Using social media for the job search

By Gigats | Published: November 15, 2011

Advancements in technology have brought many changes and development to the table in the search for employment. Recent graduates, those looking to shift careers, or people just exploring new options and seeing what’s out there have many different ways of doing so thanks to the internet and social media.

No longer do we have to rely solely on the classifieds section of the local newspaper for all job listings. These days, a job seeker can actively seek out employment opportunities online and do extensive background research about companies and different sectors of the workforce. It’s easy to stay informed about the ever-changing job market if you just put forth a little effort and are willing to log in some hours at the computer.

Although most people just use Facebook for keeping in touch with friends and staying on top of social happenings, it can also be quite effective in one’s job search if used properly.

Before applying for jobs, it’s important to remember that although social media can be useful in the search for employment, one’s online presence can also negatively impact chances for landing a job. Most employers typically research their job candidates before bringing them in for an interview, and Facebook is definitely used for these purposes.

Cleaning up your Facebook page and getting rid of any distasteful or incriminating posts or photos is always a good idea, no matter if you are actively seeking employment or not. You never know when you might need a job or when employers are checking you out online. Random drunken photos or profane messages will send people the wrong message and could impede any chances of moving up in your career.

If you are really worried about what employers might see about you on Facebook, you can easily just keep your profile private. After all, you never know what your friends might post on your wall.

Facebook can also be used by the job seeker as a research tool. You can check out company pages and see what they are all about. If you know the names of bosses or people who you will be interviewing with, you can even look them up and arm yourself with useful information before meeting them.

LinkedIn is probably the most useful of all social networking sites in the realm of the job search. It’s very easy to upload your resume and connect with other professionals in your field or seek out companies that are hiring. Most businesses are present on LinkedIn, and many of them use the site to post new job listings.

LinkedIn is also a helpful tool in projecting the professional image to employers that they want to see in job applicants. Tailoring a LinkedIn profile toward the job you are looking for is easy to do, and it will help to keep your search focused and headed in the right direction.

Many people might not think of using Twitter in their job search, but this social media site can also be helpful in researching companies and finding out about new employment opportunities.

Most companies post regularly on Twitter, and by following their account you can stay up on their current news and hear about job openings. If listings are not disclosed on Twitter, at least you can get a better feel for what a company is all about by paying attention to their tweets.

A job search should never be limited to one medium. Utilizing every possible tool for seeking employment opportunities will open up different opportunities that may never have been possible with the old classifieds section of the newspaper or just sticking to online job boards.

 

WORKS CITED:

Sundberg, Jorgen. “How Social Media Will Help Your Job Search” socialmediatoday http://socialmediatoday.com/jorgen-sundberg/358886/how-social-media-will-help-your-job-search  Accessed 11/10/11

Van Grove, Jennifer. “How Job Seekers Are Using Social Media for Real Results” Mashable Business http://mashable.com/2010/03/08/job-seeker-results/  Accessed 11/10/11

 

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One Page, or Two?

By Gigats | Published: September 16, 2011

It’s an age-old question: Should a resume be one page or two?

There will be several blogs and advice columns that swear they have the answer and between them all, you’ll get both answers as “definitive.” Well, here’s the scoop: I’ll be able to better them all and give you the one, true answer.

Ready for it? Here it is:

It all depends on who’s doing the hiring.

Not the answer you were looking for? Sorry, it’s the truth.

Just like there are varying opinions on the matter throughout the blogosphere, there are just as many opinions amongst the HR folks. Some of them insist on resumes being one page, others are perfectly okay with two. Unfortunately, there isn’t a rulebook circulating amongst the HR staffers that explicitly lays out what is or isn’t appropriate that month.

And the only way to know for sure which way a particular person swings is to roll the dice and send in your resume.

Yeah, I know that’s not too comforting. You’re worried that your dream job might be kept from you if you send in a two-page resume to a one-page person. I understand.

The only thing you can do to combat this is to be sure that your resume is well written and compelling. Just because you can go to two pages doesn’t mean you necessarily should. Don’t pad your resume to make it two when one will get the job done efficiently. Also, don’t trim it to one if you can fill out two pages.

The real secret is to make the resume work for your experience regardless of what some blogger says the current “rules” are. All any HR person is really hoping to find is a smartly put-together application package. If you do that, you should be golden regardless of how many trees you do or don’t kill.

 

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I nailed the interview. Why didn’t I get the job?

By Gigats | Published: September 2, 2011

Rejection is hard. I know. I once made it all the way to the finals of a writing competition, and showed up to the awards banquet just to watch someone else win. As a consolation, the director came and told me I was second. There was no award for second. Getting so close and losing is probably worse than never having gotten that far at all.

And that’s what it feels like when you go for a job interview and never get that fateful call. You already started planning your new life in your head around that job only to see all those plans dashed. And all you’re left with is the aching question, “why wasn’t I good enough?”

Well, there’s nothing stopping you from asking. Send a letter to the person who interviewed, kindly thank them for the consideration and then ask them if they have the time could they explain what you could have done differently to be chosen.

Like the director of the writing contest that took the time to explain to me what I was lacking (for the record, it was just a matter of taste for my particular type of story), many people will take the time to at least offer a few points that you can work on for your next interview.

It might just come down to a gut reaction on the part of the interviewer, or it could be something you said or did during the interview that swung the pendulum the other guy’s way. But you’ll never know unless you ask.

The worst they could say is no. And they already did that once, so one more time won’t hurt.

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Is it a good time to ask for a raise?

By Gigats | Published: August 25, 2011

Is there ever a perfect time for you to ask for a salary increase – especially in this economy? No, probably not. “Perfect” timing depends on your specific work situation, when your answers to the following five questions all point in the direction that favors your case for an increase. Be sure to answer each question honestly:

Question 1: Are you consistently an excellent performer? This one is the foundation because salary increases are often — but not always — tied to performance reviews. Whether you are going into your annual performance review or having an out-of-cycle salary discussion, be sure to prepare for the meeting, ready to discuss your most relevant accomplishments. Keep in mind that your boss might have a less-than-perfect memory for the details of your brilliance.

Question 2: Do you make less than others doing the same work? Equity and fairness is a powerful performance motivator. Leading organizations know this and generally set their compensation structures so comparable work is comparably compensated. Even with that being true, we’ve seen a lot of slippage over the past few years as many individuals have watched their responsibilities expand but their salaries remain the same. Unless you work for an organization where salary information is public record, it is tough to find out what your similarly-placed colleagues are making (especially in the social reality where casually conversing with co-workers about salaries is more taboo than asking about a personal issue). Take the time to identify the accurate value for your position, skill set, experience, etc.

Question 3: Is your position critical to how the company competes? This is the toughest one for most people to answer honestly because the focus in on your position — not on you personally or your performance. You can be an excellent performer in a less critical role. More critical positions have a great influence on how the company competes and whether it will succeed. Other positions provide support.

Question 4: Would you be very difficult to replace? In the eyes of my husband, my family and my best friends I’d like to believe I am irreplaceable. In the eyes of my employer, however, there are others who could do my job. Would it be difficult to replace your skills set internally or externally in the job market? The more unique your skills are (combined with being critical to the company), the more your employer will likely approve your increase.

Question 5: Is your company in good position financially? This should go without saying. If your organization is making cuts or controlling expenses wherever possibly, you would be best advised to wait and not ask for increase at this time. If the company is struggling to stay afloat, you’ll seem out of touch with the business to ask for an increase at this time.

If you answered the questions and are starting to feel as though the stars would need to align in the form of a dancing unicorn for you to receive a pay increase, then use your answers as a diagnostic; the more answers you have in the “yes” column, the greater the probability that your request will lead to a fatter paycheck in the future.

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Handling Career Gaps in Your Job History

By Gigats | Published: August 18, 2011

You’re not alone, so don’t fret if you have a gaping hole or two in your employment history. In this economy, employment gaps are typical. Whereas employers generally view a gap in employment negatively, it’s not an automatic expulsion from the candidate pile. If you take the time to clearly explain why you have the gap, then you will be able to overcome this.

There are a lot of legitimate reasons for employment gaps and assuming you did not spend your time on the couch playing Xbox, you should not be afraid to explain why they’re there.  Whether you chose to become a stay-at-home parent, to pursue your education further, to deal with ailing parents (or your own illness), or were just unsuccessful in gaining new employment, you need to help an employer understand the reasons for the gap. Note that it is not enough to just mention your reasons on a cover letter as the resume must be able to survive as a stand-alone document.

Especially for women, raising a family is probably the number one reason people take a break from the workforce. This is an entirely legitimate reason to have a gap so do not try to hide it and please do not try to embellish it by using silly titles like Household or Domestic Engineer. Just say you invested in providing a stable environment for a family of X.

Your challenge in returning to the daily grind  is to indicate that your skills are fresh, so list the volunteer jobs you did with the school and community to showcase your organizational and other skills that support your theme. If you are from a technical field like IT or Engineering then you might need to showcase skills refresher courses or recent certifications you might have gained.

Especially in these times, gaps due to unemployment are common and the need to enter information here is entirely dependent on how long you were unemployed.  If you haven’t worked in a year or more, having an unexplained gap on the resume connotes that people chose not to hire you which is certainly not the impression you want to make.

If you took some temporary jobs, just bunch them under the heading Temporary Positions and indicate you selected to take some temporary roles while searching for the next appropriate job challenge. You can also include volunteer roles here too. If you did some part-time consulting, then indicate that and list some projects and successful results you achieved.

Sometimes you just have to take time off to deal with ailing relatives and financial matters. Or perhaps you were ill and don’t want to go into the details.  Dealing with this is simple.  Just list Sabbatical and state: “Dealt with urgent family matters now fully resolved”.

Using these simple tips and presenting a positive attitude about your readiness can dramatically improve your job search results.

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Recovering from a Bad Interview

By Gigats | Published: August 11, 2011

It’s everybody’s worst nightmare. You’re in an interview for a job you really want and it all starts going wrong. Whether it’s your phone ringing or you giving the longest, most irrelevant answer to an interview question ever, once things start going wrong it feels like there’s no way back. However, it is possible to get things back on track and limit the damage during the actual interview.

First, don’t panic. Even if you’re convinced you’ve made a massive mistake in the middle of your interview, keep calm and carry on. The interviewers may not have even noticed, or if they have, they may be willing to allow it depending on how the rest of the interview goes.

Don’t overcompensate by trying too hard. If you do so, you’ll tighten up and will probably go on to make more mistakes. Instead, focus on executing your original game plan for the interview and try to keep your breathing even.

Put the mistake out of your head by listening carefully to what the interviewers are saying. This will help you remain in the moment instead of thinking about what just happened.

Keep things in perspective—it’s a job interview, not a fight to the death.  If you really are emotional, excuse yourself to the bathroom so you can take a moment. If you don’t get this job, there are always other possibilities. If you got as far as this interview, you can do it again at another company. The fact that you scored an interview means you’re a desirable candidate.

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Surviving the Phone Interview

By Gigats | Published: August 4, 2011

Conducting the initial interview over the phone has become an increasingly popular way to screen applicants.  With more applicants available for each opening, employers do not have the time to invest in a meeting for every candidate that simply looks good on paper, so the telephone interview is used to screen a candidate and determine if he sounds as good as he looks on paper.

There are benefits and disadvantages to a phone interview. Some people are well-spoken and are great on the phone, but in person, their nervousness gets to them. Some are more comfortable speaking in-person and lack personality on the phone. Under both situations, it can be a challenge when you don’t have feedback that may typically appear through face-to-face contact.

Regardless of the situation, you need to put your best voice forward to leave the employer with a good impression. This may be the only shot you have at getting a step closer to securing a job offer with them. Remember that the employer may change their mind about inviting you in for an interview if you fall short of their expectations or leave a negative impression on the phone. Concentrating on a few key elements will make all the difference.

Treat every call you receive as an interview. Phone interviews may not always be scheduled. An employer may call you to respond to your submitted cover letter and resume, and the moment you pick up the phone an interview may occur right then.

Since the interviewer will not see your face, all they have to work off of is the voice you present, so make sure it sounds enthusiastic and energized with confidence. Try keeping a smile on your face as you talk and be aware of your tone and pitch so you do not come off sounding monotone.

Many people list their cell phone number on job applications, cover letters and resumes, which is fine, as long as when the phone is answered you are under good reception. If you are the one initiating the phone call, use a landline to avoid static or dropped calls. Also important is finding a quiet location where you will not be disturbed or distracted.

Be prepared as you would when you attend an interview in person. Keep in mind points that you can use to help explain how your previous experiences or skills make you a good fit for the open position. Also, always have questions in mind to ask during the interview that show your interest and desire to work with the company. Don’t forget to also keep your resume, a sheet of paper and pen on hand. You’ll need these items for reference or to take notes while on the call.

Interviews, whether in-person or over the phone, should end with an understanding of what the next steps are. If it was not covered, be sure to ask. The employer may also view this question in a positive way that you care about this opportunity and have a desire for it.

Remember, phone interviews deserve a follow up thank you note or e-mail to the individual(s) you spoke with – just as you would do after an in-person interview.

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The Interview Follow-Up

By Gigats | Published: July 28, 2011

Since time memorium, or at least as far back as the 50s, it’s been decorum to send a follow-up letter after you’ve interviewed for a job. It’s a way to sum up how you felt about the interview, express an interest in the job, and kiss a little butt so you actually get it. However, so much has changed in the last 10 years about which bottle you should send the message in.

Obviously there’s still the tried and true letter and stamp method. It’s classic and it shows you’ll go the extra mile by licking a letter and dropping it in the mail. It also shows your age. You don’t want to be a dinosaur, do you?

You can also do an e-mail. It’s immediate and has the same feel of a letter. But it too, shows your age. As sad as it may sound, e-mail is quickly becoming as passe as the stamp and envelope.

Which leads us to social networks like Facebook. Yes, “I’ll Facebook you” has become a phrase. We’ve actually make Facebook a verb. But, dropping a quick message onto the interviewers wall is a great way to show that you’re current. Stay true to modern standards, and keep the message short.

What? The person you interviewed with doesn’t have a Facebook account? Well, why would you want to work someplace so archaic?

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The Experience Catch-22

By Gigats | Published: July 21, 2011
Catch-22

Image via Wikipedia

Ever read the book “Catch-22” by Joseph Heller? It’s a great book. It details the adventures of Yossarian in WWII as he tries to get out of the air-corps on psychological grounds. But the Army built a fail-safe into the rules. You didn’t have to fly missions if you were crazy, but you actually had to ask to be grounded. However, if you had the presence of mind to ask, that meant you weren’t crazy. So there was no way out of it.

That same circular logic often happens to graduates fresh out of college. They are not hired because they don’t have any experience, but can’t get experience until they are hired. Bureaucracies rule like that.

So, how do you get around the epitomal Catch-22 of the working world?

First, get on the phone to your school and ask for a little help with placement. Most higher education and trade schools have offices to help students find entry-level jobs. They can’t guarantee you a job, but there are many programs with companies in the area to get your foot in the door.

Second, have a career professional evaluate your entire job-search plan. They’ll be able to point out little ways to beat the catch, such as using apprenticeships or internships from college to your advantage.

Finally, don’t discount temp positions. It’s not steady work, but it’s a great transition from the “fake world” of college to the “real world” (whatever the term “real world” really means). Besdies, if you’re right out of college you probably want more goof off time with friends before you start the day-t0-day grind of a full-time job. After all, this is the time of your life when you’ll have the freedoms of an adult, but not burdened with most of the responsibilities.

In other words, don’t sweat it so much just yet. You have a lifetime to work yet. The sooner you start, the longer you have to do it.

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