Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

How to find a community of job seekers: Part 2

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In an effort to share a selection of resources to help job seekers support each other for networking and information sharing, this week, I am writing about resources to help job seekers connect. Read Part I (On-line resources) HERE.

Today, my post focuses on in-person resources you may not have considered…
In-person resources
  • Meetup.com is an organization that helps connect people locally who have similar interests. Review their site and see if there is a group that might interest you, either a job hunting group or a more general networking group of interest. My friend and colleague, Chandlee Bryan, hosts a job search Meetup group in New York City. You should definitely join if you are in the Manhattan area. If there isn’t a group in your area, you can consider starting a job search support networking group!
  • Many communities host career ministries at churches that might be able to assist and support you in your search. Work Ministry is a resource for these groups, but you may be able to find a group locally by checking your newspapers or doing a search for “career ministry, (your city).” These groups often have speakers and offer other resources for job seekers to help them connect.
  • Networking in of itself has become a business. Many people host get togethers for the purpose of connecting people. For example, ExecuNet is one such group for executives. You can see if there are meetings in your area. Do a search for “business networking, your city.” See what comes up. If you live in a fairly large area, I would be willing to bet there are a variety of opportunities to meet people in person. The quality of the groups and interactions will vary. Try to do some homework, especially if there is a fee associated with attending.
  • Don’t forget your professional associations and organizations. Many have local chapters. Hopefully, you are already connected, but if not, now is a good time to start. These groups are also terrific if you are transitioning to a new field. People in leadership roles should be able to welcome you and offer information about the new field of interest.
  • Another resource is Pink Slip Mixers. They host free group meetings for job seekers and have a discussion board and online activity to join.
  • If you are in the Round Rock, TX area, my colleague Michael Kranes is co-hosting a Job Search Boot Camp. There are probably similar events in your city. (Contact me if you are interested in something in the Atlanta area!)
Keep your ears and mind open to the possibilities that exist when you actually engage with people in person instead of focusing all of your networking online. Do you host or sponsor a group or site that supports job seekers? Feel free to add it in the comments! I would love to add it to the next post in this series.
Stay tuned for alumni resources!

You have no idea how to network and could use a little help? I can teach you how to take the steps you need to be successful. Contact me to learn more.

photo by donkey cart

How to find a community of job seekers: Part I

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If you’re a regular reader, you know that I am working with Carolann Jacobs from Vivid Epiphany on a free teleseminar series to help job seekers dive into their job hunts. (Click HERE for more information – you can still sign up; there are 7 weeks to go!)

At our first session last week, one caller made a comment that really resonated with me. She pointed out that it was so nice for her to join the call with so many other job seekers and to realize that she is not alone in her job hunt. All along, I had been focusing on offering specific information in the seminar that would be useful and practical. I hadn’t specifically considered the value of bringing a group of job seekers together for support and encouragement. I’m glad to be enlighted! It was exciting when the participants on our call started to help each other and make suggestions to fellow callers. We started to build our own community in only one “meeting!”

Which leads me to this post…Where else can job seekers find support and encouragement?

My business partner Hallie Crawford made several good suggestions in her recent guest post.

I thought it would be useful to make some additional specific suggestions.

When I started to write this post, I realized that there are so many resources, I decided to break this up into a mini-series of posts. So, please stay tuned for the next few days for a slew of ideas if you are looking for a job! Don’t hesitate to comment with additional ideas or resources. I’ll be happy to include them in future posts.

Blogs

I am a bit biased, but I think blogs are terrific sources of support and can be community building mechanisms. I’d like to think that my blog is a place for job seekers to gain support and information, and there are many other great bloggers in the job hunting niche. You’ll find all of my favorites and more oncareer.alltop.com.

Select online resources

  • Online job seeking support forum, such THIS ONE on about.com, hosted by career advice guru Allison Doyle. At this site, “you can discuss issues related to job searching, employment, and work. Ask questions, provide answers or start discussions on topics of interest to you.”
     
  • Secrets of the Job Hunt is another terrific site that brings job seekers and career professionals together. If you have a question, you can post it and Chris Russell, who created the site and is also a founder of JobRadio FM, may repost it to all of the career professionals who are members on the site to respond to you. You can also read blog posts from many career professionals on this site. (I am a contributor as well.)
     
  • job-hunt.org has a wonderful list of resources and in-person groups by state.
     
  • I’m the Career Advice Expert for GreatPlaceJobs, a job board that only posts positions from award winning companies. Since we know that networking is key to the job hunt, GPJ hosts a LinkedIn networking community for our members, employees at great workplaces and recruiters. We are also planning teleseminars and other opportunities for recruiters at great workplaces to connect with employees. This could be a great resource if you are interested in working for an organization that has the potential to outperform in a recession.
Keep your ears and mind open to the possibilities that exist when you actually engage with people in person instead of focusing all of your networking online. Do you host or sponsor a group or site that supports job seekers? Feel free to add it in the comments! I would love to add it to one of the next posts in this series.
Stay tuned for in-person resources and more!

You have no idea how to network and could use a little help? I can teach you how to take the steps you need to be successful. Contact me to learn more.

photo by niallkennedy

Resolutions and Job Change Advice for 2009

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Who can resist resolutions for the new year? It’s a fresh slate, a brand new calendar. A chance to start over. An incentive to really get started on something you have been putting off for too long.

Many of my colleagues have some great suggestions for those of you looking to make a career change or find a new job in 2009. Lindsey Pollak, CareerBuilder and Quintessential Careers all have great resolution ideas. Barbara Safani suggests working “towards a plan for 2009 that aligns hard work, improved timing and even some “premeditated” luck to help facilitate your 2009 goals.”

I’d like to simplify it even more. In the U.S. this past year, you could not escape the topics of “change” and “experience.” Yes, these tended to be political issues, but what better concepts to focus on for your career resolutions? Do you need a change? Do you have the experience you need to get where you want to go? Do you know how to communicate that experience effectively?

Change. Focusing on a need for change is the most important step you must take if a new job or career will be in your future. Write down your goals and carry them with you. Recognize that change does not happen without effort. Decide if you are ready and willing to take that next step.

Experience. Clearly, experience comes into play when looking for a job. However, more often than not, it is more important how you communicate your experience. Can you effectively explain what you have to offer? If not, work on your pitch. If you can’t explain what you can contribute, it will be very difficult for you to network effectively,to write a great resume and to interview to get the job.

I hope that narrowing down your resolutions to:

  1. Choosing change and
  2. Understanding and communicating your own experience

will help you make 2009 the year that you make your career goals come true!

I want to wish everyone a happy and successful new year! All the best for 2009!

Don’t forget that we are here to help you with your goals! If you’ve decided on a change, Keppie Careers can help you identify and communicate your skills. We can write your resume and coach you to a new job. Contact me to see how I can help!

I’m offering a free teleseminar with coach Carolann Jacobs to help you dive into your job hunt. Click HERE for more information!

photo by atomische

Remain Positive and Focused During Your Career Transition

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Today, I’m happy to share a guest post from my business partner, Hallie Crawford. Do you know you need a career change, but you aren’t sure what path to take? Hallie specializes in helping recent college grads and boomerangs identify their ideal career paths and make it happen. Visit her site to learn more about Hallie!

by Hallie Crawford, MA, CPCC

Does it sometimes seem like as soon as you decide to break the mold in your career and make a positive change, the whole world turns against you and tells you why you can’t do it, it’s not possible or something else that’s not very encouraging?

One of the biggest challenges that people in career transition face is trying to convince their families, friends, coworkers and the people who know them best that change is a good thing. At a time when everything is in flux, it’s tough for us to reassure people we are headed on the path to success despite any obstacles which may surface along the way. We may even be uncertain ourselves! And because we frequently experience the most resistance to our ideas from the people who mean the most to us, it can FEEL like our core support system is caving in.

As a certified career coach who has helped many people overcome obstacles and someone who has paved the way for my own career, I make sure my clients know where to find the best type of career support, at the time when they need it most.

Here are five sources where you can seek out guidance, education– even commiseration– during your career transition period.

1. Career networking – both online and in person.

There are tons of career-focused networks and resources on the internet and in your local area. Do a Google search; Check out your home town paper to find out where the best career focused communities are hiding; Go out and mingle with like-minded professionals who are seeking a change in their own careers or who work in the field you would like to pursue; Participate in workshops; Contact your college alumni office; Attend a networking event.

2. Individual career coaching.

A good career coach will never just hand you instructions, but is there instead to offer expert advice, an objective viewpoint, positive encouragement and suggestions to help manage your goals effectively, in a manner that works for you.

3. A career seeking buddy.

Sometimes it isn’t easy being that “horse of a different color” in your group of friends. If everyone you know is consumed with their corporate job but you have a strong urge to strike out on your own, you may get some resistance from those who can’t relate or are concerned you are making a mistake. The solution is not to try and persuade the naysayers, but instead seek like-minded people or a supportive friend to commiserate with, share experiences with, and bounce ideas off of. It’s so important to feel like you have someone who understands what you’re going through during the sometimes unpredictable yet exhilarating career transition time.

4. A mentor or someone who has “been there.”

Is there someone in your life who you admire because they didn’t follow the status quo, made their own way or just seem to be living out an amazingly full and satisfying life and career? Maybe you have a friend, relative, or acquaintance who started their own business or managed to interweave creativity and flexibility into their professional life in a way that stands out from the crowd. Now is a perfect time to ask for advice and guidance from that person, listen to their story, learn from their mistakes, and apply this knowledge to the changes that you’re going through in your own career. Most people are more than happy to share what they have learned.

5. Career education courses.

Newspapers, career publications, public libraries, online career resources and even my career website, are all great places to discover reasonably-priced career education and transition courses. Become armed with the knowledge needed to begin your journey on the path to a more fulfilling career.

When you’re striving for a positive change in your life, the goal is to seek out experiences that help further along that goal, enhance your knowledge, and offer positive feedback. It’s understandable that our human support group won’t always exist in the places where we’re used to having it… but help is out there. I have confidence that you will receive the guidance and understanding you need to move forward with your dream of the ultimate career for you. Good luck!


photo by thomashawk

Unemployed? How to Use Your Time Well to Succeed in Your Job Hunt

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If you’ve been keeping up this week, you know how important it is to look 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. (Hiring a coach can give your search a turbo boost!)

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.) Make sure that you are using linkedin effectively. You may be amazed at  how quickly you can connect and “befriend” people online.

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.

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. Consider hiring Keppie Careers to do a mock interview 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 that 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?

Stay tuned for more about how to plan a successful transition!

Ease your job hunt pains. Keppie Careers is here to help!

photo by unhindered by talent