Posts tagged mashable
Networking: Online and Local Events
Aug 17th
U.S. unemployment and underemployment statistics are still a major issue effecting job seekers in our economy. Fortunately with the rise of social media as a job searching tool in recent years, sites such as Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter make the job hunt more accessible.
Make a list of target companies that offer roles on your projected career path. Follow them on Twitter and LinkedIn, and “like” their Facebook pages. This is a great way to stay up to date on the latest highlights, job openings and fillings. You should also check to see if you are connected to current employees at a company of interest. You may surprise yourself and discover you have a strong 3rd party connection somewhere.
It may also prove beneficial to reach out to individuals on already on your desired career path – perhaps friends of friends, college alumni, etc. Ask questions about how they arrived where they are now and advice you can follow to get there. You can also ask if they can refer you to another professional, but do not be straightforward and ask for a job on the spot. Remember, social networking is here to provide you some extra ease for connecting with business professionals and finding you a career – use it wisely.
Don’t rule out attending events in your area because you have an online presence. One on one interaction is always an added plus when networking. You have the ability to leave someone with a more memorable impression of you.
Here are some great rules when networking at an event:
- Try to avoid idle chatter. Sincere interest in the other person is the objective.
- If you want a successful event, talk your server staff, the event manager, the valet, not just the attendees.
- Try to speak positively—whether about other people, the event you’re at, or even the conversations you’re in.
- If the conversation has run its course, graciously exit. Then be the first with a follow-up email, a thank-you note, or an appreciative call.
For more rules to follow when networking, click here.
| Print article | This entry was posted by pyramid-admin on August 17, 2012 at 11:45 am, and is filed under Networking, Social Media. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
Take Control of Your Inbox
Aug 3rd
Do you ever feel overwhelmed when you look at your email inbox? Does it seem like every time you answer a set of emails your inbox doesn’t get shorter? Well, you are not alone. In fact, the average person receives more than 100 emails per day…yikes!
Odds are this amount will not decrease as time moves forward. What you can do to alleviate some of the stress is start a daily routine.
Here are 5 steps to start this process.
- Set a time limit – determine how much time you want to spend in your inbox on a given day, and don’t exceed it
- Know your etiquette – the average time it takes to respond to an email is greater than the time it took to create it
- Prioritize – answer all urgent matters first before answering less time sensitive emails
- Don’t sign up for junk – When signing up for a new web service, opt out of updates and do not sign up for irrelevant newsletters
- Don’t open mail twice – as you open each email, you give yourself only five options: delete/archive, delegate, respond (if you can do it in under two minutes), defer, or do
In addition to the above tips you should read the Email Charter, online source for email etiquette. The site provides 10 Rules to Reverse the Email Spiral that will help you get a handle of on your inbox.
Already subscribed to unnecessary updates and other junk mail? Use Unsubscribe Deals to be removed from lists for good. For other great suggestions to increase your email productivity click here.
| Print article | This entry was posted by pyramid-admin on August 3, 2012 at 9:40 am, and is filed under Uncategorized. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
How to Effectively Use Your Professional Profile
Jul 23rd
It is no secret companies today look at professional online profiles. LinkedIn is the primary professional networking site, but that doesn’t mean you should neglect your other online profiles. It is up to you to update and maintain a current and professional profile. Some tips to optimize your online profile for potential employers are listed below.
- Keep it up to date – whenever you have an update, post it.
- Refresh your keywords and specialties – search online for common words that best describe what you do and use these key words organically.
- Be aware – create multiple online profiles and a personal blog and make sure they are all connected to enhance your personal search rankings.
- Get the recognition you deserve – all legitimate recognitions should be included in your profiles.
For more helpful tips on creating an attractive professional profile click here.
It is important to note recruiters are constantly seeking out passive job candidates for their highly selective corporate clients. Once you know and understand the methods recruiters utilize in their hunt, you can position yourself as the talented passive candidate they covet.
Here are four tactics recruiters use on LinkedIn specifically.
- Recruiters look for people who use the same vocabulary as their clients.
- Recruiters hunt for people who command the respect of their peers and supervisors.
- Recruiters seek experts and thought leaders.
- Recruiters scout for people wherever they can find them.
There are many other strategies you can successfully employ, but these four provide the basis to create a solid LinkedIn presence. Good luck with your job hunt!
| Print article | This entry was posted by pyramid-admin on July 23, 2012 at 9:40 am, and is filed under Social Media. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
Some Summertime Job Hunting Facts
Jul 13th
Do you believe employers aren’t hirnig in the summer? Well you’re not alone. Fortunately, for jobseekers this is a common misconception. According to CareerBuilder’s annual Summer Job Forecast, 29% of U.S. employers plan to hire workers this summer (up from 21% last summer).
Some other summer job hunting facts are from the survey include:
- 71% of employers hiring this summer said they’ll be considering some hires for permanent positions
- Employers in the following industries are expected to lead seasonal hiring:
- Manufacturing (45%)
- Hospitality (44%)
- Retail (34%)
- Finance (31%)
- 20% of these employers pay more than $16/hr
Still skeptical? The reason for these new found statistics stem from various reasons. Since summer is still considered the “slower season” employers have more time to interview. The interviewing process may also be sped up due to summer vacation schedules leading to quicker decision making than usual. Another incentive for employers is that the summer allows for a less hectic transition period providing job candidates an easier time get to know a company.
You may be thinking it’s too late, it’s already mid-July. The survey by CareerBuilder states that 19% of employers hiring this summer will hire in June and beyond. So don’t fret you can still enjoys those summer days at the beach and have plenty of potential job opportunities!
| Print article | This entry was posted by pyramid-admin on July 13, 2012 at 10:49 am, and is filed under Job Search. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
Interview Questions for Employers
Jul 9th
Knowing the right questions to ask on an interview can be tough. Knowing when and how to ask them at the appropriate time can be even more challenging. At some point in the interview you know the interviewer will ask “Do you have any questions for me?” and you need to be prepared.
Below are some examples of good and bad interview questions:
- “What do you do, exactly?”
- “How many personal, sick and vacation days will I get?”
- Why is this position vacant?” – This is a seemingly appropriate question, but can appear gossipy. It is best to wait and see if the interviewer mentions why the position is available.
You should be able to determine if you and company/position are a good fit from the questions you ask on an interview. The best way to accomplish this is by asking bold questions.
- How receptive are you to feedback from your employees when you do something they disagree with?
- As a manager, what frustrates you about the people that work for you?
- Is there a project your department is working on now? If so, how are you interacting with your staff on it?
Don’t play it safe by only asking the same general questions as everyone else. If you want to make a memorable impression dig deep and ask questions related specifically to the position and department you are interviewing for.
| Print article | This entry was posted by pyramid-admin on July 9, 2012 at 12:27 pm, and is filed under Interview With The Interviewer. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
