Duane Roberts's Posts - RecruitingBlogs2024-03-28T16:50:38ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRobertshttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1526716886?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://recruitingblogs.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=dRecruits&xn_auth=noHelp me see the light with job clubs…pleasetag:recruitingblogs.com,2010-09-28:502551:BlogPost:10904422010-09-28T21:06:23.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
<p>I’ll start this off by admitting that I am not an authority on job clubs. For some of you, this might be a good time to stop reading this blog because I just don’t get them. For those of you that are a part of job clubs, can you kindly (or not) explain to me:</p>
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<p>- What value do you get from belonging to the group?<br></br>- What advantage have you achieved?<br></br>- How much time have you given?<br></br>- What has the group done for you lately?<br></br>- Is it just a big rah rah…</p>
<p>I’ll start this off by admitting that I am not an authority on job clubs. For some of you, this might be a good time to stop reading this blog because I just don’t get them. For those of you that are a part of job clubs, can you kindly (or not) explain to me:</p>
<p></p>
<p>- What value do you get from belonging to the group?<br/>- What advantage have you achieved?<br/>- How much time have you given?<br/>- What has the group done for you lately?<br/>- Is it just a big rah rah meeting?</p>
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<p>I’m asking these questions because I think job seekers really need to focus their efforts on activities that will land them a job. If you haven’t asked these of the job clubs you belong to, maybe you should. As a recruiter, I try to help as many companies find talented executives, and executives find companies, as I can. I understand that I can’t help everyone that I come into contact with; some folks are outside of my industry / contacts, some don’t have the level of experience that the companies I hire for require, some companies are looking to hire people that I don’t have access to. There are a myriad of reasons that I can’t help everyone and I let all parties know this up front. Does it work the same way when you are part of a job club or do they try to be all things to all people? Several months ago I spoke at a local club. The room was packed (50+ in attendance), the questions were many, the reviews at the conclusion were positive but what did they really get out of it? If my discussion on “<em>How to present yourself using social media to get a job</em>” actually didn’t land anyone a job, what was the point?</p>
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<p>I’m not saying there is a right or wrong answer to the questions I posed earlier. What I am saying is this - as a job seeker you must be accountable to yourself in all that you do to find a job. Have a way of measuring / validating that the methods you use are working - job boards, recruiters, job clubs, etc. Know what you want to get from the relationship, measure it, and if it’s not effective, don’t be afraid to change and try a new approach. Now is not the time to do things for the sake of doing them. Now is the time to do things that are going to lead to results.<br/> </p>Black holes, resumes, anger, oh my!tag:recruitingblogs.com,2010-09-22:502551:BlogPost:10832112010-09-22T22:20:43.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
<p>A job seeker recently sent me an email asking my advice on a situation that I’m sure many folks have dealt with. She heard through the grapevine that a local company was looking to hire but did not have a direct contact. She thought she would differentiate herself and decided to not only send in her resume through the website but to also leave a message with HR to let them know that:</p>
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<p>1. They should be on the lookout for her resume because she is qualified for the position she…</p>
<p>A job seeker recently sent me an email asking my advice on a situation that I’m sure many folks have dealt with. She heard through the grapevine that a local company was looking to hire but did not have a direct contact. She thought she would differentiate herself and decided to not only send in her resume through the website but to also leave a message with HR to let them know that:</p>
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<p>1. They should be on the lookout for her resume because she is qualified for the position she was applying for.</p>
<p>2. She would appreciate a reply back to let her know if she were a fit or not in their eyes.</p>
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<p>You can guess what has happened. Weeks have gone by and she hasn’t heard a peep. She’s called and emailed several times but has yet to receive a response back. Her question for me - “What is wrong with people? Why won’t they take a moment to just let me know they aren’t interested?”</p>
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<p>My take - she’s done a lot of things right in this situation:</p>
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<p>- Jumped as soon as she heard about the job opportunity.</p>
<p>- Made a follow up call to introduce herself. (One word here - maybe she could do a little more research to see if she can find the actual hiring manager and follow up with that person instead of HR.)</p>
<p>- Tried multiple times to express her interest in the position.</p>
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<p><span style="COLOR: #ff0000"><strong><em>News flash - these things don’t set you apart. They really aren’t going above and beyond. In fact, this should be the norm.</em></strong> <span style="COLOR: #ff0000"><em><strong>These are all things that an aggressive job seeker needs to do to be competitive in the job market.</strong></em></span></span></p>
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<p><span>In fact, my take on this situation is a little different. What difference does it make if they get back to you and let you know you aren’t a fit for their job? Is this information going to change anything in how you conduct your search? Are you going to use this information to adjust your target list of companies or industries you go after? If your answer to these questions is no, then don’t waste your time worrying about getting feedback. Your focus should be on finding a job; not on why you didn’t get a response.</span></p>
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<p><span>The reality of the job search market is this - most employers aren’t going to call you back no matter what you do. Human Resource departments and hiring managers have an ideal candidate that they are looking for and will contact that person when they see him / her. They aren’t sitting around looking at resumes all day long, itching to reply to all people who send resumes their way. While conducting a job search is a personal activity, you can’t take it personal when companies don’t respond to you. You must focus, press onward and find companies that can use your skills rather than dwell on those that can’t. Channel that anger and frustration into activities that will lead to additional company leads and you’ll be the better for it. Now is not the time to let the frustration of a lack of response slow you down from you ultimate goal - employment.</span></p>
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<p><span><a href="http://www.careerunleashed.com/wordpress/index.php?p=811">http://www.careerunleashed.com/wordpress/index.php?p=811</a></span></p>
<p><br/> </p>Whats your digital footprint say about you?tag:recruitingblogs.com,2010-01-20:502551:BlogPost:8564512010-01-20T07:17:26.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
So you have a profile on LinkedIn; pictures on FaceBook; tell the world about your day on Twitter and your job at your blog. If you are looking for a job, and I were to trace your steps and follow each of these footprints, what type of picture are your painting? Are you someone who likes to "get down" on the weekends, drinking everything in sight (proof provided by you or your friends FaceBook pics). Maybe you like to read science fiction novels (you can show the books you are reading on…
So you have a profile on LinkedIn; pictures on FaceBook; tell the world about your day on Twitter and your job at your blog. If you are looking for a job, and I were to trace your steps and follow each of these footprints, what type of picture are your painting? Are you someone who likes to "get down" on the weekends, drinking everything in sight (proof provided by you or your friends FaceBook pics). Maybe you like to read science fiction novels (you can show the books you are reading on LinkedIn). Better yet, you're an avid video game player who plays Call of Duty until the wee hours of the night (some people use their gaming avatars in their profiles).<br />
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Regardless of what you do in your private, non-internet connected life, you must go to great lengths to protect the image you are presenting online. Each of these activities give a potential employer a clue about the type of person you are and insight into what makes you tick and what excites you.<br />
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So what? Does this really matter when you are interviewing and meeting with real, flesh and blood, non digitized people? The answer is a resounding yes! Employers, recruiters, HR staff, hiring managers - EVERYONE - is going online to verify you are who you say you are. They are checking you out. The days of employers just using references that you've provided are gone; deal with it and be prepared.<br />
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Now that we've established the importance of your online image, how do you develop and protect it:<br />
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- Keep a consistent name / user id across the different sites your belong to. Consistency is the key.<br />
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- Block information you don't want the public to know about. Think before you tweet, post or message.<br />
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- Friends matter! Just like in high school, be careful who you associate with and friend.<br />
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- Never, ever, ever bash a previous employer. (It'll come back to bite you).<br />
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- Set up Google alerts for your name and online id's.<br />
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The bottom line is this - You are what you tweet. Think before you post. Research before you friend. Whatever clever phrase you want to use, be mindful of what you do online because it is not private. Many people forget the social part of social networking. The whole point is to share your experiences and network your way to a job. This only works if you open up and share some of yourself. Just be sure you're sharing the part you want us to see.<br />
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<a href="http://www.careerunleashed.com/wordpress/index.php?p=776">http://www.careerunleashed.com/wordpress/index.php?p=776</a>Are you too scared to find a job? This isn’t Amway and you need to get active!tag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-11-24:502551:BlogPost:7968342009-11-24T03:43:38.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
If you are looking for a job, you must pull out all the stops. Can you relate to any of these scenarios:<br />
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- Former colleagues don’t know you are looking for a job.<br />
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- You have a large following on LinkedIn or FaceBook that you haven’t networked with.<br />
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- You haven’t checked in with past employers to see if they might be interested in rehiring you or referring you to new opportunities.<br />
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- Your resume is not updated.<br />
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I could go on and on with examples but the bottom line is this - you can’t…
If you are looking for a job, you must pull out all the stops. Can you relate to any of these scenarios:<br />
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- Former colleagues don’t know you are looking for a job.<br />
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- You have a large following on LinkedIn or FaceBook that you haven’t networked with.<br />
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- You haven’t checked in with past employers to see if they might be interested in rehiring you or referring you to new opportunities.<br />
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- Your resume is not updated.<br />
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I could go on and on with examples but the bottom line is this - you can’t approach your job search like you are selling Amway or any other home based business. What do I mean by this? We’ve all been approached by the person who has put together a list of everyone they know; people who will be interested in their can’t miss business opportunity. In the beginning, this person is very excited to tell everyone about what they are doing but after a couple of negative conversations they begin to get deflated. This person starts to question themselves and becomes apprehensive about what they are doing. They no longer want to talk to anyone about their business because they’ve been beaten down.<br />
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Job searching in 2009 and beyond is not a sprint. Treat your job search like a marathon. Put another way, slow and steady wins the race. You have to do the basics including calling and emailing all of your past employers, clients, former colleagues, classmates, high school sweet-hearts, anybody and everybody because you don’t kow who is in a position to positively impact your search. And you know what, if you are still unemployed in a couple of months, call them again. Some might consider you a stalker. Some people will call you rude. If you need a job, this doesn’t matter. You have to pull out all of the stops because there is one things I know for certain — if they don’t know you are looking for a job they won’t call you with a job lead.Of Resume Stuffers & the Nobel Prizetag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-11-23:502551:BlogPost:7964942009-11-23T06:03:06.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
Now that all the hoopla has died down I figured I throw my hat in the President Obama, Nobel Prize, drama. First a couple of qualifiers:<br />
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1. This isn’t a political post.<br />
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2. It doesn’t matter who I voted for.<br />
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3. Unlike most people who have already discussed this subject, I’m going to keep this brief and focused on my area of expertise.<br />
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Looking at this from a career accomplishments point of view, a resume stuffer if you will, this is pure gold for President Obama as a recent “hire” of the U.S.…
Now that all the hoopla has died down I figured I throw my hat in the President Obama, Nobel Prize, drama. First a couple of qualifiers:<br />
<br />
1. This isn’t a political post.<br />
<br />
2. It doesn’t matter who I voted for.<br />
<br />
3. Unlike most people who have already discussed this subject, I’m going to keep this brief and focused on my area of expertise.<br />
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Looking at this from a career accomplishments point of view, a resume stuffer if you will, this is pure gold for President Obama as a recent “hire” of the U.S. Regardless of your political affiliation or views:<br />
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- His resume read well enough to be considered<br />
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- He passed the interview process<br />
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- He got enough votes to win the “interview”.<br />
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- He was hired to lead our country based on his past experience and his in person question and answer sessions.<br />
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To me the electoral process is not unlike the interview process one goes through at a typical U.S. company. (Obviously the stakes are higher for the job he was interviewing for but I think you get the point). As President of the United States, every action is scrutinized, each speech analyzed, each clip slowed down and replayed. Not only do all of these actions become part of the public domain but they also become the career of our newest employee (the President). Just like your career, each challenge is a chance to succeed or fail. Looking at it from this point of view makes the Nobel Prize a great resume stuffer for our President. Again, this isn’t an argument about if it was deserved or not, but rather - he’s received it and can now use it as leverage as he goes about achieving other important aspects of his Presidency.<br />
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As a job seeker you need to do the same thing. What is the “Nobel Prize” in your background? What have you accomplished in your career that can be used as a selling point during your next interview? Make a list of success and be prepared to share them during every job interview you go on and include them in every summary when you send out your resume. This is not the time to apologize for your good work. Do as our President did - graciously accept your praise, use it as leverage to get the next interview / meeting / door opened, and keep moving forward to accomplish your agenda (finding a job) regardless of what others think.<br />
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Job searching, like being President of the United States, is not for the faint of heart…Are you committed like Cole Hamels? Employers hope not!tag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-11-10:502551:BlogPost:7910512009-11-10T00:43:15.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
I know the MLB World Series is over and the Yankees have been crowned the champs but there was an interesting side story that I think really applies to your job search. Cole Hamels, superstar pitcher and MVP of last years World Series and National League Championship Series (yeah he’s kind of a big deal), really upset fans when he said he couldn’t wait for the season to be over. The problem - he said this after a poor outing and losing pitching effort against the Yankees in game 3 of the World…
I know the MLB World Series is over and the Yankees have been crowned the champs but there was an interesting side story that I think really applies to your job search. Cole Hamels, superstar pitcher and MVP of last years World Series and National League Championship Series (yeah he’s kind of a big deal), really upset fans when he said he couldn’t wait for the season to be over. The problem - he said this after a poor outing and losing pitching effort against the Yankees in game 3 of the World Series.<br />
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- His timing could not have been worse.<br />
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- He probably shouldn’t have said it.<br />
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- This caused his teammates to question his dedication to their goal and their team.<br />
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How does this apply to your job search and or future employer concerns? Companies want to hire employees who can work under duress and deliver in spite of the odds - tight deadlines, under staffed projects, not enough resources, etc… These firms aren’t going to hire a “Cole Hamels” who cracks or wants to call it a day because the going is tough and he is “mentally drained”. As someone who is in the job market, someone actively looking for their next opportunity, you have to rise above your competition (other job seekers) and show why you are the MVP (most valuable person) they can hire.<br />
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- Highlight specific accomplishments in your background that relate to their needs.<br />
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- Emphasize how you’ve delivered in a clutch situation.<br />
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- Point out times that you’ve excelled or exceeded even your own lofty expectations.<br />
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You can’t be ordinary if you want to get the job. You must be extraordinary if you are going to get a job in this market. The Yankees won the World Series and many will say it was because of great pitching, timely hitting or better coaching. At the end of the day, the Phillies may have been undone by a lack of harmony in the dugout. Show your future employer that you are an asset not a liability. Someone who can bring the team together while delivering beyond their wildest dreams. Be the Cole Hamels of 2008 (World Series MVP, National League MVP), not 2009. Be uber-committed.<br />
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* Disclaimer: I am a San Francisco Giants fan. I generally root for the National League when the Giants don’t make it to the World Series but I did root for the Yankees this year (for what it’s worth) *<br />
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<a href="http://www.careerunleashed.com/wordpress/index.php?p=727">http://www.careerunleashed.com/wordpress/index.php?p=727</a>Have You Ever Had a Boss You’d Call Friend - Burning Bridgestag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-09-01:502551:BlogPost:7371892009-09-01T02:00:54.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
I'm sure you've heard the a saying, "The grass isn't always greener". Does this apply to you when it comes to your career? How many times have you left a company thinking it was the right thing to do?<br />
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Maybe you left for:<br />
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- more money<br />
- loftier title<br />
- closer to home<br />
- more flexibility<br />
- better people<br />
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The problem is once you get to the new company you realize they have their own warts that you didn't see during the interview process. This blog is for you.<br />
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I started recruiting 14 years ago…
I'm sure you've heard the a saying, "The grass isn't always greener". Does this apply to you when it comes to your career? How many times have you left a company thinking it was the right thing to do?<br />
<br />
Maybe you left for:<br />
<br />
- more money<br />
- loftier title<br />
- closer to home<br />
- more flexibility<br />
- better people<br />
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The problem is once you get to the new company you realize they have their own warts that you didn't see during the interview process. This blog is for you.<br />
<br />
I started recruiting 14 years ago for a British based recruiting firm. I joined with absolutely no experience or technical training but I did (and still do) have a love for technology. I describe myself as a geek who can't code; I used technical recruiting as a way to stay informed about all of the cool companies and the things they were working on. From these humble beginnings, I thought I had reached the pinnacle - working for the largest executive search firm in the world; recruiting Senior VP's, Presidents and CEO's for top companies - until I was laid off. I've been told that I have the kind of personality that attracts people. There's something about my un-assuming style and demeanor that people can appreciate. I was brought up to treat people fair but to always speak my mind (and let you know where you and I stand) and I guess people can appreciate this. This is the way I've approached not only my recruiting business and careerunleashed.com but also my personal life - the end result, I've been hired by the same employer, the firm that I started my recruiting career three times. Each time I've left, "it's been for a better opportunity" or so I thought. Each time I've gone back, I've been in a different role and made it a point to not only add value but to exceed expectations. I don't know if I'll end my career there but I do know that I consider the President a mentor, a great person and most importantly a friend.<br />
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How many of you have been lucky enough to have a similar experience? I'm not talking about someone that will serve as a reference or who will say good things about you. This is more than that - a genuine friendship built on respect. With all of the bad news being reported and discussed, let's take a moment to celebrate the good in our business lives. I think we can all benefit from a moment of cheer.<br />
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http://www.careerunleashed.com/wordpress/index.php?p=708He found a job: My interview with Joe Rohdetag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-09-01:502551:BlogPost:7371882009-09-01T02:00:29.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
This week I am interviewing Joe Rohde. Joe has had a great sales career and agreed to chat for a bit about what's been successful in his job search.<br />
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First, can you give an over view of your background and the circumstances that led to your unemployment?<br />
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My experience was continuous growth which alternated between startups and established companies. Typically my success was in establishing the 'early adopter' customers for new technologies and products. The immediately previous 14 years were…
This week I am interviewing Joe Rohde. Joe has had a great sales career and agreed to chat for a bit about what's been successful in his job search.<br />
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First, can you give an over view of your background and the circumstances that led to your unemployment?<br />
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My experience was continuous growth which alternated between startups and established companies. Typically my success was in establishing the 'early adopter' customers for new technologies and products. The immediately previous 14 years were spent starting and running a company, located in the California foothills, acting as a reseller for a set of products and services that changed over time. This lent itself well to having a lifestyle balance, raising kids and helping with grandchildren, and we also made a very good living. Ultimately things changed, resulting in that company being merged with a MSP and after effecting the transition it was time to re-set my career. It was a strange to be 'looking' for a job as in the past I'd generally been referred into my next position.<br />
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What was the first thing you did when you started looking for a job?<br />
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There were actually several months that I took for myself before commencing my search. When I decided it was time I took the typical steps today of subscribing to job boards, researching companies and applying directly (electronically and direct snail mail) and also engaged a firm to assist in the search. None of this met with any substantial success. With the depth of the talent pool these days it seems there has to be an exact match between skills, experience and education to even make it through the screening technology. It was frustrating as I knew that in the interview process I'd shine.<br />
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What was the most valuable or successful thing you did to land the job?<br />
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Becoming frustrated with the lack of prospects I looked at ways to make myself more valuable and took several online courses, specific to sales skills and tools. This led to attending local events put on by vendors (NOT job fairs) where I could make personal contact. It was at one of these events that I was introduced to an entrepreneur who had interesting technology and that needed some business development help. Since he was bootstrapping the company there was no compensation other than commissions that would be earned. After getting some decent traction for that product that same entrepreneur introduced me into my current employer. Basically I took the opportunity to show what I could deliver and that led to a great new job with a talented crowd of people.<br />
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The actual act of working productively, not just working at finding a job, did a lot to reinforce my ego and bolster confidence in my abilities.<br />
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How long were you unemployed?<br />
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The total time was about 9 months. The first 4 of those were absorbed by taking time off purposefully followed by a death in the family. I really got started at the first of this year.<br />
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What advice, based on what you've gone through, would you give someone who is looking?<br />
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Actively pursue and expand your social connections. You can never tell where they'll lead, plus it can be very isolating when you go from the social aspect of having co-workers to being on your own in front of the computer.<br />
And take a flyer when something interesting comes along. You can still job search, but the act of work can be gratifying on it's own. As a friend and advisor likes to say, "You can't count the apples in a seed."<br />
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A couple of valuable lessons here for folks to consider. If job boards or recruiters aren't working, push the envelope. Depending on your situation, it may make sense to take a "flyer" as Joe did (commission only or volunteer role) to show what you can do. As we can see, these can often lead to a paying job. Lesson #2 - expect to get frustrated in your job search. But don't let that frustration derail you. Joe used that frustration to re-invigorate his search.<br />
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Joe - thanks again for taking the time to chat and share your experiences. We wish you continued success!<br />
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http://www.careerunleashed.com/wordpress/index.php?p=699She found a job: My interview with Gina Turner-Conwaytag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-08-24:502551:BlogPost:7330692009-08-24T06:30:00.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
Gina and I met while networking on LinkedIn. She is someone who has successfully found multiple jobs this year who was happy to share her experience with us.<br />
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Thanks again for volunteering for this. Can you give the folks a quick over-view of your background and the circumstances that led to your unemployment.<br />
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My background is Marketing and Administration. I have moved from High Tech Marketing in the Bay Area, to Newspaper Marketing, to Retail Marketing throughout…
Gina and I met while networking on LinkedIn. She is someone who has successfully found multiple jobs this year who was happy to share her experience with us.<br />
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Thanks again for volunteering for this. Can you give the folks a quick over-view of your background and the circumstances that led to your unemployment.<br />
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My background is Marketing and Administration. I have moved from High Tech Marketing in the Bay Area, to Newspaper Marketing, to Retail Marketing throughout my career. I also have a background as an Executive Assistant with an emphasis in event planning. I hold a Bachelors of Business Administration from University of San Diego. I took a voluntary buyout from the local newspaper to pursue other interests after sixteen years with the same company. I felt it was time to try something new. I landed my new Retail Marketing job within 3 weeks of accepting a buyout offer. I left the Retail Marketing position after 8 months, and in two weeks, was employed again, this time in the health care industry. So this is the second job search I have done in the past year.<br />
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So you are very aware of how tough the market can be. What was the first thing you did when you started looking for a job?<br />
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Fortunately, the newspaper industry is a great place to network. I had planned to leave the paper within the next few years, and had started my networking much earlier. I also built my Linked In network prior to the buyout. Our company provided outplacement counseling and I took full advantage of that. I targeted high growth companies and searched for a Marketing/Communications position where my colleagues had successfully secured positions. After I had my resume complete, I talked to everyone I could think of about career opportunities, then started sending my resume out online. I personally called my contacts and secured my references before I left the newspaper.<br />
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Can you share with us what you consider to be the most valuable or successful thing you did to land the job?<br />
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Networking - It is all about who you know. When I targeted a particular company, I would look through my contact list to see who I knew within the company, or who could give me an introduction. I am a firm believer that sending in a resume “blind”, through a website, is not the best way to apply for jobs. You really need to know the players, who can make it happen for you? I also did not limit myself to the corporate environment to network. Every day is a new networking opportunity. The grocery store, the gym, my daughter’s tennis team. You never know who that person is who can help you, or who you can help in return.<br />
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How long were you unemployed?<br />
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I was employed by the time my buyout was complete, and employed the 2nd time within 2 weeks.<br />
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Gina - I really appreciate your time. Wrapping this up would you give someone who is looking for a job?<br />
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Don’t be afraid to ask for a recommendation. Don’t limit yourself to one job description, and network, network, network. It is all about who you know. People genuinely want to help you, and you just need to put yourself out there and ask. You are selling yourself, so do not be afraid to market yourself! Talk to everyone you know. Someone knows someone who is hiring; even now. I am a true believer in Linked In, and I also would recommend the free class Linked In offers to job seekers. Also, thank everyone along the way who has helped you, and return the favor if you can some day.<br />
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http://www.careerunleashed.com/wordpress/index.phpHe found a job: My Interview with Ross Drehertag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-08-21:502551:BlogPost:7299012009-08-21T05:35:44.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
I'm continuing to interview successful job seekers and have just posted my interview with Ross Dreher. Check out what he did to find a job. You might even learn a thing or two.<br />
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<br />
Ross -<br />
<br />
Thanks again for being a part of this little social job search experience.<br />
<br />
First, can you give a brief over view of your background and the circumstances that led to your unemployment?<br />
<br />
My background is in IT sales, specifically as a software sales executive in my most most recent position. The…
I'm continuing to interview successful job seekers and have just posted my interview with Ross Dreher. Check out what he did to find a job. You might even learn a thing or two.<br />
<br />
------------<br />
<br />
Ross -<br />
<br />
Thanks again for being a part of this little social job search experience.<br />
<br />
First, can you give a brief over view of your background and the circumstances that led to your unemployment?<br />
<br />
My background is in IT sales, specifically as a software sales executive in my most most recent position. The company is national and my territory was the southeast USA. Due to the declining US economy and the effects on the company my position was eliminated as part of a company-wide reduction in force.<br />
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That sounds like a story that has unfortunately been repeated many times. What was the first thing you did when you started looking for a job?<br />
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The first thing I did when I got laid off was to update my resume and started using job boards like Indeed.com and SimplyHired.com that pull job listings from multiple boards. I posted my resume to traditional boards like Monster and Careerbuilder. I did a Google search in the first couple of weeks to find networking events in the area and started attending events from there.<br />
<br />
You decided to go the more traditional route. What was the most valuable or successful thing you did to land the job?<br />
<br />
Utilizing the contacts I met at the networking events as well as using LinkedIn are the most valuable things I did to land my new job. The job was posted in the Jobs section of LinkedIn and I was able to learn a tremendous amount about the position before the interview from an insider at the company who I also met through LinkedIn. I would not have met the insider through LinkedIn without developing relationships at the networking events, so networking is the most valuable.<br />
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How long were you unemployed?<br />
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I was unemployed for about 3 months.<br />
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What advice, based on what you've gone through, would you give someone who is looking?<br />
<br />
I would recommend to post your resume to Monster and Careerbuilder but not browse their job postings. I used Indeed.com once or twice a day to present a compilation of postings from several boards and company websites. There are recruiters that look up resumes on job boards, so you should still have your resume out there. Attending local networking events is crucial. At every event I attended I either met someone that could help with my specific job search or I learned something new. Even if you don't meet someone that can help or learn any new information, you still meet people that you can connect to on LinkedIn. The more contacts you have in LinkedIn, the more likely one of your contacts is connected to someone at a target company. You need to find an insider at every company or organization that you apply to if you expect to be contacted. There are hundreds or thousands of other people that apply to the same job and you have to somehow jump to the front of the line.<br />
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So here we have someone that used job boards, networking and social sites (ie LinkedIn) to actually find a job. Good to hear from someone who has had success using these tools.Do you have time to be Bo Jackson - A two career star?tag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-08-18:502551:BlogPost:7279942009-08-18T04:21:51.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
Here's a quiz for you - name as many dual sports athletes as you can:<br />
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Deion Sanders football and baseball star.<br />
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Jim Brown was stellar in football and considered one of the greatest lacrosse players.<br />
<br />
Charlie Ward played basketball and football.<br />
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Jackie Joyner-Kersee ran track and was a great basketball player.<br />
<br />
Shaun White does snowboarding and skateboarding and dominates his sports.<br />
<br />
Jackie Robinson dominated athletics at UCLA - Baseball, Football, Track, Basketball<br />
<br />
How many dual career…
Here's a quiz for you - name as many dual sports athletes as you can:<br />
<br />
Deion Sanders football and baseball star.<br />
<br />
Jim Brown was stellar in football and considered one of the greatest lacrosse players.<br />
<br />
Charlie Ward played basketball and football.<br />
<br />
Jackie Joyner-Kersee ran track and was a great basketball player.<br />
<br />
Shaun White does snowboarding and skateboarding and dominates his sports.<br />
<br />
Jackie Robinson dominated athletics at UCLA - Baseball, Football, Track, Basketball<br />
<br />
How many dual career professionals do you know? We are increasingly moving towards a model where folks have more than one job. It used to be that women were expected to stay home, take care of the house and raise the kids. (Yes, I'm talking the dark ages!) Then we saw the rise of the dual income household - both parents working to make ends meet. Now, it's all hands on deck - many working professionals hold a full time job AND do "a little something " on the side. They have home businesses and consulting gigs that utilize their professional backgrounds.<br />
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We are all part of the connected world where so much of our lives are online. (Unless you're still in the those dark ages I referenced above.) Many people check email on their BlackBerry, iPhone, Palm while they eat. Send invoices from bed or while brushing their teeth. Have conference calls in their pj's over Skype at 6 am. These things are being done for the company they "work" as their own boss before/after going to work for their employer.<br />
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Mommy and Daddy are now the dual career stars juggling not only their work lives but also their family lives with the kids in tow. The thing to keep in mind is that in most cases the career of the dual sports star was short lived. He/she burned themselves out earlier than if they had focused on just one sport. Don't let this happen to you. Yes it may be exciting and you get a great a sense of accomplishment but at what cost? It's important that you set paramaters around the work you do outside of the office. Maintain a schedule and do your best to stick to it. Money is good. Sense of accomplishment and success is great. But none of this is of value without the good health to take advantage of it.<br />
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http://www.careerunleashed.com/wordpress/index.php?p=654He found a job: My Interview with Joerg Schulze-Clewingtag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-08-12:502551:BlogPost:7248362009-08-12T05:58:27.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
I've started a series where I interview the every day job seeker and have them share what's worked in their job search. Thought you'd find it interesting.<br />
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Joerg-<br />
<br />
Thank you again for taking the time to share with us what you've done to land your job.<br />
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Can you give a brief over view of your background and the circumstances that led to your unemployment?<br />
<br />
My background is electrical engineering, my degree is from RWTH Aachen University in Germany. I specialize in analog circuit design, something…
I've started a series where I interview the every day job seeker and have them share what's worked in their job search. Thought you'd find it interesting.<br />
<br />
Joerg-<br />
<br />
Thank you again for taking the time to share with us what you've done to land your job.<br />
<br />
Can you give a brief over view of your background and the circumstances that led to your unemployment?<br />
<br />
My background is electrical engineering, my degree is from RWTH Aachen University in Germany. I specialize in analog circuit design, something that some of our professors told us would be a dying art. Of course they were wrong and I knew it but many others believed them. Then I started my career at Squibb Medical Systems, designing parts of medical ultrasound machines.<br />
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I was not unemployed. What happened was that my first employer closed their whole R&D facility in Europe. They offered us jobs in the US but the deal wasn't all that attractive. So I became self-employed. Loved it. Back then I was able to turn a profit for my first year although I was only self-employed only the last six months of that year. This really baffled the tax folks (they called, asking if that was really true).<br />
<br />
Thanks for the background and clarification. What was the first thing you did when you started looking for a more permanent or full time opportunity?<br />
<br />
For my first job I compiled a binder with brief outlines, photos and schematics of all the hobby projects I had completed. Plus summer job projects as far as I was permitted to disclose them. Other students and even faculty at the university said this would be silly and I'd be ridiculed. Not so. At my first interview a hiring manager was poring over this binder, became really interested. I nailed it. Later when this manager's car was in the shop and I gave him a ride home he said "Hey, can we swing by your house? I want to see that monster amplifier you had in your binder when you interviewed last year!"<br />
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Interesting approach. Why did you chose to do that?<br />
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It shows potential employers that you can organize your work all by yourself, get the design done and tested, plus furnish proper documentation. So they saw that they didn't have to teach me to do that, they could just toss me into the pool and I'd be able to swim.<br />
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What was the most valuable or successful thing you did to land the job?<br />
<br />
This binder, for the first job. Later when self-employed I wrote proposals. Whenever I saw something in whatever branch of the electronics industry where I thought "Hey, this could be done much better" I found out who the upper managers were at a particular company, or the CEO. This was not so easy in the 90's but now with Internet it is very easy. All you have to find is the typical email prefix convention, the correct spelling of the person's name, and bingo. Usually. It doesn't work 100% of the time but then there is always the mail.<br />
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A proposal can take up to a week which is unpaid time. I try to condense mine into a maximum of 6 pages, or three double-sides sheets. No fluff, cut straight to the chase. This has landed me numerous consulting assignments and the best job I ever had (upper management).<br />
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What advice, based on what you've gone through, would you give someone who is looking?<br />
<br />
Don't shy away from he more unusual methods of contacting upper managers. Don't listen to others when they say it's a stupid idea. Try to get to talk to some managers at trade shows, not at job fairs where they usually won't be present anyhow. But only do that when you have some ideas for their business, else they'll politely end the conversation with some small talk.<br />
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I would not use platitudes in resumes, things like "team-oriented person". I find it more important to outline achievements and personal goals, and where exactly you believe you could contribute.<br />
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Hint for engineering students: Get cracking with that solder iron. Build stuff. Just learning theory and simulations isn't going to cut it. Try to land a technical summer job, not serving guests at some restaurant. Yeah, the tips may bring you more money but future employers will be much more impressed if you can say "I designed a so-and-so gizmo at SuperDuper Corporation" or "I worked on an oil rig" (I did both).<br />
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Think about whether self-employment is for you. It's not for everyone but it is a very viable path for engineering and similar professions. Be frugal. I bought almost everything second hand. Desks, equipment, gear, and so on. Curb convenience expenses. No, you don't really need cable TV, the daily stop at the coffee shop, and a pricey gym membership can often be replaced by chopping your own firewood, hiking and so on. Heck, I even have a prepaid cell phone for business. Costs me about five Dollars a month. We have no cable TV or satellite, my car is well past 10 years and in perfect shape, I use CostCo phone cards for business long distance calls. Not that I have to, but by choice. Resist the temptation to live from check to check, because one day an expected check might not show up. And don't forget health insurance which can be the big show stopper for self-employment. If you have known risk factors or had too much illness in the past most likely you'd be unable to get any.<br />
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Last but not least give back to the community. Volunteer. Be active. My wife and I mostly do this through our church and it is very rewarding. Money is not the most important factor in life.<br />
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Joerg - thank you again for your thoughts and insights. Your approach has obviously worked for you and could do the same for others. If anyone would like to reach out to Joerg, feel free to contat him through his site http://www.analogconsultants.com/<br />
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http://www.careerunleashed.com/wordpress/index.phpDon’t let your job search keep you down!tag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-07-31:502551:BlogPost:7191342009-07-31T22:49:50.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
If you are looking for a job, now is not the time to let the pressures of your job search keep you down. Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve had conversations with many, many people that have spent the last 6 months+ on the job hunt. In their minds they have tried every tip or tool known to man:<br />
<br />
- Rewrote resumes<br />
- Posted and searched on every job board<br />
- Attended every network meeting (including virtual) in a 60 mile radius<br />
- Sent resumes to countless warm leads and contacts<br />
- Joined a job…
If you are looking for a job, now is not the time to let the pressures of your job search keep you down. Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve had conversations with many, many people that have spent the last 6 months+ on the job hunt. In their minds they have tried every tip or tool known to man:<br />
<br />
- Rewrote resumes<br />
- Posted and searched on every job board<br />
- Attended every network meeting (including virtual) in a 60 mile radius<br />
- Sent resumes to countless warm leads and contacts<br />
- Joined a job search club or group<br />
- Googled, Tweeted, Linked and FaceBooked until numb in the finger tips<br />
<br />
Do you know what they have to show for all of this activity - nothing, zip, nadda - they are still unemployed. They call and ask, “Duane this is what I’ve done. What else should I do?” If you are in this situation, I say take a step back and review the process that you’ve used to find a job. You are a grown up with grown up bills to pay. Now is not the time to throw in the towel; it is the time to begin again with renewed energy.<br />
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Are you so busy looking for a job that you aren’t doing the things you need to do to land a job?<br />
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What are you doing to track your job search. I’ll readily admit that I’m biased given the focus of my product but, that being said, you still need to do something to know who you’ve called, when you called them, when you are going to get feedback and when to follow up with them. If you aren’t doing this things, it’s like driving a car without looking at where you’re going. Any road will do. You don’t know where you are going to end up; in this case nowhere. To make matters worse, you won’t event know when you’ve arrived at your destination.<br />
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Go back to all of the people you’ve contacted (or tried to contact) and talk to them again. Be specific about what you are looking for and why you are asking them for help. Don’t just email them CALL THEM.<br />
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You must use Twitter, FaceBook and LinkedIn the correct way. On Twitter you are asked “What are you doing”? Don’t just talk about the fact that you are looking for a job. Talk about other interest. Contribute to the global community. Add value first and then sprinkle in the fact that you are looking for a job. The relationship won’t work if it’s one way. In other words, don’t be the guest who shows up at a house warming empty handed expecting to sip the bubbly and sample the appetizers. If you want folks on the social sites to help you give them a reason to by being someone worth following; add value. This could be as simple as posting recipes or links to your favorite news stories. How many LinkedIn groups do you participate in? I don’t care if you are a member. How many times have you answered a question and provided your expertise? Being a member doesn’t count. If you haven’t been doing these things it could explain why you haven’t been getting much love from your followers or contacts.<br />
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I coach a competitive girls softball team. One of the things I tell them is there’s a difference between just being on the field and playing the game. There’s also a difference between playing and PLAYING; champions PLAY. You need to figure out how long you want to look for a job. Are you tired of playing with the job search and ready to do the things you need to do to land a job or are you going to just keep doing things the way you’ve been doing them for the last several months. Don’t bury you heard. Get up off your butt and change the game.<br />
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http://www.careerunleashed.com/wordpress/index.php?p=603The birth of the job wanted descriptiontag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-07-08:502551:BlogPost:7046352009-07-08T05:13:14.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
That’s not a typo. I’m not talking about writing a job description. I’m talking about you writing a job wanted description. I’m sure you already have a resume, cover letter and business cards to pass out but here’s a thought - why not create a job wanted description that tells the hiring manager or company exactly who you are, what you do well and what you’re looking for. Let’s discuss how this would differ from a resume.<br />
<br />
What are you trying to accomplish? Anyone who reads your job wanted…
That’s not a typo. I’m not talking about writing a job description. I’m talking about you writing a job wanted description. I’m sure you already have a resume, cover letter and business cards to pass out but here’s a thought - why not create a job wanted description that tells the hiring manager or company exactly who you are, what you do well and what you’re looking for. Let’s discuss how this would differ from a resume.<br />
<br />
What are you trying to accomplish? Anyone who reads your job wanted description should know immediately what your perfect job looks like. When they read this they should know what you do (and have done) well and how you will succeed in this job. There should be no ambiguity. In this case, you are going to be very specific about your expertise.<br />
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What should you include in the job wanted description?<br />
<br />
Your ideal job title should be the role that you’ve done and done well.<br />
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A good summary of what you would like to do. A couple of points here will do. This is key because you want to help them understand what areas you are focusing on. Who you want to report to. Responsibilities you’d like to have. Where you would fit in the organization.<br />
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Background information as to why you are in the market and looking. Paint a positive picture of the circumstances that have led to your unemployment. This is not the time to be negative or bash a previous employer.<br />
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The job responsibilities section is where you get into specific details. Highlight what you are looking for in an organization - motivations, team size, key points that will increase the likelihood that you will succeed. Describe specific job experiences.<br />
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This description is to be used in conjunction with a resume and cover letter. The resume is a short introduction that tailors your background to a specific requirement. The cover letter is a summary of that expertise; again hopefully tailored to a specific job lead. The job wanted description helps an employer understand who you are and what your motivations are. This is not tailored to a specific job but focuses more on you the individual - This is who I am and what I’m looking for. Let’s use this as a starting point to see why I may, or may not, be a fit for your job. Unconventional, yes. But if finding a job were easy, everyone would be employed. If you’re not getting the results you want from your job search, you need to switch it up. Who knows, it just might work…5000 followers and nobody wants to help; frustrated job seekertag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-06-26:502551:BlogPost:6980322009-06-26T16:37:40.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
Imagine a world where your complete understanding of interacting with people was turned on its head. A world without Twitter, LinkedIn or FaceBook. This world wouldn’t have online “social media” sites as you know them today and would not allow you to interact using short message bursts or text messages. How would you survive? How would you manage? How would you go about identifying company contacts and leads?<br />
<br />
Ok. You can open your eyes now, take a deep breath and exhale. This is not some crazy…
Imagine a world where your complete understanding of interacting with people was turned on its head. A world without Twitter, LinkedIn or FaceBook. This world wouldn’t have online “social media” sites as you know them today and would not allow you to interact using short message bursts or text messages. How would you survive? How would you manage? How would you go about identifying company contacts and leads?<br />
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Ok. You can open your eyes now, take a deep breath and exhale. This is not some crazy nightmare I’m asking you to relive (although some of your hearts probably skipped a beat). This was our reality back in the old days before we all became fans of:<br />
<br />
- LinkedIn: founded in 2002<br />
- Twitter & FaceBook: founded in 2007 or so.<br />
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Here’s another news flash for you — people actually knew how to network pre-tweet. They actually spoke to people on the phone and gathered company information including contact names. They used the Yellow Pages and 411 operators on the phone to get company phone numbers. There was even a printed copy of the White Pages that had phone numbers for people (imagine that!).<br />
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This is all fine and dandy but what’s the point of the history lesson? You should care about this quick trip down memory lane because in order for you to be successful in your job search, you need to utilize the same basic principles. It is not good enough to have 5000 first level contacts on LinkedIn and a network of 150,000,000 if they don’t know you well enough to refer you for a job lead. It doesn’t matter if you have 25,000 followers on Twitter, if they don’t read your tweets, RT or think you’re interesting enough to pass you on to a friend. FaceBook is basically an empty book if you don’t parlay that into business or job leads. You have to figure a way to make these contacts worth something, turning these “friends” into your personal marketing support team. In order to do this, you have to identify those you think will have the biggest impact on your career. You have to strengthen the relationship beyond the connection, friend and follower online - initiate a real conversation, pick up the phone. Help them know you better, get to know them and discover how you can mutually help each other further your careers.<br />
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What was that? You’re not sure how to find a phone number? Go back to 2002 and pick up a phone book if you have to. Remember this is not a popularity contest (for the record I did win best dressed in junior high and high school and have the picture wearing a Members Only shirt and pleather pants to prove it) and you can’t be concerned with interrupting or taking up someones time. You are responsible for your career and you need to pull out all the stops to find that job. If you have 5000 followers and nobody wants to help you find a job, give them a reason to change their minds.<br />
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http://www.careerunleashed.com/wordpress/index.php?p=484The best interview tip I can give you is…botox?!?!tag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-06-15:502551:BlogPost:6865982009-06-15T23:36:51.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
I must be losing my mind. I’ve recently read a comment by a job seeker who is considering botox injections in an attempt to gain a leg up during an interview. I think we can all agree that there are probably companies and work environments that still practice sexism, racism and age discrimination. If you are actively looking for a job, the question you need to ask yourself is, “Do I want to be a part of this type of environment?”<br />
<br />
There is a growing market for personal branding and image…
I must be losing my mind. I’ve recently read a comment by a job seeker who is considering botox injections in an attempt to gain a leg up during an interview. I think we can all agree that there are probably companies and work environments that still practice sexism, racism and age discrimination. If you are actively looking for a job, the question you need to ask yourself is, “Do I want to be a part of this type of environment?”<br />
<br />
There is a growing market for personal branding and image consultants. And I understand the pros:<br />
<br />
- Making a good first impression<br />
- Dressing for success<br />
- Using body language to get message across<br />
<br />
I think we start going down an extremely dangerous path when job seekers feel comfortable getting (and employers start anticipating) these types of procedures: plastic surgery, botox injections, hair implants, as part of their interview preparedness.<br />
<br />
- Should a woman feel compelled to have a sex change to get a job in a work environment dominated by men?<br />
- What about someone from an Asian country having cosmetic blepharoplasty to change the shape of their eyes?<br />
- Maybe African Americans should start having skin bleaching procedures done to fit into a work environment dominated by non-blacks.<br />
<br />
These are all absolutely ridiculous levels for someone to “stoop to” for a job. You are in control of the direction your career heads. You decide which companies are a fit for you. You decide who you want to work for and who you don’t. Personally I want my career to be one that I can look back on and admire the accomplishments, marvel at surpassed hurdles and bask in the glory of a job/career well done. I would not be able to do this knowing that I had changed who I was on the outside (and ultimately by extension the inside) to just land a job. Think about it…<br />
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http://www.careerunleashed.com/wordpress/index.php?p=446I’m tired of playing dumb!tag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-06-05:502551:BlogPost:6628312009-06-05T15:56:28.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
There has been a lot of talk and stories written lately about job seekers dumbing down their resumes. For the un-initiated, this is when you leave information (accomplishments and successes) off of your resume because you want to give the impression that you are not as experienced as you actually are. In my mind there are at least three distinct types of job seekers. You are either employed (congratulations), unemployed (help is on the way), or underemployed (probably looking). I think it is…
There has been a lot of talk and stories written lately about job seekers dumbing down their resumes. For the un-initiated, this is when you leave information (accomplishments and successes) off of your resume because you want to give the impression that you are not as experienced as you actually are. In my mind there are at least three distinct types of job seekers. You are either employed (congratulations), unemployed (help is on the way), or underemployed (probably looking). I think it is absolutely ridiculous for someone who is unemployed to sell themselves short and do themselves a career disservice by playing dumb. Why? Take a look at the following scenarios and see if you can relate.<br />
<br />
You work your entire career to climb that corporate ladder; a metaphor from the late 80’s that is undoubtedly dated but gets the point across. You’ve worked overtime, missed a couple birthday parties or anniversaries, showed up late to school functions or your child’s sporting events trying to impress the boss and show that you are a team player.<br />
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You’ve gone to college or a trade school intent on focusing on a specific and specialized career or skill area. You’ve toiled and worked countless hours as you learned your trade and are now ready to face the world.<br />
<br />
You spouse or parent has put their career on hold for you to pursue your career dreams.<br />
<br />
These are just a few of the real life situations that I know some of you reading this have endured. I know times are tough. I know the unemployment rate is astronomical. I know desperate times call for desperate measures but I also suspect that you don’t want to let yourself, or those that have supported you, down. I maintain that dumbing down your resume is basically lying to yourself and potential employer in an effort to get an inferior job. If you need to pay the bills, you can find a job to do that honestly. Dumbing down your resume is akin to creating a false identity, or at least a half identity. You are trying to get a company to interview a shell of who you really are. I know there are those that maintain, as I do, that a resume is only used to get you the interview. Many people have different versions of their resume that they use for different levels of positions but that’s not what I’m talking about. If you are a VP, you shouldn’t be selling yourself as a junior level project manager. If you are really looking for a job, and you land that junior level role, does that really help you?<br />
<br />
- Approach each interview like an open book.<br />
- Apply for positions that you are qualified for and interested in.<br />
- Send resumes that are appropriately tailored for these roles.<br />
<br />
You will be all the better for it. Say no to playing dumb!<br />
<br />
http://www.careerunleashed.com/wordpress/index.php?p=423Your cost per interview; effective job searching?tag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-06-03:502551:BlogPost:6612552009-06-03T20:18:08.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
If you are sending out 50 resumes, to get 10 interviews that lead to one job offer, is that an effective ratio? I don’t profess to be a statistician, matter of fact, I didn’t do well in the class in college. What I do know is you should be spending your time on tasks that will lead to a job. How do you measure the effectiveness of your job search? A lot of people spend $200 -$500 for resume writing services. If that resume generates 10 interviews for you, you’ve paid $20-$50 per interview. If…
If you are sending out 50 resumes, to get 10 interviews that lead to one job offer, is that an effective ratio? I don’t profess to be a statistician, matter of fact, I didn’t do well in the class in college. What I do know is you should be spending your time on tasks that will lead to a job. How do you measure the effectiveness of your job search? A lot of people spend $200 -$500 for resume writing services. If that resume generates 10 interviews for you, you’ve paid $20-$50 per interview. If that same resume opens the door to an opportunity that results in a job offer, you’ve paid between $200-$500 for that offer.<br />
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Don’t misinterpret what I’m saying here: I don’t know if it makes sense to use job metrics like this to track your search. I’m saying that if you have been looking for a job, and what you have been doing is not working, it may make sense to switch things up. Keep a keen eye on what you are doing in terms of your search. Maybe you should use numbers to measure how successful your search is going.<br />
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http://www.careerunleashed.com/wordpress/index.php?p=404I really didn't want that job anyway!tag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-05-19:502551:BlogPost:6479302009-05-19T18:34:17.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
Let’s just cut to the chase - interviewing and looking for a job can be extremely tough. If you have approached your job search in a professional manner you have already:<br />
<br />
- researched and learned all you can about the company, interview team and hiring manager.<br />
- properly formatted your resume and made sure it presents you in the best light for the position you are interviewing for.<br />
- bought a spiffy new suit and even got your car cleaned (see previous post - Stop Crying).<br />
<br />
Unfortunately these…
Let’s just cut to the chase - interviewing and looking for a job can be extremely tough. If you have approached your job search in a professional manner you have already:<br />
<br />
- researched and learned all you can about the company, interview team and hiring manager.<br />
- properly formatted your resume and made sure it presents you in the best light for the position you are interviewing for.<br />
- bought a spiffy new suit and even got your car cleaned (see previous post - Stop Crying).<br />
<br />
Unfortunately these things won’t guarantee success. There are a multitude of reasons the interview doesn’t go according to plan. Something as simple as the cologne or perfume you wear reminding someone of their ex (don’t laugh it happens). Maybe you used to work for a company that the person interviewing was either fired from or themselves had a bad experience (talk about holding a grudge). Bottom line, there are job search road-blocks that pop up that are no fault of your own. In these situations, I urge you to continue to be a professional, hold you head up and whatever you do don’t be bitter!<br />
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In my previous life as a recruiter, I remember having to let people know that the interview team chose another person for the job and hearing the words, “I didn’t want that job anyway”. My candidates would say things like the hiring company was so:<br />
<br />
- disorganized<br />
- unprofessional<br />
- stupid<br />
- full of crap<br />
- under qualified<br />
<br />
And the list goes on and on. The last thing you want to do is burn a potential bridge or lead to another company. You need to leverage all of your contacts including those that you’ve interviewed with that have turned you down. If the interview hasn’t gone the way you’ve planned, kindly accept the feedback and then dig to see if they know of other companies, people, situations that your skills may be suited for. If they’ve attended industry networking events they may have a lead at another company for you. What do you have to lose? Ask for it or you’ll never know that the potential was even there. You must always ask for constructive criticism when getting interview feedback. What could you have done better? What rubbed them the wrong way? It’s amazing the amount of intelligence this one question can gather for you. Strategically ask about the person who got the job. “How did my background stack up against the person who was ultimately hired for the job?” Ask the question and then shut up and listen to the answer.<br />
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The bottom line when you’re looking for a job is to keep your head up and not let the process get the better of you. Even when times are tough don’t let the negativity get in; it will kill your search and cause you not to think clearly. This is the time to keep your composure, be a true professional and use the situation to lead you to a job you will land. Happy hunting.<br />
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http://www.careerunleashed.com/wordpress/index.php?p=315You’ve been laid off - stop crying!tag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-05-04:502551:BlogPost:6366172009-05-04T16:26:32.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
You’ve been laid off. I’ve been laid off. Your neighbor has been laid off. The unemployment rate is astronomical and everyone you know is looking for a job. Get over it and start acting like a grown up. There I said it. Now is not the time to freak out and worry about your situation. Now is the time to man (woman) up, get out there, and take care of your responsibilities. Welcome to the tough love post.<br />
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After you’ve taken a day or two to cry and wallow in your tears, you need a plan. I’m not…
You’ve been laid off. I’ve been laid off. Your neighbor has been laid off. The unemployment rate is astronomical and everyone you know is looking for a job. Get over it and start acting like a grown up. There I said it. Now is not the time to freak out and worry about your situation. Now is the time to man (woman) up, get out there, and take care of your responsibilities. Welcome to the tough love post.<br />
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After you’ve taken a day or two to cry and wallow in your tears, you need a plan. I’m not really into lame quotes but take this one to heart, “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail”.<br />
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Take stock of your job search tools and be sure they are ready for prime time:<br />
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Is your resume up to date with your most recent accomplishments. Bring multiple copies. Be sure it’s not on wild cherry colored paper unless your interviewing for an art teacher job.<br />
Have you organized and got permission to use references; employers are going to ask and you should have them ready to sing your praises. Be sure you let your referee know what jobs you are interviewing for and what areas in your background you’d like for them to speak to. You don’t want them flying blind.<br />
Take a look in the mirror. Not everyone can afford an Armani suit but everyone can go into an interview well groomed and looking sharp. Will the interview team like what they see when you show up? Pants pressed. Shirt clean. Makeup neat. Shoes polished. Nails/hands clean. You get my point.<br />
Check your attitude. I’m not a self affirmation kind of guy but you need to be in the right frame of mind when your meeting with your future employer. Do not show up with an, “I’ve already lost” or “I’m not going get this job” type attitude or you might as well not go. Carry yourself with a quiet confidence that lets them know you mean business.<br />
Be sure your ride is clean. Your car says a lot about you. If you can’t afford to clean your car, park it at the rear or the parking lot hidden behind a dumpster. You do not want to show up looking like a million bucks while getting out of a car that looks like it has swine flu. Take your beater through a gas station car wash. This might be the best $4 you spend.<br />
The bottom line is you need to get yourself in the right frame of mind; ready to perform. This is your time to shine and you need to embrace the challenge of the job interview (now cower from it). Prepare yourself for success. Get yourself together and go get that job.A new take on interviews - PEG LEGtag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-04-14:502551:BlogPost:6215982009-04-14T16:49:35.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
How many times have you gone on an interview, felt things were going well only to never hear from the company again? Maybe you met the entire letter “C” hiring committee - CEO, CFO, CIO, CSO, CMO (you get the point) and thought the connection / spark was there. Three days later you get a call from someone who was not involved in the actual interview, HR or a recruiter, who wants to give you interview feedback. The only problem is this feedback rarely adds meaning or provides insight as to what…
How many times have you gone on an interview, felt things were going well only to never hear from the company again? Maybe you met the entire letter “C” hiring committee - CEO, CFO, CIO, CSO, CMO (you get the point) and thought the connection / spark was there. Three days later you get a call from someone who was not involved in the actual interview, HR or a recruiter, who wants to give you interview feedback. The only problem is this feedback rarely adds meaning or provides insight as to what really happened and does nothing to repair your bruised ego.<br />
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Well I’m here to tell you that interviews can often feel like you’re in an episode of Punk’d or Hidden Camera. You need to take a different approach to your interviews and realize feedback does not really matter. Every interview needs to be viewed as an opportunity grow. This way it won’t matter if you get the job or not.<br />
<br />
It’s time to PEG LEG<br />
<br />
Practice<br />
Evolve<br />
Get Comfortable<br />
Learn<br />
Expertise<br />
Graduate<br />
<br />
P - You should view each interview as an opportunity to <b>practice</b> and hone your skills. Maybe you can work on maintaining good eye contact or learn how to stop that annoying habit you have of tapping your pen during the interview. Use the interview as a chance to practice whatever it is you need work on.<br />
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E - Become flexible and adapt to each interview situation. You must be able to <b>evolve</b> and change like a chameleon to each circumstance. You need to connect with the person that is interviewing you (college, kids, likes/dislikes, cars, clothes, sports) whatever it is, learn how to mold your background and paint yourself in a more favorable color.<br />
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G - <b>Get comfortable</b> with the fact that the person you are talking to will have a say in whether or not you get the job. It doesn’t matter if you feel you are more qualified. It doesn’t matter if you don’t like his/her cologne/perfume. The only thing that matters is this person, at this point in time, has more pull than you do. Embrace this fact and move on.<br />
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L - <b>Learn</b> from the experience. You must always have a take away. I’m not referring to the feedback they may or may not give you. I’m talking about the situation. Maybe you have a hard time speaking in front of a panel interview and now know that’s an area to improve on. You may get sweaty palms or stutter when trying to get your thoughts together.<br />
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E - Once you are done, realize the interview for what it is, an opportunity to grow as an individual and to increase your interviewing <b>expertise</b>. At this point you have developed other skills and areas when it comes to interacting with people. Embrace them and accept the fact that you are becoming an expert in the fine art of interviewing.<br />
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G - Now that you have achieved this heightened sense of interviewing understanding, you have <b>graduated</b> to a new level. Approach each interview with the understanding that is just another opportunity to enhance your skills as a person. This is just another part of the hiring process like your resume. In fact, often times companies will go through the interview process because it’s just something they have to do. (Even though they may have already identified the person they will extend an offer to.)<br />
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As tough as this may sound, it’s not always about what you say, what you do or how you come across. Sometimes the deck is stacked against you no matter what happens. That’s why it’s so important you approach this process with the understanding I’ve laid out here. Don’t let the interview get you down, just stand up tall on that PEG LEG.Job Search in the Cloudtag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-04-06:502551:BlogPost:6157962009-04-06T21:30:00.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
Even with the tremendous growth and use of web applications, people remain the center of a connected job search. To effectively manage your job search you cannot lose sight of the fact that your relationships, while many have moved online, still need the human touch. I would maintain the primary issue with the way many connected users are approaching their job search is they are not effectively managing the Cloud. Cloud Computing has changed the way companies interact online but have you kept…
Even with the tremendous growth and use of web applications, people remain the center of a connected job search. To effectively manage your job search you cannot lose sight of the fact that your relationships, while many have moved online, still need the human touch. I would maintain the primary issue with the way many connected users are approaching their job search is they are not effectively managing the Cloud. Cloud Computing has changed the way companies interact online but have you kept pace?<br />
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In defining cloud computing I’ve gone to the Cloud Computing Journal, “Cloud computing really is accessing resources and services needed to perform functions with dynamically changing needs. An application or service developer requests access from the cloud rather than a specific endpoint or named resource.“<br />
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And Wikipedia, “Cloud computing is a style of computing in which dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources are provided as a service over the Internet. Users need not have knowledge of, expertise in, or control over the technology infrastructure in the cloud that supports them. The concept incorporates infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS) and software as a service (SaaS) as well as Web 2.0 and other recent (ca. 2007–2009) technology trends that have the common theme of reliance on the Internet for satisfying the computing needs of the users. Examples of SaaS vendors include SAP Business ByDesign, Salesforce.com and Google Apps which provide common business applications online that are accessed from a web browser, while the software and data are stored on the servers. The term cloud is used as a metaphor for the Internet, based on how the Internet is depicted in computer network diagrams, and is an abstraction for the complex infrastructure it conceals.”<br />
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Taking these into consideration, the critical issue becomes leveraging your use of the Cloud and internet technologies to enhance and grow your contacts while keeping your sanity. Think of all of the different identities you have:<br />
<br />
Social Media:<br />
Twitter<br />
LinkedIn<br />
FaceBook<br />
12Seconds.tv<br />
Myspace<br />
Ryze<br />
Blogs<br />
<br />
Job Search Related:<br />
StandoutJobs<br />
SimplyHired<br />
Indeed.com<br />
Monster<br />
Dice<br />
CareerBuilder<br />
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How do you manage all of this? It is a job in and of itself to manage these different accounts but to throw on top of that leveraging these in a way that leads to a job and you can see the problem (i.e. information overload).<br />
<br />
What we need to do is adopt a less is more attitude. Set up systems that make this easier to manage.<br />
<br />
1. Pull all of your social contacts under one roof. Manage by a single user id or at most a couple of applications. Think one update to many of your social outlets - Friendfeed for example.<br />
<br />
2. You need the ability to have RSS feeds specific to your job search and background. Market intelligence that is pertinent to what is going on in your industry and target companies so when you show up for an interview or send in your resume, you can make reference to this info. I personally use Google Alerts to track what is being said about my company and have set up RSS feeds of news services to keep informed and up to date.<br />
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3. Update your resume. Not just the verbiage but the look. Make it web friendly. A couple of new tools like BrightFuse and Nethooks might fit this bill. I remember a couple years back, we use to suggest folks utilize free web pages offered by cable providers to set up resumes. If you are looking, you want to be able to be found.<br />
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As a job seeker you want to control the information that is being disseminated about you (or at the very least be sure the image that is being passed about you is the image you want an employer to see). Since more and more of you us is online, and not tied to a particular device, platform or operating system, run Google searches on yourself to see what is actually turning up. To the human touch I referenced above, once you find an area that needs to be corrected or updated, take the time to make sure the information is correct. Contact organizations or websites that are putting out information on you if it is incorrect. Be sure you’ve updated your profiles and then use the above mentioned systems to keep them current. Combine the manual with the automated to leverage your time and make certain that the Cloud is presenting you in the best light. An excellent resource on this is Michael Marlatt. I would encourage all to read his blog and insight on these topics. While his approach is that of a recruiter he has a wealth of info that can only benefit you as a job seeker to leverage these tools.<br />
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The one constant we know about technology is that it will continue to change. As we have seen with the challenges in finding a job, if you stay stagnant you will be passed over. Find out how to leverage these new technologies and get out in front of the cloud. Who knows it may lift you to your next job.<br />
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By the way, I do not have a financial stake in any of the companies I talk about here. In doing my research, they looked to be in line with my thoughts and were cool enough for me to mention. I may at some point pursue a partnership with them but as of the writing of this blog none exist.Who Are You Online?tag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-03-25:502551:BlogPost:6026302009-03-25T19:02:40.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
We’ve all heard the stories and realize the importance of building your online brand and presence. I think a fair question would be how do you measure what this really does for your career and your job search? If you are looking at this from a business point of view, you may wonder what is the ROI, or more accurately, ROTI (Return on Time Invested) in building that online presence. Why do it?<br />
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For clarification, I’m not talking about your XBox 360, WoW or PS3 presence. I’m talking about your…
We’ve all heard the stories and realize the importance of building your online brand and presence. I think a fair question would be how do you measure what this really does for your career and your job search? If you are looking at this from a business point of view, you may wonder what is the ROI, or more accurately, ROTI (Return on Time Invested) in building that online presence. Why do it?<br />
<br />
For clarification, I’m not talking about your XBox 360, WoW or PS3 presence. I’m talking about your online persona as it relates to your job search and your career. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. How do you use it and does what you do really matter? I’m sure there are folks that have several hundred first level connections on LinkedIn. Maybe some of you have thousands of followers on Twitter and a FaceBook list that could fill a phone book. The key is how these people view you. Are they willing to help you get to where you want to be and put in a good word for you? Will they refer people that are the decision makers in the hiring process? If not, you need to give them a reason to.<br />
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Your online image needs to convey the appropriate level of professionalism for the job/jobs you are interested in. If you aspire to be a chef highlight those aspects in your background that push that agenda. If your career has been rooted in investment banking, and this is the direction you want to continue in, be sure folks that connect with you, follow your tweets, look at your pictures, all know you are excellent in that field. Drop hints, send pertinent links and information, be a go to person as it relates to that field so that people know you know your stuff. The other part of this is your image needs to be consistent. Don’t be one thing in FaceBook, something else in LinkedIn and another person in your tweets. You must make it a point to keep a consistent message across all of the different platforms. You and I know that employers/hiring managers are doing Google searches. Let’s not be naive and think they won’t have questions. On the other hand, if your message is not consistent, be prepared to discuss why that is the case.<br />
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The bottom line is you need to take control of who you are online. Maybe you should buy the url for your name. Maybe you need to add your info to wikipedia. Maybe we need a web clearinghouse for personal profiles that is managed by … (well I don’t know who would manage it but you get my point). You know who you are. You know what you’ve accompolished. You know where you want to be. Take control of who you are online. You’ve only got one you. Make you the you you want. (Or something along those lines.)What about my bling bling?tag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-03-25:502551:BlogPost:6026292009-03-25T19:02:08.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
Every time I’ve had an interview, I’ve taken my earring out of my ear. The last interview I had, I wanted to leave the earring in but after speaking with my wife, I decided it was best to remove it. I guess I was concerned and a bit apprehensive about the image it would convey. But the question is, should I have been? Should we be so worried that we remove an earring or hide a tattoo before an interview?<br />
<br />
Given the tough market that you face, I would propose that you as a job seeker need to do…
Every time I’ve had an interview, I’ve taken my earring out of my ear. The last interview I had, I wanted to leave the earring in but after speaking with my wife, I decided it was best to remove it. I guess I was concerned and a bit apprehensive about the image it would convey. But the question is, should I have been? Should we be so worried that we remove an earring or hide a tattoo before an interview?<br />
<br />
Given the tough market that you face, I would propose that you as a job seeker need to do everything in your power to remove the possibility of the hiring manager, or team, forming a negative opinion about you. (It’s going to be tough enough as it is. You don’t want a strike before you even open your mouth!) We all know what they say about first impressions and everyone comes into the process with their own prejudices and you just don’t want to give anyone a reason to put a negative mark against you.<br />
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On the other hand are you really presenting your “true” self if you hide the fact that you might have a tattoo or wear an earring? Is this misrepresenting who you are? If you are truly trying to put everything on the table maybe you should keep the earring in and let the chips fall where they may. I think this latter, risky path, is too big a risk to take. In a market where there are millions of folks unemployed, thousands upon thousands new folks filing for unemployment each month, this isn’t the time to prove a point.<br />
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Hide the bling. Wear a long sleeve shirt, turtleneck or whatever the case, and get that j-o-b!!What’s the BIG DEAL about your RESUME?tag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-03-25:502551:BlogPost:6026282009-03-25T19:01:37.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
Honestly, ask 10 different people for an opinion on your resume and you’ll get ten different answers. So what’s the big deal anyway? The big deal is this - like it or not, the resume is your “golden ticket” (ala American Idol) to getting that interview. You have approximately ten seconds of a recruiters attention span to showcase your qualifications and land that interview. If there is not enough compelling and relevant information that fits the need they are looking to fill, you’ve lost them.…
Honestly, ask 10 different people for an opinion on your resume and you’ll get ten different answers. So what’s the big deal anyway? The big deal is this - like it or not, the resume is your “golden ticket” (ala American Idol) to getting that interview. You have approximately ten seconds of a recruiters attention span to showcase your qualifications and land that interview. If there is not enough compelling and relevant information that fits the need they are looking to fill, you’ve lost them. So how do you achieve this in ten seconds? With a careful, strategic approach to building this critical tool.<br />
<br />
A few critical tips:<br />
<br />
Quantify your accomplishments whenever you can (in a competitive job market results speak volumes.)<br />
Take credit for the value you added in previous jobs (did you introduce new programs or improvements that made a real impact within your organization?)<br />
Don’t write your resume as if it’s a job description. (The term “responsible for” is boring!)<br />
Focus on highlights of your qualifications and accomplishments that are truly relevant to the job you are seeking (if you can’t articulate this on paper, how do you think you will fare in an interview?)<br />
Review your resume side by side with the jobs you are targeting - does the terminology match up? If you are making a transition from one industry to another and you are confident your skills transfer, make sure that your resume reflects this in transferable lingo.<br />
Review sample resumes on the web for ideas! Google “resume samples” for links to useful resources.<br />
Writing your own resume is not impossible and you know yourself better than anyone. But if you are like many people I have met in my career in recruiting and career coaching, you know that you can sell yourself once you get the interview but articualting your qualifcations on paper effectively is a major challenge. Perhaps it is worth exploring making an investment in yourself and consulting a resume writer. There are many well qualified consultants out there (780 came up on a LinkedIn search for “resume writer”). Find someone whose processes and style you are comfortable with and who understands the market you are trying to penetrate. If could make a huge difference in your success and unleash your career potential!The Career Traffic Jamtag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-03-25:502551:BlogPost:6026232009-03-25T19:00:42.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
This is not a news flash-the party is over. Long gone are the days where you work for one employer your entire career, collect a pension and retire with your golden ring. The economy and market changed several years ago to one that saw employees jumping ship like a game of musical chairs and employers snatching from competitors like thieves in the night. The end result was job seekers with an over-inflated view of their true worth in the marketplace and companies that were mistaken in their…
This is not a news flash-the party is over. Long gone are the days where you work for one employer your entire career, collect a pension and retire with your golden ring. The economy and market changed several years ago to one that saw employees jumping ship like a game of musical chairs and employers snatching from competitors like thieves in the night. The end result was job seekers with an over-inflated view of their true worth in the marketplace and companies that were mistaken in their belief that all they had to do was open the doors and the best would come.<br />
<br />
If they have a job, the best job seekers are increasingly picky. The prevailing thought is to stay put unless you have to move. Companies are still playing the, wait until we find the perfect person, interview game. This system of hiring is busted. It is made up of slow/or no hiring, frustrated candidates, delayed projects and stressed out companies. Should a company keep under-performing (define as you will) employees because they cannot find the fit they need? Should a job seeker settle for a lower paying job with less challenge to pay the bills (topic for another blog)?<br />
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Take this real world example - Terrel Owens was let go, fired, by the Dallas Cowboys. Terrel is widely considered one of the better receivers in the NFL but his employer grew tired of his team dividing attitude. He was fired not due to a lack of performance but because he was not a good team player. Obviously this can happen at any company so this football analogy applies across industries. According to the experts, the demand was not going to be there for him. He would have a tough time finding another team (job) because of his attitude. But low and behold, up steps a new team. Terrel is already wearing a new uniform; less than a week after being fired. Did Terrel settle? The team he went to is nowhere near playoff or championship caliber. Did the team hire an under-performing player or a bad apple because they were desperate and could not attract anyone else?<br />
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You may not be in this situation. You think your job is stable, your employer is doing well and you are not worried. This line of thinking would be naive at best and insane at its worst. Be prepared by knowing who you are and also your accomplishments. If someone were to ask you what you do for a living, could you immediately jump into your elevator pitch? Can you explain your success? Is your resume up to date? Have you reached out to and reconnected with your network? If you have not done these things as a minimum, you are going to be caught flat footed, wondering what to do next.Are you really “looking” for a job?tag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-03-25:502551:BlogPost:6026192009-03-25T18:59:07.000ZDuane Robertshttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DuaneRoberts
There are a lot of people who say they are looking for a job. The questions I’d have for these folks would be:<br />
<br />
Are they prepared for the job when they find it?<br />
Do they really know how to look?<br />
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It’s easy to confuse being busy with being productive. When you are engaged in a job search, you must be sure you are doing activities that are going to help you achieve the goal of finding employment. Looking for a job is not necessarily one of these activities. You need to be more focused and…
There are a lot of people who say they are looking for a job. The questions I’d have for these folks would be:<br />
<br />
Are they prepared for the job when they find it?<br />
Do they really know how to look?<br />
<br />
It’s easy to confuse being busy with being productive. When you are engaged in a job search, you must be sure you are doing activities that are going to help you achieve the goal of finding employment. Looking for a job is not necessarily one of these activities. You need to be more focused and organized than this would imply.<br />
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I found a couple of definitions for the word look:<br />
- to have the appearance or likelihood of being<br />
- to make sure or take care (that something is done)<br />
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Of these two definitions, you definitely don’t want to “appear” productive. You want to be productive in your search. In order to accomplish this, you have to know what you do well, what you want to do next, and where you want to do it. What skills do you have that are going to be exciting/interesting to a future employer? Make a list of these and rank them. As you examine this list, determine which of these skills you want to expand on or continue to grow as part of your professional persona. Get rid of the skills that you don’t want to be a part of the new you. Finally, identify companies that will allow you to grow in these areas. This step will be tough but nobody said finding a job would be easy. Look online for clues, view online rankings, articles, employee blogs, newsletters - these will all help you form an opinion about an organization and help you determine if they are worth pursuing. Another oft over looked approach is to reach out through social networking sites to see if you can set up an informational interview with a former employee. They may be more inclined to dish the dirt and give you the real story about your future employer.<br />
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At this point you are starting to become more informed about what you are looking for; you have a plan. The job search takes on a new focus because you have a better idea of what you want and can either pursue or remove companies and opportunities based on this. Don’t stop here. As you stat to build a list of target companies and organizations based on your career needs, keep your end goal in mind. Do not just add companies to your target list because they are well known or big names. Only pursue companies that fit your criteria. Remember, if you stick to your plan, not only will these companies give you an opportunity to add to your skills but you will also be more confident in your presentation, passionate during interviews and truly interested (not desperate) in the company. You will go into a meeting with this organization knowing that you have positioned yourself properly and have truly prepared for the opportunity.