Invitation To My Next LinkedIn Presentation

I hope to see you at my next presentation!

WHAT EVERY JOB HUNTER

NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT LINKEDIN

Wednesday, May 22^nd from 6:00-7:15pm

Career Source, 186 Alewife Brook Parkway, Cambridge MA

3^rd floor of Fresh Pond Shopping Center near the Alewife T Station.

There will also be an opportunity for networking along with refreshments.

In this forum, you will learn:

• Why you should build your online network, and how to do it
• How to use your network to help you get your next job
• How to create an effective, compelling profile
• The value of recommendations and endorsements
• How to use LinkedIn to research opportunities and stay up-to-date in your field
• How to identify and be seen by the thought leaders in your industry
• How to use LinkedIn Groups to multiply your networking efforts, and may you “findable” by the right people.

Registration: Space is limited. Pre-registration is required. Please call 617-661-7876 ext. 0 to reserve a seat and pay with a credit card, or pay cash at the door.  Cost: $10.00.

Career Source is operated by Middlesex Community College. Learn more at: www.yourcareersource.com.

5 Springtime Ways to Catapult Your Job Hunt Forward

The spring days are getting longer and warmer, flowers are sprouting, and recent economic reports show signs that the economy is bouncing back to life at long last. This is the season when corporations move hiring into high gear.

In my U.S. News & World Report article this week I speak about five season-sensitive activities for you to capitalize upon this spring. Learn how by embracing the job hunt process, responding positively to the success of others, volunteering, and two other key activities can spring your job search forward. Here’s the link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/04/02/5-ways-to-put-spring-into-your-job-hunt

Happy hunting!

 

Invite to my LinkedIn Presentation tomorrow night

I will be the featured speaker at the Temple Emanuel of Andover, MA Networking Group tomorrow evening, March 5th from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.  Location: Temple Emanuel, 7 Haggetts Pond Road, Andover, MA.

The group is free, and everyone is welcome to attend!

 The Nuts & Bolts of LinkedIn:  What Every Job Hunter Needs To Know

In this seminar you will receive a step-by-step introduction to utilizing LinkedIn for your Job Hunt, including:

• Why you should build your online network, how to do it, and how to mobilize your network to help you get your next position, and how to create an effective, compelling profile.
• How to use LinkedIn as a free source of Business Intelligence to research opportunities, and stay up to date in your field of expertise
• How to identify the thought leaders in your field, and be seen by them
• The power of LinkedIn groups, and how to create an effective web of groups to multiply your networking efforts, and make you “findable” by the right people, and more!

I hope to see you there!

Arnie

How Headhunters Hunt… and How To Get Yourself Found

This week I interviewed Susie Hall, the President of VitaminT – a very large recruiting agency that deals primarily with “creative types”. We spoke about how recruiters go about finding great candidates, what they look for, how they network, and how job seekers can get on their radar. I’ve shared the highlights of that discussion, along with several tips about things that a job hunter can utilize to create an effective personal brand and get hired faster. Note: her advice is valid for people with all kinds of backgrounds, interests and aspirations. You can see what she says by following this link to my USNews & World Report article for this week: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/12/26/how-to-be-found-and-prized-by-headhunters#comments.

Happy reading… happy hunting, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

3 Things LinkedIn Can Do To Help You Nab Your Next Job

Have you noticed the zillions are articles written about the virtues of LinkedIn and necessity of you getting on board in order to have a successful job hunt? Social media permeates our society, and LinkedIn has become the most fertile hunting ground for talent for recruiters and businesses of all sizes. The buzz about LinkedIn does point to something real, but it often doesn’t clarify, beyond “help you get a job” the three basic ways this business social media site can help you do just that.

Put in simplest terms, you should use LinkedIn in such a way as to:

1. Make you findable by companies and recruiters looking for someone with your talents and experience;
2. Enable you to find employment opportunities worth pursuing; and
3. Help you learn what you need to know about the “latest and greatest” in your field, about companies you want to work for and the people who already work there, especially including the people you want to hire you… and much, much more.

In my latest article, 3 Ways LinkedIn Can Help You Nab a Job, published by USNews & World Report I not only talk about these three things, but give specific tips about how to do so. Here’s the link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/12/04/3-ways-linkedin-can-help-you-nab-a-job

Happy hunting!

 

Tweet Your Way into the Job Interview Process

My article and related video that I produced are now featured on http://www.careerealism.com.

Learn key searches, hashtags, and concepts to make Twitter an effective element of your job hunt.  Please check it out and “like”… and comment!  Here’s the link:

http://www.careerealism.com/tweet-job-interview-process/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+careerealism+%28CAREEREALISM%29

Happy hunting!

Arnie

3 Critical Elements for LinkedIn Connection Invites

 

LinkedIn is a great medium for building and expanding relationships.  As you expand your connections, it is important to communicate in a personal

 

way with people when you invite to LinkUp.  The building of effective, worthwhile networks requires personalized, thoughtful communication.

While it may make perfect sense to you why you should link up with someone, you need to help that other person come to the same conclusion rather than assuming that they will do so on their own.  No matter what your relationship is with the person you are contacting, even if you have never spoken with him, it is critically important to personalize your invitation! When you only utilize the default message, “I’d like to add you to my LinkedIn network”, you don’t motivate your new connection to assist you. 

Keep in mind that often people are known by a much larger audience than they can possibly know themselves.  For example, as one who frequently speaks before groups of all sizes, I’m known to many people.  The reality of these asymmetric encounters is that I rarely remember the individuals in attendance as well as they remember me.  When your hoped for new connection doesn’t recognize you, he/she is more likely to ignore your invite.  Worse, they might hit the “spam” button.  That is really bad for you, because if three people respond to your invites this way, your LinkedIn account privileges will likely be suspended.  Once that happens, I can guarantee you it is a royal hassle to get them back!

You don’t need to write a long letter in an invite… just a couple sentences will do wonders! Be sure to personalize each invite by including:

1. How you know/found the person the person you are inviting.  Convey something uniquely personal
2. Why you want to linkup with him/her
3. Your offer of reciprocity

Invitations with these simple points help to remind the person who you are.  They can serve as a great follow up to a first meeting, or a reminder/rekindling of a dormant relationship.  Instead of a person seeing your invite and saying to himself, “I wonder what he wants now?” he can think: “How great it is that [your name here] followed up with me!”  Or, perhaps: “It’s great to hear from [your name here] after such a long time!”

Here are four samples of LinkedIn invite templates that you can tailor to your situation:

•  XXX, great to see you at the XYZ event last night!  As a follow-up to our conversation about widgets, I would love to linkup with you in order to further explore [insert areas of common interest].  This is a way in which we can both expand our professional networks.  Of course, if there is anything that I can do for you by way of introducing you to any of my contacts, do feel free to reach out to me!  Thanks in advance for accepting this invite.

YOUR NAME

•  XXX, although we’ve not met, I read the article you wrote, [insert title and where it was published].  I appreciate the insights you shared because [fill in the blank].  You indicated that you would be happy to linkup with readers, and I would like to take you up on that.  Of course, if there is any way that I can help you in return, please do reach out to me.  Thanks again for sharing your expertise on [fill in the topic]!

Best,

YOUR NAME

•  XXX, as you may recall, we did some business together/worked together when I was in the ABC position at XYZ Company last year.  I know that is has been a while since we were in contact, but I am reaching out now in hopes that through LinkedIn we can maintain our relationship, and assist each other in building our professional networks.  I always look to recommend those with whom I share a connection, and would be happy to assist you wherever possible.  Don’t hesitate to be in contact anytime! Thanks in advance for accepting my invite.

Best,

YOUR NAME

•  XXX, I was in the audience last week when you gave a fascinating presentation to the XYZ group.  Your point about [fill in the blank] was intriguing because [insert something that shows you are paying attention].  I would very much appreciate becoming a part of your network of LinkedIn connections.  I am a professional with expertise in the area of [be specific] and am currently actively networking to expand my knowledge base and gain contacts in this field as I seek a new position. Of course, along the way, I hope you will contact me if there is anything I might do to be of help for you!  Thank you again for your presentation, and for accepting this invitation.”

I have nearly 1,200 first degree contacts on LinkedIn, and was among the first 100,000 users (there are now more than 120 million of us).  I’d be happy to share my network with you if you invite me.  But if you do, please don’t use the standard “I’d like to add you to my network” language!  See my profile at: www.linkedin.com/in/fertig.

Happy linking… and happy job hunting!

Arnie

Social Media Cheat Sheet – Free Offer

Image via CrunchBase

People are getting hired!  The economy remains in the doldrums, but savvy job hunters who effectively use social media become prized targets for recruiters and HR staffing specialists.  I’ve just put together my latest “Cheat Sheet” which includes 20 tips for how to use LinkedIn and Twitter to get a job.  There is even an October Jobhuntercoach special offer included with it.

I’d be happy to send you my cheat sheet as a PDF file.  Send me a request with you name and contact information and you will receive it via return email.  Contact me at: fertig@jobhuntercoach.com.

Happy Hunting!

Arnie

Head Coach, JOBHUNTERCOACH.COM

 

 

6 Tweeting Ways to Find Your Next Job

My clients tend to be mid-career professionals, well accustomed to email and searching on Google.  Their comfort level with LinkedIn varies.  But when it comes to Twitter the trepidation dramatically rises.  “How can Twitter fit into my job hunt?” they skeptically ask.

The smart job hunter will recognize that Twitter’s functionality has become a reality not only for media celebrities, but for both main stream and start-up businesses.  Twitter is being used for corporate branding, marketing, and scouting for plugged-in “high value” talent to fill jobs.  Corporations, HR practices, and recruiters all value access to Twitter’s 75 million users.  CEO’s, HR, hiring managers, career experts and recruiters are all actively using Tweeting as a part of their messaging and staffing strategies.  It only makes sense that job seekers hunt in the same forest as their prey!

So… what can Twitter do for you?

1.  Uncover job leads posted by recruiters, and job search tips from career experts like myself and many others.  To do this you don’t even have to tweet – just learn about hash marks (#), searches, how to create your own lists and access the lists of others.  Seek the things that are relevant to your expertise and experience.
2. Create a powerful profile branding statement.  A strong profile gives you the answer to the standard interview question, “Tell me about yourself” in 160 characters.  Use my Twitter profile as an example:  “JobHunt Strategy Maestro, LinkedIn Guru, Careerealism.com Expert, Acclaimed Speaker, resume writer, personal branding, social media, network and interview prep.”  It’s amazing how much information you can convey about yourself in 160 characters (the maximum length on Twitter)!

Be sure to make your branding statement consistent on Twitter, LinkedIn, your blog, your resume, and your business card.  It becomes the essence of your “elevator speech”.

3. Position yourself as a valued candidate.  Take part in ongoing discussions.  Share your subject-matter expertise.  Intelligently answer questions that others raise.  Share resources that you have found, ask questions that demonstrate you know what you are talking about. Point people to your website, blog, LinkedIn profile and all the rest of your professional online content.
4. Follow Power:  Remember that you can follow and stop following anyone you want, anytime.  Unlike LinkedIn where connections involve an invitation and acceptance, on Twitter you can have immediate access to all the tweets of anyone you choose.  By searching Twitter you can find thought leaders in your field.  You can learn about what is important to companies on your target list and to their employees, managers, and venders.

For example, search for “cisco engineer”, and look in the upper right of your screen to find a list of people who are cisco engineers.  Or search for “HR recruiter Boston” and recruiters in the Boston area who focus on HR professionals.  Start following the people on your search results and you will begin to get a much better feel for them and how you can position yourself to be the answer to their prayers.

5. Search for anything and everything!  Try searching, “How to find a Job”, “job hunt strategy”, or something that describes the job you are seeking like: “java programmer jobs Boston”.  Whenever you find an interesting tweet, follow the author, and RT (retweet) it so other can see.
6. Hash Mark # Power:  In order to assist people to carry on discussions about any given topic, you can create or follow “discussion headers” called hashtags or hash marks.  They are words preceded by the “#” sign.  Some of my favorites for jobhunters include:  #jobadvice, #jobsearch, #jobhunt,  #career, #resume, #networking, #interview, and  #salary.  Search for hashtags that relate to your industry, skills, education, job function, and geography.

Of course, these six tips only scratch the surface of Twitter’s value to the Jobhunter.  Experiment for yourself, see what others are doing, and follow my blog to learn more tips along the way.

I’m always interested to hear from readers.  Tell me what stymies you, what energizes you, what works, and what doesn’t.  I’d love to hear some success stories!

Happy hunting!

Arnie

[R]energize Your Job Hunt in 8 Steps

“My job search is stuck in the mud.  I know I need to fix it, but I’m feeling overwhelmed and I’ve got no energy left.  I’ve tried everything, and nothing seems to work.”  Does this ring true for you?

The simple truth is: hunting for a job can be tiring, demoralizing, and frustrating.  I often encounter people who have internalized their inability to find work as a sign of personal failure.  Confidence and self-image suffer.  As that happens, it becomes increasingly difficult to present the optimistic, energetic “can do” persona that employers seek.  

We all hear that the longer you are out of work, the harder it is to get work.  One of the reasons for this is that employers are looking for you, Mr. / Ms. Jobhunter not to be jaded, tired, and “down.”  And, they fear that the longer you are out of work, the more likely it is you won’t have the vim and vigor they seek. 

There are things that you can do to [R]energize your job hunt.  This list is hardly exhaustive, but it is a good start:

1. Remember that getting a job– is a job.  Treat it with the same sense of professionalism that you would bring to any employment.  Show up on time every day.  And, at the end of the day don’t feel guilty about packing the work up, and transitioning to “personal” or “family” mode.  As with any job, it is important to maintain a healthy work/life balance.
2. Clarify your goals and envision success.  Imagine yourself in the surroundings of your next job, and then embrace the job hunt as the necessary process to get you there.  Make the effort to understand where you are most likely to add value to a potential employer.  What are your strongest achievements, areas of expertise, and personal qualities? Think about not just what you would like to do, but about the kinds of jobs and corporate/work culture that are most akin to your background.  These are all elements of defining your target.  Once your goals are clearly defined, you can begin to move ahead in a purposeful and meaningful fashion.
3. Recognize and confront your self-imposed roadblocks. Are you frozen in place by a fear of possible future failure?  Many people have experienced so much rejection that they are afraid to have any more piled on.  Such feelings are real, and they need to be acknowledged.  Sometimes inaction can be a psychological defense mechanism.  It is important, however, to understand that inaction is a certain road to the status quo.  Try to move forward every day – even if you only do one or two small “baby step” things that can help to build up your self-confidence.
4. Break out of your isolation, maintain “people contact”, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.  Figure out who are the members of your support system– your family, friends, other jobhunters you meet at networking groups, members of your church or synagogue and so on.  Talk to them on a regular basis.  Tell them what you’ve been up to, what seems to be working, and what seems to be frustrating you.  Make them part of your team.  Ask for their feedback and advice.  Help them to help you by creating a context of “us” instead of “me”.  And of course: seek a good job hunting coach who can understand and relate to you, and provide both guidance and the occasional “kick in the pants” when it is called for.
5. Balance your job hunting activities.  You can’t be everywhere, all the time.  Strive to create a balance over the course of a week or two in a cycle.  If you think of your search for work as a job hunt, then imagine each tool or tactic as one arrow in your quiver.  You need a variety of arrows including:  informational interviewing; attending professional meetings and seminars; social networking utilizing LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter; writing your blog, etc., etc.  However important online activity has become, remember that social networks are but the means to the end of building personal relationships.  Nurture your relationships both in the real and virtual worlds.
6. Stay focused and use your time wisely.  People who work out of their homes often say that one of the biggest challenges they face is managing their time.  It’s easy to be distracted by kids, pets, housework, TV, internet, computer games, and so much else! Organize your day and week in advance.  Create an hourly schedule and stick to it by setting alarms on your computer calendar or wherever they will best be seen and heard.
7. Practice, practice, and practice some more!  Rehearse out loud your elevator speech and prepare answers to interview questions which you can anticipate.  For example, don’t allow yourself to be flummoxed by opening queries like, “Tell me about yourself.”  Did you know that Larry Bird, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, shot 1,000 baskets EVERY DAY!  He was great because he understood the need for constant repetition and skill building.
8. Maintain your mental & physical health. Eat healthy.  Exercise at least 3 times each week.  If it’s been a while since you exercised with any regularity, start slow and gradually build yourself back up.  Get those endorphins flowing and you will look better, have more energy, and feel better about yourself.

I’m always interested to hear from readers.  Tell me what stymies you, what energizes you, what works, and what doesn’t.  I’d love to hear some success stories!

Happy hunting!

 Arnie