Monthly Archives: June 2009

Jun23

Looking for work

Posted on by
Looking for work

Several friends and acquaintances are looking for work at the moment.  And because I have staffing experience and hiring manager experience, they have been asking me for advice.  There are all the standard bits of advice that everyone in the industry (and out of it) gives; but I was surprised that some folks are unaware of a few tidbits that I will share here:

  1. Google your name before you send out your resume and really check out what comes up!  You may discover that there are many folks with your name out there – be aware of who they are and what they do – so you are not caught unawares if a Recruiter asks you about a subject that seems to be a non sequitor, chances are they are trying to figure out if you are that (insert your name) who skydived in a youtube video or not… You will be surprised at how much “surface” level research is done through googling, and how many folks are mistaken for someone else.  At least if you have looked already, and if the Recruiter or Hiring Manager says “tell me about your skydiving video” you can chuckle and explain that it isn’t you, but someone else with your name.  This is good, because you demonstrate you are aware of your web presence and that you are comfortable with the fact that someone tried to check on you.
  2. If you have a Facebook or Myspace page, edit your comments and pictures before sending out your resume. I know, I know, that is your “personal” space, but believe me – Recruiters and Hiring Managers will go and look to see what they can find out about you (and if anyone they know, knows you).  Rather than having to explain something that is iffy or unprofessional or just embarassing – remove it.
  3. Update your Linkedin page and if you don’t have one, set one up.  Many HR folks will check a resume against the Linkedin.com profile and if there are mismatches, or questionable items – use it to screen the resume out.  Likewise, some HR departments will screen a resume out that doesn’t have a Linkedin.com account – dependent upon your career area.  If you are in Technology, Sales, or Management – you should have a Linkedin.com profile.  And it should be up to date.
  4. The absolutely best way to get a job is through a referral from someone you know, who knows someone in the Company you are trying to get a job in.  This requires work – and let’s face it – finding a job is a job all by itself.  The job seeker should be actively researching where they are most likely to find a job that matches their skills and/or career goals, and networking to see who they know who can get them through all the standard resume filtering that happens.

I hope this was helpful to you if you are looking for work.  Let me know – leave a comment!

Jun22

Word of Mouth…

Posted on by
Word of Mouth…

We used to call ourselves “Bargain Hunters” or “Smart Shoppers” – now we are “Recessionistas”, finding the best buy and beating the economic woes of the land!  My co-worker and friend, Afsheen, coined the term… and I have been using it with relish for about a week.  My circle of friends have adopted it and so on and so on… who knows where it will end up next.  That is the joy of a “living language”.   Not that I am assuming that my adoption of this clever term will make it into the jargonaries of the world, nor that by our usage we will change the language – my point about it is that usage is viral because people tell others about what they are using.

In the decades prior to mass media (not really THAT long ago), most products were spread through word-of-mouth marketing.  One person would tell another person about how well it worked or how wonderful the product was, and it spread.  This is why so many advertising formats are “Testimonials” of one kind or another… because the majority of humans like to pass things along, share, and enjoy as a group.  The concept of viral (word of mouth)  marketing  came back into vogue when the internet became mainstreamed.  Social networking and the marketing that comes with it, is the good old fashioned word of mouth type of testimonial marketing that was prevalent a century ago.  The village is bigger now… the “mouth” is a screen. 

A person in Dallas can coin a term like “Recessionista” and in two days,  it can be heard in San Francisco and Boston in a conversation 3 times removed from the source.   Just think what you could do with a strong strategy and  purpose!