Posts tagged with networking.

How to get a job the Web 2.0 way

By Sophie Bifield, TalentEgg.ca recent graduate contributor, May 21, 2010 at 2:06 PM

Sophie Bifield

It wasn't long ago that job searching meant circling interesting opportunities in the Sunday newspaper or dropping off a résumé by hand to a receptionist.

Now, with social networking evolving so rapidly, even traditional online job boards are struggling to keep up with the fast-changing way employees are hired. Candidates are no longer the only ones actively searching for jobs - employers are now hunting on the Internet to find top talent as well.

When I first started job hunting in 2008, my digital footprint didn't extend much past my private Facebook account. I was being rejected by even low-profile companies.

Personal branding myself online helped change the direction of my job hunt

Since December, I haven't applied for a single job. In fact, I've neither read any job advertisements nor shown much interest in searching for a job. But I have attended a few interviews with high-profile companies, I've picked up a few contracts, I've been offered a few consulting positions and I recently accepted a full-time role with an international advertising agency.

So how exactly did I manage this? And how can you do the same? Well, the answer is relatively simple and doesn't really involve much "luck" either - just a bit of personal branding and online foot printing.

Think of yourself as a brand and define your niche

Rather than focusing on what you want to do, focus on what you already do or have done that is relevant to your "dream job."

For example, companies contacted me not because I wanted to work in the digital space, but rather because I had social media skills. Defining what you do will help employers determine whether or not you have the skills they are looking for. Also remember to be clear and concise with your personal brand messaging-it should be apparent at first glance what it is that you do.

Treat yourself like a marketing campaign

I'm not suggesting that you put banner ads all over the Web to promote yourself, but I do recommend using social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to showcase your professional skills. Think about where your target industry hangs out and make sure you are present there as well.

I have to admit, I haven't personally been approached via Facebook, but I know it has worked for others. I can personally vouch for LinkedIn and Twitter being goldmines when it comes to attracting attention from companies. In fact, the job I recently accepted started on Twitter when I was contacted by one of my followers.

Complete your profiles and keep consistency between them

Without overloading your profiles with details of everything you have ever done, profiles should give more information than just the bare minimum.

Complete profiles will not only give employers more insight into your skill set than just a name or title, but they will also help you show up more frequently in search results. Consistencies between profiles will also help employers find you.

One company that contacted me told me they called because every time they did a search a different profile of mine showed up in the results.

Be searchable by trade

I'm going to take an educated and non-conceited guess that when the companies who contacted me did their searches, they weren't searching me by name but rather specific keywords.

Do your homework in your industry and know what all the keywords that surround your dream job are. Once you have determined which industry-specific keywords are used, scatter them around all of your profiles. Don't change your title to something like Digital and Social Media Marketing Web 2.0 Internet Networker and Consultant if you're aiming for a job in the digital space, but I recommend using the words interchangeably (within common-use boundaries) for the sake of upping your chances of showing up in search results more frequently.

Don't run off and start creating or strengthening your online profiles yet, however.

There are two things to you should know:

  1. It's important to remember that, although fancy images, a bit of clever branding and search engine optimization (SEO) work will almost certainly help employers navigate their way directly to your profiles, you should always be honest about your skills and experience. With so much information available on the Web, any lies or fabricated truths will be exposed almost immediately.
  2. As I mentioned before, I wasn't necessarily looking for a job when companies started contacting me - but this doesn't mean I would recommend setting up your profiles and leaving them to work for you. If you are actively searching for employment, then your digital footprint should compliment your job hunt rather than replace it.

With the way we use the Web changing daily, there is no better time to get online and start building your personal brand. With millions of users performing searches and interacting every second, you never know what opportunities could be waiting to find you.

Tagged with networking, social, personal, brand | Comments (0) |

How to succeed before, during and after networking events

Valerie Aguiar, TalentEgg.ca student contributor, October 30, 2009 at 8:07 PM

Valerie Aguiar

Networking is simply building your "list" of contacts. If you're a student and you don't think you have a network, think again! Your network begins with family, friends, and co-workers.

You can use your network for a variety of things: to keep in touch, to learn more about careers, to seek out employment opportunities, or even to fundraise for a good cause.

In some cases, people in your network know you want a job. However, don't let this be the only reason you keep in touch. Networking is a relationship, meaning the other person needs to benefit somehow.

It could mean you occasionally send them an article relevant to their job or a project they're working on. You could even send them a thank you whenever you use the advice they gave you.

Networking can take place informally and formally. Informal networking is simply talking to new people you meet and keeping in touch after. Formal networking usually takes place at "networking events" or "mix and mingles," where people are there with the intent of expanding their network of contacts.

Formal networking requires a slightly different approach. Here are some tips on how to network successfully at formal networking events:

Before the event

  • - Research the companies that will be present
  • - Be up to date on current news, especially news involving potential employers and their related industries
  • - Make sure you have some nice, professional business cards (you don't need to spend a lot on these at this stage in the game!)

At the event

During:

  • - Talk to the companies that you are very interested in first as they are likely to be busy
  • - Don't focus on eating the food
  • - Be courteous and don't hog the employer - there are many people wanting to talk to each employer, so ask a few good questions and then move on
  • - In situations where there are many people talking to one employer, try to stand out and keep up in the conversation
  • - If you enter in the middle of a conversation, wait for a pause before introducing yourself (it's rude to interrupt someone!)

At the end:

  • - At the end of the event, go back to each person you talked to and thank them for their time - they talked to a lot of people during the event and this will help them to remember you.
  • - Remember to ask for a business card and give the employer yours - I always explain what the organization on my card is so that employers actually have a chance to look at it rather than just store it away
  • - Keep your business cards in one location and the cards you receive in another
  • - Ask the person if it's okay to contact them, as well as what method of contact they would prefer

After the event

  • - Follow up after the event with a thank you via e-mail, phone or snail mail (depending on the person's preference)
  • - Write down a few facts from your conversation on the back of the business card you received - it will help you remember the employer years later
  • - Maintain your network by contacting your contacts once in a while - send them an article, or update them on your job search, or simply send out a thank you whenever you put their advice into use
  • - Don't overdo it! Employers are busy, so e-mailing them once a week can be annoying and inappropriate
  • - Make sure they know you're willing to help them out if they ever need it - networking works both ways - if you want them to help you, you should be just as willing to help them

 

Tagged with informal, networking, formal | Comments (0) |