Cover Letters and LinkedIn

What do Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook have in common with job hunting and your resume cover letters? All three of these social networking sites can create initial contacts for getting job interviews. By using social networking job search methods you can find out about job openings before they are ever advertised or posted. Your resume cover letters are about marketing and making connections with employers or individuals at companies. Social networking for job hunting is the same.

LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a one of the many social networking sites available online. Similar to Facebook and Twitter, LinkedIn allows people to connect with those they may have lost touch with or those they share similar interests with; unlike other sites, though, the largest group is businesses, who use this resource for many reasons, including advertising and job recruitment. This site is one of the fastest growing networking sites on the web with estimates of over 80 million members, is available in six languages and accessible in almost every country imaginable; there is no charge to set up a basic account, but there are some upgrades that you can purchase for your page.

The job market today, as well as the increasingly global nature of business, has led employers and job-seekers alike to try new and different methods of hiring employees or finding a job. Social networking sites are rapidly becoming the place where more and more people involving in the job market in some way or another are able to connect to people worldwide and exchange information quickly. Though not quite ready to replace online job-hunting sites or other job positing sites, social networking sites can be invaluable in both the hiring process and the job-hunting process; by not knowing about these sites, you run the risk that you may miss out on that "perfect" job simply because you did not know where to look.

Just as with any other social networking sites, LinkedIn has some unwritten (and written) rules of how one should conduct themselves on the site. One of those unwritten rules is that you should not contact anyone that you don't know personally. As with any rule, of course, there are exceptions; for example, sending a connection request to a friend of a friend who is the hiring manager for your dream company isn't considered to be "bad" etiquette, especially if that friend is one of the references listed in your profile. However, if you are sending connection requests to people you don't know on a regular basis, the site may identify you as a "spammer" and block all of your future requests, if not close your account completely. These types of connection requests are initial contacts much like job hunting cover letters.

There are two types of connections which are first and second degree connections. A first degree connection is someone you know and who knows you such as a friend, associate, former teacher or boss, and so on. A second degree connection are friend of friends, recommendations, or someone with which you have a mutual friend or associate. Connections often have information about job openings or know someone who does.

View your professional initial contacts as resume cover letters. You want to explain why you are contacting the individual, briefly describe your skills and situation, and refer them to more information such as your profile and website or publications you have written or about you. Then decide what action you want them to take. Requesting a referral person within their company to whom you might forward a resume or of they know of anyone looking for your particular skills.

Your Profile
Because this networking site is aimed at the business sector rather than personal socializing, keep your profile professional. Bad language, spelling and grammar are a big turn-off; keep your postings grammatically correct and free of punctuation mistakes.
You can also use the job search function for employers with openings. You can refine your search by location, country, or the world. In this case you commonly do not send a connection request to the company. Look for a link to the company's website or hiring page where you can complete an online application or submit your cover letters and resumes.

Want to help people find a job,do something meaningful and make a difference in other peoples life by starting your own recruitment business? Check out Dougles Chan inspirational recruitment stories.

Seeking A New Job While Currently Employed : Tiptoeing Through theMinefield

So, you currently have a job but you are looking for something a little better. You are getting tired, uptight, and maybe just a little stressed out. This is a dangerous time - the time when job seekers can turn into wing nuts and make key mistakes. So, how do you avoid tripping over those pesky landmines, you know - your current boss, workmates, and customers - and still carry out an effective job search?

Here are some of the risky situations you are going to want to tip toe around so as to not have your job search blow up in your face:

Landmine #1: Oops, I did it again! Ready, fire, THEN aim that email

You've done all the right things: Tailored a cover letter, crafted a killer resume, and found the right contact, Bill Smithers at "The Best Company In The World, Inc." Now all you have to do is hit Send.

So you do, hit send that is. So far so good. OK, next target. Ms. Jane Topboss at "Dream Company Corporation." Let's see...type in email address...browse...attach file...and...send. Oops! I think I sent the Bill Smithers cover letter and resume to Jane Topboss.

Avoid this landmine by taking the necessary time and making sure you have reviewed and attached the correct file(s) to the correct email. One sure way to blow up your job search is to get in a hurry and mistakenly send the right email to the wrong person or the wrong email to the right person. Do not send ANY job search-related emails from your current place of work. Send all such email outside of work. Take the necessary time to make sure the right email is going to the right person, THEN hit the send button.

Landmine #2: Having potential employers call you at your current workplace

Jennifer Jobseeker had it all figured out. Since she was at work during work hours, it only made sense to list her work number as her contact number for potential employers. "Why burn my cell minutes and have to keep checking my home machine," she thought. Ah, poor innocent Jennifer, totally unaware of the dangerous trip wire she was about to trigger with the brand new patent leather Woodberry loafers she had just purchased as part of her job interviewing outfit. "After all, I can just grab all incoming calls, screen them and if it's an interview call just cross that bridge when I come to it." Then something went terribly wrong. Jennifer took a 15 minute break and that's when Mr. Murphy the hiring manager called. A coworker took the call, asked if he could take a message, and was surprised to learn that Jennifer had an interview scheduled for 11:00 am the following day. Take a guess at what the coworker did with this info...you've got it: The news spread around the office faster than Simon humiliating someone on American Idol and Jane was knocked completely out of her brand new loafers (metaphorically) and her current job (literally.)

Use common sense when giving out your contact info to potential employers. Never, ever, ever, ever, EVER use your current work phone number as the point of contact. Pass your cell or home number along to potential hiring folks and just let them know that if they get your voice mail, you will call them back as soon as you are able - they will understand. Two other things to keep in mind here: 1) Make sure your voice mail message is professional and not too cutesy, rude, or profane; 2) Never, ever, ever, ever, EVER call them back from your office number - if you do you will suffer Jennifer's fate.

Landmine #3: Using your current company's intranet or internet access for job seeking and interviewing

This should be a no-brainer. In most companies, every key stroke you make on your company computer is recorded and can potentially be tracked. Many IT departments now flag certain key words and phrases and automatically create reports detailing who is doing what with their laptops and desktops. These reports are then passed to management for review. Odds are you probably signed a computer use policy when you joined the company. And guess what? In addition to mandating that you can't play games, view any inappropriate sites, or conduct business outside of what your company is doing, there is likely a clause about using company property for private purposes or gain. And unless you are going to include your current company in the job search with you, you definitely do not want to violate this clause.

Landmine #4: Don't slack off at your current job

Even though you might have S.T.A (short timer's attitude) it's a good idea to not let it show. Keep doing the best job you can. Yes, it will be hard. Yes, it will seem pointless; after all you are searching for a new place to work. And yes, you will need to continue to support what you may think are mundane tasks and soon-to-be former coworkers and customers. But be aware that you are being watched. Cubicles and hard walls alike have both ears and eyes and they see and hear everything. If you change your behavior even slightly, your coworkers and your boss will likely notice. It's important to remember something here. Most bosses don't get to be bosses because they are dumb.

Most bosses get to be bosses because they are continually observing events around them and seeking ways to keep things running smoothly. Your boss will know something is up if you are slacking off. Whether you like and respect your current boss or not, you are obligated to serve him or her, the company, your coworkers and your customers as long as you are on the payroll. And it's the right thing to do. You will feel better in the long run if you do the right thing.

Commit to yourself to keep putting in the necessary time and effort that you are getting paid for. Remember, you are the one looking for work so it's up to you to figure out how to balance your current work situation with your job search efforts.

Landmine #5: Attending a job or career fair that includes a booth for your current company

Let's face it, you can often find excellent job leads through a job or career fair. These events attract a large and diverse group of employers who are looking for qualified candidates just like you. So, being the go-getter that you are, you schedule a vacation day in advance (very classy) so that you can attend the job/career fair guilt free. You polish up your shoes, dust off that business suit, brush your teeth, comb your hair, go over a few interview questions in your mind, print up a dozen or so resumes and head to the event. You are prepared, you are confident, and you are going to find that next best job! After all, you don't call yourself Cory the Career Conqueror for nothing.

Imagine your surprise, accompanied by that "I've-just-been-punched-in-the-gut" feeling, when the first booth inside the door is YOUR company's booth staffed by a couple of well known coworkers and a person or two from your Human Resources department. "Why Cory, what are you doing here?" the admin assistant from HR asks, as four pairs of eyes bore into to you like some evil demon guarding the secret passage in the latest Play Station game.

Career and job fairs are great, just make sure to learn what companies are going to be represented there, and if yours is, you may want to rethink attending.

Landmine #6: Listing your current boss or coworkers as references while conducting a stealth job seeking campaign

Consider the following from the movie script "Nightmare on Just Lost My Job Street":

Scene 1: Christina is having a terrible nightmare (dissolve...fade to dream sequence...phone rings...)

"Hi Mr. Jones. My name is Megan Hiringpro at XYZ, Inc. Just a quick question if you don't mind. Do you have a Christina CareerChanger working for you?"

"Why yes I do Ms. Hiringpro. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, you don't know? Christina has listed you as one of her references and we are thinking of bringing her in for an interview but would like to get some feedback from you first."

Christina wakens in a cold sweat and realizes she has dozed off at her desk. "Whew, thank goodness it was only a dream" she thinks with relief. (Fade out...)

Scene 2: As Christina slips a Cool Mint Thin Strip into her mouth, her boss, Mr. Jones, stops by her cube (close up of Christina as Mr. Jones asks)

"Christina, may I see you in my office for a moment."

Christina, now realizing it was not a dream after all, resigns herself to her fate and trudges slowly towards Mr. Jones' office.

"What was I thinking?!" she screams silently to herself.

Scene Ends (and so does Christina's current job.)

This is a tough one. On the one hand, the people you are currently working for and with are in the best position to speak about your qualifications. On the other hand, if you are conducting a stealth job seeking campaign, you can't really let on that you are doing so.

There are only 2 ways to handle this situation and each carries its own degree of risk:

1. Reveal to your current boss that you are looking for other job opportunities
2. Keep your job seeking under wraps and find other references you can use

As Christina learned, you really can't have it both ways. It is just a matter of time before your references will be contacted. It is important to have your strategy in place and all the bases covered so that you are not taken by surprise.

Conducting a stealth job seeking campaign carries risk. If it is not possible or appropriate for you to discuss your job seeking with your current employer, you owe it to yourself to take the necessary time and effort to avoid landmines you know exist on the path to your new job.

The best way to avoid landmines is to plan your job search strategically, continually scan the path ahead, and use as much patience and persistence necessary to arrive safely and intact in your new job.

Want to help people find a job,do something meaningful and make a difference in other peoples life by starting your own recruitment company? Check out Dougles Chan inspirational recruitment stories.

How to Manage a Poor Recruiter - How to Use a Recruiter

Networking is amazing. You never know where a connection will lead. Levi mentioned to his personal trainer he was looking for a new job as an engineering executive. She immediately offered to introduce him to her friend, a new recruiter at a local search firm. Savvy Levi took her up on her offer because he knows all leads are good leads if you know what you want.

The recruiter, Linda, didn't ask to meet in person. "Just send me your resume for now. When something comes up, I will call you." Levi sent the resume with the understanding she would not share his credentials with anyone without his permission; an important safeguard to having his resume "shopped."

Imagine his surprise three weeks later when she emailed him about an opportunity with a reputable local company. Linda sent Levi the job description and told him to look it over before he interviewed, thus revealing her junior status as a recruiter. She didn't require a face to face and appeared to be "throwing" a resume at the opening. While Levi is smart enough not to tell her how to do her job, if he wants to be considered seriously for the position, he has to exert some control over the process.

He learned Linda's firm had the search because the hiring company had no luck filling it on their own after three months. This is a red flag because their locale is filled with highly qualified technology executives. Why haven't they:

1.) Attracted a qualified candidate
2.) Hired someone. First question suggests the gossip mill in town knows something about the job or company that keeps great candidates away. The second implies the company has impossible to meet requirements. Their reluctance to hire may also indicate lack of consensus within the company about the tasks for the position, the sphere of influence or mission.

Because Linda is young in her career, it is incumbent on Levi to manage the relationships and learn details on his own. Time for him to consult linkedin.com to see who he knows who can shed light on the company and the opportunity. Better still, he can contact his favorite recruiter and ask him what he knows about the company and job. There are few secrets among Headhunters in the local search community when a job has been unfilled for so long. Levi needs to discover what the hiring company's priority is and why they have had little success on their own in a town filled with probable candidates.

MY ADVICE: Talk to Linda face to face if possible. Tell her you want to make her look good so the more information you have when you meet her client, the better. Is there anything about the corporate culture or team she can share


Don't ask: Do you know their biggest priority?
Ask: What did they say to you to communicate their biggest priority?

Don't ask: Why haven't they filled the job?
Ask: What do they have to see to fill this position based on their past attempts. What did they say was missing?

Ask: When you spoke with the person to whom I would report, what impression do you have about his/her style? Their energy level? This assumption gives her the opportunity to reveal the level of her contact which you need to know.

If Linda does not have direct contact with the actual hiring authority, she may invent answers or repeat the canned comments from HR. Keep in mind, if HR had the right fix on the priorities, the job would be filled by now. That's why your own research is imperative. You can't rely on Linda's answers for what you need to know to conduct a great interview.

Ask: Is there something HR said more than once when they talked about their difficulty finding someone on their own?

Ask: What did you see in my background that told you I was a good fit?

Ask: I want to make sure we are talking from the same play book. What do you have in mind as the most important part of my background to get them interested in me as a candidate?

Ask: What if anything did they actually say to you that would suggest my experience managing teams in a variety of countries is of value? Use this approach for any characteristic you feel she needs to accentuate when she makes your appointment

Ask: I always send email thank-you notes to people with whom I interview. Is there any reason you'd be uncomfortable with my contacting them directly? Once Linda says, "No, go right ahead," you can follow up as need be in the future. Don't go around her, always copy her on emails and always let her know if you have contacted or otherwise spoken to the company on your own.

Linda may be inexperienced and even unprofessional, but she is still a gatekeeper and her client is still depending on her to fill the position. One negative word from her and you may be removed from consideration. Ask the Recruiter the right questions in the right way. Don't be dismissive as she learns her role, but don't be handicapped by her ineptitude.

Want to help people find a job,do something meaningful and make a difference in other peoples life by starting your own recruitment company? Check out Dougles Chan inspirational recruitment stories.

The Job-Seeker's Toolkit

It's tough out there in the job market, and it's critical to be prepared with the right tools. Of course, you need an up-to-date resume and some interview attire, but that's not all. Here are ten things that every job seeker must have:

1) a grown-up, non-free email account. Nothing at hotmail or msn, and nothing with "sailinggirl" or "babytoasty" in it.

2) a voicemail system that you listen to regularly, with a message that's not too silly.

3) a job search business card - even if you are already employed and you have a company business card. Go to http://www.vistaprint.com and get the free business cards there (you have to pay for shipping) with your name, email address, phone number, and three bullet points on them. The bullet points should highlight the three most compelling points about you - for instance Marketing Research Professional; Agency and In-House Experience; and Fanatical About ROI.

4) membership in the online network WorldWIT (it's free: sign up at http://www.worldwit.org) - just join whichever chapter is closest to you.

5) membership in LinkedIn (it's also free: http://www.linkedin.com) and connections to as many former colleagues, friends and business contacts as you can manage.

6) a brisk, pithy resume of ONE PAGE in three formats: plain text (for inclusion in email messages), MS Word, and hardcopy.

7) a crisp, on-the-spot elevator speech about your background and your ideal next job. Practice in front of the mirror. When you're asked, for instance at a networking event, to talk about yourself, you don't want to stumble.

8) one killer outfit for the Very Special Interview, and one slightly less killer (meaning expensive) outfit for every other interview.

9) a headhunter in your pocket - just to advise you, whether you're headhunter material or not.

10) a computer with internet connection. If you don't have one, get familiar with your local Kinko's!
With the Job-Seeker's Toolkit assembled, you're ready to hit the ground running. One other item that might come in handy is a sense of humor: you're sure to see some very strange and amusing things once you hit the circuit. Keep your chin up! There's learning in all of it.

Want to help people find a job,do something meaningful and make a difference in other peoples life by starting your own recruitment business? Check out Dougles Chan inspirational recruitment stories.

How to Use LinkedIn to Land Your Dream Job - Reviewing Your Profile

Learning how to use LinkedIn effectively is an important part of any modern day job search. The analogy goes that if Facebook is a student party and Twitter an office shindig, then LinkedIn is a high profile networking event.

Since its launch back in 2002 LinkedIn has proven itself to be the social network for professionals. It's used both by those actively seeking a new role and professionals looking to discuss key industry issues (and who may 'passively' find a new job opportunity along the way).

The problem is that most people don't know how to use LinkedIn effectively enough to land their perfect job. The most common issue is that job seekers set up a profile by adding their picture and filling in the obligatory education and employment details, which is great - but then they sit back and assume that this is enough to attract recruiters and subsequent job opportunities.

How to use LinkedIn - it all starts with the profile

The fact is your LinkedIn profile needs to really shine in order to stand out from every other job seeker on the site. Your profile alone can increase your chances of being seen by headhunters if it's well written and the right keywords are used.

If you're a professional writer and knowledgeable about what recruiters are looking for then you can write your own profile - but of course not everybody is, which is why a professional LinkedIn profile writing service is needed. It's not just all about the CV anymore and LinkedIn plays a huge part in that. Here's what you need to know if you're going it alone when writing your LinkedIn profile.

A good LinkedIn profile should:
• include a captivating pitch to grab the recruiter's attention

• be well-written and in the first person

• use search engine optimised keywords naturally to make it easy for recruiters to find you

• be free of all spelling and grammatical errors

• have a call to action so that recruiters are compelled to contact you

Your LinkedIn profile essentially needs to be a unique sales brochure of your accomplishments to date, and lots of jobseekers struggle to find the right balance between stating their skills and expressing their individual personality.

It's true that knowing how to use LinkedIn in terms of contributing to relevant group discussions and conversations is definitely key to getting noticed on this social network.

But it all begins with the profile.

Want to help people find a job,do something meaningful and make a difference in other peoples life by starting your own recruitment company? Check out Dougles Chan inspirational recruitment stories.

Advantages And Benefits of Creating A LinkedIn Profile

No matter if you're a current student or graduate or a high flying executive, a professionally written LinkedIn profile can help open up doors to opportunities and networks. Before LinkedIn existed, it was virtually impossible to connect directly with potential hiring managers, bosses or even other individuals who share similar job titles to your own. With LinkedIn, not only can you create an online marketing profile but with a click of a button you can begin networking.

Creating a positive first impression:

When a hiring manager or recruiter first reads your LinkedIn profile, they will typically make their opinion of you within the first 20 seconds. A professionally written and completed profile that includes up-to-date information about your skills and experience will automatically get the reader's attention. Including key achievements, examples of projects and value added skills towards the top of your profile will further maintain the reader's attention and create that positive first impression. Don't forget to include a picture. This will help to humanise your profile and put a face behind the name. Remember that your picture is a representation of you. If you are applying for a corporate position, a picture of you at 3 o clock in the morning holding a beer will not portray that professional corporate image.

Be Found:

Different companies are now using social networking such as LinkedIn when it comes to hiring or headhunting new talent. A good example is seen within the ultra-competitive credit card industry, where companies who often try to poach talented staff from their competition and the easiest place to find these people are via LinkedIn. Even if you're not actively seeking a new job, just by having an account could change your career!

Network:

The benefits of LinkedIn are almost endless with no downside to having a LinkedIn profile. Get involved in forums, join groups and meet like-minded individuals like yourself. Best of all LinkedIn is totally free. Job seeking is a tough business and applying for online jobs each and every day is a job in itself! From a job seeker's perspective, LinkedIn is another tool that you can use to help get ahead when searching for a new job.

Don't forget one important aspect. While the advantages and benefits of having a LinkedIn profile can help open up doors to opportunities that may never have existed previously, having an incomplete or unprofessional LinkedIn profile can actually have a detrimental effect and portray a negative impression of being lazy or having a lack of attention to detail. If you choose to create a LinkedIn profile (which I suggest) prepare it properly and utilise everything that LinkedIn has to offer.

Want to help people find a job,do something meaningful and make a difference in other peoples life by starting your own recruitment agency? Check out Dougles Chan inspirational recruitment stories.