Contact Heather at [email protected]
Introduction
• If you’re currently job searching, you might be frustrated or overwhelmed at the amount of time it can take & the number of applications you might have to fill out to land your next job
• Being organized – from your job search documents, to timelines, to follow-up reminders – can help alleviate some of the stress that goes along with the job search
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Introduction
• Here’s what we’ll cover today: – Creating a job search plan
– Best practices of job search organization
– Free and low-cost online tools for organization in your job search
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Creating a Job Search Plan
• Think about it
– What are your goals?
– What type of job are you seeking?
– What skills, qualifications, expertise & education do you have?
• Analyze your online presence
– Employers now search for candidates on social media & in search engines
– Are your profiles and search results presenting you in the best light?
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Job Search Plan, Cont.
– Recommended resource: Vizibility is like a “Google Me” button for career professionals
• Get your job search documents in shape
– Your cover letter & resume must be tailored to each position & company
– Use action verbs & accomplishment stories to convey your value to the employer
– You should also create business cards while job seeking to keep in contact with helpful people throughout the process
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Job Search Plan, Cont.
• Join & engage in professional and social networking communities
– Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, niche sites, etc.
– Join specific groups related to your skills & industry
– Provide value & share other’s content
– Completely fill in your biography, experience, skills & interests
– Include relevant keywords in your profiles to help employers find you
– Ask for recommendations to display on your profiles
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Job Search Plan, Cont.
• Create an online portfolio
– Buy your domain name (www.firstnamelastname.com)
– Display your best work
– Include contact information
• Start blogging
– Choose a frequency for publishing & stick with it
– Share your posts on social media
– Write about recent industry news, issues & trends to become a thought leader
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Job Search Plan, Cont.
• Get found on Google
– Use search engine optimization (SEO) tactics to help employers find you
– Links, keywords & tags are important in your website design & blog posts
– Content should be relevant & updated often for Google to display your website/blog as a top result
• Become an expert
– Blogging, social media & engagement in online groups can help you position yourself as an expert in your field
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Job Search Plan, Cont.
– Interact with other industry professionals & comment on their content to increase your visibility
– Offer to guest blog on other’s blogs to share your expertise with their audience
• Convert “prospects” into “leads”
– Provide a “call to action” on blog posts, e-newsletters, eBooks, etc.
– Creativity goes a long way in standing out in today’s job search
– Recommended resource: Hello There
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Job Search Plan, Cont.
• Convert “leads” into “customers” once you’ve landed an interview
– Do your research on the organization & hiring manager
– Be prepared to answer tough questions
– Ask good questions, for example:
• What brought you to [insert organization], and what keeps you here?
• What’s your management style?
– Send a thank you note after your interview!
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Contact Heather at [email protected]
Best Practices of Organizing Your Job Search
• So, how can one keep track of countless applications, companies & names?
• Check out these best practices for staying organized:
– Write down/record everything
• Although you might feel like you’ll remember the details of a conversation with a potential employer or the date you applied for a specific job, you’re better off writing it down for future reference
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Organizing Your Job Search, Cont.
– Bookmark helpful websites & blogs, along with specific job listings & company sites
• Again, you might think you’ll remember these things –but you’re better safe than sorry in a job search!
– Utilize your job search plan
• Map out your day with specific job search activities to ensure you’re not neglecting any important aspect of job searching
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Organizing Your Job Search, Cont.
– Keep your job search documents with you at all times
• You never know when you’ll meet someone who can help you land a job
• Keep a stack of business cards handy to connect with new networking contacts
• Don’t keep your resume and cover letter exclusively on your home computer – save it to a flash drive, your email account or a website such as Google Docs to ensure you’ll always be able to access it
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Organizing Your Job Search, Cont.
– Record dates, locations & names
• This will help when you go to follow-up to a job application or after an interview
– Give yourself a break every once in a while
• A job search can easily be a full-time job – de-stress by grabbing lunch with a friend, exercising or engaging in a hobby
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Free & Low-Cost Online Tools
• Google Docs
– Upload documents, spreadsheets, images & more
– Create documents, presentations & spreadsheets online
– Access your content anywhere you can log into your Google account
– Organize your documents into collections & share them with whomever you like
– Cost: Free
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Online Tools, Cont.
• JibberJobber
– Personal relationship manager for your career
– Organize & manage your job search
– Track personal and professional relationships, target companies & jobs you apply to
– Cost: Free, unless you’d like to upgrade to Silver ($5/month) or Premium ($9.95/month)
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Online Tools, Cont.
• JobKatch
– Add job leads, identify key people, manage your events & track your progress
– Keep track of job leads through a simple bookmark tool or add them manually
– Import your existing networking contacts to see who can help you in your job search
– Track your progress & receive reminders about follow-up steps in the job search process
– Cost: Free
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Online Tools, Cont.
• Evernote
– A tool to help you remember things using your computer, phone & the Internet – your “digital personal assistant”
– Type a text note, snap a photo, grab a screenshot,
– Everything you capture is searchable
– You can add tags and organize notes into notebooks
– Sync your online account with your cell phone for organization on-the-go
– Cost: Free, upgrade to Premium for $5/month for additional storage, more versatility & support
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Contact Heather at [email protected]
Online Tools, Cont.
• Becomed
– Record your applications, resumes & cover letter templates
– Track which job applications you sent, how far have they have advanced, & next steps
– Set reminders & to do lists
– Cost: Free, or upgrade to Becomed Pro for $2.99/month
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Contact Heather at [email protected]
Thank you!For more tips: blog.cachinko.com
Join us for our next job seeker webinar on:
May 31, 2011: Unemployed New Grads: Alternatives to the Traditional Entry-Level Job
