A Networking Gauge

We’ve all heard about the importance and value of networking in job search, but it can be confusing to determine how much is enough.

As with goals and objectives in general, the true test is in the results. However, it is helpful to use a gauge along the way. Here is one for you to consider. Are you...

--Adding at least 10 new contacts per week?

--Receiving 3 referrals to industry-specific contacts per week?

--Finding 2 ways to be active in your target industry each week?

--Beginning to receive targeted job leads from your networking contacts?

--Acquiring recommendations on your LinkedIn profile?

This is simply applying the KPI (key performance indicator) strategy as a way to continue to motivate and produce results. But remember, successful interactions with people depend upon quality as well as quantity.

Check Out AppleMate.com - A Tracking Resource

Have you ever had difficulty keeping track of the numerous jobs you’ve applied for? Lose track of important phone numbers, websites, and email addresses related to your job search?

If so, here is a new free resource that can store and track information on an unlimited number of applications. It also has the ability to sync with Google calendar and other tools for reminders on deadlines and interviews.

Users can sign up for a free account and then input individual job or school applications, update application progress and status, enter company website and position information, and set reminders. Future possibilities include smart phone applications. It also stores website user names and passwords, making reconnecting with sensitive employer information easier.

Its revenue base is built upon noninvasive advertising. Initial reports on its use have been positive. It’s easy to use, there’s no download necessary and people can use it as a one-stop convenient place to store and track every application for every job (or school) submitted.

A Few Tips to Elevate Your Online Visibility in a Job Search

One way to help shape your online presence and make it easier for recruiters to find you is by having a web version of your resume - essentially a simple web page that just consists of your resume but would easily emerge if someone googles your name or career field.

However, this really should only serve for nonconfidential job searches. It could jeopardize your existing job if the search was conducted by your employer. An alternative to this is to give your resume an online presence through VisualCV.com, a free resource that also also allows you to electronically attach references, work samples, etc., as well as to hyperlink to employer, education, and other websites you may want to especially highlight in your background. One of the best things about this site is that it allows you to totally control the level of Internet visibility. You can give wide access to the Internet or keep it private to share with only those employers you are targeting.

Aberlene Resume & Career Services LLC is familiar with and can create web resumes and VisualCVs if you are looking for assistance. Its resume writer was one of the first five world-wide certified to create VisualCVs. Check out our services at http://www.aberleneresume.com/.

Leveraging References for Maximum Impact

In competitive fields, a hiring decision can depend upon what a candidate’s references have to say. When other critical factors, such as experience and education equal out among two or more candidates, the credibility and faith expressed through qualified references become very important. So it is necessary that you wisely choose your references and that you prepare them to help put you in the best light possible.

First, only choose references who can speak articulately and will sing your praises highly.
Always ask their permission and be sure to keep them informed of jobs for which you’re being considered. Fill them in on the essential qualifications so they can give some thought as to what they could say.

Create a “References” document. For a more professional look, copy and paste your résumé contact heading at the top. Create two columns. Under the first column, list three to five professional references. Provide as much professional contact information as possible. This way if an employer cannot reach them by phone, perhaps email will work better. Under the second column, succinctly describe the nature of the relationship, such as “Supervised my work for seven years at XYZ Company.” This is especially helpful for any reference relationship for which employment and other circumstances have changed over time.

Only provide references when requested. But as with anything in your job search, be prepared. Bring your list into interviews. Keep it in your portfolio just in case you’re asked for it.

Finally, remember to thank anyone who has provided a reference for you. They have taken the time to help you out, something for which gratitude should always be expressed. As we all know, the courtesy associated with showing appreciation keeps relationships strong and reciprocal.

Did You Know Your Job Hunt Expenses May Be Tax-Deductible?

Many people are not aware that money spent when searching for work or to find a job is eligible for a tax deduction. Any reasonable and necessary expenses you incur when searching for a job may be written off or deducted on your tax returns filed for the year you have expenses in search of your next position.

There are three general exceptions to remember: 1) You cannot be looking for a job in a new occupation, 2) There was a substantial break between the ending of your last job and looking for a new one and 3) You are looking for a job for the first time. Allowable expenses can include fees for resume and cover letter preparation and any fees associated with distributing and posting your resume online. Other job search expenses include the cost to fax your resume to recruiters and hiring managers, travel expenses you encounter while interviewing, career coaching and outplacement services may be deductible. Tuition or training expenses for courses taken or Continuing Education Units needed for licensing, technical manuals and books or supplies including special tools necessary for employment in your field may be allowed.

Certain research and expenses to attend specialized training may also qualify. Attending any job related workshops, seminars or getting a degree in your current field may also be deductable. So be sure to keep those receipts. (Source: Career News / Examiner)

Benefit of Interview Storytelling

Hiring managers look for evidence that a candidate has the right qualifications, will fit the company culture, and appears to be the best person for the job.

Just confirming that you have what the employer is looking for is not enough. Often they will use behavioral-based questions that go way beyond uncovering what you offer to try to assess how effective you've been. These questions often start in such ways as “Tell me about a time . . .,” “Provide an example of . . .,” “What would you do if. . .”

Be ready to respond with short success stores using the STAR (Situation – Task – Action – Result) formula. Hiring managers want facts in the form of clear examples that provide proof of performance. In your stories, provide context by briefly describing the situation, the tasks required, and the action taken to be successful. Expand upon the result so the impact and benefit to the employer is clearly understood.

We can all relate to good stories. Employers can be swayed to a candidate by seeing themselves in a success story.

Many sources exist on the Internet providing examples of typical behavioral-based questions used in interviewing. The major requirements for the job can also be a source to mine for potential questions. Part of your preparation for interviewing should include developing your success stories for areas you determine as valued by potential employers.

In summary, use the STAR method to develop your interviewing stories, but keep them brief and to the point to make the best use of your interview time.

Tips for Finding Recruiters

Many people have found recruiters to be very helpful allies in their professional job search. As recruiters are generally paid by employers to find specific talent, they are often privy to some of those jobs in the “hidden” market. Many times their focus is on management, sales, or higher-level jobs.

So how do you find recruiters that could help you? The easiest way to begin your search is through the Yellow Pages or Yellow Book. Recruiters are often hidden among staffing agencies in the “employment agencies” section.

Be selective. Most recruiters specialize. If they do not identify their area of expertise, call them and ask them. In fact, go a step further and ask what kind of luck they’ve had in placing someone in your field and at your level. Don’t waste time working with someone who has not had success in your area.

There are also quite a few online directories. These are often fee-based, but are often well worth the cost. Here are a few good sites we discovered:

Select Recruiters at http://www.selectrecruiters/.
com: A searchable database of recruiters that allows you to bring up results by function, industry, geography, etc. (fee-based).

Directory of Executive Recruiters at http://www.recruiterredbook.com/index.php (fee-based).

Executive Registry at http://www.executiveregistry.com/ (fee-based).

Keep in mind that working through recruiters is one viable strategy to consider including in your diversified job hunt plan. As with online job search, it is not recommended to rely on this strategy alone.

Resource for Checking Out Potential Employers

Have you ever wished for a resource that gives you an inside view of what it’s like to work for a particular employer? Glassdoor.com is just such a resource.

It’s a very easy Website to use. It provides employee reviews of their company, presenting both the pros and cons of what it’s like to work there. In addition, insider information is provided in two other categories: interviewing and salaries. So in one Website, you can get information from employees on what it’s like to work at the company, tips to help with interviewing for jobs there, and what they pay.

The Website also encourages all who use it to post reviews, interviewing information and salary data, thereby growing the database of information.

With regard to reliability, any site that allows anyone to post information may have some credibility problems. But as with Wikepedia (encyclopedia site relying on it users), information gems can generally be found

Importance of Developing a Diversified Job Hunt Plan

Virtually anyone who spends the majority of their job hunt time applying online will become frustrated with the poor rate of positive responses.

Why is this so when online job boards have become so prevalent and seem to make looking for a job easier than ever before? It is precisely because of the illusion of ease associated with online job search that produces frustration. Because it’s so easy to paste in or download your resume, recruiters are being literally inundated, and not only with resumes of qualified personnel. Thinking that casting a wider net will produce greater results, many people are applying for positions that “relate” in any way to their background. Quick and easy to do. This is happening at a time when employers can be very selective in who they consider.

Therefore, when applying online be sure to target positions which your resume clearly supports. Tweak it as needed, especially the keyword section.

On-line applying should not take any more than 30% of your total job hunt time. Networking should take 30-50% of your time. It can support on-line efforts. If you have a key contact within a company, they can directly intercede with HR on your behalf or advise them to pull out your resume from the pile they’ve accumulated.

Some other job hunt strategies to seriously consider in your overall plan include “working” job fairs, joining professional associations, and using social media (LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.) to establish your professional brand and further your outreach.

Rise Above the Competition in Interviews

Standard interviewing advice tends to promote reactionary responses, such as in preparing to answer behavioral-based questions and developing intelligent questions to bring in. This is all well and good, but is essentially what everyone is doing. To distinguish yourself from the pack, consider incorporating a proactive approach in your interviewing. Here are a few tips for you to consider.

Explore a specific challenge being faced by the department and offer to outline an outside perspective to explain how you would tackle it. Do not attempt to provide an answer on the spot unless you’re 100% sure of its efficacy. Instead offer to take some time outside of the interview, giving yourself the time to contemplate and research.

In the interview, ask what special qualities they’re looking for in the ideal candidate. Then counter each point with examples from your background. If you get stumped and need more time to think about specific points, address this further in your thank-you letter.

In fact, the thank-you letter / email should be used strategically to further set you apart. Many interviewees do not even bother with following up and are missing a prime opportunity to distinguish themselves. First, be sure to get business cards from each of the interviewers to get their email addresses. Then in your email, go beyond thanking them by explaining why you’d be the best choice based on what you learned and how well the culture appears to fit your personality. Include important information you forgot in the interview, and possibly outline your solution to that challenge they’re facing.

So next time try being proactive, but not to the point where it seems like you're taking control of the process. As with most things in life, balance works well.

Upcoming Workshop on Stress

Kathy Bornheimer is a well-respected Milwaukee area career coach and business consultant. Readers will find her insightful articles on effective job hunting techniques on Milwaukeejobs.com, among other sources.

Her second book, co-authored with Jeff Percival is the basis for an upcoming book signing and interactive workshop, “How to Reduce Stress at Work,” to be held at the Open Book Community Bookstore at 4093 N. Oakland Avenue in Shorewood on Sunday, Feb. 7 from 1:30 – 3:30 pm. The cost of $35 includes the workshop, signed book, and snack. Register by February 5 at www.openbookcoop.com or by calling 414-431-3170.