Everyone’s Unique…Then how the HELL do I stand out?

A LOT of us are in the same race right now – Looking for a job, but not getting many hits on the resume.  So, I’ve put together this guide in an attempt to fuse Online and Offline Techniques.  So let’s get to it!

ULTIMATE JOB SEARCH GUIDE

Let’s Start With the Basics

• Define – What are your Specialties, Strengths, Skills and Interest? What would you like your next career move to be?
• Brand Yourself – Are you a social media strategist? An accountant specializing in non-profits?  Be specific, and better yet, tailor your propositions to the industry and company!  Your Personal branding might help you avoid the job search next time!
• Assess Current Job Search – What is working for you?  What isn’t?  Are you utilizing your network to find opportunities and connections?
  

  

Traditional “Must Haves”

• Business Card - Business Cards are a VERY important part of the job search, especially at networking events.  Be very clear, including your name, “best” contact info, headline/personal brand description, and even a photo. Check out VistaPrint.com and GotPrint.com for your business card needs.  You can even go GREEN!
• Resume – Your resume should read clearly.  If there is any confusion by reading your role desription or accomplishments…REWRITE! Use paragraphs to tell the story, bullets to highlight acheivements.  Always use numbers to quantify results.  When in doubt, ask for help – a former colleague, resume consultant, a friend – all can have a fresh perspective on your resume.  Remember the GOAL is to get an interview!
• Professional Email Address - Unfortunately, we are not done with the susieisLOLliketotallyawesome83@hotmail.com email addresses…You are on the professional job search, so your email should reflect that professionalism.  Strive for the simple firstname.lastname@gmail.com if possible.  Don’t get too obscure.
• Email Signature - You email signature can be a great way to finish an email with professionalism.  Include your LinkedIn Profile, Blog/Website and phone.
• Portfolio – If applicable, have your portfolio ready at all times.  Get your physical portfolio in shape to bring to interviews, and have your website/web portfolio available for potential employers.
• Appropriate Wardrobe – Business Casual is mostly appropriate, but if you’re in more traditional professional (lawyer, accountant, etc.) then be safe with Business Professional attire.

Traditional Search

• Job Boards - Posting your resume (beware of formatting issues) on job boards like Monster, Yahoo! Hot Jobs, CareerBuilder, & Craigslist can still uncover some incredible opportunities.
• Personal & Professional Network – You should NOT underestimate the power of your personal & professional network.
• Networking Events – Search for networking events in your area via online business magazines, blogs, Twitter, and event boards – Target those networking events that cater to your specific/desired industry or profession.  (Network Pittsburgh)
• Professional Organizations – Have you joined your local professional organizations, yet?  If not, perform a Google Search for those professions in your area.  Most have free (low-cost) networking events – so check out a few before joining (AMA Pittsburgh)
• Volunteer Organizations – Volunteering is a great way to sharpen your skills and network – all while performing critical work for a non-profit.  Check out the PGH Arts Council’s Business Volunteers for the Arts section for local opportunities.
• Recruiters – Recruiters exist for every industry and profession – Search for local recruiters in your area that specialize in your field.
• Business Papers – The business papers can be a GREAT resource to find potential opportunities.  New developments, promotions, job postings…keep an eye out for key indicators of growth and expansion, and reach out to those highlighted in the article.

Live Networking

• Get There Early - This way, you get as much face-time as possible.
• Bring Plenty of Business Cards – Be sure to have a small stack on hand to give to EVERYONE you meet.
• Don’t Drink Too Much - Yes, drinking can come all too natural in this setting, but first impressions here will be very important. Especially if you’re looking to get your name out for the job search.
• Reach Out to Local Organizations – Research all of the relevant professional and networking organizations in your area…then go to the networking events!
• Know Your Audience - American Marketing Association or American Medical Association…might have slightly different conversations.
• Elevator Pitch - Clearly articulate your value prop/job search goals.  Your network must understand (quickly) how they can help.
• Follow Up - At the most, follow up via email, LinkedIn or phone within 2 business days of the event. That way, your new contacts are reminded about your situation and job search.
• Connect via Social Media - Research your new contacts on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and blogs – Then look to engage in conversation and provide  value.
• Return the Favor - Do your part to help out peers on the job search by sending relevant job postings, articles and contacts.

Essential Online Presence

While you build your online presence, make sure you keep the following in mind:

• Google Yourself – What are the results?  What you want to see?
• Brand Consistency – Use the same profile picture for all networks.  Use the same user name/vanity URL for each network – Should be easy to remember.
• WIIFM – What’s in it for the viewer/potential employer.  Are you providing relevant content and updates?
• WIWMPETST – Would I Want My Potential Employer to See That?

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is an essential for professionals – Here you build a profile highlighting your professional experience, as well as build a robust professional network.  Let’s take a look at the nuts and bolts of LinkedIn:

Profile – Think about this from the employer’s perscpetive

• Headline – This is the very first impression on a viewer, so make your headline count!
• Summary (via Chris Brogan) -

• Lead with what you do most.
• Lead with the type of business you want to do.
• Move into the reasons why you’d do business with me.
• Move from there into all the nuances of what you do.

• URL – Change your URL extension from linkedin.com/in/1234 to your name or initials (linkedin.com/in/CLugo).  This will make sharing your LinkedIn profile easier.  This also ties into the Personal Branding effort.
• Job Descriptions – Make sure your job descriptions are written for potential employers – highlight the skills and responsibilities that will apply to your future…as well as the potential employer.  Do not include any negative descriptors about previous employers.  Remember, you want this section to SELL your abilities and performance – Write as if you were on the other side reading!
• Recommendations – Ask for recommendations!  This is one of the most powerful features of LinkedIn, but not if you don’t ask!  When asking for recommendations, target those you have worked with in the past, or those with which you have a working relationship.  Yes, it will look bad if you have relatives giving you the thumbs up.  Also, be selective about who gives you a recommendation – not everyone will write the best entry, not highlight what you actually want.  Be selective.  But I’m not getting any recommendations – The best way to start getting recommendations is to give them!  Not willy nilly, either!  If you can vouch for his or her professional career or skills, then go for it.
• Links – Be sure to include your website/blog, Company, Facebook, & Twitter links in your profile.  This allows potential employers to get a clearer picture of you before the interview.

Advanced Techniques – Get the most out of LinkedIn

• Advanced Networking – Import email addresses, find former colleagues, see 1st, 2nd, 3rd level connections, ask for introductions, look-up networking event attendees…you can do a LOT of networking and research.  Just don’t over do it or SPAM!
• LinkedIn Questions – This is an excellent area to submit questions and answers pertaining to a certain topic.  You can share your experience to help others, all while building your Personal Brand.
• Company/Industry Search – Interested in a certain company or industry?  You can use the company search to do just that, or include the industry (advertising) to hone your local research.
• People Search – Want to contact a specific hiring manager at XYZ Co?  Quickly search people and see who else shares a connection!  If needed, you can ask for an introduction, too!
• Resume Search – Search companies, find those people in the company doing what you want to do…then start tailoring your resume!  This is also a great way to see what skills might be needed to pursue the company further!
• Groups – You can join groups (like the American Marketing Assoc – Pittsburgh Chapter) and extend your network.  This is also a great way to share content, events and discussions.  You can display groups on your public profile – Just be selective.
• Status Updates – Use this to give your network an update on your professional career, job search, or to share information.  Keep it professional and ask yourself, “Is this relevant?”
• Job Search – LinkedIn features a truly robust Job Search function.  Use this to search jobs ONLY posted on LinkedIn, or to aggregate jobs posted on the internet.  The great thin about this is you can see who you know at the company!  So, if you need to send an email along to research the position, you’ll know exactly who to contact (in your network).

Facebook

Facebook is the Social Network to connect – with your friends, friends’ friends, and your industry.  Use this as a tool to showcase your talents/skills, but also expand your network to include industry professionals and potential employers.  Let’s take a look at what goes into your Faceboook:

• Profile – Professional photo (or at least not one of a keg stand) should be the standard on your profile.  Be sure to keep a close eye on friends who post questionable content (links, photos, videos, comments) to your profile.
• URL – Sign up for a vanity URL NOW!  This shortens the URL and makes it easier for sharing (Personal Branding, nod!) – Facebook.com/ChrisLugo
• Applications, Groups, Fan Pages – Yes, it’s cool to let everyone know what your favorite color/car/sex position is, but when a recruiter or potential employer visits your page…not so much.  Keep applications, groups and fan pages relevant and professional.
• Privacy – You can control various privacy settings on Facebook, including what information is or is not shared.  Use this wisely so that potential employers don’t see too much personal information
• Connections – You can connect to your friends, but also to people in your industry and network.  Facebook will give you a much more personal connection  – but use it wisely.  If you are “friends” with a potential empoyer, and you share a graphic picture…might not be the best for the upcoming interview
• Status Updates – Just like LinkedIn, you can update your friends (network) of what’s going on in your life.  Just like above, don’t send status updates of the killer kegger you’re attending – even if you just won the keg stand championships!  While on the job search, think, “would I want this update in front of my potential employer?”

Twitter

Twitter is quickly becoming a hugely popular social network, method of communicating.  While of the job search, you can use Twitter to learn about your industry/profession, grow your network, and provide relevant content to followers/potential employers.

• Profile – When heading to your profile page, a visitor will see your last 20 “tweets.”  Are they what you want to show up when a potential employer visits?  You can also customize the background of your profile.  This helps differentiate your profile from the basic.
• URL – Choose your username/URL wisely.  This should be easy to remember and type (for those Retweeting you).
• Bio – Include a SHORT bio that highlights your skills/job search.
• Link – Include a link to your website/blog OR LinkedIn profile.
• People Search – You can upload your email address book to start following people, or search directly for people you know!
• Twitter Search – Want to find people in Pittsburgh talking about marketing…right now!?  Head to search.twitter.com or save your search on your homepage.  Sky is the limit for search opportunities.
• Updates – “What Are You Doing?” This question is asked by Twitter for each update, but don’t let it fool you.  We DO NOT want to know about eating cereal or cutting the grass.  Your updates should, again, be relevant to your industry, skills, profession, job search, etc.  Share content, blog posts, & news pertaining to your industry, and you’ll start to learn in the process.
• Learn – Use Twitter to find relevant blog posts and industry news.  Also, follow industry professionals who are experts in the field.  This way, you can follow their “stream” and take in as much as possible.

Website/Blog

Use this opportunity to create your OWN content, and build a space that highlights your skills, talents, experience and ambitions.  Your own website or blog can be your HUB, where all your networks point.  This way, everyone knows where to get your resume, or latest blog post.

• Hosted or Free? – You can buy a domain name, have it hosted and set up your blogging software (WordPress recommended), or you can use one of many free tools (including WordPress.com & Blogger) to make the process easy.  Start out with the free stuff, then move to the hosted versions after trying it out.
• URL – Use a domain name that is either yourname.com or incorporates yourname.  This way, it is easy to share, extends Personal Brand, and heightens search engine results.
• Blogging Platform – WordPress, Blogger & Live Journal are just a few of the blogging platforms out there.  WordPress recommended.
• Integrate Social Networks – Use your Website/Blog to integrate your Social Networks.  Link to each (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to cross promote.
• Topics – Approach topics that are relevant to your industry/profession.  You can event take a local spin on national topics or large industry news.
• Resume – Include your updated resume for easy access
• Multimedia – Publish relevant photos, videos and audio for a more robust experience
• About – Include an “About Me” section
• Contact – Should be easy to contact you on each page

Monitor Your Brand/Research the Industry and Competition

• Google
• Google Reader
• Technorati
• Blogs
• Twitter, Twitter Search
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Google Profile

A Happy Marriage

There are many ways to use online tools to enhance your job search.  But make sure you are utilizing BOTH to the max to really see the benefit.  Here are some thoughts to tie it all together:

• Build your Online Brand and Trust – Do NOT rush to get ahead quickly…it will backfire with social networking.
• Refresh – Keep your Website/Blog updated, being sure to produce relevant content and integrate with your main Social Networks (above).
• Participate – You must participate in your new social/online networks.  It is NOT enough to just have a profile.
• Learn -  Use the live networking/job search, and social networks to learn something!  Blogs, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc. all have EXCELLENT content…it’s up to you to tap into it!
• WIWMPETST – Think as if you were the potential employer – Would I Want to See That?
• Engagement Points – By having profiles on multiple networks, you’ll have more engagement points for potential employers, but don’t spread yourself too thin.  The above networks are the tried and true.  Go with those first, then branch out it necessary.
• Brand Consistency – Are you consistent from network to network? From site to site?
• Attend Networking Events – Live networking is still king…don’t ignore this important tool!
• Join Your Local Organizations – As with the last point, the live relationships you develop can go a LONG way to securing your next job.  Find the relevant orgs and participate!
• Grow Your Network – As you engage with more and more people via social networks, you are enhancing your job search.  It’s who you know…so make use of your network!

Online Job Search Tools

• LinkedIn Job Search, People Search
• Yahoo! Jobs
• Monster
• CareerBuilder
• Guru.com – Freelance Opportunities
• VisualCV.com
• Advertise on Google, Facebook

Subscribe to ChrisLugo.com for more Pittsburgh Job Search, Marketing and Small Business content!

Resources

100 Places to Find Jobs

7 Secrets to Getting Your Next Job Using Social Media

25 Ways Social Media Prepares You for the Downturn

Write Your LinkedIn Profile For Your Future

25 Ways Social Media Prepares You for the Downturn

HOW TO: Use Google Reader Like A Rockstar

HOW TO: Get the Most Out of FriendFeed

Personal Branding 101: How to Discover and Create Your Brand