Motivational Monday: Take Your Job Search Offline

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about using temporary staffing agencies to get a job. This week, I want to briefly tell you some other ways to snag a job. Now, let me stress again that looking for a job is your job. While you have no job, your only job is to look for a job. So take your job very seriously, your job depends on it.

When I'm helping my clients with their job search, I strongly encourage them to do more than submit to job posts they find online. I ask them to take their search offline and network. So here are three ways to network and take your search offline.

1.) Volunteer
Nonprofit organizations are always looking for good and talented people to help them out with design, writing brochures, marketing, event planning, organizing, etc. Why are they a great place to network? Because each nonprofit has an executive board made up of presidents, vice presidents and other executives of companies. They chose to be on that board so you can be sure that they actually care about the organization. That means when an event is happening, they are most likely going to be there to participate. This is a stellar way for you to get yourself in front of people, working side by side and demonstrating your talents and ability to work hard. Volunteering is a also a great way to practice your current skills, build new ones, and help out a cause you believe in. Volunteermatch.org is a great place to start to find opportunities in your area!

2.) Professional Organizations
No matter what industry you are interested in, there is an organizing body that meets regularly. Join these organizations and attend their events. This is a stellar opportunity to meet people in your industry, keep up-to-date on new trends, and pick up a mentor.

3.) Networking Events
These are normally reserved for business people, but don't let that stop you from attending. You can find a host of groups in your area by visiting Meetup.com. There are groups that meet about every and anything. It doesn't have to be at a formal business event where you network. You can network with people who share a common interest with you whether it's salsa dance, food or French.

Yes, you can do the social media thing and connect with people all over the world but you got to get from behind the computer and meet the people you can, offline. Meeting face-to-face will always build a stronger connection.

Happy Hunting!

Social Network Your Way to a Job

We often use Facebook and Twitter to update our statuses about random facts, jokes, hilarious videos, tips, inspirational quotes or as a platform to rant and rave about all the wrongdoings or mishaps in our lives. The latter part of that is not so great—even though we’ve all done this a few times or more—but social media platforms are great ways to stay in touch, get connected, discuss current events, products, brands…and find jobs!

Tip # 1: Did you know that companies are now looking into the social depth—which is the number of friends, followers or connections on various social platforms-- of a job candidate on their social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn? Be aware that some do and others just check to see what you are talking about (don’t forget to update your privacy settings) aka cyber-stalking. They are using this information to see how many people one can reach through their networks and ultimately, help promote their products and services.

Over the last few months, I have seen jobs posted on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other online communities outside of job boards. Hiring managers for the most part are not posting these listings; it’s our friends who may know of a job opening in their company or they are leaving a position and want to let their closest friends and family know.

Tip # 2: For the hiring managers that do post positions, why don’t you contact that person and build a relationship via Twitter and/or LinkedIn—not Facebook as it is too personal. If you don’t qualify for the posted position, help them spread the word and offer to send resumes of qualified candidates. Make this relationship a two way street; and who knows what the outcome of the relationship will be?

Tip # 3: Are you looking to work for a particular company? Keep up-to-date on potential jobs by following that company or organization on Twitter, “like” the community page on Facebook and other social networks they belong to.

Job boards are decent tools to find a job but if you can strike up a relationship with a hiring manager at one of your target companies, stay connected via social networks and other online communities and just pay attention to what your friends/trusted sources post, you may become the hunted rather than the hunter.

How have you used social media to look for a job?

Photo courtesy of CapitalWorkForce.org.

From Temporary Employee to Permanent Staff

So the partying is all done and now the job hunt is on. Stellar!

According to the Department of Labor Statistics, unemployed people spend about 18 minutes a day looking for a job. Crazy isn't it? What are they probably doing? My bet is that they are going on Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com and other large job search sites, finding a couple of jobs to apply to, sending out resumes and then calling that a job search. It's better than doing nothing I guess. But you're serious about your job search and know you will find the job you want because you understand that looking for a job is now your job. So while others are logging on to Facebook to play Farmville, Sorority Life and Mafia Wars, you are still searching. And, although looking online and doing all those social media things are a great way to network, I would like you to remove yourself from the computer and get out there and meet people, face-to-face. Here is one way you can do that.

Do you know about temporary staffing agencies?
I find that almost all of my clients have never heard about them before. So, let me just tell all of you at the same time.

During the course of a year, employees have emergencies in their lives, get pregnant, have extended leaves of absence and so on. The work still needs to be done so companies turn to staffing agencies to help fill the gap. You could be assigned to a company for a day, weeks, or longer. There are also some opportunities to work somewhere temporarily and it lead to a permanent position.

When I first graduated from college, this is the way I survived. This is a great way to get some experience and to get some money in your pocket at the same time. And there are staffing agencies that specialize in all sorts of industries such as creative (for the designers, writers, editors), accountants, engineers, etc. You tend to get paid more when you work with a specialized agency than when you work with a general agency doing reorganizing and filing of patient files, answering phones at a winery or photocopying pharmaceutical medical recipes. (Yes, these are actual jobs I have done.) The agency is paid by the company looking to fill a position. You are not charged. And if you come across one that does want to charge you, I'd move on.

The best tip I got from a recruit I signed up with was for me to call her once a week so I would stay on top of her mind. I turned around and did that for all five agencies I was signed up with. When I called, I wasn't aggressive and demanded that they find me something. I called or emailed saying I was still available for work and just checking in with them in case something came across their desk. And, it worked. I always had work because I made sure I stayed fresh on their mind. And you should too!

Oh, yes, before I forget, I did sign up with five agencies. Why? Because each agency had different companies as clients. When one didn't have work for me I had the other four I could contact. You've got to keep you options open.

While you are working where you are placed by the staffing agency you can get to meet new people. You want to do stellar work so that the people there will grow to know, like and trust you. So, no matter what you are doing whether it's filing, answering phones, or what you are trained to do, you do it with enthusiasm. You want to do it for a couple of reasons. First, to show that you are stellar at what you do. Second, to present your wonderful personality. And third, when they report back to your agency they will say great things about you and your work so when that assignment is over, the agency knows you are a great representative for them.

And, don't just communicate with the people you directly report to. Branch out and speak to the people in the department, even the entire company. We are growing our network here.

There are other ways to network face-to-face that I will tell you about in another article. But for now this is your mission.

1.) Get your resume together. Agencies are going to want to view it too!

2.) Start looking into staffing agencies in your area. Ones that specialize in your industry and also general ones. Don't just sign up for any one. Do some research, ask around, read reviews if you can find them. You want to sign up with a reputable company.

3.) Once you're comfortable with what you find, pick up the phone and ask questions. How do they work? How do you get considered? What do they require?

4.) Don't be afraid to sign up with more than one agency. The more you have, the more your name is getting out there.

Happy Hunting! And, if there is any way I can help, just let me know.