AW WebBiz & Social Media Blog » Job hunting http://www.advancingwomen.com/wordpress Mentoring, Tools & Strategy To Succeed Thu, 09 May 2013 21:42:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Use Linked In To Increase Job Prospects, Even If You’re A Passive Candidate http://www.advancingwomen.com/wordpress/use-linked-in-to-increase-job-prospects-even-if-youre-a-passive-candidate/ http://www.advancingwomen.com/wordpress/use-linked-in-to-increase-job-prospects-even-if-youre-a-passive-candidate/#comments Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:28:57 +0000 Gretchen Glasscock http://www.advancingwomen.com/wordpress/?p=1143

Image representing LinkedIn as depicted in Cru...

Image via CrunchBase

We’ve already talked about the critical importance of networking when you are looking for a job. Having a friend or colleague recommend and introduce you is always a preferred way to meet a potential employer.  It not only gets you in the door and past the gate keeper, past the Great Wall of China HR department which likely will look for every conceivable reason to eliminate you……you never get in trouble over the person you didn’t hire….but it also will likely get you a friendly reception and a fair hearing, at the very least, from the person actually responsible for the hiring decision.

Now, you may be working all your friends, family, clubs, alumni and professional associations like crazy.  But also remember, though not quite as warm and fuzzy, there are some very large and influential networks out there that you should definitely tap into.  The first among them is the social network for business people, LinkedIn

LinkedIn currently has members from all 500 of the Fortune 500 companies and its members comprise 130 different industries including 130,000 recruiters.  And that’s not all.

Allison Doyle of About.com says this about LinkedIn and Your Job Search:

“What do Microsoft, Ebay, Netflix, and Target have in common? All these companies (and many more) have used LinkedIn to recruit candidates for employment.”
Even if you’re not “pounding the pavement” or living in a “speed dating for job candidates” nightmarish swirl, you should never stop keeping your eye open for what other opportunities are out there.  You never know when you might need them.  Who knew a month ago that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, titans Lehman Brothers and Washington Mutual would need a bail out and American Express would want to turn itself into a bank to increase its access to capital?  If times could get tough for them, it could get tough for you and all the rest of us as well.  So you might want to spiff up how you look as a passive candidate, just in case things turn even uglier.

“Kay Luo, Director of Corporate Communications at LinkedIn, explains, “The main reason that companies are using LinkedIn is to find passive job candidates. Another reason why companies are using LinkedIn, is because referrals from their employees are highly valued because they typically have a higher success rate (hence the popular “employee referral bonuses”). LinkedIn helps companies leverage the networks of their employees.”

How Employers Use LinkedIn

One LinkedIn member (who will remain nameless because his company doesn’t know he’s job seeking) I spoke to received an inquiry less than 24 hours after posting his profile. He was amazed at how fast a former colleague found him.

Steve Goddard obtained his current job through LinkedIn. Recruiters working for his employer, VMware, Inc., searched LinkedIn’s database of information for people with relevant skills sets and experience pertaining to VMware’s existing requirements.

The recruiter discovered Steve’s work history, downloaded the information, circulated it to group managers, and then contacted him. After a couple of lengthy phone calls, VMWare scheduled an on-site interview. After that, it was hiring as usual.

Steve told me, “I regularly get headhunters or recruiters with small startup operations, that have found my contact information through LinkedIn, calling me or emailing me with new job openings and hiring opportunities.” From the company’s perspective, Steve noted that VMware internal recruitment staff believes that LinkedIn has been a tremendous help with recruiting.
Search LinkedIn

Take a few minutes to search LinkedIn and I’m sure you’ll find lots of contacts from your current and prior employers, clients, vendors, and schools. All those contacts have the potential to help you grow your career or find a new job. In addition, it can be a good source of employment references, as well as reference checking.

Job Search

You can search the Jobs section of linked in by keyword and location or used the Advanced Search option to search by more specific criteria.

How to Use LinkedIn

Guy Kawasaki’s Ten Ways to Use Linked In provides good insight into how to increase the value of LinkedIn. One example is “Increasing your visibility, because by adding connections, you increase the likelihood that people will see your profile first when they’re searching for someone to hire or do business with.”

One way to improve visibility is to enhance your profile. Take a look at Guy’s profile’s Extreme Makeover to see what a difference a few changes can make.

Speaking of connections – the more the better. Guy’s blog notes that “People with more than twenty connections are thirty-four times more likely to be approached with a job opportunity than people with less than five.”

How to Use LinkedIn to Find a Job – Or Have a Job Find You

  • Create a Profile. Create a detailed profile on LinkedIn, including employment (current and past), education, industry, and web sites.
  • Consider a Photo. You can add a photo (a headshot is recommended or upload a larger photo and edit it) to your LinkedIn profile. Note that it must be a small photo – no larger than 80×80 pixels.
  • Keywords and Skills. Include all your resume keywords and skills in your profile, so your profile will be found.
  • Build Your Network. Connect with other members and build your network. The more connections you have, the more opportunities you have, with one caveat from Kay Luo, “Connect to people you know and trust or have a business relationship with, no need to go crazy and connect with everyone.”
  • Get Recommendations. Recommendations from people you have worked with carry a lot of weight.
  • Search Jobs. Use the job search section to find job listings.
  • Use Answers. The Answers section of LinkedIn is a good way to increase your visibility. Respond to questions, and ask a question if you need information or assistance.
  • Stay Connected. Use LinkedIn Mobile (m.linkedin.com) to view profiles, invite new connections, and access to LinkedIn Answers from your phone.

If you have any other tips on using Linked in or how you found a job or a job found you on Linked In, please write and share.

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]]> http://www.advancingwomen.com/wordpress/use-linked-in-to-increase-job-prospects-even-if-youre-a-passive-candidate/feed/ 3 Great Resumes Answer One Critical Question: What’s In It For Them? http://www.advancingwomen.com/wordpress/great-resumes-answer-one-critical-question-whats-in-it-for-them/ http://www.advancingwomen.com/wordpress/great-resumes-answer-one-critical-question-whats-in-it-for-them/#comments Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:33:28 +0000 Gretchen Glasscock http://www.advancingwomen.com/wordpress/?p=937 The critical resume question.

Great resumes, the only kind you ever want to have if you want an effective job search, answer one critical question for any potential employer who looks at it:

WHAT’S IN IT FOR THEM?

If your resume doesn’t answer that question in a few seconds, it’s garbage. It’s worse than worthless for you, because it can lock you out of that prospect.

Nice paper, or an Ivy League education, or fancy titles won’t impress as much as answering that single question quickly, and in a compelling way.

Ask yourself how people read a resume.

Have you ever been to a retail store, and had an overbearing salesperson try to sell you something? He wants to tell you about how great it is, how it’s a “bargain”, and how it’s…blue! Did you care? Not so much. You had a need, and you wanted it met, the sooner, the better.

Prospective employers are the customers in the retail store. You’re the salesman. The employer won’t buy something that doesn’t meet a current, or known future need.

A prospective employer certainly wants to know the high points of what you’ve done, but only so he can determine if you’ll contribute to his organization in the way he wants you to. Achievements are good, but achievements matching needs are what you’re after.

So, when you start to write or revamp a resume, ask what the target employer needs. Then describe how you meet that need.

Make the most compelling case for being the person uniquely capable of meeting that need, and you’ll get the job.

( For some professional customization, see AW Career Portfolios, Customized For You)

Roy Miller, creator of Job Search Guide Post: sign up for Roy’s free weekly newsletter.

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]]> http://www.advancingwomen.com/wordpress/great-resumes-answer-one-critical-question-whats-in-it-for-them/feed/ 0 Accelerate Your Job Search – Maximize The Impact Of Your Resume http://www.advancingwomen.com/wordpress/accelerate-your-job-search-maximize-the-impact-of-your-resume/ http://www.advancingwomen.com/wordpress/accelerate-your-job-search-maximize-the-impact-of-your-resume/#comments Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:04:41 +0000 Gretchen Glasscock http://www.advancingwomen.com/wordpress/?p=720 Maximizing the Impact of Your Resume – AdvancingWomen.com

Fortunately, in the age of the Internet, there are some high-tech solutions to the problem of making sure your resume gets in the hands of an individual who is looking for someone of your qualifications. Resume distribution services are increasingly becoming the job-hunting method of choice for a number of job-seekers. Thanks to some innovative software, resume distribution is easier and more effective than ever before.

For instance, software packages such as Resume Rabbit and Job Search Accelorator can be tremendous aids for you as you begin your search for employment. The reach of these services is vast. For example, you can greatly increase your exposure, since such services allow you to get your resume posted on more than 75 to 85 sites.

By filling out a simple form, you can show off your job qualifications to numerous prospective employers. It’s estimated that such services can save you up to 60 hours of research–time which you can then devote to actually meeting corporate recruiters. You can also post your resume to numerous categories of career sites–from general sites, such as general purpose, to specialized sites, such as accounting or sales and marketing. You can also receive information about prospective jobs via e-mail, enabling opportunities to come to you via your personal inbox.

Of course,  AdvancingWomen Careers would love for you to send us your resume, as well.  AdvancingWomen.com has a specialized job site focusing on diversity. Some of our corporate recruiting clients have included TMP Worldwide, Inc., Sun Microsystems, U.S. Department of Commerce,National Association of Women Lawyers, CareerBuilder.com, Fedex Kinko’s, Accenture Technology Solutions, and Guidance Software Inc..  So we think we can match you up with a company looking for your skills.

But by all means, get your resume out there, not just to us.  Cast a broad net.  One of the reputable resume blasters can be a good way to do it.

Why You Only Really Need Four Sample Resumes – Careers-Employment.

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