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Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Launching Your Job Search 2.0 | When it comes to looking for employment, savvy job seekers put social media to work for them.

When it comes to looking for employment, savvy job seekers put social media to work for them

When was the last time you looked for a job? Did you mail out paper resumes? Apply to postings on megasites such as monster.com and careerbuilder.com?

It's time to try some new tactics. I suggest that you upgrade your online presence so that you are prepared for Job Search 2.0.

This is not the job search you conducted even five years ago. I define Job Search 2.0 as launching an all-out press using social media networks to strategically find the right opportunity. That means using LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook and understanding how recruiters are using social media networks to find qualified job candidates.

LinkedIn has a reputation as a recruitment tool. But now Twitter and Facebook--once used mainly for finding old high school chums and letting people know what you're reading--also can help with your midlife career switch. According to the 2009 Jobvite Social Recruitment Survey, employers and recruiters are using social networks more than ever before:

• 80 percent use or plan to use social networking to source candidates

• 77 percent use social networks to find passive (employed and not looking) candidates

• 76 percent plan to invest more in employee referrals

• 46 percent will spend more on social networking

• 36 percent will spend less on job boards

Why has social networking become so important in the recruitment process? Here are three simple reasons: Social media offers lower costs and increased access to higher-quality candidates for employers, and access to more targeted opportunities for job seekers.

Social Networking Job Search: A Case Study

Andrea Green, 43, says it only took her a month to land a job in a new town using the social media networking site LinkedIn.

She had a job in Lafayette, La., but was looking for fresh start in Washington, D.C. Before packing her bags, her first task was to find a job in her target city. She started her search by completing her LinkedIn profile, which means she secured three online recommendations to get a 100 percent complete profile.

Next, she searched LinkedIn groups related to her field of project management. Initially, her search turned up way too many groups, so she narrowed her focus to her target city. Of the 25 groups that turned up, she joined three. "I researched these groups to see if any of them had job boards, and I posted notices that I was looking for a position," Green says. "I was also able to apply for eight jobs directly."

She scanned group participants and invited them to join her network. "I would reach out by sending a message through LinkedIn reminding them that I was a member of their group. I would ask them about the job market in their town. I found people really helpful--even recruiters who didn't have positions would give advice and share contacts."

Within four weeks of her initial posting, Green received a message from someone in her extended LinkedIn network pointing her to a recruiter who had project management openings in the D.C. area. Green connected with the recruiter through LinkedIn and later sent her resume via e-mail. She landed an interview--which resulted in a job offer the same day.

Green says job seekers must be willing to put themselves out there using social media to expand their professional networks. She shares these tips:

• Update your resume and have it done professionally.

• Know what you're looking for in a job so your network can help you.

• Don't be afraid to contact people you don't know online.

Career coach Tai Goodwin, publisher of careermakeovercoach.com, says many job seekers make the mistake of jumping right to available positions posted on job boards. "A better starting place is using tools like LinkedIn to identify companies they want to work for," she says. "Look for companies that are aligned with your values, have a work environment that's in line with your needs, and that have a solid reputation when it comes to how they treat their employees. Then look for jobs in those companies."

Candidates should think of themselves as a business and the companies they're pursuing as the target audience. "Monster and Careerbuilder are great places to see what jobs are out there, and even do some keyword research for revising your resume," Goodwin says. "But given how swamped job boards are, I recommend using them after you've identified the target companies you want to work for."

New and Noteworthy

Since January 2009, the Charlotte, NC-based website Tweetmyjobs.com has attracted 44,000 job seekers. Candidates set up profiles to find temporary and full-time employment, and the website lets job seekers filter information from more than 9,000 job channels. On average, the site posts 768,000 job tweets a month and sends out instant job updates via Twitter and text messages. One of the great things about Tweetmyjobs.com is its simplicity--you don't need to be a power Twitter user to use the service.

Other job search resources include:

• Twitjobsearch.com scours Twitter, flagging tweets about job openings and allowing job seekers to find relevant opportunities among the noise of Twitter.

• JobDeck is a joint venture between TweetDeck.com and Twitterjobsearch. JobDeck is a twitter management tool specifically for job hunting. This application allows you to manage your Twitter job search and connect with contacts across Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn from one screen.

• Indeed.com is one of the most comprehensive search engines for jobs and is simple to use. Since 2004, Indeed has given job seekers free access--instantly, in a single search--to millions of jobs from thousands of company websites and job boards.

Mining Facebook

Do you plan to use Facebook to find a job? Goodwin says the network is a good tool and that your success will depend on the friends in your network.

"You can e-mail your Facebook network to let them know about your job search and ask for referrals," she says. "My best recommendation for using Facebook is to join career-related groups and connect to Fan Pages of career coaches who can offer you tips and resources to help with your search."

Have you had success using social networking to find a job? Reuling and Associates welcomes your comments and suggestions.

Reuling & Associates is currently filling all level positions within Sales, HR, Accounting/Finance, Technology, Creative Services and Health Care.

Contact | Reuling and Associates:
751 Roosevelt Road, Suite 115
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
p. 630.446.0746
f. 800.861.1499
e. info@reulingandassociates.com
www.reulingandassociates.com

9 Top Online Resume Resources

9 Top Online Resume Resources | by: Shannon Russo
I keep everything online from my music to my bills and everything in between. I have practically my life online. Including my resume. I recently asked a candidate if they had a link to their online resume…all I got was silence. No stuttering, no excuses –just silence. My guess is they didn’t know there could be such a thing. Well there is! Here’s a list of 9 online resume resources! So if you’re ever asked for a link to your online resume you won’t be stuck with your face looking like this--à:-0

1. iResume provides ease and convenience for you to create, manage, and submit your online resume. You have access to your iResume from anywhere in any format, which can be used for any recruitment transaction.. iResumeprovides a clean, sleek, standardized resume and professional profile solution with the ability to integrate into all of the common recruitment systems. It is easy to use, provides iResume submittal tracking and statistics, and it is positioned to become the most widely accepted standardized resume available.

2. Gigtide is a website that lets you create, publish, manage and track your resumes, contacts and cover letters online. You can store unlimited resumes, contacts and cover letters and there are professional resume templates to help you. You also have the option of creating a social media resume, which includes images, video, direct links and sharing functionality. Another interesting feature is a direct employer contact form, where employers can contact you directly through your resume.

3. Howtowritearesume gives you an easy way to build a professional resume, without being an expert. You get their phrase builder technology, which helps you build compelling headlines, qualifications, achievement statement and more. Their “one-click formatting,” automatically reformats your resume and makes it easy to choose the best layout. Your resume is stored online and is accessible by potential employers. The templates are all predefined, so filling in the blanks is a breeze!

4. Emurse allows you to create, share and store your resume for free online. Their resume builder is job seeker friendly, allowing you to create and maintain a professional resume which can be downloaded in any format, such as PDF. Just like LinkedIn, your resume can have a unique URL linked to your name and the ability to view employers who have seen your resume in the past. You also get statistics and graphs to aid in resume distribution.

5. Razume is a service that enables you to complete your resumes and polish them up with feedback from reviewers in the community. The resume you create using this service is exactly like traditional resumes, but this service allows you to improve your resume so you better your chances at landing your next job.

6. ResumeBucket provides you with a unique URL for your resume and enables you to promote your resume on your website or blog with embeddableResumeBucket badges, or you can keep your resume private. In addition, resumes are shareable via popular social bookmarking and social networking sites.

7. ResumeSocial is a social resume community, where you can post your resume online and get feedback, just like Razume. Registered users can build a resume through feedback and comments from other users who have similar job experience. You can also be a resume expert and become a valuable member of the community by providing others with assistance. There is also an area for sharing cover letters and follow-up letters. When someone finds your resume on this site, they can print it, quote it, favorite it and email it to other people.

8. VisualCV is a website that provides users with a virtual resume, as well as a database of job openings and networking opportunities. Whether you’re a job seeker, entrepreneur, consultant, student or manager, VisualCV lets you display all of your credentials in an easy to read format, with multimedia integration.

For example, you can upload or embed a video resume or a podcast of you being interviewed. You can also combine other elements, such as images, charts, awards and recommendations, in addition to traditional resume fields such as “work experience”

Their latest capabilities allow job seekers to integrate their resume with social media sites, such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, to share their qualifications with friends and colleagues. When you update your resume, it can be shared through websites such as Digg and StumbleUpon.

9. Xing is a social network with over 7 million business professionals globally, and is read in 16 languages. Aside from being able to create a profile, the networking part of this site is what shines. There are over 22,000 groups and networking events from London to Beijing advertised.

Xing offers many of the same services as LinkedIn, and like LinkedIn, Xing can serve as your online resume and cover letter. The standard service lets you create a professional profile page, search for people by name and industry, and join groups and events. When you login, you’ll see jobs that might interest you, new members, visitors to your profile and much more.

Reuling and Associates Recruitment Firm can answer all of your online resume resource(s) questions.

Reuling & Associates is currently filling all level positions within Sales, HR, Accounting/Finance, Technology, Creative Services and Health Care.

Contact | Reuling and Associates:
751 Roosevelt Road, Suite 115
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
p. 630.446.0746
f. 800.861.1499
e. info@reulingandassociates.com
www.reulingandassociates.com

Friday, July 9, 2010

How social media can help graduates build their personal brand and get a job | Social Media Today | By: Matt Ambrose

It’s tough for graduates out there: we’ve just come out of a torrid recession, 1000s of public sector jobs are to be axed and there are 70 of you competing for every role.

It’s certainly a challenging time to be looking for work. But you can boost your chances of getting an interview by using the internet to promote your personal brand to employers.

Blogs, Facebook and Twitter give you the tools you need to project the image of a proactive, passionate and enthusiastic up and coming professional that employers should be fighting over to get in their organisation.

How to build your personal brand

Facebook – It’s no secret that employers now use Facebook to screen candidates. But before you rush off to lock your profile from prying eyes, Facebook can be used to your advantage. Update your public details to give employers a positive impression, such as information on your work experience, hobbies, interests and qualifications. In the ‘About me’ section write a positive, inspiring branding statement that reflects why employers should give you an interview. Replacing your profile photo of you wearing a traffic cone with one in which you look smart, responsible and sober is also a good idea.

LinkedIn – Your old school and university friends are a good starting point for building your professional network. In particular, connect with those who graduated in previous years and are already active in the workplace. You never know who’ll be able to point you towards a job opening or can put in a good word for you. Join discussion groups related to the industries you’re interested to get some insight into the hot topics and to ask astute questions – you never know who might have an opening for a proactive graduate.

Blogging – Blogs are great for expressing your passion and interest in the profession you’d like to get into. You can also use it as an online resume, with pages on your employment history and interests. There are plenty of sites where you can start a blog for free (e.g. Wordpress.com) which enable you to be up and blogging in minutes.

Twitter – Sharing links to your blog, reTweeting experts in your industry and posting links to relevant news stories will help to build your exposure amongst professionals in your targeted industry. Following experts in your field to get you an insight into the key trends and if they follow you back, you never know, it might lead to a job opportunity.

Whether you’re a graduate, school leaver or have recently been made redundant, finding a job at the moment isn’t going to be easy. But social media can give you a platform to demonstrate the enthusiasm, passion and proactive attitude that will tick all the right boxes with employers and push you further to the front of the queue.

Reuling & Associates has been set up purely with the aim of providing clients with the very best people in the United States and candidates the very best roles available.

Contact us today! p. 630.446.0746 | e. info@reulingandassociates.com | www.reulingandassociates.com

5 Tips for Job Seekers on Corporate Social Networks | By: Anne Berkowitch

Anne Berkowitch is co-founder and CEO of SelectMinds, the leading provider of networking and referral technologies and of the recently launched TalentVine referral recruiting solution. You can follow SelectMinds on Twitter at @SelectMinds.

There’s a lot of talk these days about using social networks as job search tools as well as sources for recruiters and HR executives to scout talent. Many organizations opt to build secure, private networks for their current and former employees that provide a place for people to connect and refer opportunities, contacts and information to one another. Here are some tips to get the most out of these increasingly common company networks.

1. Remember Your Resources

While it may be natural to dive into the wider web in your job search, you might be better served to take advantage of resources and people you are already connected to. Many businesses of all sizes offer networks to connect current and former employees. Check in with HR heads of former employers and find out what networking tools they offer. In the battle for great talent, it’s in their interest to keep up with you and where your career is headed.

2. Present Your Best Self

When building your identity and reputation on a company network, it’s important to remember that these networks are professional environments that are rarely anonymous. While you may have shared some drinks at the holiday party in 2007, you still want to engage with current and former colleagues on a strictly professional basis. Remember to update your information (title, company, leadership experience, etc.) regularly, perhaps every quarter, and point it out to relevant people as appropriate.

Also note that while you’re maintaining a professional presence on internal company networks, your public social profiles on Facebook, Twitter and other sites will often be checked by recruiters before they make contact with you. We’ve all heard the horror stories — for example, applicants updating their status or tweeting before and after an interview with disparaging or confidential remarks about the company. We’ve heard about recent college grads who have thousands of photos on Facebook, many of which are not work appropriate. These are lessons applicants need only learn once. Showing some personality is important, but it’s a fine line.

3. Reconnect

People are used to getting “Friended,” “Followed,” “Connected With” and more on a regular basis, so reaching out to past colleagues with whom you’ve worked should be well received. It’s a great way to share opportunities, personal and professional news, and stay up to date on happenings at your company. When you join a company network, spend some time identifying colleagues and friends within the organizations and acknowledge them on the network.

The foundation of many workplace relationships is gained in the first few days working together. A vendor my company works with recently had an influx of new hires due to business growth. The new team they assembled is full of characters and they promote camaraderie as an essential piece of their corporate culture. These employees are not just all Facebook friends but they’re neighbors, they Follow each other on Twitter, retweet each other, etc. They are connected personally and online in a way we know will continue even if one of them should make a career move.

4. Show Your Self-Motivation

As everyone knows, finding a job is work in itself. If you want to get advice from a former colleague or talk about business connections or job opportunities, you have to reach out. (Re)connect online and then consider setting up a get-together with former colleagues. Being outgoing and organized is a quick way to get recognized — a factor that’s sure to pay off in the future.

In-person meetings always go farther than a phone call ever could. For HR managers who work at large, global businesses, it’s nearly impossible to meet candidates face to face. But if you’re an executive and someone local is asking to meet up, it’s a great activity to make time for. I recently heard about a young job seeker who wanted to relocate and found out the local director at her dream firm had gone to a competing high school. That connection alone (pointed out in an e-mail she sent him when she happened to be in town) got her in the door and ultimately, the job itself.

5. It Can’t Hurt to Ask

Given the professional nature of company networks, it’s more common and expected for the topic of job openings and hiring to come up. Don’t be afraid to ask your connections how they got their newest job, why they left a company, or if they would be willing to make an introduction for you. Understand that these networks create mutual relationships, so be sure to offer connections, guidance and thoughts to others — engendering good will when it comes to a professional network goes a long way.

A woman my company works with has had previous high profile jobs in her field. As a result, many people know her and ask her for favors. The one she tells us she always obliges is giving honest answers to people who are considering going to work for her previous companies. Often these connections come through people she may need a favor from someday too, so it’s a valuable practice to help past companies find great talent, even though she’s already left.