Posts Tagged ‘Social Networking’

5 Myths about Twitter, and why you should reconsider using Twitter as a Job Search Tool

Job searching is serious business, right? That’s why I want to share with you how Twitter has actually made it easier for job seekers believe it or not! Your next job might be 200 Tweets away  – it was for Brandon Savage, who literally did find his job via Twitter.I know the majority of you out there are skeptics and that’s why this is such an important post to write.

For the uninitiated, Twitter, is quite perplexing, in fact I think it might be one the most misunderstood tools on the web. Granted, its’ name does not suggest anything serious and I am sure this might be where many get stuck. Whenever I read an article mentioning its relevance, or ask a non-user what they know about it, there is almost always reference to its more casual and inane usage- Yes, we don’t care what you ate for breakfast, unless it was with Nelson Mandela.

After talking with a lot of people about their Twitter hang-ups I realized there are five myths clouding people’s impressions and precluding their exploration of this highly compelling tool. If the number of passionate professionals using is any indication, then Twitter is much more than just frivolous banter.

1. Twitter is an inane and frivolous activity and a waste of time.

Okay, getting serious now Twitter is not just fun and games. In fact, if you use it with intention and purpose- to secure or share specific and current information- you just might find it can be a very effective way to connect and network with new people in your field, or career of interest.  For the millions of people who have been drawn in by its real-time, cutting edge, social networking technology, Twitter can be job search or business networking on steroids, expanding your networking abilities and business outreach capacity beyond what you ever imagined.

Who would have though that “Tweeting” would have played a key role in alleviating political crises in Madagascar or Iran.  While there certainly may be some childlike, whimsical activity going on, there is also a whole lot of serious information being exchanged too, only it is in digital form, and it’s infectious, in a good way.

Twitter, along with other social networking tools is revolutionizing how people job search, network and share information. Within a five-minute time span, I watched over HUNDREDS of jobs be posted live on Twitter. If used strategically, and pay attention to the time, Twitter can be an incredible time saver. Time is of the essence when you are in job search, and the fact that you can receive targeted and current job openings, in real-time, to your phone or computer, instead of wasting time on a job board is invaluable.

2. Twitter is only for social media savvy people

Of all the social networking sites, believe it or not, Twitter is the least demanding in terms of “figuring it out”. Of course, like any new tool, it takes some getting used to, but after observing how it works, it is quite literally plug and play. And, anyway, are you saying that you have given up learning new things?  In today’s ever-changing world, there really isn’t room for that type of thinking, unless you are ready to retire from life!  Everyone has to start somewhere, and in fact the new job search paradigm obliges everyone to learn a new approach to promoting him or herself in the marketplace. The social media is integral to this process, and as one of my “boomer” clients accurately corrected me the other day when I said this technology is about the future, he corrected me: “No, it’s the present!”

3. You’re too old for Twitter.

If you are too old to learn something new, expand your network, or meet new and interesting people, then, yes, Twitter is not for you. But if you don’t let your age impede your professional development, then Twitter is absolutely a tool for everyone. Just like my client I mentioned above, he is putting himself out there and absorbing as much as possible and he is finding it exhilarating. Something I say to every job seeker who uses age as an excuse, “It’s mind over matter, if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter”. Ironically, I have younger clients ask me, “Isn’t Twitter for older folks” while the older ones suggest the opposite. Either way, if you want to be first to hear about the ideal job, Twitter might be where you find it. Can you afford to not be there?

4. What on earth has Twitter got to do with me Job Search or Business?

Everything actually! In many ways, it’s the brand new job board. Recruiters love it, so who’s arguing? Plug in any keyword into the twitter search mechanism and you might be quite surprised see what comes up in relation to your interest. In a recent Wall Street Journal article, Sarah Needleman agrees that  “A new job is  “Just a tweet away” mentioning that “many big companies, including Microsoft Corp., Verizon Communications Inc.,    and Viacom Inc.’s MTV Networks, now list job openings on Twitter “

For me, the final proof that Twitter is now considered legitimate by the business Community is Linkedin’s partnership with the blue bird. As the defacto number one online networking tool for professionals, this is quite a bold move.

Then again, you just need to take a look at the numbers on Tweetmyjobs.com, the  world’s largest Twitter Job Board: In 30 days: 350,553 job tweets, in just one hour: 3,723.

5. I won’t be able to protect my privacy

In the new world of Social Media, privacy is probably an oxymoron, but then again, there was identity theft long before Twitter and other social networking sites were invented.  The point is that while participating on Twitter is an “anything goes” roof party, or if you wish, London’s (in)famous “Speakers Corner” the fact that all powerful Google can find almost anything, people will be “listening” to what you say,   so  tweet wisely. That being said, Twitter, like all the sites, you can establish your Privacy Settings so that your profile and tweets  are protected from random spam, followers, and anybody you don’t want to associate with. You have a choice of how public you want your twitter profile to be, if at all.  Certainly set these up if you prefer, but maintain a highly professional presence, no matter what. Social media is viral, by nature, and you never know what will make it out into the Google sphere of influence!

Ultimately, everything that you do online today is trackable, however the benefits of participating in the conversation so that you can ultimately expand your professional networking capabilities and connect with people you may not have other, far outweigh the negatives, of a little spam, or not being found online at all.

The Twitter Job Search Guide promises to be great… You can buy it here. But if you need a little hand holding in order to get on, and make the most of it. Give me a shout, or sign up for my next Twitter for Job Search Webinar on April 13^th

Phew, 2010 is here, and its  time to call for an END to Job Searching. Yes, that is what I said.  An interesting statistic was brought to my attention this week by my blogger friend, GL Hoffman: The average unemployed person spends 18 minutes a day hunting for a job. Gleaned from the current issue of Harper’s Index, this Labor Department research  fact came via Toby Dayton of  diggings, another interesting blog to check out.

Sacré bleu, how can this be, you must be thinking! Has all my work been in vain? …I thought at first. This is no doubt a shocking number to see, particularly for all of the job seekers who know they have put in hundreds of hours towards their search, but to no avail.

My hunch is that a good number of job seekers give up in frustration. I certainly see a lot of discouraged people that have by the time they come and see me. Trying to make sense of this crazy statistic, GL wonders whether it might be laziness or ignorance and yes, that does sound harsh, considering that we are facing the worst job market since the depression. My take on why this number might be so low: Confusion, Paralysis, People are adrift in the job market void? The techniques and strategies for finding that elusive position have changed, and the work of finding a job has never been more demanding or more sophisticated. The job hunt process of 2009 and now 2010 looks nothing like the job search of 2001 or any other time before this.

So here is my recommendation for the New Year: STOP JOB SEARCHING. And before you protest, let me tell you why, and what you need to be doing instead.

The job search of this last decade was made ‘easy’ by the “job boards” that brought opportunities straight to us via email. It doesn’t get any easier than that, and in fact, I personally benefited from this having learned of my last 2 positions when they landed in my mailbox. So what happened?   Dare I say that we got a little complacent?  Have the job boards turned job seekers into passive participants in their search for gainful employment?

Fast forward-> 2010. The job market is improving, but there is still not enough to go around. Not much happening on the job boards, and yet that is where most people still hang out “searching” for that next gig.  No wonder people give up so quickly. They don’t hear anything back, and feel the whole job search is futile. So what’s the deal?

2010 Realities: Along with telephone landlines, the fax, and dial-up Internet connections, could job boards, at least the big “monster” boards becoming obsolete?

5 Strategies for Finding a Job in 2010

1. In 2010 finding a job is about Research, it’s not just a search. Job seekers need to, first and foremost, think of themselves as detectives because finding a job today is akin to a murder mystery and you need to solve it. You have to research the different roles that could benefit from your skills and the companies that would value your expertise. You need to research where do working professionals in your field or desired career convene and you need to find out when is their next meeting. You need to research what are the industries that are hiring, and the names of companies in your targeted geographic location. You need to research who are the thought leaders in your (desired) field, and reach out and talk with them (and I’ll talk more about that in the networking)

You need to think of yourself as Scientist, dissecting your field and the people and you will find the clues to guide your way. Without these, you won’t know what you are searching for, and you may be wandering in a desert, waiting for those elusive jobs to appear, for a long time.

2. Finding a job is about assessment and a level of self-exploration that you may not be used to. Lets call this research on yourself. With the fierce competition, you have no choice but to help others see your value, because nobody is going to take the time to look for it. This involves a process of self-assessment and evaluation. Ideally, this is something you would do with a career coach, who as an objective observer and trained professional, who can help you articulate your strengths and value in the most compelling way.  This is exactly where so many job seekers get stuck because this is not easy.  Every client I coach answers a long list of questions and self-exploration questions, that challenges them to dig deep into identifying what is the most important part of who they are, what they do, and what they love.  The goal of this process takes us to the next tenet of the 2010 Job Search.

3. Finding a job today is about self- branding 20 years ago, Tom Peters,  was bold enough to suggest that branding wasn’t just for corporations or products, but was an imperative for the individual to survive in the marketplace. He could not have been more accurate, and today, more than ever, if the job seeker does not heed this advice, they will remain lost in the ocean swell of job seekers. Defining and refining who you are so others clearly understand what you can offer, and how you differ from the next person with the same skill set, is what you need to be working on. As Peters wisely advocates:

“Regardless of age, regardless of position, regardless of the business we happen to be in, all of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You. It’s that simple — and that hard. And that inescapable.”

By clearly identifying your talent and your passion, it’s that much easier to get others on board with you.  But what are you supposed to do once you have this brand?  You shamelessly promote it.

4. Finding a job today is about Marketing – Once again Peters couldn’t have said it better, and this applies to every one: “…our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You.” Along with establishing your personal brand, marketing oneself is a central tenet of the new job search paradigm. Now, understandably if this is your first time looking for a job in 5, 10, or 20 years, you may not know where to begin, but that doesn’t mean you cannot learn. In fact, marketing oneself has never been easier or more accessible with the growth of Web 2.0 and the social networking sites. Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook, if used strategically, all enable you get your message out to your target audience. Not only can you market yourself via this medium but they allow you to put your networking on steroids, if you will, and that takes us to the last and most important element of what it takes to finding a job today.

5. Today, finding a job is about Networking. Okay, I know you have heard this a gazillion times (almost, right?) and that is because, ultimately networking done right has always been the most successful route to finding your next opportunity.  The problem is that the process of networking is far more complex than meets the eye and with the advent of social networking sites like Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook, networking takes on a whole new dimension.  If done right, and you integrate networking activity into your daily life, if it is consistent, and strategic and it is about building relationships, your networking will work. I have to admit however, that I am constantly amazed how limited most job seekers networking efforts are, which is why I started a monthly speed networking program at my local library. I called it the Art of Networking although networking is really both an art and a science; and if you don’t practice it,  find your rhythm and a mode that is comfortable and manageable for you it will not work. Once again, because so many job seekers, either don’t do it, or don’t do it properly, or enough, they lose faith in the process and give up… and land up with a statistic next to their name.

So, the 2010 challenge is on: Whether you are a job seeker, career changer, or hard working individual looking for a better gig, the goal is to limit yourself to one hour a day, if that, on a job board, and work on getting your head around these five strategies.  As you can see, they are not about “searching” and will take more than 18 minutes a day, but you can do it and it might be a lot easier than you imagine.  Call me to find out how I can help you embrace this new job search paradigm.

5½  TIPS TO BRAND YOURSELF & STAND OUT

Here they are, finally, the next 5 tips and some! No one can afford to sit back and be complacent about what it takes to stay on top  of Career Management 2.0.

6. Brand your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is one of the largest “social networking” sites, where one of the primary purposes is professional networking. With over 40 million professionals utilizing it, polishing your brand on LinkedIn is essential in order to stand out.  You can do so by keeping your text short but lively descriptions (like “Business Jump Starter” rather than “consultant,” for example), and conveying your passion & humor when describing your skills & experience.  Another great tool is LinkedIn’s “Answers” feature, through which you can answer other users’ questions in ways that showcase your expertise, build your credibility and raise your “go-to” stock on the network.  It’s all about what you put into it.

7. Brand your Facebook profile. With your friends and family, that is—a valuable group that we often tend to overlook. Do they know what you do? Are you engaged with helping them whenever available?  Building a strong network is about supplying it with quality resources, information and content—your friends & family included!   If you’ve written them off as “just” that, revamp your thinking and see them in a new light—a group of allies who know you and your great qualities more than anyone else—thus, the perfect ones to refer you to new contacts!

8. Brand your blog. When people visit your blog, do they get a real sense of who you are, what your passion is and how you can help them?  Or do they just get generic words on the same old topics?  Interestingly, one of the main ways to connect with your blog readers & subscribers is quite simple, doesn’t require a bunch of bells and whistles—and it’s as close as your digital camera.  That’s right—simply adding personal pictures to your blog can foster a better connection with your audience.  That, along with your useful content, goes a long way in establishing yourself as a trusted expert.

9. Brand your public speaking. This is one of the most effective ways to brand yourself, as your audience connection is face-to-face–something I can’t stress the importance of enough!  People love information, but when it’s delivered by a “real” person, in person—it makes the message that much stronger and more memorable.  If you’re just getting started, approach associations & organizations and volunteer to make presentations.  It might not be a paying gig at first, but the contacts you can make are invaluable—the experience will hone your public speaking skills and possibly lead to paying engagements down the line.   If you need to, consider taking a public speaking seminar, hiring a coach or joining Toastmasters to polish your skills and jump-start your brand.

10. Brand your clothing. Okay, be honest with yourself:  What message does your wardrobe send out to people you come in contact with?  If your overly-casual jeans, track pants, sneakers or t-shirts scream, “I’m a little too laid-back & don’t take my business or clients seriously”(which it probably does), then you need to revamp!  I’m not saying you need to wear a suit every day, but even a little goes a long way in conveying a neat, organized image.  Whether your personal style is conservative or a little funky, you can brand yourself and give it a professional edge without being “stiff.”  Groomed hair & nails, tasteful makeup & jewelry, and properly fitted/tailored clothes can boost your self-confidence & let those around you see you in a great light!  If you need ideas, consult an image consultant or stylist for tips.

To sum it all up, and this is probably the most important one on the list—yet, it’s the simplest!  Branding yourself is all about what you believe in—your talent, your ability and your skills—and if you truly believe in something, it’s that much easier to get others on board with whatever your passion is.  For jobseekers, that means convincing hiring managers that you’re the perfect person for that position.  And for entrepreneurs, that means customers and clients believing in you enough to give you their business.   Once you’ve established your personal brand, use that to define what it is that you stand for in your particular field—and who can benefit from that.  Once you get your message out to your target audience through various media methods, people will see you as a go-to expert based on your experience and expertise.

Here’s to making your brand work for you!