5 Steps to Successful Job Search Networking

Whether you are unemployed or seeking a job change, networking is a critical part of the search. This is especially true in the current job market. Beginning a job search requires serious planning. Would you decide to take a vacation without research, plans and reservations? Hopefully, you would not.

There are five steps to a successful job search by networking:

1) Develop a plan for your job search. Give some thought to your skills, interests and experience. Start a list with this information. Determine how much time you will devote to this search. If you are unemployed, you need to dedicate the same number of hours you previously worked. Job searching is now your new job.

2) Develop a current resume. If you have skills, experience or education applicable to more than one industry, you need a resume for each industry. If you need some guidance with the resume preparation, there are books and software programs available to assist you.

When you have finished the groundwork by developing a plan and preparing a resume, you are ready to begin the networking process.

3) Set up a system to organize your networking endeavor. This step is extremely important to your networking success. Without organization, this process will not succeed. You can set up a spreadsheet on the computer or use the old-fashioned spiral notebook. Who should be included in your network? Include friends, family, co-workers or previous co-workers as a starting point. Write down names, addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers, email addresses and a date column to track communications. You also need space to write comments and notes after each contact.

Now, add to your network names of church members, your hairdresser and neighbors. You may have a conversation in a doctor's waiting room that leads to a job possibility. Add former employers and former classmates because anyone may be a source of information that results in a job. Once the initial network has been set up, go online and visit job boards.

4) You now have your plan, your current resume and your initial network has been set up. Begin contacting the network by phone, email or mail. Let everyone know that you are looking for a job. You may be asked for a copy of your resume; be sure to send it right away.

5) Stay in contact with your network by following up at least once a week. Keep them informed of your progress and be sure to thank each one.

Do not underestimate the power of your network. It has been reported that at least 60% of all jobs are found by networking. Some career experts report that networking accounts for far more than 60% of jobs found. Once you have your new job, contact everyone in the network and share the good news.

Send everyone a thank you note for their time and effort on your behalf.

Searching for a Singapore job, you can always check out the latest jobs in Singapore WDA jobs bank where thousands of jobs are available.

Why Networking is the Most Effective Job Search Technique

When most people need to find a new job, they start with the online career sites, employment offices or local want ads. It seems obvious to look in the places where people are advertizing for jobs. Yet, studies consistently show networking to be the most effective way to find a job. Networking is the act of working with people you know to help you find the things that you want. Its efficacy is not surprising considering that when done properly, job seekers are making direct contact with hiring managers or people that can lead them to hiring managers. Further more, it provides a way to tap into the hidden job market.

The phrase "hidden job market" refers to all of those jobs that exist but are hidden from view, that is, they are not advertised. Hiring managers will often hold-off advertising a job until exhausting their own circle of contacts. Placing ads and sorting through potential candidates is costly and time consuming. It also involves the risk of hiring an unknown entity. It is easier, cheaper, and safer for the hiring manager to recruit from friends and/or professional contacts. You increase your chances of getting the job you want by tapping into that hidden job market.

 As evidence, here are some statistics from resumagic.com on how Americans find employment:

35% -- Found job through a friend, relative or other associate
30% -- Contacted an employer directly, without answering a classified ad
14% -- Answered a job classified advertisement
08% -- Found job through on-campus recruitment or job placement office
06% -- Employment agency or search firm
05% -- State-run unemployment office
02% -- Other

The above percentages indicate that 65% of people who are employed found a job that was never publicly advertised.

Case study
For many people, networking still feels like something that will only work for other people. I am proof that's wrong. While not unique or connected in any special way, with the exception of one position I found by cold calling, I networked my way into every other position as I worked my way up the corporate ladders in multiple industries. Here are some examples of how I worked with the people I knew to find the jobs I wanted.

Cast Iron Foundry: Just before graduation, I was talking with my faculty advisor about jobs. He gave me the name of a man at a trade association coincidentally near my home. I visited him on the way home from school. He, in turn, referred me to the Chief Metallurgist at a nearby company that fit exactly with what I wanted to do. They hired me. The job was never advertised.

R&D Consortium: A vendor salesman that used to call the company that I worked for went to work for the Consortium. He told me they were looking for engineers with business acumen and put me in touch with the hiring manger. I got the job. The job was not advertised. When I had gone as far as I could in that company, I sent out hundreds of resumes and answered dozens of advertisements to no avail. Finally I found my new job through networking.

Life Insurance Agent: I decided to work for myself. I researched companies in the life insurance industry and knew some agents. A personal friend who was also an agent led me to his company where I eventually landed my first position. They had an active recruiting program ongoing and the personal introduction paved the way, even though I had no obvious qualifications.

Large Pharmaceutical: Several years later when I decided to change careers again, I networked my way into a local, major pharmaceutical company doing business development. The job was not advertised.

Six years later, the company was restructuring to prepare for a spin off the division I was in. I was laid off and networked my way to a job as program manager within the same company. The job was not advertised until after I started only to fulfill HR requirements.

Three years later it was time for me to move on. I networked my way to find a manager job in yet another division. This job was advertised and I saw it on the job board, but I thought it was not a good fit. I networked my way into the vice president's office. She encouraged me to apply and asked me to meet with the hiring manger.

Why It Works
I am nothing special, nor is my history with networking. What is special is the power of networking. I have tried responding to ads and sending out hundreds of resumes, but like most people, my carefully worded documents and phone calls fell in to the black holes of human resource departments. Every time it proved to be a huge amount of effort without any payoff. Instead, the solution was talking to people- lots of them. Want more proof? Think about how you have found jobs, or ask your friends about their careers and how they found their jobs. I bet you will find that they knew someone who gave them an "in" or a critical heads-up. This is networking. It may not have been formal, or even intentional, but it was networking at its best.

In real life it plays out like this: a company may advertise an open position and receive 1,000 resumes. HR will receive those resumes and, after filtering the resumes based on their criteria, will narrow it down to maybe ten resumes. If the hiring manager gets an email from a trusted contact recommending a friend for the job and attaching a resume, that "friend" just leapfrogged to the front of the pack. The other ten candidates are complete unknowns beyond their resumes, but the friend comes with a trusted recommendation. The hiring manager eliminates much of the risk involved in bringing in a new employee. In order to be successful in your job search, you need to find those contacts that can get you in front of the hiring managers. Networking makes you a known quantity, allowing you to levitate to the top of a massive stack.

Conclusion
There are many ways to find a job, but studies prove that networking is the most effective way to find a job. The experience of my own career over 30 years made a believer out of me.

Search for a Singapore Jobs, you can always check out the latest jobs in Singapore job bank WDA where thousands of jobs are available.

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.

Why Is LinkedIn So Important in Your Job Search?

If you're a job seeker who doesn't use LinkedIn in looking for job opportunities, you are not probably aware of the current tools being used by recruiters. Employers nowadays do not only review your resume. In fact, they are more interested in reading your LinkedIn profile to get more information about your qualifications. Aside from being a vital recruitment tool, you might wonder why LinkedIn plays an important role in your job search.

Read on to know the answers.

Why More Employers Choose LinkedIn Over Traditional Resumes

Recruiters and employers choose LinkedIn over traditional resumes for the following reasons:

1. Since a LinkedIn profile can be easily edited, the provided information is more updated and relevant in the context of one's industry.

2. A resume is often limited to a page or two while your LinkedIn profile could have unlimited information.

3. A LinkedIn profile is often considered more trustworthy since it's seen by the public. People are less likely to lie about their skills and experience as past and present colleagues could quickly point and call out exaggerations and fabrications.

Using LinkedIn in Your Job Search
There are 3 common ways for you to use LinkedIn to your advantage when you're looking for a job:
1. Use LinkedIn as a key to be found by hiring managers and prospective employers. Candidates who are found by recruiters via LinkedIn have more advantages than those who completely rely on the traditional resume.

The following LinkedIn strategies will increase your chances of being found by recruiting and outsourcing specialists:

-- Ensure that your profile is 100 percent complete. LinkedIn indicates how close you are to completing your profile.

-- Also, it's a good idea to include a keyword-rich and powerful headline to your profile. If you're not sure about your headline, try browsing profiles of people in the same industry as yours.

-- Include a professional and a smiling photograph in your profile.

-- Avoid being too vague with your skills and previous employment information. After listing your skills and former employers, be sure to talk about measurable results and unique accomplishments.

-- Join LinkedIn groups. Currently, the site allows each user to join 50 groups. Consider diversifying your groups --by skills sets, college alumni, geography, interests, or even previous employers.

2. Use LinkedIn to network and consequently find job opportunities. This networking site doesn't only allow you to market your qualifications to employers; it also provides an avenue for you to find a job that matches your qualifications. In the website's main menu, you can click on the "Jobs" section and filter jobs by date posted, industry, function, and organizational level through the Advanced Search feature. Further, each LinkedIn group has its own "Jobs" section that enumerates employment opportunities that are different from the ones posted on the main job board.

On the other hand, the LinkedIn Signal feature allows you to run a search amongst the status updates posted by members of your network. To look for job opportunities in your network, use the keywords "hiring" plus your "job title".

3. Utilize LinkedIn to keep yourself updated and obtain useful information in a wide variety of career topics. LinkedIn also provides news and original articles covering a wide variety of fields and industries. Company profiles are also featured.

Search for a Singapore job, you can always check out the latest jobs in Singapore WDA job bank where thousands of jobs are available.

Facebook Can Affect Your Job Search Success

I see students spending hours every day on Facebook. Now, let me by perfectly clear, Facebook is not a terrible thing. I even have a Facebook presence of my own. However, some days what I see on people's pages as I walk by suggests that they are not very discreet in what they share with the rest of the world. It is one thing to share photos of your antics at last night's pub crawl, but quite another if those same pix capture the attention of a job recruiter.

They might not be impressed and you could lose the opportunity for that all important interview. You see, what you post on social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook is a reflection of your level of maturity and sense of discretion. Your lack of good judgment in what you post could be interrupted negatively by a potential employer.

So you are saying to yourself, "what employer or human resources consultant has the time the look me up on Facebook"? Well you might be surprised to know that in a survey done in 2006 by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 11% of those surveyed said they actually had gone online to check an applicant's online presence. And a survey by CareerBuilder found that 63% of hiring managers admit to not hiring someone based on the information they found about them online. So it is a real issue.

Your level of privacy is on the decline because of the internet and care must be taken with what we share about ourselves. We are not talking about stalkers or sexual predators here. We are talking about those employers you want the opportunity to impress in an interview. Don't lose the chance because of some foolish disclosure of personal information you never intended or imagined would be used in such a way.

And beware of blogs as well. There have been cases where applicants have posted less than complimentary comments about their bosses on their blogs. Such posts are intended to be read by others. What if one of those "others" is an employer whose vacate position you have applied to. Think he or she wants to take the chance of a similar rant being posted later about them? Another opportunity lost.

But the situation isn't as hopeless as you might imagine. Only share those very personal photos with your friends; remove the public designation and make them for a private group. Create a public profile that displays you in a positive light. And remove those caustic tirades concerning past bad experiences with people in authority, personality conflicts, negative co-workers or customers. A mature approach would be to spin these in a more positive way, describing what was learned from them and how they have made you a stronger, more productive employee. Use your social networking presence and blogging as an advertising tool for what it is about you that an employer would want in an employee. Build a professional online profile, one that promotes you and not restricts your opportunities.

You need to know that most of the job opportunities out there these days are never advertised on job boards or at employment centres. Use your Facebook and MySpace tools to network with potential employers. Turn that tool that could have hampered your job search success into one that raises your profile online and displays you as a good human resource investment for a company's future. Take every opportunity you encounter to network amongst those that may hold the key to your career success. The next person you talk to might be the one that recognizes you for what you have to give and how valuable an employee you will be in contributing to their future success.

For more assistance with writing cover letters and resumes, 

Looking for a job in Singapore, you can always check out the updated jobs in Singapore job bank WDA where thousands of jobs are available.

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.

Using Craigslist to Find a Job Or Gig - Helpful Tips

Hands down, the best way to make money on Craigslist is to find a job or a gig. If you are in desperate need of money and more than just a few extra dollars, this is the approach you must take.

If you are unemployed, your goal is to find a full-time job. If you are just looking to make some extra cash, your goal is to find a part-time or a paid gig. You can find all of these on Craigslist, enabling to you to make money.

Craigslist Tip #1 - Post in the Services Offered
First and foremost, post a services offered listing in Craigslist's services section.

Even if you want a full-time job, this is a way to make some extra cash in the meantime. Any hobby or small amount of experience you have can be used to make money. Offer your lawn mowing services, your computer repair services, or your babysitting services.

But wait! Why do you need to do this AND search for a job or gig? Because some Craigslist users are lazy. Why spend time searching when all they can do is post an "I need a" ad and get many replies?

Craigslist Tip #2 - Search All of Craigslist
There are benefits to being able to search all of Craigslist when looking for a job or a paid gig. Many paid gigs (like freelance writing) are internet based, meaning you can work for someone clear across the country. As for a good job, you might be willing to relocate. Having the ability to search all of Craigslist gives you better results.

But wait! How can you search all of Craigslist? A number of websites and software programs enable you to search all of Craigslist and thousands of other websites at once. Download one of these programs or do a free search on a classified searching website.

Craigslist Tip #3 - Choosing Your Search Words or Phrases
There are three good ways to search for jobs on Craigslist. They include:

• Search with the job title: office manager, writer, secretary, construction worker, bartender, and so forth. This is your best option.

• Search with the job duties: typing, writing, remodeling, customer service, and so forth. This is less successful, but ideal when the hiring manager doesn't have a set title for the job.

• Search with the company name: Burger King, Microsoft, and so forth. This approach more hit or miss. Not many large companies use Craigslist, mostly the smaller businesses do. Moreover, many leave out the company name.

Craigslist Tip #4 - Do Not Headline Browse
Normally, I recommend headline browsing. After all, why click to see a size medium leather jacket when you need a size large? Jobs and gigs are different. Rarely does someone post the salary info in the job post at all, let alone in the headline. From that one line the job may look like crap, but it may turn out to be the best paying job you had in years! Click and then skim.

Seeking for a job in SG, you can search a list of available jobs at WDA jobsnet.

A recruitment article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment coach that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.