Social Media and the job search

Are you using social media in your job search? If not, why not?

Over 100 million users are on LinkedIn, 700 million users are on Facebook and 175 million users on Twitter. Now assuming that each of those networks only has 80% of those users who are active, that is still a BIG number. Of people using social networking sites, the use breaks down this way: 92% use Facebook, 18% use LinkedIn, 13% use Twitter. [Source: Pew Internet and American Life Project, Social networking sites and our lives, June 16, 2011]

LinkedIn is the biggest source of professional networking. You can follow companies, find jobs, and build your level of expertise. Facebook now has an answer to LinkedIn called Branchout. You can ask your Facebook friends to join you in your professional network and receive recommendations. Twitter has post after post of jobs that you can find even if you don't tweet yourself. Just go to search.twitter.com.

LinkedIn has a search component that will show you who is posting about a particular term like "hiring" that you can drill down and get to your local area. Did you know that more men 63% vs. 37% women use LinkedIn.[Source: Pew Internet and American Life Project, Social networking sites and our lives, June 16, 2011] Women tend to be bigger users of the other social networks.

Remember, you can't just create a profile and let it hang there on the web, you must work at it, as you must with any job search process.  If you need to learn more about using social media, you can visit our website. OR you can sign up for one of our hands-on LinkedIn workshops - check our calendar for the next session.

What are you doing with social media and your job search?

Networking

Today is just a commentary on another blog article.

This article from US News references those individuals who might not be on the cutting edge of social media and using it to their advantage for job search.  It relates that those of us who are computer savvy may be spending too much time on the keys and not enough time face-to-face.

It is a reminder that we must balance our lives in everything.  Too much of any one thing cannot be good, while not using all of the tools at your disposal cannot be good either.

One more thing not mentioned in the article is the fact that there are many resources available, and many are free.   Find out what is available by reading and participating.  Many of you may not be aware that each state has free training and development services available to job seekers, especially those who have been dislocated (laid-off) from a previous employer.  Illinois has a great tool at www.illinoisworknet.com and if you need to learn how to use this great tool, KCDEE offers a monthly workshop in Elgin and N. Aurora that is hands-on, for FREE.

What other resources have  you found that are useful to job seekers? 

We are on Alltop

KCDEE's blog is now included with the cool kids on Alltop.  You can find our career advice along with others by visiting  http://careers.alltop.com

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If you have topics that you would like to read more about let us know.

Career Goals 2011

What are your career goals for 2011?

Are you in the job search mode?

• What new tools are you planning on using or learning to help in your job search? 
• Do you already have a LinkedIn account? 
• Are you going to check to see if it is being the most effective it can be for you?
• Do you use Twitter to look for jobs?
• Have you investigated the job search component of Facebook?
• Are you networking?
• Have you joined any new industry related associations?
• Are you participating in informational interviews?
• Have you decided to volunteer to keep your skills up to date?
• Are you planning on changing careers?
• Does that career change include learning new skills?

Are you working? What are your plans to enhance your current career?

• Are you taking a class or learning something to keep your skills current?
• Do you need to address a character flaw that is keeping you from a promotion?
• What one thing can YOU change that would make your job easier?
• What one thing can you address with your supervisor that would make your job easier?
• Is this job a career or do you need to check into another path?

Are you going to school?

• Will you be finishing your training this year and looking for a new job?
• What are you doing now to network or prepare in advance for that job search? Check out the items above.

Do you have some personal goals that will make your life easier or improve your self-esteem level to give you a better outlook on life?

• Do you need to be more fit or drop a few pounds?
• Do you need to de-clutter?
• Do you need to stop smoking?

Whatever or whereever you are in your life, you cannot reach a goal if you do not have one.  Set a goal, make a plan, and start working toward your goal.  If a long range goal is too scary, set several interim goals and reward yourself along the way. If you need to loose weight and your ultimate goal is 25 pounds, set those in 5 pound increments.  If you need a new job and make a plan that might include researching two new companies and what jobs they have to offer each week.  Add a new task as you go.

What other suggestions do you have?  What are your goals?

What does your email address say about you?

I am responsible for adding names and email addresses to our e-news letter contact list.  I read some very interesting and sometimes amusing email addresses.  Others are pretty mundane or maybe even boring depending upon your take on the situation.

But let's discuss for a few moments the effect your email address, twitter handle or blog name will have on a potential employer or business associate.

• If you are a sports fan that is great, but what if you are a Cubs fan and the person you are trying to impress with your credentials absolutely detests the Cubs?
• You are a family man and your email says Smithfam6@ what ever service you use.  A potential employer can get a clue as to your personal life without you saying a word.
• Your email address references part of your anatomy or romantic interests and isn't quite appropriate if you are trying to do business with a very conservative organization.

The point is that you need to save those "personal" email addresses for your private correspondence.  It is very easy these days to set up a new email account on one of the web based services like gmail, hotmail or yahoo.  Try to use your first and last name so that someone will be able to identify you easily should they want to contact you.  If you have a common name such as John Smith, perhaps you can use a period or a number to associate with your name and it will still sound professional.

What are your thoughts?

Holiday Job Search Tips

The holidays may offer time for reflection and resolutions, thoughts about family and future from Thanksgiving through the new-year.  The season also presents challenges and opportunities for people seeking employment.  KCDEE reminds people who are unemployed or facing an uncertain future to understand that jobs are available and for those individuals considering a career change, this is an excellent time to explore training and education possibilities.

We offer these “Holiday Tips” to inspire people to be diligent in their pursuit of education, training and employment opportunities and to ensure that they take full advantage of our Illinois workNet Centers.  The workNet staff works hard to satisfy the demands of our customers - unemployed individuals and companies who seek good employees. These  “Holiday Tips" are presented to encourage people to not despair during this season and instead make the best use of our resources in their quest to satisfy their personal career goals and to meet the needs of their family. Check the Illinois workNet website to find a center near you.

                   Kane County Department of Employment and Education Offers

                             Holiday Tips for Dislocated or Unemployed Workers

1. Continue to apply for full time work during the holiday season.  Make sure your application and resume are there for employers when they are considering hiring new people in the New Year.
2. Seek part-time work during the holiday season.  Many people are hired to fill positions created by holiday vacations or to meet year-end demand from customers.  Some employers evaluate part-time employees for full-time positions.  This is your opportunity to shine and make a good impression.
3. If there are any career fairs – dress for success and show-up with a resume.   Job fairs offer a great opportunity to meet potential employers face-to-face.
4. Network yourself, at gatherings, to people who might be aware of job openings.  Many referrals for jobs come from employees, talk to someone you know who works for a company where you would like to work and get the inside scoop on jobs.   In social situations maintain a level of professionalism.
5. Utilize resources from any training institution, college, university or school you have attended to help you discover jobs that may not be advertised or posted on an Internet job search website. 
6. Keep a watchful eye on expenses.  Focus on the many good things in your life and not the materialistic demands of the season.  Many successful people look back to tight financial times, when they focused on family and friendship, as some of the best, most meaningful moments in their lives.
7. Explore the services available to you through local agencies to improve your resume and interviewing skills. Help is available from the Illinois workNet Centers for job counseling, job search and access to a number of websites. 
8. Be positive and patient.  Understand that job loss, unemployment and job seeking are stressful situations.    There is truth to the fact that the hardest job of all is finding a good job.  
9. Get organized.  Write and design a new resume, list employers that offer good career opportunities.  Be methodical about your job search and set goals for contacting employers by keeping a daily contact log. 
10. Be courteous and understanding when you follow up with potential employers - your attitude on the phone may be the deciding factor in getting an interview or job offer.  A positive attitude to your job search and interviews will help you be successful.  “Thank You” notes and letters after the interview offer you another opportunity to sell yourself to an employer or to drive home a point you may have overlooked during your interview.
11. Try to be flexible in your approach to your career. Understand that you will always be acquiring new skills and adapting to new technology in almost every occupation.  Many people will change jobs or career paths with their current employer many times in their working life.  

The Illinois workNet Centers offer services from a group of partnering agencies, at a one-stop location, to assist job seekers find employment and where employers can meet their workforce development goals.   There are Centers in Elgin, North Aurora, DeKalb and satellites in Aurora and Yorkville that will help you.

The workNet Centers offer various workshops to help you improve your resume, your interviewing techniques and other skills to help you improve your job search activities.  Career counseling, labor market information about jobs in demand in your county and access to education and training resources are just some of the services available at the center to assist you in your job search.   

Networking for Introverts

This is the discussion from the today's tweetchat about Networking for Introverts.  The answers are copied from the twitter feed.  In some cases they are in twitter shorthand.

Q1: Whats the most difficult thing about networking?

• For me it was always how to break into a group already chatting.
• Finding relevant contacts. Even though every contact can have a silver lining.
• when at a networking event joining in a convo. I sometimes feel like I am butting in
• I would say just gaining enough confidence to actually start. It can be sort of intimidating at times.
• Finding a group that seems open and inviting, not closed is the key.
• Starting a conversation with a total stranger.
• The most difficult thing in regards to networking is having to step outside of your comfort zone. You'll be glad you did.
• Making new contacts without going to mix and mingle events.
• The initial starting of the conversation is the toughest for me
• Telling your elevator speech over and over again
• identifying the quality, decision making contacts or those who can connect you with them
• Getting in and getting out are the hardest part.
• walking up to the first person. After that the ice is broken. I look for someone standing off by themself.
• Networking is more about how you can help them vs. how they can help YOU. Provide value first, then ask for help.
• The dreaded elevator pitch. Saying who you are & what you do clearly and concisely.
• When you do find a contact, it's hard to bridge the gap between personal and professional conversation
• Identifying a networking group that can maximize your chances of securing a job.
• Just jumping in and getting started with a conversation can be one of the hardest for me
• getting your message across in an effective but non obtrusive way
• Fearing rejection and feeling like you're bothering people are two big networking worries
• Here's an article that might help you with networking: 11 Rules for Networking http://wp.me/pObyU-A 
• Discipline to keep networking. It's easy to get to a 'comfortable place' and think you're done.
• Being nervous and talking too fast!
• Your industry knowledge is key. At a networking event, you need to have something to offer others!

Q2: What are some ice-breakers that have worked for you?

• Icebreaker? Ask them to tell you about themselves. People love to talk. You listen & learn, then add to the conversation.
• Good to have some ice breakers already prepared. My favorite: Is this your first time here? If not what makes you keep coming bk
• I stand by the food table so I can always eat if they r mean:)
• The first icebreaker is your smile. - And a firm handshake!
• Ice breaker: where are you originally from? 
• Networking tip: While there's typically food there, eat before. You'll have free hands to shake & provide resumes!
• 'playing host' by making introductions or passing out name tags is a great ice-breaker. it takes pressure off. 
• ask them about their company and what they do for them
• Once you meet someone, introduce them to another and then form your own "group."
• Great ice-breaker there--talk about the food!
• Make sure to emphasize what you can do for them instead of what they can do for you. Be your own salesperson. Show your skills.
• I think a good ice-breaker is showing genuine interest in the other person's life during the conversation
• Say, "Hi," and smile. Think more about how to listen vs. what to say.
• Focus on local common ground. "Man those Seahawks were bad last weekend" or "did you hear about XZY downtown last week?"
• Icebreaker: What are you seeing as industry/profession trends right now?
• Reading their nametag and introducing yourself, easy!
• having group ambassadors like in the chambers help with introductions. After that it is up to your conversation
• a simple question like what is the last good movie you saw has always helped me
• People love to talk about themselves. Just start with a simple question.
• Listening happens in three stages- Receiving / Processing / Responding - 3 keys to good networking practice
• I always look for someone who seems to be "lost" or lonely-looking...invite them in
• sign up as a volunteer at the registration guest or a greeter at the event.
• ask what people are passionate about, not what they do
• My usual opening line: "Bride or groom?" 
• ask how they like their iphone/android/blackberry or other gadget!
• Networking is almost like that first initial date. Get to know the person you are talking to. Figure out their interests 
• Dont look distracted with whos coming in the room, remember the person in front of you!

Q2A Where do you find networking events?

• LinkedIn has an application "Networking Events" that you can use to find local meetings.
• Places to look for networking events - meetup.com/LinkedIn events & groups/local yahoogoups/Social Networking site
• check meetup.com and look for networking events, chamber mixers, organization postings in community calendars.
• Meetup.com, Yahoo Groups (professional associations), even community news sites/papers to find networking events

Q3: What are tips for smart schmoozing?

• It's nice to go with a friend, but don't just talk to people you already know all night.
• Do your research! Show excitement for previous accomplishments and seek to gain more understanding about them
• Keep your hands and mouth free to talk... hard to create a good first impression with your hands and mouth full! 
• Networking- shut your phone off unless you are waiting for a call from the president or your expecting wife
• what can you offer to do to help the person with whom you are networking.
• networking is like sales ~ 1st build relationship, then find out their needs, sell yourself as the solution
• Be natural and go with the flow. You don't want to sound fake and/or insincere.
• Smart Schmoozers respect others time - are precise, to the point and do not overdo
• Smart schmoozing has to include diligent follow up. No connection established if there is no follow through.
• If you did your homework on attendees, you know their background. State their point & casually agree with it
• Here's an article we did on smart schmoozing. http://www.bizme.biz/bizclass/smart-schmoozing-big-tips-for-small-talk/
• When in doubt, ask questions -- people like to talk about themselves!
• Make the conversation about them before you make it about you.
• Always have something to offer. Be willing to pay it forward!!! Don't be a taker!!!
• Be genuinely interested. No canned conversation. Get him/her talking about something s/he's excited about.  
• Another huge part of schmoozing is really listening to the other person. They can tell you a lot if you pay attention
• Also - in schmoozing - don't make promises you can't follow up on
• Tips for smart schmoozing: eye contact, avoid alcohol, and listen more than you talk!
• Take the cotton out of your ears and put it in your mouth, LISTEN more..talk less. Let people know you're truly interested.
• Don't lead w/ what u want, start by finding out about them~what they do~find out if your exp./background would fit their needs
• Collaborative conversation is good schmoozing - find what you both value and discuss key points/solutions.
• Challenge yourself NOT to ask someone "What do you do?" You'll stay curious longer and make a better connection.
• Be patient and be prepared to build a real relationship. Don't expect someone to offer you a job then and there.
• Have found this article to be very helpful. 10 tips for successful business networking. http://bit.ly/BFFAT
• The key to schmoozing at a networking event is to mingle. Make sure you circle the room. You may meet some really great people.
• Dont hit and run, nurture the relationship!

Q4: Just for fun--what are some networking horror stories?

• Ever been stuck talking to someone who WON'T stop even to breathe, so you can't exit the conversation? It's the worst!
• Once showed up at a networking event 45 min late, and everyone was drunk!
• not a personal one but spilling your drink or food on someone would be awful
• don't forget the breath mints!
• Be PRESENT!!! Don't be checking your BlackBerry while trying to have a convo!!!
• had a "close talker" back me up over 12 feet into a wall without realizing it!!! Pay attention to cues!
• have been to networking events that was more like a new form of match.com . Not good.
• be sure you know who your speaking w. - person call me Ken for 15 mins before I corrected
• Had a person follow me after the conversation was clearly over.

Q5: Have you or someone you know successfully networked your way to a job?

• That is how I got my current job!
• My husband got a job offer outside his field through networking.
• Client called former co-worker to do "Whassup." Colleague had just changed jobs. Client now has his job. 
• Networked through a current job to stir up offers in related fields (through vendor contacts, publishers, 3rd parties)
• Started with a cold email based on shared background. 2 months later ended up with an out of the blue job offer
• Definitly, and the common theme was that the person made an effort to keep a relationship with the other
• I have networked into a new job - several times. Key is to add value, share solutions and stay in contact appropriately! 
• I worked a job fair at my college for my last position. Spoke with Dir. Career Services, who introduced me to current co-worker.
• Soulsearched w/client, she told network what she wanted and she landed her dream job by referral
• Cultivated friendship @ weekly job seekers mtg. Then invited 2 another netwkg grp who gave me lead to my current job
• I have actually gotten many positions through my alumni listserve! (That's networking indirectly, though, no?)

 Do you have any other advice to add to the questions?

How DO you answer?

A recent post on Veteran Careers at military.com was entitled "Handle the Stress Interview".  There are many tacts that interviewers take to determine whether a candidate will be able to handle the new position.  Reading that article lead to this thought - How DO you answer the tougher interview questions like - Why were you fired? OR Have you ever been convicted of a felony? What is this gap in your employment?

If that firing lead to the gap in your employment because of an intimate relationship with the penal system, you need to know how to handle an interview effectively.  KCDEE offers a workshop to help with that. 

Not everyone is as fortunate as Martha Stewart, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, former politicians, or Robert Downey Jr. to have enough money or talent to pick right back up in a position that they held prior to being incarcerated. Most individuals who have an offense on their record will have to start over in the job market, let alone at the bottom rung of a career ladder. Often there are certain jobs that ex-offenders may no longer hold depending upon the offense they committed. Once you have established the types of jobs you will be seeking, you may want to review and attend some of the other career skills workshops offered by KCDEE.

When you are ready to begin filling out job applications and, hopefully, going on job interviews, here are a few tips to help you overcome the obstacles related to your previous offense.

1. Always tell the truth on your application. The truth, however, can be stated in the best possible way. For example, a question on the application asks “Have you been convicted of a felony in the past 5 years?” Your conviction was 7 years ago, you can truthfully answer NO. If it was, then you need to answer YES, but provide an explanation that includes your regret and what positive things you have done with that time.
2. Don’t leave unexplained gaps in your resume. Employers look at consistency in employment to find a potential employee who will help them meet their goals. Any gap raises a red flag and can often cause your resume or application to be put in the “reject” pile. Learning how to properly word a period of incarceration can make all of the difference between being seen for an interview or being bypassed.
3. Use a Functional resume approach. When you use this type of resume, you are able to highlight your skills rather than the chronology of your employment.
4. Offer a letter of Explanation. If you are fortunate to have an interview scheduled, you will need to explain your offense in person. If you don’t have an interview but are asked for more details about your offense, you should have a letter of explanation available that may be provided to a potential employer. The letter should include information about benefits the Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service offer to employers who hire ex-offenders.
5. At the interview. Offer, at the appropriate time, a three minute incarceration speech. The speech should key on three points – the mistake you made, why you exhibited poor judgment, and assure them of the changes you have made.

One of our biggest success stories is about a gentleman who was convicted of trafficking marijuana. After he served his 6 ½ year sentence, he returned to society with a high school diploma and no marketable skills. KCDEE provided the mechanism and funding for tuition that allowed him to start over. He has since completed an expedited computer related training, a Bachelor’s degree, and a Master’s degree. Throughout his education, he was progressively moving forward up the career ladder. Today he has experience and most importantly a future.

If you would like to register for our workshop please email (for Elgin, IL) elworkshops@kcdee.org (for North Aurora, IL) naworkshops@kcdee.org .

Waiting for the phone to ring?

Scenario 1 - You have had a great interview and you know you nailed every aspect - you have the credentials, you have the skills, and you feel really good about the outlook. You just need to hear the phone ring and hear that potential employer making that all important job offer. 

Scenario 2 - You applied for a position with a large national company for a position out-of-state. In years past, the company would fly potential candidates to the corporate office for a job interview (or series of interviews). Today the process includes a phone interview to screen candidates. You are hoping to get that call.

Scenario 3 - You own your own business.  You have a business line, fax line, cell phone, or home-office line.  You want to provide good customer service by taking calls without having to pay an answering service.

In these situations, you have other responsibilities, need to be on the road or engaged in your business.  You don't have the luxury of just sitting by the phone.  Many people these days have given up land-line phones for the convenience of a cell phone.  If that is the case, you are in good shape, you would always have your phone with you.  But, if you have several phone lines upon which you can be reached, what do you do?

Today there are a number of alternatives that will ring all of your phones at one time, send things to voice mail after certain hours and even transcribe those voice mails into text messages to which you can respond.  The most recognized right now might be Google Voice.  It is currently only available in the US.  Some alternatives that offer similar services include: Ring Central, Line2, 3Jam, VoxOx2, Ribbit Mobile and YouMail.  Each of them have a variety of services available, so be sure to research the ones that might serve your needs best.

Aggregators are like Farmer's at Harvest

How is that you ask? Farmers gather together all the crops at harvest time and bring them to market from which you can pick and choose vegetables for your use. Job aggregators gather together or “harvest” all of the jobs openings that are posted on various company web sites, so that you can pick and choose which job openings to which you could apply.

Most people have heard of the big internet job search sites like Careerbuilder.com, Monster.com and HotJobs.com. Have you heard about job aggregators? Aggregator sites search by keyword many company sites, job sites and newspapers. They find job postings by location and types of position. Then they aggregate or “gather into a whole” all of the postings they find. Some of the more widely recognized aggregators include:

• Indeed – besides aggregating jobs from a number of locations, this site also offers information on job trends and salaries.
• SimplyHired – this site works allows you to refine your search by type of job, company, location or the date the job was posted.
• LinkUp – searching company career sections, this site updates whenever a company website is updated.
• 4Jobs – offers email alerts when new jobs become available
• Jobster – advanced options include searching by multiple keywords
• QuintCareers – works cooperatively with 4jobs.com but also offers career resources and articles
• Seniors4Hire - businesses that value a diverse workforce to actively recruit folks in the U.S. 50 and older
• Jobs4point0 - job opportunities for candidates 40 and over
• RiseSmart – for a fee, a concierge service is available for job seekers with salary expectations over $100K
• Illinois workNet - has a job search tool that aggregates all the jobs.  If you have a user account (free) you can even save certain searches to your profile.  KCDEE even offers a workshop on all of the other tools that IllinoisworkNet.com has to offer.

While these aggregators are an excellent way to check all of the job search websites in a short amount of time, you need to not rely solely on these sort of search options. Utilize all of resources available to you.

What others tools are you using?

TGIF or is it?

Today happens to be a Friday.  For me personally, it is the end of my workweek for KCDEE. Over the weekend, I will relax a bit, do some work around the house, AND I will check in on my LinkedIn and Facebook accounts.  When I am out running errands or attending planned events, I will look to see if there is anyone with whom I can network.

I am not in the job search mode at this time, but I will continue to work on my network by trying to foster the relationships I have built.

What do you do over the weekend to either build your network or improve the connections you have made?  Do you use the time to build a plan for the coming week?  Do you look for free or low-cost community events where business owners may be promoting their services (and potentially seeking individuals to hire)?

Copywriting for your On-line Profile

Today I listened to a webinar entitled Writing Powerful Online Profiles that Lead to More Connections, Interactions & Possibilities with speaker Allison Nazarian author of “One Minute Copy Writer”.  Here are my thoughts and notes based on the webinar.

During your job search, potential employers will Google you to see what you are about. Only 17% of jobs come from job boards. What would a hiring company find if they see your on-line profile?

Writing for paper is different than writing for online profiles. You don’t want to just cut and paste. Your résumé may stay the same for years. Social media allows for more personality. You could potentially be editing your social media profile hourly. The social media medium allows you to brand yourself in your own voice.

You forward a paper résumé to a company, possibly unsolicited and wonder what if anything is done with it. If you update your LinkedIn or other on-line profile, you could receive an immediate response from people within your network. You are able to create a dialogue when writing for the on-line medium that isn’t available in a written résumé.

Copywriting principles apply to on-line profiles. You are selling yourself on your profile to a potential employer. Your profile is your on-line advertisement. Use words to sell your career skills.

1. Know your target market - before you place your profile or make a change to it, determine who you are targeting to read your profile. What is the job title of the person who would hire you? What are the demographics of the company that would hire you? How can you solve the problems your potential hiring company might have? You are also writing to your allies and advocates who might know someone who needs a new employee with your skill set. Be deliberate with your keywords for the search engines to hone in upon.

2. Benefits vs. features – your résumé will list the skills and experience you have, but doesn’t necessarily allow you to express the benefits without adding several pages to the document. On-line profiles allow you to express the benefits of your problem solving actions that could be applicable to the company to which you are applying. Potential employers think “what’s in it for me?” Make it short, sweet and simple so that the employer knows what you are offering.

3. Formatting – make your profile easy to read and visually pleasing – use short paragraphs, bulleted lists, bolded sub-titles, and ensure it is easily scanned for rapid review. Use first person when writing your profile. i.e. Use XX machine to complete orders.

4. Action verbs – use an active voice and action verbs when writing your profile – see our previous post on action verbs for a list of action verbs. Action verbs express that you do things, perform for an employer and act on problems. Get specific with what you can do for a potential employer. When you edit your profile, let your verbs do the work for you. Be conscientious of using the verb groups “to be” (is, are, & were), “to do”, “to say” and “to go”.

Remember you are selling yourself to a potential employer or business associate if you are seeking contract work. Use all of the tools at your disposal to get yourself re-employed.

Job Fairs - Dressing for Success

Do you plan your wardrobe for a job fair?

Recently, at a job fair, the clothing choices I witnessed that individuals were wearing, brought up this topic.  The options ran the gamut.

First, let me say that you don't have to be a fashion plate at a job fair, but you need to be professional in your appearance. Many of the men had on suits with a dress shirt and tie, briefcase with resumes, and the women had on equally nice pants suits or skirts and heels.  These individuals were prepared for any situation.

Other men had on khakis, a nice shirt and tie, or the women were wearing slacks and tops.  In most situations this is considered appropriate attire.

What struck me the most were the individuals who had on jeans, sneakers and baseball jackets.

When working a job fair you are one of a sea of individuals who the recruiter will see.  You have potentially 10 seconds to make a good first impression. How you look and what you say are all judged within that time.  You want the recruiter to have a good impression of you from appearance to your skills.

Your thoughts?

How do YOU work a job fair?

You have your resume ready, you know the dates of the job fairs, but is that all you have to do?

Before you go, you should spend some time on your plan of attack.  Most job fairs post in advance the names of the companies that will be in attendance.  Review the list, see if any of the companies fall within your targeted area of expertise.  Complete some background research on that company so that you are able to converse with the representative at the fair. Make sure that your resume reflects the skills you have that will best suit that company.  If there happens to be more than one company at the fair that you will be focusing upon, prepare an individualized resume and cover letter for each of the companies. Don't just "spray and pray".

While you are at the Job Fair, make sure you have your "elevator speech" ready.  You may only have a few moments of time with the recruiter and you want to make the most of them by being able to express why you would be a good fit for their company. If you are allowed time to ask questions, you could ask about opportunities, job responsibilities, and skills and/or past experience they are seeking.  Also, you may want to ask about the application and hiring process and the appropriate method and timeframe for follow-up.

Do you ask for business cards from the recruiters? It is a good method to complete your follow-up (based on the follow-up timeframe) and send a thank you note or email. Use it to notate what you spoke with the recruiter about at the fair. 

After the fair, make sure you send recruiters any additional items they requested. Send your thank-yous. Track everything in your log so that you can jog your memory when they call for the on-site interview.

For more assistance on job fairs and your job search, visit our website at www.kcdee.org/jobfairs.html

Opinion time - Should you invite the recruiter to be a LinkedIn contact?

What resume format is good for you?

What type of resume should you use?  Here is a brief explanation of the types and who should use what:

• Chronological Resume - Information is organized in a date order.  Focus is on employment dates and job titles, highlighting your most recent experience.
• Functional Resume - Highlights your skills, experience and accomplishments without identifying specific dates and places
• Combination Resume - brings the best of both formats together.

Chronological format is best used by individuals with a steady work record who have experience that directly relates to the position for which you have applied. Good - It is logical, showcases growth, promotions and company loyalty.  Bad - It emphasizes frequent job changes, limited or lack of experience, and set backs or demotions.

Functional resume - is best used by individuals just out of school, who have gaps in employment, frequent job changers, or individuals who have gained skills from areas outside of documented employment (possibly volunteer work).  Good - emphasizes skills rather than employment, disguises gaps in work history, and organizes a variety of experiences. Bad - loses direction because of lack of focus, deemphasizes job growth.

Combination resume - good format for those individuals in career transition or re-entering the job market after an absence.  Good - highlights most relevant skills and accomplishments, De-emphasizes employment history in less relevant jobs, Combines skills developed in a variety of jobs or other activities, and Minimizes drawbacks such as employment gaps and absence of directly related experience. Bad - can be confusing if not organized, requires more effort to prepare.

Career Resource Specialists at the Illlinois workNet Centers can assist you in determining what format is best for you.  Visit one of our centers today!

Illinois workNet Centers have Assistive Technology

The Illinois workNet Centers in Elgin, DeKalb and North Aurora provide the following Assistive Technology equipment to assist job seekers with disabilities the ability to access the Internet, information and computer systems.

Sorenson Video Relay Service Phone – Benefits individual with hearing and speech impairment.   

Expert MouseTrackball – The Trackball is a simpler mouse for individuals with limited dexterity. 

Adjustable Keyboard Tray – This is a height adjustable tray for individuals using a wheelchair or has ergonomic concerns.

IntelliKeys Keyboard – This is an enlarged, programmable keyboard for individuals with impaired motor involvement and vision impairment. 

Large Monitor – This is a 21-inch computer screen for individuals with mild vision impairment.

Closed Circuit Television - An electronic magnification device for viewing printed materials.

Large Print Keyboard Labels – Adhesive labels that make the keyboard keys easier to read.

ZoomText – Is for individuals who require large print to read, certain colors to enhance reading, and speech output to assist in reading text. 

Open Book – This gives blind or visually impaired individuals the tool to read, edit, scan, and manage printed text as well as text that is imbedded in graphics. 

JAWS – Is a screen reading software that works with your PC to provide access to today’s software applications and the Internet for those individuals who are blind or visually impaired and have high reading and word processing skills.

Home Page Reader – Software that reads most web pages aloud for visually impaired or blind individuals.

Talking Books Tape Player – Plays and records both standard and “talking book” audio cassette tapes for individuals who are blind. 

Duxbury Braille Translator – Is a complete Braille translator/word processor for those individuals who are blind or visually impaired. 

Juliet Braille Embosser – Is a Braille output printer for individuals who are blind and use Braille.

Pocketalker – Is a simple sound amplifier for individuals who have a hearing impairment.

For more details about any of these items visit our webpage at www.kcdee.org/assistiveTechnology.html

Donka, Inc

Donka is a partner of the Illinois workNet Center in North Aurora that is a non-profit organization providing computer training and job readiness services to persons with physical and visual disabilities.  Through computers and Assistive Technology, our clients become more self-sufficient and independent members of the community.  Our primary goals are:

1. Provide a credible computer training program to people with disabilities
2. Provide adequate training and experience to enable students to pursue further education or see employment
3. Provide a way for people who are disabled to utilize their intellectual abilities, increase their self-esteem and become more self-sufficient, independent members of the community.

Our computer instruction focuses on the common business applications.  Our training is intensive and individualized, with a goal of student driven success.  Donka believes that strengthened personal confidence combined with marketable computer skills yields a more productive person.

Our curriculum prepares students for work.  Students learn while working through realistic business scenarios.  They work at their own pace and ability level.  Students learn through a variety of instructional formats.  We use easy to follow textbook with CD ROM tutorials for review.  Besides following textbook instruction, students are given independent projects.  Students work on these projects with step by step assistance from the textbook.  These exercises reinforce learning while helping students identify performance gaps.  Students are tested as instruction for each computer program is completed
Assistive Technology assessment and training services are now available at your office, classroom, front door, or at the Illinois workNet Center.  Students from Kane County must have a fee for service contract with the Office of Rehabilitation Services (ORS).

Twitter and YOUR job search

How are you using your social media to help you find a job?

What are some pros and cons about using Twitter while your job search progresses.

To tweet or not to tweet, that is the question. Do all of your tweeps (the other people you follow on twitter) care if you are unemployed? Will that help or hurt you in your search?

There are two schools of thought on broadcasting over Twitter that you have recently lost your job. One thought pattern is that you are seeking sympathy; another is that you get the “news” out to everyone in one fell swoop and then when you see the person face to face, you can move on with other topics.

Twitter – Twitter profiles provide some of the same information that Facebook and LinkedIn provide. The information shared on Twitter is in 140 character "tweets".  Often it has a “pay it forward” concept.  You might find something and share it.  Someone else tweets something you think is worthy – you retweet it.  If you are looking for a job, try to hold back from tweeting what you had for breakfast or that you just went for a great 12 mile run.  Follow others who will provide job leads or useful information for your job search.

Search tools for Twitter allow you to find people or organizations as they do in LinkedIn.  Use this to your advantage to “follow” potential employers or contacts at an organization at which you would like to work.
You may even use Google or Bing or other search tools to find a person or a company and then search for them on Twitter.  You can search by company, field, job type, region, or in general.  Often, websites will post their Facebook or Twitter account with a link to follow them. Or you can search for people or organizations to follow on Twellow or on We Follow.  Mashable also has a suggestion for 15 Twitter Directories in a comparison. Look for recruiters to follow who hire for companies that do not publicly post their job openings.  Use Twellow (will search people's bios) to search for a company for which you would like to work and follow anyone from that company that might have twitter profiles.

If you are tweeting, a good source to follow for valuable tools about all aspects of social media is @mashable. Mashable suggests jobseekers follow: @microjobs and the hash tag discussion #tweetmyjobs. As you follow more people, you will discover more #resources. A few other hashtags to use include: #jobs, #jobhuntchat, #jobsearch, #jobadvice.  Be careful to watch the ratio of who you follow to those that follow you to prevent yourself from being classified as a spammer.

Read more of our articles on Social Media on our webpage - kcdee.org
What other hashtags have you found? Post in our comments please.

Your Personal Elevator Pitch – Can you highlight your resume in an elevator ride?

Marketers and public relations specialists know that in many situations you have just the time it takes for an elevator ride to grab the attention of a reporter. Hence, the phrase “elevator pitch”, came to be to explain the amount of time you have to explain your business or pitch your story. Can this correlate to your personal elevator pitch when it comes to sharing the key aspects of your career with someone?

A career coaching company in New York suggests a two-minute pitch. That isn’t how long it should take to “get to” your point, but it should take no longer than two minutes to share the best points of your career with a tiny bit of embellishment. Richard Skaare, a communications specialist, suggests that your resume should be able to be boiled down to the 140 – 160 characters you would use in a text message. Now, those two concepts work in concert with each other. To verbalize and expound on the 140 characters could take about 2 minutes.

Unless you are in that dream situation - sitting on the Metra next to someone who just happens to need someone with your exact skill set - the concept of using a 140 character resume is reserved for Twitter or a text message. The principle behind both thoughts mentioned above is you need to know exactly who you are, what skills you own, and how you have used them. Better still you need to be able to communicate those same things in a short, cohesive, cognizant statement if time is limited.

A couple of situations where your elevator pitch will work perfectly are networking events or job fairs. Yes, you may hand someone your “real” professionally prepared resume, but, what will you say to that job fair representative that will make him/her put your resume in the “second look” pile. What will you say to those you meet at a networking event that will pique their interest and entice them to spend more time with you, finding out more about you in greater detail?

Creating your Personal Elevator Pitch

You want to include a few key statements about yourself:

1. Your position – I am an architect – This is your key statement
2. General Experience – in commercial development for 10 years – this gives listeners an idea of what level of expertise you have.
3. Your sub-pitch – I’ve supervised over xx projects ranging from 10,000 square feet to 130,000 square feet in 20 major metropolitan areas
4. Add interest - including Singapore, New York, Chicago, and Little Rock.
5. Apply it to your listener – My concepts attract new business from companies like …. – if you are using your pitch in a cover letter or interview, direct this last portion of your pitch to create a comparison to the businesses situation, perhaps their direct competition if possible.

Let’s go back to the 140 characters. Forced brevity sharpens the mind. Work with a trusted friend or counselor to keep your pitch brief. Just as in creating new marketing ideas, you may need to brainstorm ways to keep the word count down.

Using your Personal Elevator Pitch - You have created your personal pitch, but if you don’t memorize it, practice it and know how to modify it depending upon your audience, you could end up stammering and jabbering just as if you didn’t take all the time to create your pitch in the first place.

Tell me about yourself is a typical question you will be asked on any interview. When asked, you want your personal elevator pitch to just flow. To do that you need to write out your pitch, memorize it, practice it in front of a mirror, a family member, your employment and training rep, your dog, or the car in front of you in line at the drive-through. You want the words to just flow.
You want your message to be crystal clear. Refer to it enough throughout the interview, that if the interviewer is asked to tell their boss about you when your interview is done, you know how they will position you after you leave.

Remember that when you are speaking, use a personal level. Standards today are based on the medium of TV, using a conversational style that is friendly and one-on-one. Speak as if you are speaking to an acquaintance and tell the interviewer something in your pitch that they won’t read by going through your resume.

How we can help – We offer many resources to help you gain a new position on your way to a career. The Employment and Training Representatives at Kane County Department of Employment and Education can help you create a professional resume, refresh your interview skills, or help you find ways to network effectively. Visit www.illinoisworknet.com and click on the JOBS link, you can find additional tips to help you in your job search.

Four Offices to serve you:

• Elgin – 30 DuPage Court 847-888-7900 x 230
• N. Aurora – 2 Smoketree Plaza 630-844-6640 x 203
• DeKalb – 1701 E. Lincoln Hwy. 815-756-4893 x 240
• Yorkville – 811 W. John St. 630-553-8304

http://www.kcdee.org/

Is your job search a noun or a verb?

Recently, the word career popped up as the Merriam-Webster’s word of the day in my email. I thought I knew what the word career meant, but I was surprised when I read that it was referring to the verb Career – meaning to go at top speed especially in a headlong manner. This made me think that one could “career toward a new career”.

If your job search is not actively moving forward in a headlong manner, maybe it is because you aren’t using some of the best action verbs to describe your skills. Following are some action verbs adapted from The Damn Good Resume Guide by Yana Parker. They are great for resumes. Even better, incorporate them into your cover letters and during the interview as you speak about your previous work duties.

achieve, act, adapt, address, administer, advise, allocate, analyze, appraise, approve, arbitrate, arrange, assemble, assess, assign, assist, attain, audit, author, balance, budget, build, calculate, catalogue, chair, clarify, classify, coach, collaborate, collect, communicate, compile, compute, conceptualize, consolidate, contract, convince, coordinate, correspond, counsel, create, critique, customize, delegate, demonstrate, demystify, design, develop, devise, diagnose, direct, dispatch, draft, edit, educate, enable, encourage, engineer, enlist, establish, evaluate, examine, execute, expand, expedite, explain, extract, fabricate, facilitate, familiarize, fashion, forecast, formulate, found, generate, guide, identify, illustrate, implement, improve, increase, influence, inform, initiate, inspect, institute, instruct, integrate, interpret, interview, introduce, invent, investigate, lecture, maintain, manage, market, mediate, moderate, monitor, motivate, negotiate, operate, organize, originate, overhaul, oversee, perform, persuade, pioneer, plan, prepare, prioritize, process, produce, program, project, promote, publicize, purchase, recommend, reconcile, record, recruit, reduce,refer, rehabilitate, remodel, repair, represent, research, resolve, restore, retrieve, review, revitalize, schedule, screen, set, shape, solve, speak, spearhead, specify, stimulate, strengthen, ,summarize, supervise, survey, systematize, tabulate, train, transform, translate, upgrade, validate, write

When you describe your skills and accomplishments with action verbs potential employers will take notice. Which example has more punch?

1. I had 7 people that reported to me while we put merchandise back on the floor that sold the day before. We would scan the shelf labels to see other merchandise that needed to be filled that didn’t arrive in the truck. We would also help store the merchandise in the stock room with a computer system.

2. Supervised 7 employees; Responsible for merchandise replenishment; Generated lists of merchandise for replenishment; Processed merchandise for storage.

Not only will the action verbs help your resume sound snappier, it will help keep it to the recommended one-page length that hiring managers like to review.

How we can help – We offer many resources to help you gain a new position on your way to a career. The Employment and Training Representatives at Kane County Department of Employment and Education can help you find all the information you need to make your resume get noticed. Visit www.illinoisworknet.com and click on the JOBS link, you can find additional tips to help you in your job search.

Four Offices to serve you:

Elgin – 30 DuPage Court 847-888-7900 x 230

N. Aurora – 2 Smoketree Plaza 630-844-6640 x 203

DeKalb – 1701 E. Lincoln Hwy. 815-756-4893 x 240

Yorkville – 811 W. John St. 630-553-8303

www.kcdee.org

Protect your Job Search

Scams are Everywhere - Protect your job search!

Identity theft if rampant. Even your job search could cause you to fall victim. Protect your identity by watching for these ruses:

Stimulus come-ons - while the government is recruiting, they will not send emails or letters touting job openings from the federal stimulus plan.

Interview invites - Scammers will send emails to invite you to travel to an interview and recommend you arrange travel through THEIR "corporate office" for a discount. It is a way to obtain your credit card information.

Legitimate sites have been hit - Scammers have infiltrated legitimate job search sites. Be cautious when you post any of your information on-line or by email. Save emails with potential employers and ask that they contact you by phone or interview you in person.