As if looking for employment didn’t pose enough of a challenge, here is an entirely new problem for those seeking employment – the effective use of social media. No, no, no…not how to use it for networking or job search, but how not to use it. It seems many job candidates torpedo their chances with some employers because of the inappropriate things they post on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites.

Is that fair to job candidates? Apparently so, according to this article:

Four years ago, Stacy Snyder, then a 25-year-old teacher in training at Conestoga Valley High School in Lancaster, Pa., posted a photo on her MySpace page that showed her at a party wearing a pirate hat and drinking from a plastic cup, with the caption “Drunken Pirate.” After discovering the page, her supervisor at the high school told her the photo was “unprofessional,” and the dean of Millersville University School of Education, where Snyder was enrolled, said she was promoting drinking in virtual view of her under-age students. As a result, days before Snyder’s scheduled graduation, the university denied her a teaching degree. Snyder sued, arguing that the university had violated her First Amendment rights by penalizing her for her (perfectly legal) after-hours behavior. But in 2008, a federal district judge rejected the claim, saying that because Snyder was a public employee whose photo didn’t relate to matters of public concern, her “Drunken Pirate” post was not protected speech.

Since Facebook and other sites are public domain sites, it looks like they are fair game for assessing your common sense and discretion. So, next time you get in one of those “drunken pirate” moods, you might want to hold off on posting the pics. I’m just sayin’…

This article further points out that 75 percent of recruiters and HR professionals scrutinize online sites for information about job candidates, and 70 percent of those individuals have actually rejected a candidate based on information obtained from these sites. As companies seek to acquire the best talent they can find, they have been given the golden opportunity to not only assess that talent, but to assess the character of that talent as well.

Formerly, employers were limited to a credit check, a background check, and all those stellar references you put on your resume. Now, however, you have willingly opened up your entire world for them to examine – which, by the way, can be a good thing just as much as a potential risk. After all, your Facebook page could just as easily reveal a solid citizen as much as it could reveal a scalawag.

With recruiters and HR professionals on the prowl, consider this “Word to the Wise:” You might want to check out your Facebook page and analyze it from an employer’s point-of-view. Does your online persona reveal someone that might be considered a huge hiring risk?

In the 21st century, finding gainful employment means mastering the fine art of networking. Clearly, social networking tools are a part of that landscape, but the most important networking skills are still those face-to-face interpersonal skills that many people are completely uncomfortable with.

Starting a conversation with a complete stranger – at a so-call “networking” event or at other chance meeting times – can be an intimidating exercise. Even people who are outgoing and comfortable with meeting new people can drive right into the ditch if they are too aggressive or lack social awareness.

There is, in fact, a precarious balance between “I am looking for the right opportunity” and “I desperately need a job.” For whatever reason, desperation just doesn’t play well with others. Strategic career planning, on the other hand, is eminently professional (“No, I haven’t found the position that fits my career plan”). The difference – in networking – is how you approach the task of meeting people and discussing your situation.

First, in any networking opportunity, you must be come prepared. You should have carefully rehearsed your answers to the following questions:

What do you do? (“I’m unemployed” or,”I’m between jobs” probably doesn’t leave the impression your looking for.)

What happened? (“My boss was an idiot” or “They just didn’t understand me” rarely results in a referral to a job opportunity.)

What are you looking for? (“Anything I can find” or “Something to pay the bills” sounds more like commodity than valuable resource.

Second, you should present yourself in a way that communicates success. Look the part. Dress appropriately. Shine your shoes. Have a nice pen in your notebook or jacket. Professional dress and conduct leads people to believe that you would be professional in the workplace.

Third, you need to be way more interested in finding out about other people than you are in telling others about you. Networking is a lot easier when you are focused on listening rather than talking. Eventually, the other person will ask about you (see the questions above) and you will get the opportunity to see if there is a connection for you. The interesting thing is that the better the listener you are, the more apt the other person is to listen and consider what you have to say.

Don’t know how? Don’t know what to ask? Use POGO – a technique from world famous motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar:

P – First, ask about the person. What does he do? Where does he work? Where did he go to school? Does he have any kids? Those kinds of questions.

O – Second, ask about the organization. How long has he worked there? What does he like about the company? Who does the company do business with? These are questions about the company he works for.

G – Third, ask about the company’s goals. How is his company, or department, doing? Are they reaching their goals? How is the economy affecting their progress?

O – Finally, ask about the obstacles the company has encountered. What has been your company’s biggest challenge? How have you worked around it? What do you see coming in the future that might be a challenge to reaching your goals?

You certainly don’t have to ask these exact questions, nor do you have to hit all four areas in any conversation. However, using this simple acronym – POGO – will prompt you to ask useful questions that lead to a productive dialogue. By the way, you will find out a lot about that company, as well as the industry they work in, and that is always valuable knowledge to have for future conversations!

My brother is an executive at a large corporation. He called me a few days ago to share his recent experiences in helping others get their careers back on track. He has volunteered to speak at a local university on a couple of different occasions to provide insight to displaced workers on getting hired. His primary message is that getting hired is about positioning; at its very core, job search is about personal marketing.

Big news, right? Like you didn’t already understand that little pearl of wisdom? Sure you did, but here is the deal: on both occasions, he said the appearance of many in the audience was nothing short of embarrassing. People in sweats, unshaven, or in other ways completely inappropriate. Doesn’t that get covered somewhere during the first day of Job Search 101?

Hey, this isn’t about limiting your personal expression. If you want to look like Mr. T, your favorite biker, or a cast member from Cats, knock yourself out. But when you are in job search mode – no matter where you are going – every point of contact is a potential network opportunity. Doesn’t it make sense to be prepared? Shouldn’t you appear professional? Shouldn’t you have an ‘elevator speech’ prepared to describe your capabilities? Shouldn’t you have a resume on hand at all times? Let me recheck – you are trying to get hired, right?

Here is what I know about companies that are hiring – they want employees that are dependable, show initiative, and pay attention to details. They want to hire maturity and good judgment. They don’t want to hire someone who talks about those things in an interview, they want to see evidence that you are that kind of individual. This is where personal marketing becomes important – not only do you need to improve the scope of your job skills at every opportunity (see my last post), but you need to think in terms of positioning yourself effectively.

Positioning, or personal marketing, begins with the “physical” you. What do you look like? What do you sound like? How do you present yourself? Are you professional in appearance? Are you approachable? Welcoming? The answers to these questions create perceptions of your dependability, maturity, and attention to detail. Whether we like it or not, people form opinions of others based on appearance and personal interaction. Which means you could have mad skills, but still lose a great opportunity because you didn’t market yourself well.

Think about it. A hiring manager will usually make a decision on giving you a second interview based on a piece of paper (your resume) and an impression of you formed during a 30-minute conversation. It’s your choice – pursue a career as a feline impersonator, or get serious about your professional image.

Advice I picked up through my job searching journey in two opposite ends of the globe…

Make your resume stand out from the growing pile of monotonous ones; have a professional revise your resume. Employers do not have time to interview every applicant. To ensure you receive an interview, you need a very convincing resume. For example, aside from listing your abilities, be sure to point out your accomplishments. How did your specific skills help you achieve the goals of the organization you previously worked for? An adviser can help you realize your past accomplishments. As well, there are many components that make up a resume; skills that you may think are not important may actually be a plus for certain jobs. Finally, a professional will make sure your resume has polish. Trust me, it is worth the investment!

For every resume you send, be sure to write your objective. An example: To obtain a role where I can use my strong organizational skills and attention to detail to fulfill tasks both thoroughly and efficiently. Each job you apply for will be different, it is therefore very important to adjust your resume accordingly. It may even be a good idea to have several resumes ready to fit the various job types or levels that you will be applying to.

Confidence and willingness to learn new skills: I once applied for a job, my interview was very successful, but I had no experience using one of the programs. They did not hire me. I later found out that the next person they interviewed told them if you give me a week I will go home and learn the program. They hired her. There are people out there willing to give you a chance, it is your job to promote yourself so you can optimize your chances. Sometimes it’s just best to be yourself! It may be your unique personality that makes you stand out from the rest. An organization likes to make sure their employees get along and work well together. If they see particular traits they like, that may be your ticket in!

Network: Many organizations only feel comfortable hiring someone on a personal recommendation. Ask your friends, family, and acquaintances if they know of any job opportunities. Some organizations do not even bother advertising and find their employees via word of mouth. If there is a particular organization you wish to work for, it may be a good idea to approach them yourself to see if they have any available jobs. With a great resume in your hands, you never know where you may land your next job!

Yes, unemployment is at a high of 10.2%, and this can be very discouraging. I say look at the bright side — there are still 89.8% in the work force! Unemployment rates are just about to peak. Employees have been over-cautious this past year, but now there’s no choice. There is work to be done and businesses are rehiring!

We’ve written about the importance of networking before. It is undeniably one of the best ways to get ahead in your career, and even find a great job (or any job, at all). When someone meets a potential client/new hire/valuable contact in the flesh, it leaves them with a biased towards that person. They’ve created a connection, even was limited to a quick handshake and exchanging of business cards.

A great place to network is a conference, particularly ones focused on your industry. They happen all over the world, typically in the city that is considered the “hub” for the sector. The travel, however, won’t be the highest expense. These conferences typically run from $1,000 dollars and up per attendee. This is not a nominal sum, especially if you are unemployed.

Attending the conference, however, will likely give you a great advantage. It is only logical that the majority of attendees will have been sent by their companies, which is why they can afford to go. This leaves out most people seeking a job, but plenty of companies who could use good, specialized talent like yours. If you are one of only a handful of job seekers at the conference, shmooze with various representatives from different companies. Chat with your new found buddy about your skills and experience, your goals, and your availability. They’ll see you as quite the catch and consider themselves lucky to have found such available talent – and will provide their recommendation for you to the right people at their company. Many companies offer a bonus for employees that bring in qualified candidates, so they have a gain, too.

Find the Events

Look up all the up-coming large events and conferences in your city or ones nearby. For the ones that are in an area of your interest, bookmark their websites and create a document to keep track of all related information. Check out Mashable’s Weekly Guide to Social Media Conferences & Events for those related to the Internet industry. The All Conferences also provides a very thorough database of conferences in nearly every industry.

Pre-Conference Networking Opportunities

For nearly every event, there will be dozens of meetups in the area and days surrounding (and during) the conference. Some will be listed on the website itself, but others you’ll have to look up. Doing a quick search for the conference name, city, and “meetup” or “tweetup”, you should be able to find a few. Also, check out Meetup.com for any relevant local groups that may plan special mixers around the conference. If you don’t live in the area, connect with top-level influencers online. If you do it via Twitter or Facebook, make sure it’s in a more organic manner.

Be a Bargain Hunter

There are always discounts for even the largest of events. Again, do a simple search for the conference name, add “discount” and voila, you should have a few results that include a usable discount code (anywhere from 10% – 25% usually). If you’re a student, there are often student prices available. Make sure you have a current student id and you should have no problem getting in for that reduced rate.

Do you blog or vlog (video blog)? If your website and/or videos are influential enough, or reach a critical niche group, you should contact the event organizer. Inform them of your intent to thoroughly cover the event, and mention that you really enjoyed their last event/article/service/product. Did they not offer a discount? Then ask for one (it usually never hurts to do so).

Wait ‘Til the Last Minute

While this may seem counter-intuitive, waiting until the last minute can get you a special deal. The conference may offer cheap or free expo-/exhibitor hall passes at the door (remember – they’re in this to make money and look good), which will at least get you in where you need to be to network. It’s rare that any conference goer, including full-paying ones, actually sit in on all the speakers/sessions the entire time, so you’ll be able to rub elbows with all the folks there.

Good luck getting in. Maybe we’ll see you there! But, if you’re still uncertain of your networking skills, make sure to talk to one of the 300+ professional coaches from over 55 industries. They’ll provide you with top-notch action planning for your career.

You already know it’s a Web 2.0. Social media and social networking are the wave we’re riding into the future. Great, but how does that help you? You’re searching for a job and don’t have time to play around on things like Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn, right? Wrong. Your next job offer could very likely come from one of these, or many similar, socially interactive sites. Let’s focus on how Twitter can help you find that perfect career offer.

Step 1: The Set-up

First thing, get your Twitter account set up. It is imperative to pick a more professional sounding username and upload a photo of yourself (or something that closely represents you. Steer clear of juvenile names and images (and really, do upload one – it does make a difference). In your bio section, you have up to 140 characters to put in. Use the space wisely. If you’re unsure of what to put,  a 360 CareerActionPlanning coach could help out here. Don’t forget to put a link to either your professional blog, portfolio, or online c.v.

Step 2: To Follow or Not to Follow

Second, scout out people on Twitter to follow. They could be human resources representatives for companies in your industry, the company itself or a c.o., recruiters, job search engines, or other Tweeple that can help you along with your search. Don’t forget to follow @360JobInterview while you’re at it to stay up to date on promotions and other relevant information. Click the “follow” button after determining which folks have a message relevant to what you’re looking for. Also, be sure to check your new followers for more potential Tweeple to follow.

Step 3: Go Social

Thirdly, it’s time to get interactive. You may notice a lot of “dms” in your inbox. These are direct messages. Only people you are following can send them to you, and vice versa. While this is useful in giving out your contact information to prospective employers, you do not want to overdo it and send them too many links. To send a dm, you can either ‘message’ a follower or put “D [twitter name] your message.”

The way to communicate with Twitter users that is more common is to ‘mention’ them. Do this by place an @ symbol directly before their name (i.e. “@aplusk [your message]“). You may often see things like “RT @[username]” or “[message] via @[username].” These are called ‘retweets’ and are used when you find another’s Tweet so useful that you want to share it with your followers. Most Twitter users are excited to see their name mentioned or something they sent out retweeted.

Keep on top of who you are following and the messages they put out. With applications such as Seesmic or Tweetdeck, you can separate those you are following into separate groups to track certain types of Tweets easier. You can also use Twitter on all smartphones and many other cellphones.

Now you have the basic tools and know-how to get out there and get a job. Good luck, and if you ever have any questions, leave a comment below or just Tweet out a mention to @360jobinterview; we’re here for you.

We’re big advocates of utilizing the power of networking to help develop your career. Whether your goal is to find an starting position or move up a few, socializing and connecting with the right people is essential. It can even make or break you.

Let’s go over some key places available to you online that can really boost your network.

LinkedIn is the one site that you must add your resume to. Oh, and all of your past and present professional connections, as this is more than just a website, it is a social network.

By fully optimizing your LinkedIn profile, you will have a full, strong resume available online for viewing. There are even settings to change your public profile, the one that will come up in search results for those who are not in your network. It will build your image online, the one that you want there, as it usually becomes one of the top search engine results when searching for an individual’s name.

Hey job seekers, where were you last night? If you didn’t say, “out at a business networking event,” you may be missing out on opportunity. Meetup is a great online place to both host reoccurring networking events and find good ones to join.

Some of the greatest career advancements were made possible by a good word from the right person. To find those right people, it’s time to begin actively socializing. Meetup is the place to go if you’re looking to join a social or professional group of folks that share your interests, experience, and goals.

To use Twitter as a ‘micro-blogging’ site or a place to provide a general status update is a mistake if you’re hunting for a job. Twitter is quickly turning into a tool that is used to project a professional, yet personable, image. And, let’s face it, image counts for a lot when looking for the right job.

Twitter gives you real time information that could be useful to you for your intended career change. Find some suggested Tweeps to follow that can help with your job search here.

It is this former job seeker’s recommendation to avoid using websites like Myspace and Facebook to network for your career. While they’re great for interaction at the personal social level, leave it for your family and non-professional friends only. The details you will likely find yourself putting on there are not the first things you’d want a potential employer to see when reviewing you as a candidate. Get some more advice from the 360 pros with live career action planning. Good luck and happy networking!

You don’t have the skills.

Well, that’s harsh. Maybe you do retain the basic requirements, but it’s time to bring yourself up to a level playing field with your competition.

Step One: Research

Research the skill sets the position that you’re looking for requires. Search job listings for the position you seek and take note of both requested and desired abilities. Check LinkedIn to see what sort of backgrounds and interests current and former employees of target companies have.

Step Two: Analyze

Analyze your current abilities. Be honest with yourself. Take a notepad (or open up Notepad on the computer) and list each program, language, and other asset you know. Note your competency level, as well as how many years you’ve had this knowledge and the frequency of use.

Step Three: Develop

Compare both sets of notes from steps one and two. What’s on the first sheet that’s not on the second? Circle those items. These will be the basis for your plan of action. Let’s take a look at common areas that those seeking to advance their careers with a new position need to brush up on:

• Computer Programs

  Unless you’ve been using a specific software up until very recently, likelihood is you will need to refresh, or even just learn the functions of the programs and applications used in a position you’re seeking. Thanks to the Internet, most of this learning process can be free and relatively quick.

  The majority of software suites you’ll need to have competency in are extremely expensive. This makes it very inaccessible. Luckily, there are usually freeware versions online. Freeware is essentially a generic version of more expensive software, that is (as the name would suggest) free. Check out Gimp as a replacement for Adobe Photoshop, Inkscape instead of Adobe Illustrator, Open Office in place of Microsoft Office, or Google SketchUp as a free 3D CAD program. Cnet’s Download.com provides a very thorough database of safe freeware downloads. If you need the real thing, most software companies offer a free trial period, which should offer enough time to get (re)acquainted with the newest version of the program you need to know.

• Languages

  Whether a programming/scripting or foreign language, most companies are looking for employees that ‘speak their language.’ If it’s a simple one, such as HTML or Spanish, your refresher should be pretty easy. If you’re heading into the realm of Mandarin and Python,

  For the scripting codes, you’ll be able to find plenty of good quality resources online. Webmonkey is a great place to check out cheatsheets and tutorials for HTML, CSS, User Interface Design, PHP, Python, and more. Even Wikipedia can be a good place to find help, especially if you check out the references area of their pages.  If it’s a book you’re looking for, O’Reilly Media has an overall quality selection of programming books for all levels.

  Time to learn a new foreign language? Or maybe brush up on those few things retained from high school French and Spanish? Linguanaut provides a completely free website where you’ll be able to find directories of foreign alphabets, phrases, forums, videos, tests, and translation. Keep in mind the majority of the phrases listed will be the formal version of the language, and may not be used in every region the language is spoken. For straight translation needs, Google Translate is a very useful service and offers translation in most languages. Once again, if you’re a book person, a standard phrase book from your local bookstore should suffice. If it’s more specific terminology, such as medical terms in Arabic, try looking online at Amazon.

• Experience

  With the job markets across the board being more competitive than ever in recent history, employers are seeking the ones with the most experience and schooling. Each will make for a lengthier process if you are aiming to close a large gap between what you have and what is required. However, you can step up the ladder (maybe not directly in one step) to be on your way to your dream job.

  Sign up for a class at a community college or a university extension program that specifically offers the ability to learn the skills you need for the job you want.  The junior / community college will offer a cheaper course, but the university extension may be a little more prestigious to put on your resume if it offers any kind of certification at the end of the class. If you’re already well versed in a skill, such as a programming language, but have yet to show it in your employment history, consider taking a test certifying your knowledge in said skill.

  Work experience requirements can provide a near Catch 22.  You need experience to get a job, but to get experience you need the job. If you’re currently enrolled full-time in college, this is slightly easier, as many employers are looking for interns to do more than just make coffee. If you’re not going to university, it’s time to utilize that network you’ve been building. Offer your services for free or at a severely reduced priced. If you want to get into event planning, offer to help a friend for free with the promise of references. Looking to put experience with CSS on your resume? Offer some suggestions to that entrepreneur you met at your last Meetup. You can get experience, you just may need to temporarily lower your working price to get it.

You are already serious about your job search, now it’s time to get realistic about your qualifications. Anything can be achieved, just be honest with yourself, work on what you need to be competitive, and persevere. Always remember, 360 is here to help you with professional Career Action Planning. Check it out, your dream job is closer than you think, and 360 can help get you there.

Hey job seekers, where were you last night? If you didn’t say “out at a business networking event,” you may be missing out on opportunity. The site I use to find good networking events is Meetup.com.

Meetup is a great online place to both host reoccurring networking events and find good ones to join. You can search by location or by topic. You can even see how many people are planning to attend – I like to attend ones with at least 100 people or more.

Last week I attended the Santa Cruz New Tech Meetup (more about the meet-up). As an active job seeker, this networking event was perfect for several reasons.

1. New Professional Contacts

   The event was an excellent opportunity for me to meet several new local business contacts that I would previously not had an opportunity to mingle with.

2. New Company Leads

   A couple of the tech companies who presented I had not heard of before this event. All three are growing and there may be an opportunity for me at some point.

3. Add Value to Your Network

   Only a few people in my network made it that night, which allows me the opportunity to add value to my network by sharing this new technology, new contacts and new information. I heard of at least two job openings as a result of the events, none suited for me but it allows me a great way to reach out to my network of professionals.

4. Professional Branding Opportunity

   Getting out there to brand yourself isn’t an easy task. A great setting like this networking event is a great way to meet people, share what you do and create opportunity for yourself. Several of the attendees that I met, want to talk “blogging” and recruiting in near future.

   

   Remember to have your professional business card ready to hand out. Even if you aren’t employed at the moment, gets cards made. Do not hand write your information, but have them professionally done. Vistaprint has fairly inexpensive business cards. I personally like Moo Print because they print on eco-friendly paper. I was able to upload my own image and create a custom look.

5. Gain Control of Your Job Search

   Meeting and networking with other professionals helps me to expand my network. This could lead me to other opportunities in the future or when I am gainfully employed, help the company I’m working for. I never want to be “stuck” in a professional role but feel empowered to be successful. Simply applying to jobs online isn’t as effective as networking into them. I’m comfortable with networking, but for someone more introverted a career coach might be an excellent idea.

This article is the third in a five-part series where we will evaluate free services on the Internet to aid you in your job search and general career advancement.

One of the key elements I emphasize to my clients when giving advice is to expand their network. Some of the greatest career advancements were made possible by a good word from the right person. To find those right people, it’s time to begin actively socializing. Meetup is the place to go if you’re looking to join a social or professional group of folks that share your interests, experience, and goals.

Finding the right Meetup groups is essential. This isn’t always the easiest task, and quickly becomes more complicated if you live outside of an urban area. Search for an appropriate group by querying a few keywords (try one at a time first) related to your field or desired career path. Be sure to insert the correct location, too. Sort through the search results by viewing the number of active members, how frequently the meetups are conducted, and how recent the last group activity was. These factors are key to connecting with the right network of people.

You found the group. You’re going to the event. Now, what to wear? The dress at most of the professional related events will be business casual. For men, this means something along the lines of khakis and a buttoned-down shirt. For women, this means a pair of slacks or a knee-length skirt with a blouse. These events are not the time to try out blue tips in your hair or a spiked collar necklace. The image is best described as a relaxed, approachable, professional.

Be sure to bring business cards with updated information to the meetup. If you have cards from a position at a company you no longer work, it’s time to get new ones (VistaPrint offers free basic business cards in exchange for a small advertisement of their service on the back). Have a relaxed smile on your face, prepare a firm handshake, always repeat the person’s name you are meeting (“It is nice to meet you, too, Kim.”), and make sure you have your ‘elevator speech’ down.

Good luck and go interact!

Other Articles in This Series:

• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• RSS
• Blogging