Download the eBook —-> What I Know About Getting A Job

Job search and career advice is troubling for job seekers.  It’s not because of the advice giver, but because there is never just one right answer, and each person needs a unique solution to fit their situation.  Job seekers come from all walks of life, different skill sets, different educational experiences, and different goals.  It’s impossible for one HR blogger, career counselor/expert, or recruiter to provide all the correct answers for each person.

With that in mind, Penelope Trunk and I came up with an idea for an eBook that would bring job search and career advice from all different perspectives.  We’ve compiled a contributer list of 18 experts in HR and the job search.  They are professionals named as the Top 25 Digital HR Influencers in 2009, and they’ve shared their stories, experiences, and beliefs in this eBook.

It’s silly to think that this eBook will answer every question you have, but I’m certain that you will enjoy these shared stories and experiences in an eBook that we are very proud of.

Thank you to Penelope Trunk and Brazen Careerist for the opportunity, and thank you to the contributers for sharing their insightful, inspiring, and helpful stories.  Enjoy the eBook and make sure to visit BrazenCareerist.com

Download the eBook —-> What I Know About Getting A Job

My dog is picky about where he urinates, and lately he’s worse than ever.  Let me explain.

A pretty wicked storm whipped through our town last week and it caused an ass-slapping ton of destruction.  My back yard is a public park with many trees, and the storm left dozens of huge branches, and thousands of small  branches and twigs laying on the ground.

It’s become a doggy urination mecca.

You see, the park used to be just the same old trees to whizz on, but now there is literally a pee point every where you turn.  It’s either a beautiful thing, or it’s driving dogs crazy.  My pup Rusty seems to be more on the crazy side.  He’s become very picky on which piece of dead tree is joyously marked.  He’ll run up to fallen branch or twig and sniff out the situation for a while.  If small enough, he’ll walk around the decaying bark to fully inspect it, and then eventually decide if he’s lifting his leg.  Usually he might find 2 or 3 leg-lifting spots, but with so many new opportunities on the ground, he’s going 6-8 times.

I’m cutting myself off.  I’m done writing about doggy urination, and maybe it’s time I throw in the “how this relates to your job search” section.  But do I really need it?  All bloggers take their life stories and then relate it to the purpose of their blog.  It’s what we do.  It’s how we try to keep things interesting and not sound like preachers.  But I’m not sure I want to do that….

You guys are smart folks, in fact I’ll even say you are very intelligent people.   I’m sure you can look at this story and point out how it relates to searching for a job.  You can probably talk about how it relates to the economy, maybe?  Should you be my dog?  Do you inspect things vigorously before lifting your leg?  I mean, you get what I’m saying….?

Answer my questions in your comments…

We all know that there are more options than just applying online to gain attention from target companies.  Twitter has become one of the most talked about resources, which sits right up at the top of the list with Linkedin.  Some people resort to mailing in their applications & resumes along with their electronic submissions.  Some folks create Facebook advertisements targeting specific companies they’d like to work for.  Some get creative with Google AdWords.

Your job search method these days can now almost become a reason for companies to hire you.  When your search is innovative and reflects the position or industry you target, it can certainly put you ahead of other candidates who simply apply online.  Your innovative tactics may also push you ahead of a candidate that has more experience than you.  It’s your ideas that the company wants to hire.  If your ideas already blow the company away before an interview, think about what that does for you.

One job search method that should grow in popularity is personal job search websites.  Websites like these will most likely fit best for social media, marketing, and PR job seekers, but other professions can find use for them. They aren’t too difficult to create, and there are web developers around who will work with you on a price.

I wanted to quickly show off and review a friends personal job search website.  She was working in Florida in a job that just wasn’t suiting her, and her goal was to move to NYC and work in a social media position.  It worked.  She landed a job as Social Media Manager with MTV News.

Take a look at SocialJenny.com, and then come back for my review.

What does Jenny do right?

Home Page – I wanted to put in a picture of the home page above.  She not only makes her goal very clear, but she adds in a few fun links to show real proof of who she is.  She not only says this is what she wants and who she is, but proves it through what she’s done already in social media.  While what I’ve stated already is a must, she also adds in a nice cartoony image of herself in NYC.  It’s not a must, but it’s a wonderful touch.

The last thing I’ll talk about on the home page is how Jenny provides a course of action to visitors.  See how she clearly states to folks that if interested they should check out the links at the bottom.   Nicely done.

Bio/About Me Page – I thought that what she did in this section was very creative.  She answered her bio like it was a phone screen, covering basic questions like, What is your social media philosophy?, Why NYC?, and What is your ideal company to work for?  Perfect for a personal job search website.

My Work/Resume Page – Not only does Jenny leave a more open format style review of her experience, but she includes a link to her online resume.

Ideas – Companies hire us mostly for our ideas.  Jenny leaves some brain wisdom on how she’d handle a few situations.  This gives a potential employer a clear view into how she thinks and what she can add to their organization.

If you’re going to take a stab at a personal job search website, make sure you have clear goals and ideas before jumping right in.  Know what position you target, the kind of company you’d like to work for, and know the value you can bring to those organizations.  It’s not something that should be put together in a couple days, but it should be a well thought out process, and it needs to be done correctly.

Thanks to my friend, Jenny McCoy, for letting me review her website.  She blogs over at Workin’ On A Ramp.  Say hello to her.

Editors Note: Today’s guest post is from Marian Schembari.  Read through the post and catch our contest details at the bottom!

Marian specializes in social media for job hunters, sometimes gets paid to write and works with authors who want to build up their personal brand. She blogs over at http://www.marianlibrarian.com and usually features posts under the “uncategorized” tag but likes to pretend it revolves somewhat around Gen Y careers that don’t fit in a box. She is launching a virtual classroom teaching recent grads, job seekers and freelancers how to use social media as the ultimate career tool. Follow her on Twitter. Do it now.

For all you regular Corn on the Jobbers, Richie conducted a sick poll on the most frustrating part about being a job seeker. Your response? The unknown. Not hearing back. I did a similar poll ages ago (like, 4 people responded) and found the same thing.

Basically, jobseekers spend SHIT TONS of time perfecting cover letters and applying for jobs through “traditional outlets” (job boards, company websites) but never hear anything back. This can be a huge blow to one’s confidence and we all (should) know it’s important to stay positive during the job hunt.

Get Positive, Be Social

I’ve found that the best way to stay positive and motivated is to get involved with social media. If you’re open about looking for work, connections (via Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn/etc) are always supportive and the steady influx of new leads is a great way to see progress rather than the insanely stressful sending of resumes into the internet abyss. With social media you stay exactly that – social. Keep in touch with industry news and people in your field you might not have met otherwise.

To Publicize or Not to Publicize?

When you first decide to drink the social media Kool Aid, figure out if/how you want to publicize your job search. I think it’s a fine line, but by publicizing your search you:

1. Get more people involved. When people congratulate in your successes you automatically feel more awesome about yourself.
2. Get more people involved. The wider your network the more chances someone will think of you if they hear of an opening.

The problem with shouting about the hunt from the rooftops is that it looks kind of desperate and promoting it too much looks unprofessional. I found that more people asked for interviews after I was hired. You know, the whole grass is greener thing. People only really start wanting you once other people show you’re wanted.

I know people that instead of saying “looking for a job” they say something like “aviation professional” or “publishing professional”. Something in your industry. Build your reputation first, then publicize that you’re looking. People are more responsive once you’ve shown you’re worth it.

Some people don’t even publicize their job search, they let their Twitter persona grow first and then make a shout out that their looking for work. Just a little summin’ summin’ to keep in mind when creating a job-hunt-appropriate social media profile.

Blog and Look Smart

The second best thing about using social media for your job search AND as a positivity booster is that it makes you feel (and look) smart. By keeping up-to-date on industry news you can be 100% confident that you know your industry. No, don’t read boring stuff in the paper, find the best blogs! My favorite tips:

• Jot down a list of the top 10 industry blogs. Comment on those blogs. Make friends with the bloggers.
• Make sure you’re reading these sites every day. Start your own site and give us your thoughts.
• Join relevant groups on LinkedIn. Ask questions and become a part of the conversation.
• Spent 15 minutes a day going through LinkedIn Answers. It’s not just about asking questions, but helping other people out. I landed 3 clients in an hour using this trick and just by spreading the love you can find job leads. If you want to learn more about how to do this I created a free video here.

Even if your social media efforts don’t land you an interview right away (which it often does), having a support group of people in your industry when trying to find work can be hugely beneficial.

Enter Pajama Job Hunt

Oh, and did I mention I’m actually launching a course on using Twitter as a job hunting tool? Yeah, it’s rockin’. Click here for details, but it’s a ridiculously fun and comprehensive, 3-part video training was created for recent grads, job seekers and freelancers. Ready to use Twitter to build a strong network, land work fast, make some serious money and – wait for it – stop wasting time applying for jobs the old-fashioned way?

Enter COTJ Contest

Richie and I are giving away the program to one lucky blog reader, worth $47 FOR FREE ($37 for the first week).  Here are the rules:

• Leave a comment below about why you want to win the program (mandatory entry).
• Tweet about the contest. Sample tweet: Win the Pajama Job Hunt: Twitter Series by @marianschembari via @cornonthejob. Contest details here: http://bit.ly/9gSdr3 Tweet up to 3 times (+1 entry for each tweet)
• Write a blog post about the course and why social media is important to your job search. Link to it in the comment section. (+2 entries)
• Contest ends Monday, June 7th at 9AM.  Get in your entries before then folks.

WINNER ANNOUNCED – Kate Wiseman

The Story

OK, so back when I worked as a technical recruiter, I used to interact with some pretty wild job seekers.  And by wild, I mean that some crazies told me way too much about their personal lives.

I’ve had job seekers send me pictures of their newborn babies, their weddings, their vacations, and their pets.  They’ve told me about the people they date, how poor they are, how sick they are, and have even told me gross personal secrets about their hiney.

While all of it is unwanted, this one story sticks out in my mind most clear.

One of our clients had a 3 week deployment project in Minnesota, and they needed 2 or 3 people to work the gig.  I came across a resume that looked perfect for the work, so naturally, I sent an email and left a voicemail.  The day ends, and I get nothing back from the candidate.

The next morning I receive an e-mail that goes something like…

I’m sorry for not getting back to you sooner.  I had to go to the doctors yesterday to get a cyst in my butt lanced.  Ouch!

Yes, the person really did say “Ouch!” , and no, I didn’t send their resume to my client.

The Lesson

Be friendly, and outgoing, and witty, but don’t tell your recruiter or hiring manager about your butt.  In fact, don’t tell them about any body part.  They want to know if you are qualified, and they want to help you get a job.  They do.  They really do.

See them as a business partner, not your best friend.  If you get hired to work for their company or their client, then maybe you can keep in touch and share a few drinks.  At that point, possibly bring up the person you are dating, the babies you have, the vacation you’ve been on, or even a crazy story from a bachelor party.  Just please… please god… don’t ever talk about your butt.

Phone calls with my boomer bud, Steve Levy, are becoming quite frequent.  When we spoke again yesterday, I walked away with some profound boomer advice, and a new take on my own career destination.  He let me in on a question that he asks folks who might need help  figuring out what they should be doing in their life/careers.  The question is, “If money wasn’t a factor, what is the one thing you would be happy doing for the rest of your life?”

When first hearing the question, most people might respond back and say, “I love computer programming”, or “I just love inside sales”, or “social media is my passion”.  Is that really the burning love in their life?  You’ll find that most people are just simply answering the question wrong.

When Steve asked me the question, my first response was “Hockey and weight lifting”.  Not only have I played and coached hockey, but I’m an NHL addict.  I first thought about how coaching wouldn’t be realistic for me, and Steve and I began looking for careers on NHL.com and discussed other options in the hockey industry.  We then looked up body building supplement companies in the Philadelphia area that would support my love for that industry as well.  In just a 10 minute brainstorm session on the phone, we were able to identify more options in those industries than I thought might even exist.

When thinking about your passion, don’t just target your skill set or the job title you seek, but pay attention to what gives you pure enjoyment in your life.  If you love the industry, already have profound knowledge about the workings of the industry, and could see yourself never wanting to leave a profession in that industry, then it’s worth at least looking into.

• Maybe you really love music.  Check out places like VH1.
• Maybe you really enjoy ice cream.  Why not check out Haagen Daz or Ben & Jerry’s?
• You were your college’s best frisbee player.  Find out who is the leading frisbee manufacturer and work your way in.

I’ve talked about how passion is a buzz word that’s tossed around often, but I still am a huge advocate of it.  It’s not absolutely necessary for it to be present in our careers for us to be completely happy, but having in our professional lives can’t hurt.

Answer Steve’s question:  If money wasn’t an issue, what job would you do for the rest of your life?

There are only 5 iPhone Apps needed for your job search.  That’s it, just 5.

The list I’ve compiled below provides everything you need for your mobile job hunt.  This is it, I’ve created THE complete guide to iPhone job search apps!  Oh, and maybe the best thing I can report is that they are all affordable.  In fact, four of them are free, and one costs  $.99.

Let’s jump right into the list, shall we?

1. Audio Job Interview Professional (free)

This iPhone app is genius and it is also my favorite.  Pick and choose from a list of 40 questions creating a custom interview.  After making your selections, a woman’s voice will ask you each question.  When ready, you’ll hit the record button and begin answering each question individually.  When satisfied with your answers, you can individually or batch send your interview to prospective employers.  I suggest emailing yourself the link first, and then sending it out with your resumes as a nice supplement.

Not only does it provide a nice phone screen/interview practice tool, but this iPhone app also gives your submission a voice and personal touch.  It could be exactly what you need to set yourself apart from your competition.  Somehow, this thing is free – go get it!

2. Prospector ($.99)

Applying to multiple  jobs at once is confusing, this is where Prospector steps in.   Each company you’ve applied to becomes a prospect, where you can manage and keep track of the job title, contact information (recruiter, hiring manager, etc), salary, step of the hiring process you’re currently in, upcoming appointments, and to do list items for that position/company.

The $.99 price tag is completely worth it if you’re applying to more than a few positions.

3. LinkedIn (free)

LinkedIn is the King Kong of professional networking websites and a MUST for job seekers.  When meeting new people at networking events, interviews, or wherever, use the LinkedIn app to quickly add people to your network, before forgetting about them.  The “In Person” feature instantly connects/adds other iPhone users to your network via blue tooth.  I think that’s cat’s pajamas.

The more connections you have, the more opportunities will be presented to you.  Do it, do it now!

4. BeamME (free)

BeamME sets you up with virtual business cards that can be sent out to any phone or computer.  Create personal or business styled cards and send out as appropriate.  Add a personal touch by including your headshot or customize with logo & theme.  I am in love with the “History” feature, which allows you to check who you met, when you met them, and  most importantly WHERE you met them!  Oh, and can anyone say go green?

Lastly, for the Twitter crazies, just enter someone’s Twitter handle and your card will beam over via Direct Message.  Cool, huh?

5. Job Compass (free)

Job Compass is a really nifty job search app.   Simply type in WHAT you are looking for (Job title, keywords, or company), WHERE you are looking (City, State, or zip code) and HOW FAR (select from 5-100 mile radius) and Job Compass will place each of the matched jobs on a map for you to see.  Click on red flags to check out each individual job, or hit the “List” feature to list out positions like you are used to seeing.  You can apply directly from this app, email the  posting to yourself or a friend, or just map it for later!

My suggestion?  Take a stack of resumes and head out to the center of town.  Let the app use your current location and select a 5 mile radius.  When the results come up, go buck wild visiting every destination, handing off your resume to each flagged opening.

What I love about the list above is that it covers you in basically every critical area of the job hunt.  With these apps you have the ability to start your initial job search, manage your entire search process, practice interviewing, utilize an innovative screening toll that sets you apart from others, and network more effectively, all from your phone.

Notice that popular job search places like CareerBuilder, Indeed, and Craigslist weren’t included.  If you’re going to use those websites for your job search, then it should be done on a computer, just like in old times.  A bigger screen and more visibility is needed, and for those reasons, I’ve also cut resume building apps from the list.  Use your iPhone as a tool to help you in your hunt, but these apps should certainly not be your primary job search method.

Have you used any of these apps before?

Are there others you feel strongly about?

Any job seekers willing to take my Job Compass suggestion?

Every once in a while, I see someone who is introducing innovation into their job hunt.  Yesterday I received a message on Twitter from Brian Mosely (@bmose14), asking me to review a new video he created for his job search.  His short, 3 minute video brings a unique approach to gaining exposure and ensuring his name isn’t lost in a stack of resumes.  I’m not sure you can technically call his creation a video resume, but it is the perfect supplement to his paper submission.

Like me, Brian is a complete hockey nut.  We’ve both played and coached hockey (although Brian is more advanced in those areas than I am), and are religious NHL fans.  His goal is to land a job in hockey, working for a sports team in some capacity.  When you watch Brian’s clip below, you’ll clearly see he has experience and most importantly, PASSION for the sport.  Maybe it’s just my love for hockey, but this video gave me the chills.

What are your thoughts on videos to send in with you resume?

Have you created, or used a video resume?

Most companies suck at college recruiting, specifically in finding talent at college career fairs.  The unorganized and unprepared companies are the reason why most college students regret attending a college job fair, or why they simply stay in and eat Ramen Noodles, watch “I am not the baby daddy” TV shows, study, drink beer, or do whatever it is that college students do these days.

There are certainly a handful of companies that really kill it at college career fairs, but the career fair itself is just the tip of the iceberg.  For a company to be successful in college hiring, months, if not years of work go into building up a name, and a relationship with the campus and its students.  However, this is a guide for students, I’ll get back to the employer side next week.

Ok, let’s get right down to it, shall we?

It’s all about making pre-career fair connections

The employers who do it right, make connections before arriving on campus.  They find out a way to reach faculty, professors, and students early so that they have an advantage over their competition.  It’s not about having the greatest brand (it helps, but that creates other complications down the line at career fairs), or having the nicest SWAG.  The secret to a successful career fair is in making connections before the actual event, and students need to know that they can completely make this happen on their own as well.

So, how can students make the most out of college career fairs?

1 – Create a “Employers I Want to Work For List” – Most schools do a nice job of advertising which employers are coming to the fair.  Try to get your hands on this list at least a month before the scheduled event.  If you can’t find a list, just head on into your schools career office and ask for one.  List out 3-7 companies that you’d like to work for, and make sure you rank them all.  Once you do this, you are ready for the next step.

2 – Find out the person who scheduled their company – In most cases, it’s an HR person or recruiter that schedules their company.  It isn’t uncommon for a business unit outside of HR to plan and schedule the career fair, so keep that in mind as well.  Take your list of 5-7 companies to your school career office, and explain that you’d like to reach out to the company in advance.  Ask for contact information of the person that scheduled their employer to attend the fair.  Try to get the most information for the top companies on your list.  If your school career office can’t, or won’t give you the information, simply call the company’s main telephone number and ask to speak to HR about college recruiting.

3 – Prepare your information – Once you reach out to employers, it’s going to get real very fast.  Make sure that  all of your information is the bees knees.  Fix up your resume, and complete your Linkedin profile.

4 – Start reaching out to employers – Email and call.  Doing both won’t hurt you.  Keep your emails short (a paragraph or two) and explain exactly why you are reaching out.  Don’t sugar coat it.  Explain that you are contacting them because you wanted to make a connection before the career fair.  This will not only impress them, but they will remember you.  If possible, ask for an informational interview (phone or in person).  Lastly, follow up with this person a week or a few days before the actual event.  Stay in their heads and they will remember your face, or at least your name.

5 -Instead of during, meet them before or after the event – Even when you’ve made a connection, that won’t change the fact that career fairs are busy as butt.  Many people attend on their own, but others are forced to attend and wait in long lines at the crowded event.  While your name and face is recognizable by your employer of choice, they probably won’t be able to give you much time.  Ask to meet them 1 on 1 before the event for 20 minutes while they set up, or possibly to grab a bite to eat during their event break or after the fair has ended.  Doing this truly sets you apart from your peers.

6 – Follow up – A week after the event, reach out to the person you met at the career fair.  Continue the relationship building process.  Companies with openings will bring in students for interviews.  Make contact first, and keep your name in their head.

If you follow the steps I’ve outlined above, you will not only enjoy attending career fairs, but you will build a long-lasting relationship with employers that you want to work for, and you’ll have a stronger chance of gaining employment with them.

It’s all about connections.  Not all employers are great at it, but you WILL be.

Last nights launch of #JobHuntChat was an incredible success, and I’d like to thank each and every participant.  Nicole, Jessica, and I had a great time co-moderating, chatting with you, and reading your brilliant responses.

#JobHuntChat’s purpose is to make sure that you’ll Never Hunt Alone Again. Judging by the number of participants and responses last night, I think we can now claim, “Mission Accomplished”.

So, what happened during last nights #JobHuntchat?  Here is our launch recap:

#JobHuntChat 2/15/2010 Statistics

• # Of Tweets —> 650+
• # of Contributors —> 100+

Top 5 Contributors

• @martymjm – 29 Tweets – Marty is a recruiter and career coach in Philadelphia
• @bitty_boop – 22 Tweets – Brittany is a Quinnipiac senior, PR major looking for work in NYC
• @abbylocke – 21 Tweets – Abby is a career marketing and leadership brand coach from Seattle
• @stephmajercik – 21 Tweets – Stephanie graduates May ’10 and hunting for PR jobs
• @tmcantwell - 21 Tweets – Teresa is a 3 year PR pro from  NYC, looking for new opportunities

#JobHuntChat Transcript

If you are interested in following along with last nights chat, please click the link below to bring up the #JobHuntChat transcript.  Monster thanks go to Chanelle Schneider (@WriterChanelle) for putting this transcript together.

Click here for the #JobHuntChat transcript from 2/15/2010

Submit Your Questions For Next Week

Please submit your questions for next weeks chat.  If you submitted a question and it wasn’t picked this week, there is a strong chance it will be selected to be featured next Monday night. Submit your questions to JobHuntChat@gmail.com