Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

What business owners and job seekers have in common

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It was exciting to attend Social Media for Start ups, a panel that is part of Social Media Atlanta’s events this week. The experts provided lots of great advice that is relevant for those planning to start businesses, but also for anyone seeking a job.

The panel was moderated by Laura Nolte, Principal – Green Theory. Panelists were:

Adam Rice, Co-Founder – Looxii

Jeremy Porter, Founder – Journalistics

Lance Weatherby, Startup Catalyst – ATDC at Georgia Tech

Nicole Jayne, Social Media Manager – Scoutmob

Sarah DeVries, BlinqMedia

Some takeaways:

Lance made a point about “social proof,” a term that means you show, rather than tell, what you have to offer. Someone who demonstrates a social proof may be applying for a job in social media and do so by using social media in a particularly unique or clever way. The concept of social proof is key for entrepreneurs and start up businesses — they need to show what they can get done. It is also important for job seekers. Always be thinking about how to PROVE that you have the skills, experience and expertise you say you have. Think, “show, don’t tell.”

Adam and Jeremy suggested staying flexible and focusing on what customers want…Another crossover here between a start up and a job seeker. While I advocate job seekers target organizations and opportunities, sometimes, it is necessary to make adjustments in job search strategies. Be prepared to adjust if you want to succeed. For job seekers, the “customer” is the hiring manager. Focus on what he or she wants. Be that person (assuming you are!)

Jeremy suggested that start ups focus on building communities via social media (via blogs and using Twitter)  in the pre-launch phase. He noted that the product could be great, but that the community adds value. Sarah added that word of mouth is key for start ups and suggested relying on friends (and, by extension – social media friends) for buzz. Again — a perfect analogy for job seekers. Build your network before you need it. (Before you are job hunting.) You may be amazing, but it doesn’t matter if no one knows about you. Create a community (or more than one) and rely on it when you are in job search mode.

Jacqui Chew, principal of iFusion Marketing, provided several great insights from the audience. She pointed out that to gain credibility, you need to create your own content and become a go-to resource for your niche. She reminded the audience to provide value by building an audience. Perfect advice for job seekers as well as start ups!

Sarah suggested start ups avoid long, drawn out campaigns because they cause reader fatigue. If you see the same ad on Facebook for a month, you will probably ignore it at some point, right? The same goes for job seekers. Don’t be the “job seeker” who does nothing but look for a job, talk about looking for a job and asking people if they “know anyone.” Instead – remember the previous point – think about how you can provide value and gain credibility. How can you connect for content?

Jeremy commented that start ups need to balance “push ideas” with “pull ideas.” This is absolutely crucial for job seekers as well. You cannot rely on finding a job by sending out resumes and applications. Think about how you can attract people to you. (See “create content.”)

Think about how you can incorporate these ideas into your job search. Can you do anything differently that may achieve a better result?

Job Action Day – how to create job opportunities by being a connector

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For the third year in a row, I am thrilled to be invited to participate in QuintCareers’ Job Action Day, when many career professionals write about the selected, timely topic. QuintCareers explains, “The theme for Job Action Day 2010 is “Creating Opportunity.” At a time when traditional full-time jobs with benefits are giving way to temp jobs, contract/project work, and part-time jobs with limited or no benefits, job-seekers must be both open to nontraditional twists on jobs and creative ways — such as through submitting job proposals to employers — to land positions.”

I write a lot about using social media and other “non-traditional” approaches to job search. I believe in social networking tools, and know that entrepreneurs can win business using them and job seekers can land opportunities. I particularly love Twitter, and have often waxed poetic about how useful it is for job seekers. (See this post for links to my thoughts about using Twitter for job hunting.)

Attending several conferences recently (Career Directors International, a career coaches’ and resume writers’ convention and Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Atlanta, an organization dedicated to recruiting and HR issues) inspired me to go a little retro for this post.  I’d suggest that to create opportunity, you need to think about being a connector (someone who enjoys introducing people, for personal or professional benefit).

Wikipedia defines “connector,” a term Malcolm Gladwell popularized in his 2000 book The Tipping Point:

Connectors are said…to be people in a community who know large numbers of people and who are in the habit of making introductions. A connector is essentially the social equivalent of a computer network hub. Connectors usually know people across an array of social, cultural, professional, and economic circles, and make a habit of introducing people who work or live in different circles.

Although connectors are rare — only one in several thousand people might be thought of as a true connector — they are…very important in the healthy function of civil society and business. Connectors are also important in trendsetting.

My friend, Jenny DeVaughn, is the best example of being a connector that I know. Jenny is the Director, Social Strategy at Bernard Hodes Group, where she is “responsible for developing and overseeing the implementation of social media strategies for clients, including ongoing training.” She is an expert regarding recruiting for today and develops and implements social media recruitment strategies for clients, including Fortune 500 organizations. She also has her own blog, Social Precision, where she shares tips and up-to-date ideas relevant to both the hiring side and job seekers.

I had a chance to see Jenny speak to a packed room at SHRM-Atlanta. (Read some of her advice  HERE.) She’s clearly way ahead of the curve when it comes to technology and connecting online. She shared that she is one of the top three most connected women on LinkedIn! You may assume someone so focused on online connecting might not be a skilled in-person networker, but the opposite is true when it comes to Jenny.

Jenny creates opportunity wherever she is. I have never stood next to her without watching Jenny introduce someone to another person, suggest some potential business or personal commonalities, make a connection or offer an idea. It amazes me how focused she is on helping other people succeed and what an awesome link she provides by letting each person know how the other person might relate to what he or she is doing.

Creating opportunity is an important and relevant topic, and one that job seekers need to think about in an environment when jobs are few and far between. Take a lesson from a connector — Jenny sees opportunity just by looking around and by thinking ahead. She obviously makes it a point to know what people do, what skills they have and makes the most of this information by sharing it and introducing people.

Think about it — how can you make opportunity by looking around? Who might you be able to introduce to someone else for a potential opportunity? How can you help those around you? When you are in that mindset of being a connector and serving as a hub of information and resources, it will also help you identify opportunities that may be available to you.

Stay tuned for a post about my friend Laura Labovich’s tips for how to introduce yourself effectively and for impact when meeting in person!

Please check out these blog posts that are joining mine in supporting Job Action Day 2010:

You can also find Job Action Day 2010 posts on these blogs:

What job seekers can learn from employers

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At the Society for Human Resource Management, Atlanta conference, I made a point to attend several sessions addressing social media. These sessions were directed to recruiters and human resource professionals responsible for attracting top talent to their organizations. Job seekers can learn a lot from the conversations. [Read more…] about What job seekers can learn from employers

Target your pitch

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I receive many pitches from businesses and companies. Most of the time, people want me to advertise or market their product or service. My response depends on their pitch. My inclination is to delete and move on, but if something catches my eye, if the note includes a specific reference to something I have done or said and if it appears the person is making a true attempt to connect with me, I always read it.

Today, I received this pitch:

My name is _____ with XXX.com, I was doing some research and came across your postings. I would love to have the opportunity to speak with you about helping you fill those positions you have with low cost postings as well as face to face recruiting events.

That’s about as far as I got. If this person actually “came across” my postings (and actually read them!), she would know that I don’t have any positions to fill! She is selling something, but I am not a buyer; I’m the wrong target.

Job hunting is no different than selling, but you are selling your ability to get the job done. You are marketing your skills and experiences. Are you thinking about making sure you are sending your pitch to the right person?

Yesterday, during a Voice of Careers webinar, one of the panelists, Heather McGough, a staffing consultant/recruiter at Microsoft, explained that authentic flattery may be a good way to help a job seeker connect with a decision maker. For example, a job seeker may make a point to comment on something the recruiter or hiring manager has written or said. Social media tools make it easy to find a commonality (even a hobby) and to be authentic, intentional and thoughtful when reaching out.

However, she further described a situation when even that type of connection would not compel her to go the extra mile for an applicant. The difference? The correct target. Heather related a time when a job seeker wrote her to apply for an internship opportunity. As Heather explained, it is very clear on all of her own profiles that she was not the correct contact person for this student. The job seeker did not do the correct research, which is readily available, and did not ask the right questions — such as, “Can you please pass along my information to the internship recruiting team?”

I always remind clients that the vast amount of information that is readily available is both a blessing and a curse. Heather knew that the person writing to her could have easily done a little extra research and asked the right questions when contacting her. Not taking that step made the applicant seem lazy, which did not inspire Heather, a recruiter with a tendency to go the extra mile for applicants, to want to take the time to redirect her.

Identify the right targets for your pitch. Do your research; make a connection. It will pay off in the long run to make sure you are not barking up the wrong tree.

photo by Grant MacDonald

Job search success – look up from your phone and pay attention

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During a recent trip to New York City, I was excited to have a chance to get together with a colleague/new friend. We confirmed our meeting time and place. I got there early, stepped into the restroom to freshen up and then took a seat near the door, figuring my friend would be sure to see me when she came in.

As has been my norm since I started using my Google phone, I took it out and busied myself — checking email, Twitter, Facebook – whatever caught my attention. I certainly wasn’t going to just sit and watch for my friend if I could be productive! I occasionally kept my eye on the door and the clock, and noticed that my friend was a little late, but it didn’t phase me. She and I had each been at different parties, so I figured she got held up.

Ten minutes after we were scheduled to meet, my phone rang. It was my friend, “Um…Miriam? Aren’t we meeting tonight?”  Once we both looked up, we laughed — she was sitting several feet away, around a corner. She must have come in while I was freshening up, so we missed each other. Since both of us were early and busy on our phones — being productive — neither of us thought to really look around or keep a keen eye out for the other.

Do you remember a time when meeting someone involved actually watching for them, instead of keeping busy with your head buried in your phone? I do! Time seemed to move more slowly then — waiting actually involved waiting, not working or answering emails every second.

I think this is a great reminder for job seekers. Do you have your head down, buried in your search? Are you waiting for someone (or something), that is sitting right around the corner, but you’ll never notice, because you are too busy LOOKING for the job? Technology provides a lot of opportunities for job seekers, and I am the first one to extol the virtues of using social networking for job hunting. I think there are opportunities there, just waiting for people to discover them. But, if you are too self-involved, keeping busy doing what you think you should be doing, you are not likely to benefit. Like me and my friend in that restaurant, you may just miss exactly what (or who) you want to meet.

Keep your eyes open. Take your face out of your smart phone. Look around. You never know what you may find!

What have you found when you stopped to look around? Tell me your stories in the comments section!