Wednesday, 02 June 2010

Tom Becker –Vice President, Recruiting, North America

www.twitter.com/charlottetomwww.comsys.com

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The game has changed• In 1960: the average tenure held with employers

– 21.9 years

• In 2008: the average number of years with a current employer– 4.1 years

• What does this mean to you??– You may change jobs 13 times in your career!

Sources• Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor• Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Social networking - (n)

“The use of a website to connect with people who share personal or professional interests, place of origin, education at a particular school, etc.”

• How do you know you have created an effective network?

– Network comes to you– Interviewing frequently (formally and informally)– You are not caught off guard

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What does your network look like?

• How many people could you know very well?• Robin Ian MacDonald Dunbar and the “Dunbar number” popularized by Malcolm

Gladwell• Your closest friends and family are NOT the best source for a job:

• "The Strength of Weak Ties", American Journal of Sociology 78 (6): 1360-1380, May 1973

• After checking 30 billion electronic messages, Microsoft researchers confirm “6 degrees of separation” theory

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Aggressive growth of social networking sites

http://beta.twittervision.com/

When you add Facebook

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Simple techniques• One-on-one (networking)

– Strength of “weak ties”– Build your network as it happens– When colleagues/managers move on

to other companies or divisions

• One to many (broadcasting) – Create your very own personal

broadcasting medium

• Find and follow the experts – “birds of a feather”– Follow job users

– Charlottejobz– tweetmyjobs

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Have a balanced approach1. Create your personal brand

2. Do NOT spend all your time online

3. Practice your networking skills– Reconnect with past colleagues– Seek out both formal & informal interviews

4. Create an online presence– Update/customize your resume & register with job boards– Create online accounts

– Linkedin.com– Facebook.com– Twitter.com

– Differentiate what is personal & what is professional

5. Consider “consulting”

Questions & Answers