Keppie Career Archives - Keppie Careers

How to get employers to create a job for you

Miriam Salpeter — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 10:30:47 +0000

As a job seeker, you probably spend a lot of time trying to “find a job.” That assumes there is a job sitting out there waiting for you and that you can rise above the competition to land it. Another option is to look for problems you can solve at organizations and convince employers to create a job for you.
In our increasinglyÂ freelance-focused economy, where more and more companies are looking for people to handle specific projects for them on a temporary or long-term temporary basis, it is very possible that you can market your skills to a decision-maker at a company who faces challenges in order to land a job that he or she will create just for you.

What can you do to access this truly hidden job market?

Research your target companies.Â

Read everything you can and meet with people in the company to learn about the issues they currently face. If possible, also touch base with people who used to work in the company, as they can also answer questions about the company’s culture and decision-making techniques.

Make a match between a problem the organization faces and something you can reasonably solve. One key factor that will make you more marketable: a track record of having solved a similar problem in the past. Most companies will hesitate to take a chance on someone who hasn’t already “been there, done that” when it comes to the challenge at hand.

Create anÂ online profileÂ featuring the skills you’ll need to have to do the job.

It’s up to you to clearly show you have strong expertise in the skills you’re marketing to the employer. If you are planning to introduce yourself as a marketing pro, and the word “marketing” doesn’t appear anywhere on your LinkedIn profile, you are probably not going to get very far. Before you think about pitching a company, create a clear online “brand” that indicates you are an expert, or even a thought leader, in your field.

If you are actually an expert in the targeted area, this is a lot easier than you may think. Some steps to get started: Create an optimized, in-depth online profile on LinkedIn and choose other social networks where people in your industry spend time. Then, find groups to join and consistently share your expertise in those places. Post updates frequently and comment on news in your industry so people who follow you will view you as a go-to expert.

Put your ideas in writing.Â

Provide a reasonably detailed proposal to suggest that you understand what the employer is facing and that you know how to solve it. Be sure to include examples of similar problems you’ve solved in the past. Incorporate information such as time frame and how long you anticipate it would take you to tackle the project.

Include verbiage indicating you know you’ll need additional information, but from your in-depth research thus far, you’ve provided your best estimates. Identify the appropriate decision-maker to offer your proposal. It’s even better if you have a personal introduction to that person from an insider in the organization, but if you can tap into your social networking contacts and locate someone willing to introduce you electronically, that is a good alternative.

With some planning, research and a targeted proposal, you may land an opportunity that never even existed!

More advice:
6 Habits Of Remarkably Successful People
Secrets to Being Happier at Work
Questions to Ask Before You Accept a Job Offer

Originally published at AOLJobs.com.

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How to find a job using Google+

Miriam Salpeter — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 11:30:44 +0000

Perhaps you are skeptical about how social media use can improve your chances to land a new job. After all, the traditional media never hesitate to showcase people who makeÂ mistakes using FacebookÂ and Twitter, causing them to lose their employment. It’s likely you’ve barely even heard of Google+; what can this network possibly offer job seekers?
In a nutshell: a lot. The caveat? You need to know aÂ thing or two about Google+Â to make the most it. To get started on the right foot and break out of yourÂ job search rut, keep in mind these four things all social media tools offer job seekers and the ways Google+ helps accomplish them:
1. The opportunity to demonstrate expertise.
If you and the people you work with are the only ones who know how great you are at your job, it will be difficult to land a new opportunity down the road. Luckily, Google+, offers a platform to demonstrate what you know for people who do not already know you.

Make the most of Google+ by posting updates that highlight your expertise. Are you a health insurance expert? Post links with news about how new regulations affect your industry and include your comments. Does your expertise include fashion or interior design? Create a stream of information and photos in your Google+ profile showing that you are up-to-date about what’s fashionable and what is passe. Include pictures and commentary to illustrate what you know.

When you use Google+ to post public updates, Google indexes your expertise, and you have a chance for your posts to appear as search results for other people’s queries about the topics you include in your updates.

2. The chance toÂ expand your network.Â
Have you ever wanted to connect with someone, but you couldn’t access an introduction? Perhaps you considered cold calling the contact, but didn’t feel confident you could actually connect? Using Google+, you can contact people you don’t already know on line and communicate directly with them with no barriers to entry.

It’s as easy as finding the target person on Google+ (use the search bar at the top to discover if he or she is using the social network) and using his or her name in an update. To make sure you have the best chance to win someone’s attention, either use a + or an @ symbol before his or her name.

For example, if you want John Smith to notice you, you can add him to your Google+ circles (the equivalent of your friends on Facebook) and follow what he posts. When you want to get his attention, comment on his posts or repost something he shared and use his name, “+JohnSmith” in your post. Doing so will trigger a notification for John that you mentioned him.

Depending on the nature of your online conversations, you can easily impress John or other contacts and grow your network of people who know, like and trust you â€“ and who may be willing to refer you for a job opportunity or for an informational meeting.

3. Opportunities to learn information that could make you more marketable.
Google+ can offer a great source of information you’d otherwise never know. Google+ Communities is one go-to resource in this network. Find it via the dropdown menu on your Google+ page; there are communities for just about any topic you can imagine. Search for people who post content and links that interest you and get ready to learn new things. When you find a strong community of people, these communities can be of a goldmine of information at your fingertips.

When you make a point to follow up and review even a small percentage of the information available, you’ll be better informed and able to respond intelligently to interview questions and in networking conversations.

4. Be found: reverse the job search process from “push” to “pull.”
One of the most important things Google+ can help you accomplish is to improve the likelihood that someone will find you when they Google your name or your expertise. How amazing would it be if someone were to Google “XYZ expert,” and your Google+ content came up as the top results? It can happen, if you use Google+ strategically and create content online to support your expertise for your keywords.

Another factor in being found: Google’s “search plus your world.” You may have noticed, when you Google information while signed into your Gmail or other Google account, results you see come from people you know more often than not. The reason for this is that Google realizes that you are connected to these content creators and assumes their information is relevant for you. Similarly, when you have a robust Google+ profile and encourage people to add you to their circles, when they search online, your content is more likely to come up.

Wouldn’t it be great if you can capture the attention of recruiters or other influencers in your field because Google delivers your information in response to questions they pose in Google? This is a way to attract job opportunities to you, instead of you always having to apply for jobs,which you can’t beat when you’re on the prowl for a new gig.

More advice:

6 Mistakes You’re Making On LinkedinÂ
How to find the perfect jobÂ
Do you need a Facebook account to get a job?

Originally appeared on AOLJobs.com.

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Job hunting? What is your greatest strength?

Miriam Salpeter — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 06:30:08 +0000

When people ask for help to prepare people for interviews, they inevitably ask how to respond to the “What is your greatest weakness?” question. But what about the times job seekers are asked about identifying their greatest strength or best accomplishment?

It’s important to be able to identify and discuss something you are actively improving regarding your qualifications (as long as it is not a major requirement of the job and the weakness would disqualify you).

However, all too often, people on job interviews are ill-prepared to talk about their greatest accomplishments. So how would you answer? Remember, in an interview or professional setting, your reply must relate to your work. For example, you may very well believe raising a successful, accomplished child is a great accomplishment. But unless you are applying to be an au pair or a nanny, that information is not relevant to the position. Additionally, if the accomplishment that immediately comes to mind was a long time ago, try to identify a more recent (and possibly more relevant) achievement to describe. If you wax eloquent about something you did six or seven years ago, the interviewer is left to wonder why you havenâ€t done anything worth describing more recently.

If your answer is not immediately obvious, consider the following to help you identify your top accomplishments:

â€¢ Review written evaluations or endorsements (for example, from LinkedIn) by supervisors. Has someone highlighted or outlined a particularly significant achievement?

â€¢ Look at your resume. If you had to point to something youâ€re most proud or excited to discuss, what would it be? Have you inspired or incited a big change at your organization? Did you save or bring in a significant amount of money? Did you create a system or analyze and solve a problem plaguing your organization?

â€¢ Ask people you know and who are familiar with your professional history. This includes your colleagues, past and present (although, more recent is best), as well as close friends and family members. Maybe they remember something you were really proud to share, but has somehow slipped your mind.

If you do have trouble identifying your most proud professional accomplishment, make a point to start a “brag” file to keep track of compliments, specific results you create at work and details about how you positively affect your workplace. When you track these details, it will be so much easier to update your resume and professional profiles, and you wonâ€t let any important information fall through the cracks.

This post originally appeared on Salary.com, where I am a contributing writer.

photo by terren in Virginia

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