Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

How to use the holidays to network for your job hunt

By

Another holiday weekend, another opportunity to meet someone you never thought could help you with your job hunt! Be sure to take advantage of unexpected opportunities via in-person networking when you are eating hot dogs and watching fireworks. You never know what you could learn by chatting with a friend of a friend of a friend.

Don’t put on your “I’m a job seeker” hat, but  do think about ways to introduce yourself that make it clear what you offer and how you can solve problems for your targeted employer. Think about how you can pitch what you offer, not just what you WANT. Think about your value proposition — what you offer. Think about telling your story. Some preparation in advance is helpful — so prepare!

I wrote an ebook to help job seekers approach holiday opportunities. It’s free! Click here to subscribe and receive a free ebook.

Learn how I can help you navigate your job hunt.

photo by Rampant.Gaffer

Web design and resume tips

By

This week, I noticed Chris Brogan posted a video highlighting tips from Derek Halpern of Social Triggers.

In the video, Derek was outlining things to think about regarding website design and how to pull together a site to encourage people to take the actions you want them to take. Watching it, I realized a lot of the advice Derek offered is similar to advice to I give to help people optimize resumes.

The first thing he said, “Just because you know what you’re about doesn’t mean others do,” got me taking notes for a resume post! It’s so true, and something a lot of people don’t think about when they write their own resumes. It could be very clear to you what you’d like to do next, but if your resume (or online materials) don’t make it obvious where you are headed, you will probably lose your audience. On a website, that means the reader will immediately click away. On a resume, it means you won’t get a chance to interview for the job.

Today, I reviewed a resume from someone I thought was interested in working in the medical field. (Based on something I had seen her post elsewhere.) However, the resume itself had nothing about the medical field on it at all. I’m now assuming I was wrong about what I previously saw, but someone in a position to hire someone in the medical field will simply put the resume aside, assuming there is no direct connection between the candidate and his or her hiring needs.

Another thing Derek points out in the video: “Welcome is not a good benefit – make a promise.” This, in relation to how to encourage people on your website to DO what you want them to do. Just “welcoming” them doesn’t cut it. Think about this regarding both cover letters and resumes — how are you showcasing something (a promise) to encourage readers to be interested in learning more about you? And no, just saying, “look at me” isn’t enough.

Which leads to Derek’s suggestion to use a headline at the top of a website! The best resumes today take advantage of headlines to reel readers in. The headline needs to be about your future, not your past. It’s about the job you want NEXT. Do you use headlines in your resume? They can be your targeted title, focus on your accomplishments, skills…The headline needs to be what will interest your reader. The headline is like a “promise” saying you are what the reader wants.

Derek kept talking about making that promise. He reminded viewers of an interesting point:  “Cluttered (web) pages used to convert better because people would be confused and click on ads.” I thought that was so interesting! Maybe that is why there are so many cluttered web pages out there – people are focusing on strategies that USED TO work. Same with resumes — so many resumes look dated and old fashioned. It’s time to think about what works today. Don’t get caught up in yesterday’s best practices.

Derek also gives advice regarding regarding font size, color, encouraging people to take action once they land on your website…While font sizes and use of color on resumes is a little different, the touch points between his web advice and resume advice are similar: you need to spell out your message clearly and make it easy to read and understand in order to convert readers to fans. Take a look at the video and be sure to visit Chris Brogan’s site for lots of useful and interesting information about social media and other topics.

photo by >^..^< maggz >^..^<

How to stand out on your resume

By

Almost every resume I see reads like a laundry list of “stuff” the person has done at work. The problem is that everyone applying for the job you seek probably has a similar list of “stuff.” What makes you stand out? Why are you special – why do YOU deserve to win an interview and the job?

It certainly isn’t because you were “Responsible for” something or that you were “Recruited to” do something. A prospective employer wants to know what you’ve accomplished. What impact have you had on past employers? What obstacles did you overcome to achieve a positive result?

The most important thing you can do is target your resume specifically for the job. Use the job description as your guide and provide proof in your application materials that you have the skills necessary to accomplish the position’s goals.

Quintessential Careers compiled a comprehensive list of accomplishments employers seek.

Describe how you:

  • Make money
  • Save money
  • Save time
  • Make work easier
  • Solve a specific problem
  • Help the company become more competitive
  • Build relationships
  • Expand the business
  • Attract new customers
  • Retain existing customers

I suggest you answer the following questions:

  • What problems did you solve?
  • How did you improve your organization?
  • What innovative ideas did you introduce (and what were the positive results)?
  • How did you make a difference?

When you re-focus your resume spotlight to shine on what you have to offer instead of just listing what you’ve done, you will be much more marketable.

photo by Samurai John

Buzz about Social Networking for Career Success

By

When I’ve spoken or emailed with other authors, inevitably, someone mentions they didn’t realize trying to promote their book was going to take as long as it did to write it! You may have noticed (uh hum) I’ve been doing a lot of promoting myself for Social Networking for Career Success!

Different experts have different advice about book sales, selling and timing, but I’d love to have a very strong first month launch! Amazon is selling my book for around $11 – what a deal! Or, you should be able to get it at your local bookstore. Just ask and they’ll either have a copy or be able to order it for you. If you’d like to learn more about how social networking can propel your business or job hunt forward, I think my book can help. Take a look at what the community of colleagues and expert advisers thought about it!

“Social media can absolutely help you get hired — and this book has all the answers on how to make it happen.”

—Tory Johnson, CEO, Women For Hire

“This is a “must read” for anyone committed to professional success in the new era.”

—Martin Yate CPC, New York Times bestseller and author of Knock ’em Dead Secrets & Strategies

“Social Networking for Career Success is a great beginner’s cookbook for understanding and using social media to enhance your professional life. If you don’t know where to start in the cyber-networking kitchen, read this book.”

—Eve Tahmincioglu, Author, From the Sandbox to the Corner Office and MSNBC.com Career Columnist

“Miriam Salpeter has truly composed a masterpiece in social media and personal branding, combining the power of her own vast expertise and that of the industry’s top-rated thought leaders into one of the most comprehensive online career guides I have ever read. Every page contains actionable, credible and relevant advice that you can follow immediately to both start advancing your brand and your career.”

—Chris Perry, Founder of CareerRocketeer.com

“Mastering social media is imperative for today’s job seekers. Miriam’s book is the perfect toolkit to ensure that you are maximizing your online brand and putting your best foot forward in a digital world.”

—Chris Russell, CEO, AllCountyJobs.com

“Social Networking isn’t a task we should dread doing, it’s a skill we should want to develop. Every job is temporary and we are businesses—of-one. So, developing a personal brand that allows us to promote our professional strengths on a larger scale could be the one thing that keeps us employed—both now and in the future. Miriam Salpeter’s new book is the ideal guide to help you learn to leverage social networking for your career. The resource list alone is worth the price!”

—J.T. O’Donnell, CEO of CareerHMO.com and founder of CAREEREALISM.com

If you are looking for a great resource for online tools and your career, you’ve found it!

—Jason Alba, CEO of job search organizer JibberJobber.com and author of I’m on LinkedIn—Now What???

“Social networking to land a job is nothing new, but Miriam’s book offers plenty of advice I’ve never even thought of before—and I write about this on a daily basis! Social Networking for Career Success is broken into easily digestible chunks of information that will benefit everyone from college students to experienced professionals. It’s a whole new world of job hunting out there!”

—Heather R. Huhman, Founder & President, comerecommended.com

“Miriam has assembled the ultimate go-to-guide for the modern job seeker. The advice is clear and concise, the tools easy to understand and the value undeniable. You need to read this book.”

—Mark Stelzner, Founder of JobAngels

“This is a crucial book for anybody—regardless of age, education level, industry, or function—to gain a career edge and succeed in a world where social media has become as essential as the printed resume used to be. Social Networking for Career Success shows you how to gain access to the best opportunities, before they are posted to the general public, and is a resource that you will refer to again and again.”

—Andrew Neitlich, co-Author, Guerrilla Marketing for a Bulletproof Career

“Miriam Salpeter is a true leader in the social networking world and in her book, “Social Networking for Career Success,” she shares her expert advice for social media users of all levels and career goals. This book should be on the shelf or e-reader of anyone who is serious about career success in today’s hyper-connected world. Highly recommended.”

—Lindsey Pollak, author of Getting from College to Career: 90 Things to Do Before You Join the Real World

“Pure gold! It contains something for everyone, at any level. Consider it a must-read for anyone who wants to understand social media! Social Networking for Career Success oozes credibility with real life examples and success stories and the simple to understand, actionable steps, make it too easy NOT to do!”

—Hannah Morgan, CareerSherpa.net

“Miriam Salpeter is effervescent; she is action behind her words. Her reputation as a global careerist with profound, yet easy-to-relate-to social networking advice entices job seekers, careerists and entrepreneurs to her virtual doors to learn the social media dance. Her new book, Social Networking for Career Success exudes her charm and energy while piling up stacks of virtual career networking resources in a compact, easily digestible format.”

—Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, Master Resume Writer, Chief Career Writer and Partner of CareerTrend.net, Cofounder of the Career Collective

“Social Networking for Career Success is the most comprehensive resource I’ve seen on using all aspects of social networking in job search and career advancement. This reader-friendly guide is destined to become a bible for savvy careerists who want to integrate the most effective social tools to get ahead.”

—Katharine Hansen, associate publisher/creative director, Quintessential Careers (quintcareers.com)

“If you’ve applied for a job online and don’t know what to do next, this book is the answer. It is clear, concise and filled with actionable information sure to supercharge your job search or entrepreneurial endeavor. I defy you to do all that is written herein and not get a job or boost the branding of your enterprise.”

—Jim Stroud, www.JimStroud.com

“Social Networking for Career Success is the modern job seeker’s insider guide to job search and career management success. Miriam shares all the secrets, sites, and strategies to put anyone, including a web novice, at home in confidently navigating the otherwise complex web of social media job search to identify and win the job.”

—Laura DeCarlo, President of the global association, Career Directors International; creator of the Certified Professional in Online Job Search & Reputation Management; and author of Interviewing: The Gold Standard, Job Search Bloopers, and Interview Pocket RX.

“Miriam Salpeter is a job seeker’s best friend. Her business is helping others use social media to land their next job… and she does so beautifully! Now, there are others out there who ‘get’ social media, but can’t teach it, and even more who can teach it, but don’t have anything unique to say. Miriam is one of the only social media gurus who consistently and clearly shares a simple, yet unique, strategy for using social media to land your next gig. Read this book if you are still unsure how to really maximize your time on the various, emerging social media platforms available; I assure you, you will emerge much more knowledgeable and armed for your job search. This book is well worth the money, and highly recommended!!”

—Laura M. Labovich, Founder, Aspire! Empower! Career Strategy Group

“Social Networking for Career Success is a head above other social media resources. Miriam is a respected blogger and experienced social media pro who provides strategic insights and technical guidance. She anticipates her readers’ questions, deftly transitioning from the high view to the essential details. This is the must read guide for anyone who wants to use social networking to access new career opportunities.”

—Debra Feldman, Executive Talent Agent, JobWhiz

“Miriam has successfully used social networks to advance her personal brand. This book will show you how you can do the same!”

—Dan Schawbel, author of Me 2.0 and founder of Millennial Branding

“Today more than ever it’s critical to know how to navigate the digital ecosystem. This book provides readers with real world stories and advice on how to leverage social networking to find a job or simply advance their career.”

—Robyn Cobb, VP Digital Influence, Ogilvy Public Relations

“This really—seriously!—is a must-read book for everyone, unemployed or not! Excellent, landmark book—the best I’ve read on this topic! Social media and social networks are dramatically impacting the job search/recruiting landscape for all of us, and the velocity of change is picking up. So, smart people will read and implement Miriam’s suggestions before they need to job search, because to ignore this technological revolution is to be left behind—waaaayyyy behind. And, very few of us can afford that!

—Susan P. Joyce, Editor/Publisher, Job-Hunt.org

“Social Networking for Career Success is a comprehensive, well-organized guide for any professional or job-seeker to advance his or her career. Whether you are a passive candidate or engaged in an active job search, this book will prove to be a valuable resource in managing your online presence and creating a positive brand that will attract employers.”

—Andrea Santiago, Guide to Health Careers at About.com

“We use social networking sites everyday to check-in, update our friends and share ideas with the world. But what if you need to find a job or establish a new career? Miriam’s book offers practical and strategic advice to build your online brand along with examples of people doing it right.”

—Tim Tyrell-Smith, Founder of Tim’s Strategy and author of 30 Ideas: The Ideas of Successful Job Search

“Social Networking for Career Success is basic enough for those who are clueless about social media, yet rich enough to offer social media pros information they likely don’t already know.”

—Vivian Steir Rabin and Carol Fishman Cohen, Co-authors, Back on the Career Track

“No one knows the intersection of social media and careers better than Miriam Salpeter. I am always learning something new from her, and thanks to Social Networking for Career Success, you will too! The best thing about this book is its substantial detail – by the time you’re finished, you’ll be ready to take advantage of dozens social networking strategies you didn’t even know existed.”

—Alexandra Levit, Author of New Job, New You: A Guide to Reinventing Yourself in a Bright New Career

“Miriam not only shows you how to efficiently and effectively use social media tools to land your dream career, she also gives you some valuable insight into how you can make it easy for employers to find you. And she does it with a little bit of humor and spunk!”

—Heather McGough, Microsoft Recruiter since 2000

I’d be thrilled if you’d order a copy! Or, tell a friend? Thanks for your support.

photo by mrjoro

Think about how your body language may impact your job hunt

By

If you’re looking for a job and thinking ahead to the interview stage, I’m betting you’re checking out interview books and practicing interview questions, which isn’t a bad idea. However, have you considered practicing the communication skills you’ll need to help you land a job?

Interpreting body language is an important element of good listening. Think about it – eye contact, nodding, leaning in to listen – all of these help your conversation partner recognize how engaged you are and helps him or her feel valued as part of a conversation. Body language is key to helping you succeed in business, or any field.

Body language may be more important than you think in a job hunt.

Kate Lorenz wrote about the topic for CareerBuilder.com. She said:

Research has shown that the first impression you make on an interviewer really sticks. In one study, untrained subjects were shown 20- to 32-second videotaped segments of job applicants greeting their interviewers. When the subjects rated the applicants on attributes like self-assurance and likeability, their assessments were very similar to the interviewers’ — who had spent more than 20 minutes with each applicant.

Seems like focusing on your body language – and first impressions – matters – a lot!

I once wrote a term paper about the importance of body language. The quote I remember from it,

“Don’t underestimate the power of body language,”

from The Little Mermaid, is no less true today!

(Yes, I really quoted a Disney movie in my paper.)

Did you know that people who are positive and confident outperform their peers in their job searches? Research shows that persistence and a postive attitude pay off in the job hunt. You can always pick out a pessimist by his or her body language – slumped shoulders, eyes down, expressionless (or frowning). No one wants to hire someone who seems sad or pessimistic. Straighten up, smile and make eye contact. Your body language speaks louder than your words.

In fact, research also shows that body language makes up more than half of how our communication is perceived. That means that you may be describing your greatest business accomplishment, but if your posture isn’t good and you don’t make effective eye contact, you might as well tell the interviewer about the time you lost your portfolio on the way to a presentation.

Another telling body language tool is the handshake.

How many times do we have to tell you – strong and firm gets the job done! BusinessWeek wrote about several different types of handshakes to use and some to avoid. Eye contact along with a firm handshake can make a world of difference to how you are being perceived.

Remember – the little things matter.

In fact, the “little things” may actually be the BIG things! Focus on every aspect of your presentation to ensure that you put your best foot forward with your job search.

photo by Gerwin Filius