Today, I am happy to share a guest post by Teresa Basich, who has just joined Radian6 as the company’s Content Marketing Manager. Teresa writes a terrific blog, Writing On Purpose and is on Twitter @transitionaltee.
Job searching. It’s daunting these days, isn’t it? With talk of mile-high unemployment rates and the scarcity of jobs lurking around every media corner, it can be easy to become overwhelmed at the thought of having to look for your next big break. When I began my job search in January of 2009, I was up against more than just a bad economy and scary news stories; I was hoping to make a slight career change and find my new gig 2,000 miles away from my current city of residence.
Despite the odds, I was offered an incredible role that will allow me to finally do what I love and move across the country, too. If you need proof the old ways of finding a job don’t work anymore, my story is that proof. And if you need some ideas for how to get started on the road to a job you truly love, start here.
3 Dos and 1 Big Don’t to Help You Get the Role You Want
Strategically network. Don’t just throw yourself into every networking event you can fit into your calendar; seek out industry- and organization-specific events that you know people you’re interested in connecting with will attend. Because I’m a bit of an introvert, I joined online social networks and made a point to connect with professionals I respected who worked for companies doing great things. And when I felt comfortable, I took those relationships offline. Bottom line: spend your networking energy making connections that count.
Invest in your résumé. Remember, your résumé is your first impression and one shot. And not only will a well-crafted résumé make a fantastic impression on potential employers, if it’s at its best, it’ll remind you how great a professional catch you really are. I “met” Miriam of Keppie Careers via Twitter and decided to enlist her services after finding the resources and advice she tweeted incredibly helpful. Miriam and I worked together to revamp my résumé, so I was able to take ownership of the document while she taught me how to reflect on my experience in ways that highlighted what I’d accomplished in my career.
Show what you know. Your path to success lies in the knowledge you hold, but that knowledge will get you nowhere if you don’t demonstrate it. There are plenty of opportunities outside of formal interviews in which you can show your smarts, including informational interviews, online forums, professional meet-ups and volunteering. Not only did I engage in conversations about marketing and social media on Twitter, I created a blog and maintained it regularly to demonstrate my writing skills and inspire engaging conversation.
Don’t wait. One of the biggest mistakes people make in their professional career is waiting until they need a network to build it. It is so easy to get comfortable with your job and put off attending professional events and joining business organizations, but if you do the work now, you’ll make incredible connections while continuing to learn about your field outside the bubble of your organization. And, if the time comes for you to tap into your network for help, it’ll be ready and waiting. I made the unfortunate mistake of waiting until I lost my job to build my network, but now that I’ve experienced the power of my connections firsthand, I don’t plan on letting that network dissipate.
There is no one standard way to successfully navigate a job search, but having a few tips in your pocket from someone whose “been there” can help. Although these sound like basic action steps, it’s surprising how many job seekers stubbornly avoid them. Connect with people, put time and effort into your résumé so it reflects what you’ve done and take those opportunities that give you a chance to show off your smarts. Good luck out there!
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If your job hunt is stalled, I can help! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.