How to Rev Up Your Job Search, Even if You’re Happily
Employed
Presented by:Heather R. Huhman
Who am I?
Founder & president of Come Recommended– Career and workplace education and consulting
firm specializing in young professionals– ComeRecommended.com is a social networking
site for internship and entry-level job candidates and employers
Entry-level careers columnist for Examiner.com
Career expert for a number of other orgs2
Every Job is Temporary
Unfortunately, every job is temporary. Seriously, every single one. So, even if you’re over-the-top happy where you are today, chances are you will move on from this position for one reason or another eventually.
Knowing this, how can you rev up your job search now?
What We’ll Cover
How to create a comprehensive job search plan
The importance of building your network now
360-degree networkingHow to build and maintain your personal
brand
How to Create a Comprehensive Job
Search Plan
How to Create a Comprehensive Job Search Plan
Have a clear idea of what you want and how you’ll get there
Map out your goals:– What’s your ideal workplace environment?– What type of organization do you want to work
for?– Where are you going to live? – What type of job does your previous experience
and education qualify you for? (Be realistic)
How to Create a Comprehensive Job Search Plan
Utilize various job search methods to land the job you want– Job boards– Social networking sites– Informational interviews– Company websites– Networking – events, conferences, online– Talking with your existing network to see who
can help you
How to Create a Comprehensive Job Search Plan
Dedicate set amounts of time to various job search methods – You don’t want to rely on one method to get you
an interview
Stay on top of your applications and interview opportunities– Follow-up with hiring managers several times
throughout the process to show that you are passionate about the job opening
How to Create a Comprehensive Job Search Plan
Prepare yourself– Have a quality resume and cover letter prepared
for job openings – Research the company to identify how you
would fit and ways you can help them improve– Show that you know what they need by spelling
out exactly how your qualifications and experience fit the job description
How to Create a Comprehensive Job Search Plan
Stay organized– Create a method for keeping track of
applications, dates, names and contact information
The Importance of Building Your Network
Now
The Importance of Building Your Network Now
To create a strong network of connections, build it before you “need it” (for example, when you’re job searching)
You’ve been interacting with many people who can help your job search throughout the years, such as:– Peers and classmates– Professors and university professionals– Former co-workers and supervisors
The Importance of Building Your Network Now
80% of jobs are secured through networking– Employee referrals – Unadvertised openings – Connections with hiring managers/CEOs
Many are secured through acquaintances or weak connections– You never know who can help you in your career!
360 Networking
360 Networking
Just because you follow someone on Twitter, read their blog or friend them on Facebookdoes not mean you are reaching the end goal of networking. Networking goes beyond the initial meeting whether online or offline.
360 Networking
Networking is a two-way street – it’s all about creating mutually beneficial relationships
That said, you need to give, give, give before you ask for help from new contacts
Know your unique selling points (USPs) – Your unique characteristics and skills – Create an elevator pitch for networking
opportunities to explain who you are, what you’re seeking and your qualifications
360 Networking
Provide value to your contacts – Think about how you can help them succeed, so
they will want to help you succeed in the future. Networking is all about creating good karma!
Follow-up– After an initial meeting, it’s extremely important
to follow-up– You don’t want to lose the connection because
you didn’t stay in touch
360 Networking
Follow-up (cont.)– Also important to stay in touch with your
network contacts via updates, e-mails, meetings, phone calls, etc. throughout the year
Leveraging your connections– Once you’ve built a relationship, your
connections can vouch for you and lead you to a multitude of new opportunities
360 Networking
Bringing it all full circle– After completing networking activities, show
gratitude to those you’ve connected with– Take notes on the back of business cards about
unique conversations– Explore ways to help or give back to build the
two-way relationship – Add contacts you’ve made on LinkedIn or follow
them on Twitter to continue building the relationship
How to Build and Maintain Your Personal
Brand
Building Your Personal Brand
Create a professional presence on major social networking sites, such as LinkedIn & Twitter– Keep usernames similar (use your name)– Include a professional picture to show you are a
real person– Completely fill out your bio, including
information from your elevator pitch– Make your account public
Building Your Personal Brand
Keep public social networking sites professional– Become a “go-to” professional for industry news,
interesting articles and recent issues– It’s okay to share some personal information, but
don’t give potential employers a reason to dislike you because of sharing too many personal details online
Building Your Personal Brand
Create an online portfolio to display your experience and pieces of work – Include your resume, classwork, volunteer
projects, leadership experience, recommendations, etc.
– Consider starting a blog to increase your visibility and sharpen your writing skills
– Where to start: WordPress, Weebly, Wix, VisualCV
Building Your Personal Brand
Know your unique selling points (USPs)– Education– Qualifications– Experience– Industry/Field/Niche
Position yourself as an expert in your field– Blogging is a great way to do this
Attend networking events and conferences to meet other professionals
Building Your Personal Brand
Invest in quality business cards that align with your personal brand
Be sure to include the following on them:– Full name– E-mail address– Website/blog– Twitter handle/LinkedIn profile link, etc. – Phone number– Photo of yourself (if you’d like)
Maintaining Your Personal Brand
Keep your different sites consistent by updating them often – Employers and recruiters will check to see that
your online presence is consistent across all channels
Don’t just sign up for networking sites and leave them inactive– Focus on a select few and make sure to provide
value to your followers
Maintaining Your Personal Brand
Update your status often on various sites so you’re always on the front of people’s minds
Keep in mind what’s appropriate for the outlet:– Twitter: several times per day is acceptable– LinkedIn: not more than once or twice per day
Look for new opportunities to display your expertise, such as guest posting on other’s blogs
iMarketYourCareer Services
Questions?
Heather R. HuhmanFounder & President
Come Recommended www.comerecommended.com
[email protected]: @heatherhuhman