what you’ll want to include in your social resume. If you don’t want to figure out how to do this yourself, I can help. With a relatively small investment, I can offer you an online presence you’ll be proud to use as a hub for your social media activity, and help you create a site to tell a compelling story describing your background and experiences.

The following are posts from other Career Collective members answering this question

Make Your Career More Social: Show Up and Engage, @WalterAkana

You 2.0: The Brave New World of Social Media and Online Job Searches, @dawnrasmussen

How to Get a New Job Using Social Media, @DebraWheatman

Social Media: Choosing, Using, and Confusing, @ErinKennedyCPRW

How to Use Social Media in Your Job Search, @heatherhuhman

Updating: A Social Media Strategy For Job Search, @TimsStrategy

Your Career Needs Social Media – Get Started, @EliteResumes @MartinBuckland

We Get By With a Little Recs from Our Friends, @chandlee

Expat Careers & Social Media: Social Media is Potentially 6 Times more Influential than a CV or Resume, @expatcoachmegan

Social-Media Tools and Resources to Maximize Your Personalized Job Search, @KatCareerGal

Job Search and Social Media: A Collective Approach, @careersherpa

Social Media: So what’s the point?, @DawnBugni

Tools that change your world, @WorkWithIllness

HOW TO: Meet People IRL via LinkedIn, @AvidCareerist

Effective Web 2.0 Job Search: Top 5 Secrets, @resumeservice

Jumping Into the Social Media Sea @ValueIntoWords

Sink or Swim in Social Media, @KCCareerCoach

Social Media Primer for Job Seekers, @LaurieBerenson

The post How having your own website helps you appeared first on Keppie Careers.

Beyond the resume and typical job search materials, I believe using social media tools can really help build a career changerâ€s bridge to a new occupation or vocation. In my book, Social Networking for Career Success, I explain how social media may help career changers who naturally have a difficult time proving they have what they need to succeed in the next job: How? It solves several problems:

• It allows you to extend your network to meet people you otherwise would never encounter. Statistics show how important introductions and “warm leads” are to job seekers. Companies value referrals from within their organizations, and meeting new people you would not otherwise know via online interactions provides more potential for referrals. (Moving those social networking interactions to in-person or telephone conversations is a good next step.)
• You have easy access to information and resources about your targeted profession. I like to think of social networks as offering a constant opportunity to learn what people in the field and thinking, saying, writing and sharing. Twitter is particularly useful in this regard. In the book, I describe how itâ€s possible to follow content from conferences you donâ€t attend in person via hashtags, and share tips from Mark Stelzner, of Inflexion Advisors, for live tweeting a conference. If you find and follow people like Mark in your field, you may be able to grasp the key problems your new targeted industry is grappling with, without leaving your home and without spending a dime! (I elaborate on all the details in the book for HOW to find and follow the right community online.)
• Social media allows you to demonstrate your newfound expertise, engage in your targeted community, and make a name for yourself in your new industry. Social media canâ€t MAKE you an expert, but if you have what it takes to excel in your new field, you should be able to demonstrate it online. Show that you know whatâ€s going on, suggest solutions based on your expertise in other industries or fields and be someone who contributes to the conversation in your targeted field.
• Your lack of actual experience in the field may become less important once potential colleagues view you as an active contributor. If youâ€re good at sharing what you learn and know, the connections you gain and their willingness to promote you as a contributor will outweigh your actual lack of industry, paid work experience as a factor. (It wonâ€t totally erase it, but it goes a long way to helping you get where you want to go.)
• Being familiar with social media tools may be just the unique skill you need to help you land a job. Social media isnâ€t going away. Having an online profile, a Twitter feed and/or using LinkedIn to connect with prospective colleagues helps show you are staying ahead of the curve regarding technology. In and of itself, that may help you exceed another qualified candidateâ€s credentials.

In the book, I share career change success stories from several contributors, including:

• Alexis Grant (@alexisgrant), social media coach and owner of Socialexis, who is now Careers editor for U.S. News & World Report.
• Jessica Lewis, who transitioned to a non-profit career after 10 years in a different field.
• Kate-Madonna Hindes (known online as @girlmeetsgeek), who used blogging and Twitter to launch an entirely new career as a social marketer and career columnist. (She notes, “Social media changed my life.)

Don’t let the competitive market discourage you from making a change. Dive into social media — I hope you’ll take a look at my book to teach you how to get on the right path — and you may be surprised by the results! Be sure to learn more about my book, Social Networking for Career Success, as I teach you how to use all the social networks you know about — and some you haven’t even considered — and Amazon has it for a great price!

photo by vistavision

The post How social media can help you change careers appeared first on Keppie Careers.

Companies are looking for people who are qualified and those who make a direct connection between their skills and what the employer wants. It’s still difficult (although not impossible) to transition to a new field. It’s about demonstrating that you can solve the employer’s problems and that you can “fit” into the company’s culture.

To be successful in a job hunt, you will not only need to demonstrate an association between what the employer wants and your skills and accomplishments, you will need to be able to tell your story in a way that makes it obvious you have the emotional intelligence/emotional quotient (EI/EQ – or soft skills) to get the job done.

A quick definition is in order. Here is one that I like and is easy to understand from Mike Poskey, VP of Zerorisk HR, Inc:

Emotional Intelligence..is defined as a set of competencies demonstrating the ability one has to recognize his or her behaviors, moods and impulses, and to manage them best according to the situation.

(Side note: Be sure to visit Talent Culture’s useful Twitter chat – #TChat on Tuesdays from 8-9 pm Eastern time.)

With all of this research on emotional intelligence, it is time for job seekers to start paying attention. Your job search materials must competently tell your story and illustrate that you not only have the capacity to get the job done (that is, you have the specific skills, training and accomplishments), but that you have the ability to fit in and to bring that talent to the next — emotional — level.

BE the person who is willing to go the extra mile. Show, don’t tell. Maybe that means you hold the door for somebody behind you on the way to the interview. Or, that you let someone take the parking space you both were eyeing. Who knows – you might have been angling your potential new boss out of her space!

Obviously, thereâ€s much more to this than simply being courteous– emotional intelligence is complicated and difficult to pin down, but one aspect is being aware of other peoples’ needs. Look at your network. Do you have one? Are you a connector? Do you try to put people in touch with each other, just for the sake of doing it? If so, you are SHOWING that you care about people – that you are a team player.

What would your boss or colleagues say about you? Do they think only about your competence, or will they comment on your great attitude, how you lead by example and show everyone the same respect? Are you the one who pitches in and stays until the end, or are you running out to handle personal matters? Everything adds up, and how you behave will shape how people see you.

Think about it – do you have the necessary skills to fit in and get the job done? Do you agree that skills such as being able to cooperate and be a team player are crucial for success in the next decade? Stay tuned for more about this topic, including how to improve your EQ and what thought leaders say about the subject!

The post How to find a job: pay attention to emotional intelligence appeared first on Keppie Careers.

This month’s question focuses on common job search misconceptions. Unfortunately, “confused” is how job seekers often feel. They want to know the “right” way to apply for a job, what exactly their resume should say (and how it should look), whether or not anyone is reading their cover letter (should they even bother sending one?), when (and how often) to follow up…The list goes on and on.

However, I think the most important point that confuses job seekers is that the job search is not really about them. Nor is the resume, application, follow-up notes…None of it is about the job seeker.

The secret to successful job hunting? It’s about the employer.

If you are looking for a job, you need to research organizations and target your materials and networking efforts to appeal to them. You used XY skill at ABC place? That’s great, but what does it have to do with the job you want NOW? Everything on your resume and other communication (social media, in-person networking, etc.) needs to be geared to the employer’s interests and needs. Think of the employer as a spoiled child who wants everything his/her way. Avoid the temper tantrum in this case (which may be YOUR tantrum): give the employer what he needs to see. Convince her that you are the ONE candidate who is qualified and can do the job.

I’ve recently shared information about how to target your resume using keywords. Do that. If you are qualified for the position, you should be able to tweak and target your resume to appeal to your audience and land the interview.

When it comes to your resume, do your research to identify the employer’s salient points. For example, a manager may find that employers need candidates who have the following skills:

• Mentoring/supervisory skills,
• Diplomacy/communication
• Leadership and
• Specific subject matter expertise.

Once you identify the important skills – write the resume to identify and PROVE you are the candidate with the goods. When someone else reads the resume, will that person see proof of the necessary skills? Does the resume include accomplishments related to each of the points? It is not unusual to see a resume that states something but fails to prove it in the body of the resume. Any point that you are not supporting with evidence in your resume is a lost opportunity to drive home your point to the hiring manager.

Stop focusing on you and your needs – think about what someone else will be thinking when they encounter your materials or meet you. It’s the secret to job hunting successfully: it’s not about you.

Don’t miss my colleagues’ responses to this topic:

• 5 Misconceptions Entry-Level Job Seekers Make, @heatherhuhman
• How “Interview Savvy” Are You?, @careersherpa
• Employers Don’t “Care”, @ValueIntoWords
• Misconceptions about Using Recruiters, @DebraWheatman
• 15 Myths and Misconceptions about Job-Hunting, @KatCareerGal
• Are You Boring HR? @resumeservice
• Job Search Misconceptions Put Right, @GayleHoward
• Who Cares About What You Want in a Job? Only YOU!, @KCCareerCoach
• How to get your resume read (sort of), @barbarasafani
• The 4 secrets to an effective recruiter relationship, @LaurieBerenson
• Job Interviews, Chronic Illness and 3 Big Ideas, @WorkWithIllness
• The secret to effective job search, @Keppie_Careers
• Superstars Need Not Apply, @WalterAkana
• The Jobs Under the Mistletoe, @chandlee
• 8 Common Sense Interview Tips @erinkennedycprw
• Still no job interview? @MartinBuckland @EliteResumes
• Misconceptions about the Hiring Process: Your Online Identity is a Critical Part of Getting Hired, @expatcoachmegan

photo by Tambako the Jaguar

The post The secret to effective job search appeared first on Keppie Careers.

This month’s question (in a nod to Halloween this weekend): How to avoid scary career/resume mistakes? How should job seekers ensure their resume/career “costume” fits / attracts the right target audience?

Both questions are so important! I’ve been working on several webinars, and have been thinking a lot about targeted search and how to be sure your materials are perfectly suited to your goals. (This is more important than you might realize for a successful search.) But, since that is the topic of my presentation for the Career Summit, I’m going to hold off on those tips. You can still register for the Summit (and listen to anything you missed via the archives). I present on November 17th.  Learn more in THIS post about how the Career Summit is for you if you are looking for a job).

How to avoid scary resume mistakes?

Have you ever written an important document and sent it off, only to find that you included a silly error? Like, “I’m looking forward too meeting you” or “Its nice the the market is recovering.” (Can you find the errors in those sentences?) Your resume is as important a document as any, and the list of potential errors long.

I recently spoke with several hiring managers when I attended the Society for Human Resource Management-Atlanta’s conference, and each said that an error on a resume indicates a careless prospective employee. It may seem harsh, but when there are so many applicants for each job, weeding out candidates whose resumes don’t seem detail oriented is one way to screen them.

Are you relying on your spell check to catch your errors? You may want to think twice!

How often are words misspelled only to inadvertently form other words? You don’t want to advertise that you were distinguished as the “best manger of the year.”

I headed up the career center at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. You can only imagine how many of my students were touting their credentials as something slightly indecent! (Think public without the all important L!)

A tip to consider: create an exclusion dictionary in yourMicrosoft Office program. This personalized dictionary will flag a word as misspelled (such as manger), even though the main dictionary knows it as a proper word.

Thanks to Lindsay Olson, who blogs about recruiting and PR, for sharing this fun video that she saw on Rowan Manahan’s blog, Fortify Your Oasis. The video offers an exaggerated example of why you can’t assume that your spell check is a good editor!

Be sure to read through your resume, and have a trusted friend review it as well. (Or a professional!) You never know when “public” may become indecent.  The list goes on and on: their/there, and/an, faculty/facility, board/bored.

In the meantime, take a look at this video for a good laugh!

Be sure to visit my colleagues’ posts on the subject:

Where Are the Wild Things, Anyway?, @WorkWithIllness

Is Your Job Search Making You Feel Like a Smashed Pumpkin?, @DebraWheatman

Hiding in Plain Sight, @WalterAkana,

Don’t make these frightful resume mistakes, @LaurieBerenson

How Not to Be a Spooky Job Seeker, @heathermundell

A Tombstone Resume:Eulogizing Your Experience, @GayleHoward

The Top Ten Scary Things Job Seekers Do, @barbarasafani

Oh, Job Search Isn’t Like Trick or Treating?, @careersherpa

A Most Unfortunate Resume Mistake No One Will Tell You, @chandlee

Oh no. Not the phone!, @DawnBugni

Halloween Caution: Job Seeker Horror, @resumeservice

Boo! Are you scaring away opportunities or the competition? @MartinBuckland @EliteResumes

Your Career Brand: A Scary Trick or an Appealing Treat?, @KCCareerCoach

How to avoid mistakes on your resume, @Keppie_Careers

Sc-sc-scary Resume Mistakes, @erinkennedycprw

A Flawed Resume is a Scary Prospect, @KatCareerGal

Job Search Angst: Like Clouds Mounting Before a Storm, @ValueIntoWords

Does Your Career Costume Fit You?, @expatcoachmegan

Photo by PumpkinWayne

The post How to avoid mistakes on your resume appeared first on Keppie Careers.

This month’s question asks everyone to share a favorite career search resource.

I don’t make it a secret that Twitter is my favorite online resource for job seekers. However, many of you may be thinking that Twitter is only useful for people in certain professions — maybe marketing, writing, public relations? It’s easy to see the potential, positive implications for people who make a living in jobs that involve a lot of communicating.

Did you ever think about how you can use Twitter, even if you work in a field that isn’t overly represented in the medium?

I thought I would take the opportunity to share an interview with Brett Vanderwater MBA, CIA, CMA, CTP. Brett is a strategic financial leader who believes social media is useful for all careerists, even those in fields without significant representation. He tweets @BrettVanderH2O, and his blog is called Top & Bottom Line! He answered some questions about the topic of using Twitter, even if not a lot of others in your field have jumped in:

Many people believe that social media is only useful for certain industries. As a finance/business professional, what made you turn to blogging and Twitter, and how have they helped you advance your career?

My first introduction to social media was LinkedIn. I stumbled onto the fact that companies were performing a Google search prior to my interviews based on the fact they knew I was a runner and member of several professional organizations. I did land at Kellogg Company in a controller role at their Atlanta, Georgia facility.

After landing my job, I continued to study the communication power of social networking. I optimized my LinkedIn to include recommendations, news postings, discussions, and groups. I expanded my efforts to include blogging, which allowed for further creativity and helped me spread the word about my expertise in finance. The finance profession can be an introverted group and admittedly, I did take a deep breath prior to sending out the first blog post. Of course, I assumed 10,000,000,000 people would instantly read it! After realizing very few read it, I started advertising the blog on LinkedIn via groups and added Twitter to further leverage and market the blog.

I found Twitter to be a simple, yet confusing tool. This is when I sought professional advice on how to represent a professional image and further leverage the networking opportunities. I contacted Keppie Careers.

While I am still adding to my social network, the career value is the circle/network that it has created. The world I once played in was limited to the city where I lived. Now, the landscape is broad, and I have met professionals from all over the world. I have had the opportunity to speak at several Atlanta area professional forums to further communicate the expertise message. These events were directly related to the usage of LinkedIn, Twitter, and blogging.

Since there is not a critical mass of people in your field on these networks, how have you increased your following and how has that helped you?

The finance field is not very active on social networks, so I broadened my definition of a finance person. I now refer to myself as a Strategic Financial Leader and network with all levels of professionals in an organization. As a result, my LinkedIn contacts increased from 380 connections to 550. My Twitter followers expanded from 175 followers to more than 3,500.

What I learned was to utilize a skill I have been using in my business career – to lead. When a profession is not at the same place that you want to be or see yourself you have two choices: 1. Conform to the profession’s expectations. 2. Redefine it. I am choosing option 2.

Would you recommend that others in industries like yours (where there are not already a lot of people involved online) try using social networks? Why?

I recommend that the finance industry use the power of social networks and embrace the changing communication landscape to enhance knowledge sharing and actualize the globalization that we talk about in the conference room.

I believe the finance industry will embrace social networks and fully leverage its power. The driving factor is that adopting these tools will save money and speed communications, resulting in cost savings and exponential gains to corporations in the future.

Convinced? Take a look at this post about Twitter chats (when people use Twitter to share information and advice about a particular subject). You may be surprised by how many different types of people are using Twitter to connect with people in all different fields.

If you want to learn how to look for a job today, check out The Career Summit…more than a dozen online presentations to help you land that next job!

Read what my colleagues had to say about their favorite resources:

6 Ideas to Put In Your Toolbox, @WorkWithIllness

Your Best Job Search Resource? You!, @WalterAkana

In a Job Search, Knowledge is Power, @barbarasafani

Jump Start Your Job Search Now!, @resumeservice

Favourite Resources for Jobseekers, @GayleHoward

The Best Job Search Tool Ever, @careersherpa

Find What You Do Best, Know Your Stuff, and Connect, @chandlee

27 Recommended Blogs for Entry-Level Job Seekers, @heatherhuhman

Invaluable Resources for Job Search Success, @heathermundell

Favorite Social-Media Resources for Job-seekers, @KatCareerGal

Canadian Resources for Job Seekers, @EliteResumes @MartinBuckland

A Self-Empowering Job Search Resource, @KCCareerCoach

Covering your bases: 5 ultra-useful online career resources, @LaurieBerenson

Favorite resources for Job seekers, @DawnBugni

Top 3 Resources for Job Seekers to Position Themselves as Experts and Increase their Visibility, @expatcoachmegan

Time as a Career Resource: How “Not” to Squander It, @ValueIntoWords

Favorite Internet Resources for Jobseekers, @ErinKennedyCPRW

The Facts Behind Why LinkUp Is the Most Revolutionary Job Search Engine Available to Job Seekers, @GLHoffman

photo by psyberartist

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This monthâ€s question? How to overcome networking fears and make networking fun – tips for introverts AND extroverts.

I encourage you to visit other members†responses, which are linked at the end of my post. Please follow our hashtag on Twitter: #careercollective.

I don’t know very many people who love to network. (There are some, but when it comes to job hunt networking, most seem to find it onerous and difficult.) First, let’s make it clear why you need to network. CareerXRoads found (and continues to find every year) that almost 27% of hires that companies make are via referrals. If you look at the big picture — ways that people find their way to jobs — referrals account for the majority of hires.

In the bigger scheme of things, some people believe that up to 80% of jobs actually are the result of networking. This could mean someone you know letting you know about an opportunity or a Twitter friend passing along a tweet about a job. Neither of those are captured as “referrals” by a company that hires you, but ultimately, they are networking related hires. There’s no doubt that networking is important.

But, what about introverts? Are they at a significant disadvantage in a world where it’s so important to connect and engage with people for career success?

In an earlier blog post, I shared information from Lindsey Pollak about why shy or introverted people make great networkers. You don’t need to be someone who loves working a room or sharing your life story to be good at networking, as there are innate traits anyone identifying in these groups may have. In summary, shy and introverted people ask for personal referrals, tend to be polite, are good listeners, bring a friend to networking events and leverage their on-line contacts – all great indicators of a successful networker!

Here are tips to help make networking fun that apply to both introverts and extroverts:

1. Choose a networking venue that you enjoy. If you like talking to people in person, go to events where you will have that chance. If you like networking in your pajamas, with a laptop balanced on your knees, look to social networking. There are more opportunities than ever there for you.

2. Recognize networking applications of things you are already doing. For example, have you considered the great professional networking opportunities that can come of Facebook? I shared ideas about why Facebook is such a great tool for job seekers in a previous post. The first reason – Facebook is fun! Let’s face it, most people are not drawn into spending hours pouring over LinkedIn. (Although it might be useful to do so!) Facebook is about relationships. Read more about why you should consider being there for professional reasons. You may decide that you actually enjoy job search networking if you’re getting it done without even realizing it.

3. Try new things. Are you using Twitter for your job search? Did you know that some people think Twitter users are more likely to get interviews? If you are not already there, learn how to  use Twitter for your job search and you’ll have an opportunity to try out some new networking opportunities that are different from what you may have already tried, such as Twitter chats. Twitter chats are a great way to expand your network. (Follow that link to learn more about them.) Chats such as #jobhuntchat (Monday nights at 10 pm eastern) are great places to ask questions and share experiences. If the chat goes too fast for your taste, you can always network as an observer and then reach out to respondents after the chat is done with clarifying questions. I think that chats provide opportunities for anyone who wants to reach out to a larger network to do so.

What did my colleagues suggest?

5 Little Secrets About Networking, @Careersherpa

Networking: Easy as 1, 2 , 3, @WorkWithIllness

How to Take the Intimidation Out of Networking, @heathermundell

Networking for the Shy and Introverted, @KatCareerGal

A tale of two networkers, @DawnBugni

Introvert or Extrovert: Tips for the Job Search No Matter Which ‘Vert’ You Are, @erinkennedycprw

Networking for Job Candidates Who Hate Networking, @heatherhuhman

Networking? Ugh! @resumeservice

Network, Network, Network, @MartinBuckland @EliteResumes

Grow Your Career Networking Seeds Organically, @ValueIntoWords

Networking: It’s a Way of Life, @WalterAkana

Social Media Networking & Your Career, @GayleHoward

Networking for the Networking-Phobic, @JobHuntOrg

Networking: Why Who You Know Doesn’t Count, @Chandlee

photo by loupiote (Old Skool)

The post 3 ways to make networking fun for introverts and extroverts appeared first on Keppie Careers.

This month’s question? How to heat up your job hunt?

I encourage you to visit other members’ responses, which are linked at the end of my post. Please follow our hashtag on Twitter: #careercollective.

1. Talk to people you do NOT think can help you. Just because someone isn’t in your field doesn’t mean they don’t have useful information for you. (Or you for them.) Our lives intersect in so many points. Think of someone you consider least likely to be able to share good information with you for your search. Meet for coffee. You may be surprised!
2. Network generously. Think how you can help others instead of what they may offer you.
3. Optimize your online presence, but don’t waste time zapping a lot of resumes to ads on large job boards. The possibilities to connect are endless: Blogs, networking sites such as linkedin.com, large and small social networks provide opportunities to “meet” professionals from every industry.
4. Evaluate your resume. Is it top notch?  A professionally written resume will shorten your search and may qualify you for a higher-paying position.
5. Customize your resume for EVERY job. It is worth your time. If you want to get your foot in the door, your resume must clearly outline how your skills and accomplishments solve a problem for the employer. It is your job to offer clear reasons to interview you.
6. Evaluate your interviewing skills. Are you selling yourself? Your resume got you in the door; the interview is your chance to show the employer that you really have what it takes to join their team.
7. Vet your references. They have the potential to seal the deal for you. Do you know what they might say?
8. Appearance matters. Cut your hair. Shine your shoes. Invest in a nice suit.
9. Don’t let your job hunt consume you. Frequent exercise, support or networking groups and chocolate can be good stress relievers! Don’t spend every minute on your job hunt. You still need to have a life! Plus, you never know – it could be someone you meet on a trip to the grocery store or a seatmate on an airplane while on vacation who winds up linking you to your next job.
10. Consider hiring a job search coach. Would you set your own broken bone? Wire your own home for electricity? Do you cut your own hair? Most would say “no.” The same standard should apply when job seeking. If you aren’t an expert on the job hunt, getting some advice will help you advance your search. It may also save you time, money and sanity in the long run!

Be sure to visit my colleagues’ responses to this month’s question!

Turn Off The Computer, Tune Into What’s Happening, & Heat Up the Job Search, @chandlee

Heating up the Job Search-How to Stay Motivated During the Summer, @erinkennedycprw

Light the Fire Under Your Feet, @careersherpa

Cool Job Seekers Heat Up Their Search in the Summer, @barbarasafani

Some assembly required, @DawnBugni

Summertime, Sluggish Economy Provide Strong Motivation for an Updated Resume, @KatCareerGal

9 Ways to Heat Up Your Job Search This Summer, @heatherhuhman

Getting Out From Under Chronic, @WorkWithIllness

Upping Your Job Search Flame; Be ‘Needed, Not Needy,‘ @ValueIntoWords

Is Your Career Trapped in the Matrix? @WalterAkana

Put some sizzle in your job hunt – how to find a job now, @keppie_careers

Summertime – and the Job Search Ain’t Easy, @KCCareerCoach

Heating up your job search. 5 ways to dismiss those winter blues, @GayleHoward

Hot Tips for a Summer Job Search, @MartinBuckland @EliteResumes

Heat Up Your Job Search: Avoid Job Boards, @JobHuntOrg

Heating Up Your Job Searching Skills: Networking 101 and 102, @GLHoffman

Treasure Hunt—Yo-ho-ho! Heat Up Your Job Search, @resumeservice

photo by jalalspages

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