Your Job Search

The NetProspex Social 50 is a ranking that shows the average number of friends or connections an organization has across the major social networks.  It also looks at tweet volume, the number of followers a company has and the number of followers each company employee has.If you're looking for a social media job, or want to break in with a major company, this list will tip you off on whose attention to try to get via the Web.Notable results include Microsoft trouncing Apple, Coca-Cola sitting flat at the bottom of the list, and GAP stitching their way up the list to hang with the tech big boys.Not surprisingly, social network membership among employees of the largest companies in the U.S. is highest on LinkedIn (43%).  Facebook comes in with 11% and the other social networks fall off precipitously after that.Get the full results. … [Read more...] about The Most Social Companies as of May 2010

Today’s technology has changed the landscape of so many things.It has revolutionized the way we do business, the way we communicate, the way we receive our news, and even our social lives.Social media outlets like Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and Linkedin have allowed us to “meet and greet” people from different countries, date from the comfort of our keyboards, chat people up in chat rooms, seek work, and establish important connections. But, with this privilege comes new rules and new responsibilities. Particularly for today’s professional. Some employers are monitoring employees’ “after-hour” activities and online personalities to learn more about the people that play a role on their teams.Do they have that right? That’s debatable.Nonetheless it’s a reality for today’s worker that shouldn’t be ignored. One area that seems to be susceptible to scrutiny (other than personal Emails) is blogging. Bloggers beware.Some time … [Read more...] about Social Media and Reputation Management for Today’s Careers

Does your credit impact your job performance?  That’s the question many lawmakers are currently considering.  Legislation has been introduced in California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii to put an end to employee credit checks. Federal legislation is also being considered.  In the meantime, however, employers are allowed to check applicants credit files so long as they ask for permission. Businesses and credit bureaus oppose these bills.Ken Lin, CEO of Credit Karma, says certain items in a person’s credit report may appear as red flags to employers. Lin is a seasoned industry veteran with more than 12 years developing statistical models and marketing programs for the credit card industry.  These red flags include:Liens – Any type of lien against you could be a sign of irresponsibility.  It suggests to employers that you weren’t responsible enough to pay off your debt or negotiate a settlement.100% Credit Utilization – This shows … [Read more...] about 5 Credit Risks That Could Keep You Unemployed

Back when the New York City commute and media grind was doing its best to burn me out, I had no idea what color my parachute was or if I would ever find work happiness.(I did find work happiness...and then lost it again. THAT story is for another day.)Like many people, when I was lost on Career Avenue, I sought refuge in a career coach.  A family friend agreed to meet me for a pro bono session.  After chatting for about 15 minutes, she made a statement that was so obvious and true, that I'm still mad I didn't see it myself.She told me that since I hold myself to such a high moral edict, I am constantly let down by the values of others - especially those who are in positions of power.It's true!  Taking orders from someone you don't respect on a professional is difficult.  But when you have to question their character too?  Yowza.One mistake I've made, which I have promised myself not to repeat, is that I've taken jobs without knowing anything about the company's … [Read more...] about Who Is Upper Management? Find Out BEFORE You Accept That Job

Look for Good Fit and ExperienceIn Part II of my post, “How to Choose an ‘Emotional Pitstop’”, I discussed when a career coach might be the optimal choice to help you with a major career issue. But like me, you’ve probably seen a gazillion Web sites, books, etc. promoting “life coaches,” “executive coaches” and even “life career coaches” and it gets confusing. How do you know what to look for in a qualified career coach? What about licensing and/or certification?To find out more, I talked to career coach and writer Julie Erickson, who identifies herself as a “career transformation coach.” In addition to coaching, Erickson writes extensively on career issues.1.       I’m not exactly sure if I know what a career coach does?“With a career coach, you have an ally in the work world. It can be difficult to work alone - as a business owner, a leader of a company or division … [Read more...] about How to Pick a Qualified Career Coach

Does it hook up with socks missing from the dryer?An article on CNNMoney.com, “Job Application Black Hole,” by Jessica Dickler started me thinking about the resume “black hole.” Where do they go?  Dickler talks about frustrated job seekers not getting any feedback from prospective employers after submitting an application or resume for an opening. Back in the day, you would send your resume and cover letter via snail mail and hope that it at least landed on the desk of someone at the company. Now we just launch them into cyberspace. I’ve mentioned before that I’m finding the overall experience of job hunting online to be very exasperating.  And If I respond to an ad I’m incredibly leery of sending my personal information to just anyone. Last week, when applying for a writing job, I messed up the attaching-the-resume part. It wasn’t until after the fact that I realized I didn’t want to send my Word doc version that … [Read more...] about Where Does Your Resume Go?

Find Ways to Bolster That Self-EsteemI can think of very few situations that can be as confidence-deflating as trying to find a job. It is particularly difficult to maintain a positive attitude in today’s especially tough, bleak employment market. Multiply by the number of months you’ve been looking for work or trying to move out of a bad job and your ego is taking a huge hit.Sales jobs aren’t my thing, but I have worked in that area and it is challenging work. You are selling a product - YOU, when applying and interviewing. And like a shark smelling blood, a skilled HR person can spot a candidate’s low self-confidence in the first few minutes of an interview. It’s almost impossible to stand out as a top contender when you obviously aren’t able to sell yourself.So how do you combat this eroding self-esteem and confidence? Here are a few things to try...* Too often we define ourselves only by what we do for a living. But you have many personas. Maybe … [Read more...] about Keeping Your Confidence Up While Job-Hunting

Image this...It's your final two weeks at a job.  After years of searching, you're finally moving from that drab cubicle in the suburbs to a corner office downtown.  The pay is twice as much as you earned before and the decision-making power is exponentially higher.  All in all, it's a HUGE career upgrade.  Without even realizing it, your mind is fast at work on a list of 'nevers.'"I'LL NEVER WORK IN THIS INDUSTRY AGAIN""I'LL NEVER WORK FOR THIS COMPANY AGAIN""I'LL NEVER SEE THESE ANNOYING PEOPLE AGAIN"Your final two weeks starts to feel like it will never end.  You find yourself restless.  This leads you to act slightly combative, almost arrogant.  After all, you have a new job, perhaps it's time to let people see how you "really" feel.When you're not busy muttering about work disdain under your breath, you are turning to isolationism.  The hope is that you can slip out like a ghost.  Come Monday morning, people will wonder where you … [Read more...] about Options Are a Job Seeker's Best Friend

Sometimes Snail Mail is the Way to GoI just received a nice, potential opportunity which resulted from networking - my friend recommended me to a CEO for a job. The CEO told the friend to have me email my info to her directly. Nice! But I said to my husband, “I should probably first ask her if she is OK with attachments.” He thought she wouldn’t have given out her email address if she wasn’t comfortable with me sending the requested documents. So I sent an email with attachments. Turned out that she would have preferred I send the resume text in the email, so I obliged. But it felt like a misstep.It made me long for the good, old snail mail days. No overthinking, just simply insert resume and cover letter in envelope and send. I realize I sound like a dinosaur, but some biz protocols were just no-brainers then.I also noticed as I look back that there was a high interview-to-hire ratio when I followed up an interview with a handwritten thank you note - on … [Read more...] about Could There Be Electronic Communication Backlash?

Seventy percent of jobs today are not advertised.  Unlock the Hidden Job Market, a new book from executive career consultant Duncan Mathison, shows how smart job seekers target the larger hidden job market by approaching it with different attitudes, upgraded networking techniques and job searching tools that are specifically relevant to today’s economy.  So what does this mean to those who are looking for jobs during the holiday season?Do not fall into the holiday slump. The dumbest thing a job searcher can do now is put off the search until after the first of the year when there might be more jobs out there. People will be hired after the first of the year, but they will be the ones who got introduced to the hiring manager in the next few months.The smart job searcher who is targeting the hidden job market understands that managers have the most flexibility in creating jobs during the budgeting season when they are looking at priorities and positions. Strike now when … [Read more...] about 6 Tips to Jumpstart Your Holiday Job Search