Tag Archives: linkedin.com

Jul29

Social Networking and YOU

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Social Networking and YOU

At the end of the day the only person you have control over is YOU.  But each of us influence and have impact on others based on our relationships.  And “Social Networking” is a way of taking a systemic look at your relationships and leveraging them to help you accomplish your goals – whether that goal is to find a great realtor, gain access to a prospective client, find a new job, or raise funds for charity – your most successful forays will be with people who know you or know someone who knows you.

Randy Schrum, http://successwithlinkedin.wordpress.com/ has a whole blog, and an e-book about how to successfully utilize LinkedIn in marketing.   Charlene Li’s book Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies talks about how social networking has taken hold of the internet and where it is all heading.  There are many other references out there…

Ultimately if you are trying to decide to “Twitter or not to Twitter”  ( you might want to check out: Twitter Power: How to Dominate Your Market One Tweet at a Time ) or how to set up a Facebook page for your Business ( check out Clara Shih’s book The Facebook Era: Tapping Online Social Networks to Build Better Products, Reach New Audiences, and Sell More Stuff ) you need to set out a strategy and schedule some focused time to do it.  It is like any other aspect of your business, you need to schedule it in and spend some time to get comfortable with the ins and outs.

If you “shot gun” your approach, you spread yourself too thin, miss your target half the time, and may jeopardize the one thing you have to leverage – your relationships.   Guard them closely, your contacts are almost as precious as your reputation.  Learn how to nurture and leverage, remember to give value as well as harvest value, and take the time to stay in touch – that is the beauty of the internet and social networking sites – they enable you to stay in contact and find opportunities to help others.

Jun23

Looking for work

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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!