Get That Job! » networking

Using social media for a job search | Rachel Levy – Boston marketing pro (social networking, Twitter)

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:40:20 +0000

: Image by danieljohnsonjr via Flickr

I initially started this blog as a resource for myself. As I read and consume content that I think would be worthwhile sharing, I often consider it in that frame of reference.

Such is the case with this jewle jewel from Rachel Levy:

Using social media for a job search | Rachel Levy – Boston marketing pro (social networking, Twitter).

Utterz from the Road – Making your own opportunities

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Tue, 13 May 2008 13:21:00 +0000

Mobile post sent by danieljohnsonjr using Utterz. Replies. mp3

Show confidence without being arrogant

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 18:07:00 +0000

I was motivated to write this post from reading an article on Monster about Ten Tech Interview Errors. Specifically, I noticed the following passage from the article:

Too many techies come across as arrogant in interviews, says Sean Chou, CTO of Fieldglass, a software technology company. “A lot of techies are very talented, but what comes out is arrogance,” he says.

Confidence is desirable, not arrogance. Arrogance suggests “they can’t be a team player,” Chou notes.

So I posed the following question on Twitter earlier:

What ways can you show confidence without it coming across as arrogance?

I could have clarified that I was looking with respect to an interview situation, but I preferred asking an open-ended question (i.e., without context), just to see what the responses would have been. Here are some of the responses so far, again to my open-ended question:

matthewebel Not breaking into a cold sweat when some director asks you to make a pass at iJustine.
mindofandre I always like to attribute my knowledge due to the fact that others have helped me learn. You haven’t come this far without others.
TheSatch I think a key for me is being willing to point to and discuss my own flaws, sometimes seriously and sometimes with humor.
CollinDouma Best way to show confidence over arrgnc. Listen first, ask 3 questions for each of theirs + Hold your cool when “they” are proved wrong.
jasonalba research the word “assertive” … that might have what you are looking for. very powerful.
tonysteward 1. Never offer criticism without a prepared solution 2. Arrogance makes someone unreasonable – be reasonable. 3. Confidence doesn’t need everyone to agree – arrogance demands it or villianizes.
fairminder state your opinion as fact and support it with an example from your experience. Quote other experts – birds of a feather…
steveames One way is to be quiet – in other words, don’t try to show confidence. Just exude it…
markbaars You need to KNOW that you’re confident, that people like you and that you can do whatever you want + KNOW that you’re NICE
Sourcerer be the one to greet and make others comfortable at meeting/event, also witty self-deprecation goes a long way
RichBecker Relevant stories play better than laundry lists.

What do you think? What are some ways to show confidence, or as Jason Alba put it, assertiveness, without it being perceived as arrogance?

—–
Check out my other blogs:
Daniel Johnson, Jr.
Journey Inside My Mind Blog
Journey Inside My Mind Podcast
QuotesBlog
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Tech Job Aggregator on Twitter

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:51:00 +0000

Do you use Twitter? You might know that I’m an avid user of it. I just noticed this tech job aggregator, which has a presence on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Joblighted

Also, if you’re into Ruby on Rails, you might want to consider following http://twitter.com/rornews

—–
Check out my other blogs:
Daniel Johnson, Jr.
Journey Inside My Mind Blog
Journey Inside My Mind Podcast
QuotesBlog
Twitter.com/danieljohnsonjr

Craigslist Job Seeker Killed

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:16:00 +0000

I firmly believe in using social media and new media tools in our job searches; tools like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Craigslist. These and several others make it easier than ever to connect with people.

Having said that, we still need to be careful, as Steven Rothberg from College Recruiter.com mentions:

Front page news in the Minneapolis newspapers over the past couple of days has been the killing of Katherine Ann Olson. While any murder is tragic, this one is noteworthy to employers and job seekers alike because it appears to be related to the victim’s use of Craiglist to find a nanny position.

Ms. Olson was looking for a nanny job. She had successfully used Craigslist before and so searched it again. She found an ad of interest responded. She told her roommate that she was going to meet the family from the ad. After she didn’t come home, police initiated a search and found her dead in the trunk of her car at a park in Burnsville, Minnesota late Friday night.

I believe in the power of meeting up face-to-face with others, but I also strongly believe that these meetings must occur in public places like food courts at shopping malls or coffee shops, especially when meeting up for the first time.

What about you? What do make of all this? Join the conversation below.

Update: Craigslist scam avoidance tips

DiversityJobs.com has thousands of jobs from employers committed to diversity.

Test drive your dream job

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:28:00 +0000

This is interesting. One of my Twitter friends told me to check out Vocation Vacations.

Career strategies for using MySpace, Facebook and other social networking sites

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 21:30:00 +0000

I’ve listened to Peter Clayton‘s interview with Steven Rothberg two days in a row, because it’s got me thinking about my own career strategies for using social networking sites, as well as my portfolio blog. You need to listen to this, too.

From the shownotes at TotalPicture.com:

Did you know that MySpace is the 3rd most visited U.S. website and that the average age of a MySpace user is 35? Check out this interview, which covers an overview of CollegeRecruiter.com, and an in-depth analysis – from a career strategy perspective – of MySpace, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Second Life.

Click on the player to hear the 39-minute interview:

Alternate links that get you the content:

Direct download (mp3) from the Total Picture Radio site
Total Picture Radio shownotes
Odeo audio page
PodShow+

Find thousands of Bilingual jobs at LatPro.com.

Ron Hittle inspired me with one sentence

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 13:31:00 +0000

“To touch the soul of another human being is to walk on holy ground.” – Stephen R. Covey, via QuotesBlog

I met Ron Hittle about 3-1/2 years ago at a career workshop at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. I remember that it was an encouraging and inspiring time for me, since I was really struggling for direction in my career. The encounter and events since then have showed me how powerful connecting with one person can positively affect another.

That year I also met a recruiter in the Dayton area, and we’ve exchanged e-mails and phone conversations over the past three years or so, having become part of each other’s professional network.

She mentioned early on that I must have met Ron Hittle.

“How did you know that?” I asked.

“From then ending of your voicemail message,” she replied. “I do that, too.”

Imitation, it’s been said, is the sincerest form of flattery. This recruiter and I at different times had adopted Ron’s way of closing a message as our own.

It’s a little bittersweet that I share all of this, because a few moments ago, she called me to say that Ron Hittle passed away this weekend. He’d retired some time ago and had been dealing with some health issues, but it still came suddenly. My thoughts and prayers go up to the family, as well as those who knew Ron well. He will surely be missed.

As I mentioned, I didn’t know Ron that well, but he left a lasting impression on me just from one statement from his voicemail message, because it points to my own ability to do something about my life versus letting something happen.

If you’ve received an email from me or have heard me sign off on my mostly music podcast, you probably already know what I’m about to say.

Most people I know usually end a conversation by saying, “Have a great day!”

Ron Hittle would say, “Make it a great day!”

Thanks, Ron. I think I will.

Find information on Diversity recruiting at DiversityJobs.com.

No related posts.

Happy Birthday JibberJobber!

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Mon, 14 May 2007 20:11:00 +0000

I just found out from Jason Alba that tomorrow is the first birthday of JibberJobber, a career toolset used by many – including yours truly – to manage aspects of a job search and networking relationships. I have yet to delve into the unchartered territories within the tool, but I have to say that it is EXCELLENT for managing the minute details of a job search.

If you haven’t yet checked it out, click on the link on the sidebar. You certainly get a lot with a free membership; with the premium membership you naturally get more.

Update: Jason wrote a bit about the birthday on the JibberJobber Blog.

Job Searching vs Career Management

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 11:05:00 +0000

Jason wrote a great article about changing the way we approach job searching and career management:

I frequently think about how we think of our job transitions – we are supposed to have lots of them during our career.

I’m completely intrigued by the people who have forgotten what a forced transition is like, or by those that feel totally secure in their job (or their ability to find a new job) – and their reactions to a “job search.”

I’m finding that Career Management was easier when I was looking for work. Now that I’m working, it’s harder and harder for me to stay in that mindset. I’m spending more time thinking about projects at work than my own career management.

But I try to do a little bit every day to manage my career, whether it’s setting up a lunch appointment with a friend, or use my LinkedIn URL as I comment on this and many other posts. I also maintain a portfolio blog. I also look for other ways to share what I’m learning about career management.

I don’t want to be misled into a false sense of job security. Right now work is going strong, but I still need to keep my eyes on the big picture.

What practical things do you do every day to manage your career?

Twitter got her a job!

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 21:33:00 +0000

“Twitter got me a freelance job.” — Karina Longworth

Karina Longworth, who writes on her blog Vidiocy, sent that message to folks following her on Twitter. Read more about the details at her blog post: Vidiocy >> Twitter Got Me A Job

Make a Personal Connection!

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 14:27:00 +0000

Chris at LifeHack.org recently shared some thoughts on effective networking (“Meet People NOT Business Cards – lifehack.org“). If you’re like me, you’ve tended to use these events as opportunities to amass a big collection of business cards. But that’s not the point of the meeting, really, is it? Here are my comments to the article:

I hear you, Chris. I just read something along the same lines in Keith Ferrazzi’s book Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time. If you collect a bunch of business cards without making a personal connection, you’re left with a phone list from which to make cold calls.

Now, let’s transfer these thoughts into collecting contacts on internet social networks, okay?

I see people blindly adding friends on social networking sites like MySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter, and others, the same way people collect business cards. There are various reasons to do this; the most obvious is to make themselves look important, which is something that motivates some people. If people see someone with lots of contacts, they will begin to think of them as an expert in their field. I’m a bit torn on this myself, to be honest.

Just remember that the personal connection is what matters. What are you doing right now to make and reinforce the personal connection with your contacts? What are your thoughts on the effectiveness of amassing large numbers of contacts?

For Victory You Need Many Advisers

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 18:40:00 +0000

Proverbs 24:5-7 (New International Version)
5 A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength; 6 for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the assembly at the gate he has nothing to say.

Where am I going with this, you might ask? Check out LinkedIn: Answers You can search the vast wisdom of people in your network and across the LinkedIn userbase for answers to questions you have, and you can ask questions of your network.

So go assure yourself a victory and seek out advice from others who can help you.

On LinkedIn? Do this Right NOW (before it’s too late)

Job-hunting success stories uncovered during lunch

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:07:00 +0000

It appears to be so easy for the coworkers in my department to eat their lunches at their desks. We work on a floor below most of the company, and I’ve made an effort recently to head upstairs to the break room to eat my lunch with other people.

I have also spent time asking some of my fellow employees about their work. This is probably made easier to do because these individuals were all recently hired. I like to ask about their work backgrounds, and how they found out about the job they have now.

I’m finding that people are so much more interesting as you get to know them than they initially appear on the surface. Isn’t that so true?

Here are some recent examples how some of these people got that job:

J. worked for a worker’s compensation managed care group that our company has used. Her boss knows our VP of Operations personally, since they regularly eat business lunches together, etc. When that company recently downsized, J. was left unemployed. That afternoon, her boss ate lunch with our VP of Operations, who also knew of her work, and, since we had a position to fill, hired her on the spot. So she was unemployed for 1 whole hour!
S. had worked for over 20 years for the LA Times circulation group before retiring in 2001. Needing to supplement her income, she worked as a temp for a payroll processing company in California. Friends in Ohio begged her to move here, and she did so last fall. Having heard about our company while at her previous job, she stopped by the office, having seen the sign from the highway. She went in and asked for a job, for which, the company indeed did have an opening.

Got That Job!

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 19:21:00 +0000

Hey! I am writing to inform you of my recent success at landing a job. That’s right. Uh huh. (pardon me, while I do a happy dance.):

Before I say anything else here, I need to be clear that the opinions expressed here are my own and do not reflect those of any employer, past or present.

On Tuesday, January 2, 2006, I’ll be going back to work full-time. I’d like to tell you some of the things I feel helped me secure this job.

First, I’d worked with the company before as a full-time employee, and, although laid off in August, I’d made what I felt was a very valuable contribution to the company. Even after that time, I’d done some independent contracting work for them, further adding value to them.

I kept a good relationship with former coworkers and supervisors, often chatting with them at least once a week. They even offered to reach into their own networks to help me out.

Fast forward a couple months, and I get offered to come back. Now, since I’d had time to do some market research, I’d found out that I had been getting paid below the market rate for others with the same skills and experience.

I also began to seek the advice of others whose opinions I trust. When approached with an initial offer, I didn’t just accept it. I opted to look at other things, such as a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether it would be better to stay an independent contractor versus being a full-time employee. Some of these valuable people in my network helped me work this out.

I also feel it was valuable that I didn’t try to negotiate from a position, but instead on factual principles. What does that mean? I meant that in everything, as I presented my concerns and questions, I relied on facts – number of miles to be driven, mileage reimbursement rates, etc.

It was a nerve-wracking experience, but one I’m glad I went through. I’m really glad to be going back to work.

What that means for this blog is that posts may become more erratic. But stay subscribed to the feed, and you’ll know when I do update.

Varied Work Background

Connect with Long-lost Contacts This Holiday Season

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 18:40:00 +0000

Anyone else remember this jingle:

Reach out, reach out and touch someone
Reach out, reach out and just say ‘Hi’

I remember the commercials on TV and the radio, encouraging us to call friends and family.

I bring this up because we are now in the midst of the holiday season, which is a great excuse to get back in touch with people in your address book, contact list, or other network list. So why not reach out and touch someone in your network this season?

Greater Cincinnati’s Best Places to Work

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 13:32:00 +0000

The Cincinnati Business Courier reports:

Four companies were named Thursday, from 16 finalists and more than 130 nominated companies, as Greater Cincinnati’s best places to work.

Receiving their awards before a luncheon audience of nearly 500 at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center were the Castleton Group, Cincinnati Airport Marriott, Cincinnati Marriott North and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

…

Greater Cincinnati’s Best Places to Work program, open to any company based in the 15-county Greater Cincinnati region with 10 or more employees and companies not based here but which have at least 75 local employees. The program has been conducted by the Courier each year since 2003.

I might need to tap into my network to see if I know anyone who works at these companies.

Places to Find Jobs

Blog Carnival – Networking After Sudden Job Loss

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 02:13:00 +0000

Jason of the JibberJobber Blog, the current “host” of a blog carnival, asks:

Yikes! You just lost your job! You’ve been so busy at *work* that you don’t feel your network is as strong as you would like it to be! What are you going to do with (and to) your network in the next 6 weeks as you begin an aggresive job search campaign? And, outside of your network, what job search tactics will you employ? Or your best networking tips related to job searches.

I was placed in this situation at the end of August this year. I immediately went to my LinkedIn profile, updated it, and started sending emails to my contacts. Unfortunately, I have not been proactive in being my own career manager, and I haven’t kept in touch that well with the contacts in my network. So I mostly sent out “touching base” types of emails, mentioning the recent change in my circumstances where I could, and depending on the relationship with the contact.

I’ve began looking for other people to add to my network, based on the new relationships I’d formed since I’d last updated my network. I think I’m having to continue to explore different ways to find jobs. I hate having to post a resume blindly online and apply for specific job postings blindly. I much rather enjoy the interactivity from social networking. At the same time, I’m finding that I shouldn’t limit myself by not going about the traditional methods of networking.

The other thing I’ve found from recently finding myself back in the job market is that my skills are not as current as I’d like them to be. So I’m looking at ways to hone them.

I guess that’s all I have to say right now.

What I Love About Searching for Work, cont’d

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 17:12:00 +0000

In a previous post, I talked about how much I’ve come to enjoy networking, not only for a job search, but just in general.

Someone commented at that post, asking two questions, which I’ll try to address as best as I can, hoping you other readers can contribute (tap, tap, is this mic on? , after the jump:

Even though I am completely comfortable asking for ideas/help about a problem I’m working on at work “Has anyone else ever hit this error?”. I simply can’t bring myself to make me,myself or I the topic of the conversation, as in “I’m thinking of trying to start….” I am just completely uncomfortable with it. I can do it over the Internet, but not face to face with friends/relatives.

I’m not sure why I feel that way, but I think it’s because with people I already know I’m worried that they will either feel obligated to ACT interested/enthusiastic OR that if they are in any way negative before I’ve gotten off the ground with my idea, that I won’t have enough momentum to keep going.

Any suggestions?

Some people are introverted and some are extroverted; it’s just how we’re all made. I think in general I’m more extroverted than introverted. I believe it’s important to have enough confidence in yourself that, when around friends and relatives – others with whom you’re close – to be able to bounce off your ideas, even just to ask them for their opinions. I’m learning that I need to be my own biggest fan, because I know what I have to offer others better than they do, and it’s my responsibility to convey that.

My second question is, can you give me an example of why you like LinkedIn? I just wasn’t inclined to type in a pile of info about myself unless I had a more specific example of how I might benefit.

I like to use LinkedIn to connect with colleagues and friends professionally, especially recently as I’ve found myself back in the job market. I’m letting my contacts know what I’ve been doing and what I’m looking for, and they can search their networks, too. I’ve been able to strum up a few job leads, as a result.

Hope this helps, and let’s keep the conversation going!

Current Openings from a contact in my Network

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 20:22:00 +0000

Dennis, one of the contacts in my LinkedIn network, has some openings he’s trying to fill:

Automotive Electrical Engineer – IN
Business to Business Sales – IN
Chemist – IN
Application Engineer – CA
Information Technology Manager – GA
Information Technology Manager – IN
Logistic Professional – IN
Machine Maintenance Technician – IN
Mechanical/Project Engineer – WA
Automotive Production Supervisor – IN
Automotive Auto-Cad Designer – IN
Food Mfg Production Supervisor – WI (bi-lingual HUGE plus)
Sales Account Representative – OH
Human Resources Executive – IL
Bi-Lingual HR Generalist – IN

If you want more information, please let me know.

How to tap your company’s hidden network – April 1, 2006

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Fri, 28 Apr 2006 12:51:00 +0000

Ooooh. This is a really good article with some tips on how to really get things done in a company. I think it’s useful whether you’re currently employed or not.

If you’re currently employed, you can consider how to apply this at your job.

If you’re not currently employed, you can consider how this works or might work at companies where you’re applying.

Maybe I don’t know what I’m talking about, but I still think it’s worth your consideration.

How to tap your company’s hidden network – April 1, 2006

Database of Qualified College Students and Graduates Seeking Summer and Full-time Jobs

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Wed, 23 Mar 2005 14:29:00 +0000

U.S. Newswire : Releases : Labor Department Offers Employers Database of Qualified College Students and Graduates Seeking Summer and Full-time Jobs

A free database that identifies 1,913 qualified college students and recent graduates with disabilities who seek summer and fulltime employment is available for the tenth year to public and private sector employers to help them meet their staffing needs:

“The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) offers employers a larger pool of skilled job candidates to choose from while offering students and graduates with disabilities more opportunity to explore or begin careers,” said Roy Grizzard, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. “The program also fulfills President Bush’s New Freedom Initiative pledge to promote employment opportunities for people with disabilities throughout the nation.”

The department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) is offering the WRP database of job seekers with disabilities in cooperation with the Department of Defense. Through ODEP’s complimentary CD-ROM database, employers can search from a pool of pre-screened applicants who have skills in disciplines ranging from computer sciences and business to communications, engineering, office administration and more. Searches generate candidate profiles, academic and demographic data, and contact information for students from more than 200 colleges and universities in over 45 states and territories. To request a copy of the CD-ROM, send your name, company name, address and phone number to wrp@dol.gov or call ODEP at (202) 693-7880.

ODEP’s portfolio of assets for employers also includes the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) and the Employer Assistance & Recruiting Network (EARN). JAN is a toll-free information and referral service on job accommodations, self-employment and small business opportunities for people with disabilities and can be reached at 1-800-526-7234 or at http://www.jan.wvu.edu. EARN, a national toll-free telephone and electronic information referral service, helps employers who have job vacancies to find and recruit qualified workers with disabilities in their localities. EARN can be reached at 1-866-Earn Now (1-866-327-6669) or via its website (http://www.earnworks.com). ODEP’s website is available to employers and employees at http://www.dol.gov/odep as is http://www.DisabilityInfo.Gov — a cross-government portal on disability-related information.

Reapplying for a Job After Rejection: Persistence Can Pay Off

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Thu, 10 Feb 2005 14:04:00 +0000

Reapplying for a Job After Rejection: Persistence Can Pay Off

by Caroline Levchuck

Did you interview with more than one person? Were you referred to the company through a friend or a member of your network? Contact anyone you know or with whom you had a rapport and pick their brains about the company, additional opportunities and what you could have done to improve your performance or skills.

Work to incorporate these folks into your network by finding ways to help them with their careers and professional development. Pass along a pertinent article or business contact. Invite them to lunch or another social-yet-professional event on occasion. Keep in contact with each on a consistent yet not-too-frequent basis. Make sure they’re all aware of your abilities and aspirations. If they’re not, ask them to review your resume. This will ensure that they’ll think of you when they hear of appropriate openings at the company.

Source: MyYahoo! Daily Tip from HotJobs, republished here because no permalink exists.

Wanted: Your Job Hunting Success Stories

Job-Hunting Success Story – Dan

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 18:25:00 +0000

NOTE: This blog is a great forum for you to share your job-hunting success stories. Please e-mail them to me at , and I’ll post them here. Now for my recent success story…

Isn’t it great when the job finds you?

Maintaining my network is how I landed my most recent position. Today I started some temp work in a fledgling IT department for a local Professional Employer Services(PES) company.

I first met J. seven years ago when I did some consulting work for his boss at the time. I helped him out here and there with some computer programming tips. We’d eat lunch together from time to time, and, at the end of the assignment, we exchanged e-mail addresses.

A couple years later he contacted me to do some consulting work in the same department. He had been promoted to a different position. The company I where I was working got the job and sent me there to do the work.

About a year later, J. contacted me because he’d left his former company to partner with someone else in a construction services company. He’d seen evidence of my web development, and he had me design and develop the company’s website.

Now, he’s the Chief Financial Officer for this PES company. It’s been ranked as one of the fastest growing companies in the Dayton Business Journal and in Inc. magazine. He contacted me this week, and I’m now employed to help with some IT-related work.

And who knows where this might lead?

Networking Takes Work – But It Will Pay Off

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Tue, 21 Dec 2004 17:46:00 +0000

AN IMPORTANT ASPECT of a successful job search is networking. To be successful in your networking campaign you need to have and develop contacts that can lead to employment opportunities and eventually a job you truly want.

If you have not developed these contacts while in school or in your previous job, you must now put forth the effort and time necessary to make this a reality.

Developing a network through contacts is not about keeping data or improving computer skills. It is about using interpersonal relationships to accomplish your goal.

Like a salesperson, you are prospecting for leads. You will need to follow a similar approach as they do to land a sale.

The following are different approaches you can take to develop the right contacts.

Write down the names of all your friends, acquaintances (including business) and relatives who are in positions to know key contacts for potential jobs or actual employment opportunities. Call, e-mail or go to social gatherings where these individuals will be and let them know of your search. If they express interest in helping you, make sure you follow-up within the next week or two. In some situations they may be able to make introductions to key contacts. In other situations they may give you key names or at the very least employers that may be looking for employees with your expertise.

Now it is up to you to write, e-mail or call the contacts and let them know of your interests. Also be prepared to meet the contacts you are formally introduced to by your friends or family. Have an appropriate well-written resume available and be able to give an oral overview or your qualifications and skills.

To expand beyond your initial contacts requires going to social events and targeting key people.

HotJobs Communities

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 02:40:00 +0000

HotJobs.com – Welcome to HotJobs Communities, your place to ask questions, get answers and find tips and advice to speed you along your job search

Network!

Ready to Get That Job? Re-energize your Campaign

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Tue, 12 Oct 2004 11:22:00 +0000

Are you doing the same old thing in pursuit of that great new job? During my own journey through the “transition-zone”, I re-energized my campaign on a frequent basis. Sound easy right? It is. First – stop and take a break and reflect on what worked well for you and what did not. Holidays are often a great time for this, as the job market slows as the holiday approaches and for days after.

Use this break time (or anytime) to try something new. Attend a different type of network event, where you might not know as many people. Take yourself out of the comfort zone.

And consider taking a quick holiday! Getting That Job is hard work – maybe harder than working at that job. You need to be focused and sharp to win that interview. The look of desperation or frustration will hurt you chances considerably. Walking away from your search for a few days is time well spent.

Next week we’ll tear apart some resumes and get folks re-focused on PAR. To read ahead click here and here.

Stephen

JobStuff, a Blog for Your Career

Zerotonetwork, a Business Networking Blog

New to the team: Stephen Harris

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Sun, 10 Oct 2004 00:25:00 +0000

Hello… I’d like to introduce myself – my name is Stephen Harris. I will be adding my entries to Dan’s tremendous “Get-that-Job” Blog as a guest author. Look for my commentary, tips and ideas for the jobseeker every Tuesday.

For those of you that are in the career “transition-zone”, I can relate. I’ve been there – was there – for over a year. During this amazing period of my life, I started a consulting group, learned how to network (thus my Zero to Network Blog), mentored other jobseekers, coordinated networking events (including a major charity event in Atlanta) and even became an executive recruiter. I am now gainfully employed as Director; Affiliate Marketing for DigitalGrit.com. My job related Blogs are my humble means of giving back for all the support I received when I was in your shoes.

My own blogs are listed below my name – and I am also a guest author on the Recruiters Blog.

I appreciate Dan for this opportunity to contribute to his Blog and to provide helpful tips & suggestions to you – the Job-Seeker/Job-Changer, so you can “Get That Job“!

Stephen

JobStuff, a Blog for Your Career

ZeroToNetwork, a Business Networking Blog

ApprenticeViews, Trump TV views

Team or Self: What do hiring managers seek?

When A Former Employer Comes A-Calling

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Tue, 05 Oct 2004 03:14:00 +0000

Today I received a letter from a former employer, who has invited me and other “alumni” to a company reunion early next month. I was a bit surprised, considering the circumstances surrounding our parting ways.

Why would the company be doing this? They are promoting this event as “a great opportunity to reconnect with former colleagues and friends.” They are also asking invitees to bring a business card or fill out a contact info card to be entered in a free drawing.

I’ve realized that this is a great networking opportunity for the company to get contacts from potential clients. Who else knows about the company’s capabilities better than its former employees?

That got me to think about how this opportunity can be used to my benefit as a job seeker? It might be too much for me to think I could land a position with my former company, but I still could network and discover other opportunities.

No related posts.

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Thu, 15 Jul 2004 05:06:00 +0000

Freebies for Jobseekers

Most of the big career sites offer free resources and support for jobseekers, from articles and advice to newsletters, resume critiques and more. The key to taking advantage of these freebies is twofold: limit the information you give them and don’t agree to pay for anything.

Set up a freebie email account to subscribe to newsletters and register on these sites. That way, you can discard the email address when you’re done with it (or if it gets overwhelmed by spam).

Here are a couple of free offers worth a look:

Get a free resume critique from A and A Resume

Let CareerBuilder email you with jobs targeted to your specifications

Get access to millions of professionals who want to give and get advice while building a mutually beneficial network on Monster.com

Subscribe to HotJobs free newsletter for job seekers with articles and tips on conducting your job search from networking and initial inquiries to interviewing and negotiating your salary requirements.

Don’t ever stop your networking

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Wed, 11 Feb 2004 18:55:00 +0000

[another Marvin Walberg article]

The main point of this article is that you should constantly network instead of relying on “911 Networking,” the kind that often occurs when someone loses a job.

Walberg recommends a book by Diane Darling, entitled The Networking Survival Guide: Get the Success You Want By Tapping Into the People You Know. I’ve added it to my list of favorite books so that I’ll know to check it out later (I maintain a list of what I’m currently reading via AllConsuming.net, and you can view the list at my homepage, “Dan’s Domain.”).

Constant networking may mean that jobs come looking for you.

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Wed, 11 Feb 2004 18:20:00 +0000

When You Don’t Know Anybody

What if you recently moved to a new city or town and don’t know anybody with whom to network? After all, networking is key to getting a job.

Marvin Walberg recommends volunteer work and special interest groups.

I’m not sure whether the link I’ve referenced above is going to last, so allow me to do some pasting from the article:

Volunteering is a wonderful way to meet new people, demonstrate workplace skills, network like crazy and get the good feeling of helping others. And every community needs volunteers.

How do you find out what’s available in the world of volunteering in your city? Go to your main public library, chamber of commerce or any hospital system. You will find a plethora of opportunities, and from a “building your resume” perspective, volunteer work is work and counts in the experience column. It really doesn’t matter that you do it for free.

Everyone has interests aside from the workaday world. How about you? Do you like bowling, bird watching, table tennis or wood carving? In most cities you can obtain a listing of special interest groups at your public library.

Understand that networking is universal. Just because someone knows nothing about what you do for a living doesn’t mean he or she can’t lead you to others who do. Just be prepared to introduce yourself and give a clear, understandable explanation of what you do, or want to do, for a living. Then, show up for meetings and smile. The rest will happen almost automatically.

No related posts.

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Tue, 10 Feb 2004 15:05:00 +0000

Informational Interviewing (JET-9407-P) N. 8/92

Following are some good REASONS TO CONDUCT INFORMATIONAL INTEVIEWS:

to explore careers and clarify your career goal
to discover employment opportunities that are not advertised
to expand your professional network
to build confidence for your job interviews
to access the most up-to-date career information
to identify your professional strengths and weaknesses

This article covers the How-To’s of Informational Interviewing.

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Sat, 24 Jan 2004 18:37:00 +0000

5 Things to do with all that extra time:

Being unemployed may suck financially, but it does have its advantages in terms of all of that extra free time it creates.

You could spend the next couple of months couch surfing, or here are some other things you can do with your free time:

1. Learn to Cook – there are cooking classes, cookbooks, and my personal favorite, the food network with all sorts of cooking shows like Iron Chef, 30 Minute Meals, Food 911, Date Plate , and the Naked Chef with Jamie Oliver(why is it they pick the hunkiest hosts for these shows? Cute men that can actually cook? Woohoo!), you’re bound to find something that appeals to your “inner chef”!

2. Exercise Your Body: you don’t have to join a gym to get out and get some exercise! Pick your favorite activity, or something that you’ve always wanted to learn, and get on a schedule, joing a group, or take a class to improve your skills.

3. Exercise Your Mind: Learn something new, take a class, read a book, get certified, write your memoirs, anything is good as longs as it exercises your mind!

4. Get Organized! Whether it’s organizing your house, your life or your job search, it’s never too late to make a fresh start at getting organized (and staying that way!)

5. Volunteer

If you have any other suggestions for this list, please add a comment!

(cross-posted on the Job Files)

No related posts.

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Wed, 14 Jan 2004 23:12:00 +0000

LinkedIn: Home

“Through the real-world business successes of its users, LinkedIn has demonstrated that even established executives increase their business effectiveness and career success by using a referral-based professional networking tool. LinkedIn not only enables professionals to discover inside connections they never knew they had, but also allows them to receive referrals to deal makers, hiring managers and other highly sought-after executives through the people they already know and trust.”

“While online job boards have become popular, they rarely work for job seekers, and hiring managers are overwhelmed with resumes and “cold” emails from strangers. LinkedIn is the only tool that mirrors the most successful process for finding a job and hiring employees and contractors: it allows both job seekers and hiring managers to find each other through referrals from their real-world connections.”

Check it out, and if you do decide to sign up, please feel free to add me to your personal network, by sending me your contact information.

No related posts.

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Tue, 06 Jan 2004 19:45:00 +0000

Yahoo Groups is an excellent source for networking and job leads. Here are just a few of the available resources on Yahoo Groups:

Tip of the Day – join a jobs networking group

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Fri, 02 Jan 2004 16:22:00 +0000

Virtual Networking in the New Year. Here are some resources where you can network with other job seekers, online.

TheSquare.com: Smart Networking.

Yahoo! Groups : jobsearchsupport

Monster: Vent

Monster Networking

Quintessential Careers: Key Career Networking Resources

Quintessential Careers: Networking Do’s and Don’ts

Other excellent sources for networking include professional organizations, your college’s alumni association, and of course, anyone you have ever worked with or met in a professional context. If you know of any other networking resources online, please add them in the comments sections.

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Mon, 15 Dec 2003 01:05:00 +0000

Advice From Successful Job Seekers: Don’t Neglect Your Network

by Caroline Levchuck (via My Yahoo! Daily Tip)

Curtis Potter wasn’t even actively seeking full-time work when he was appointed creative director of an advertising agency. He credits his new job to his solid professional network.

Potter had left his most recent job on good terms and had stayed in touch with his boss when he moved cross-country.

“I would visit whenever I went back to the West Coast and have dinner with him when he came to New York,” said Potter.

Potter also built a strong network in and around New York City.

“A former colleague from a local agency called me and told me about the opening, and I sent my resume in. She talked me up to her bosses and they reviewed my resume. It turned out that they knew my previous employer,” said Potter.

“I had two strong references going for me — a former colleague and a former boss. The agency interviewed tons of people, but I think these connections made all the difference,” said Potter.

This is great news.

Resume Tips for Teleworkers – Resume Writing Services & Free Resume Advice from Monster.com

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Wed, 10 Dec 2003 15:57:00 +0000

Job-Searching During the Holidays

If you’re looking for a job, then the holidays present some great opportunities to continue your job search. During the various get-togethers, you can network with those around you. Friends, family, and so on. Check out some past posts related to networking (Google search results).

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Sun, 21 Sep 2003 13:08:00 +0000

Everywhere: A Great Place to Network

This neat article shows how you can network anywhere: a broken elevator, the back of a line at the post office, the coffee shop, and so on.

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Thu, 18 Sep 2003 03:24:00 +0000

Eliyon Networking

According to an email I received from the Corporate Communications department at Eliyon Technologies:

This service offers a quick, easy and free way to build your network and find lost contacts. It’s a great support tool for a job search.

What do you think? I’m interested in whether you’ve been able to find people with whom you’ve lost contact.

From the Comments – Advice on Uncovering a Passion to Turn Into a Career

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Sat, 06 Sep 2003 03:57:00 +0000

Staying Networked

Here’s an article that offers some tips on how to keep your network alive. This is good advice for any aspect of business or — if I can reach a little bit — life in general. I touched on this a little yesterday, but I found the words of another to add to it:

What a lot of people don’t recognize, until they are faced with a job search, is that it pays to stay networked —particularly in good times, when you don’t feel the need as much to keep in touch. Staying networked on a regular basis will put you steps ahead of everyone else who has not remained connected when it comes time for a job search or getting the information or resources you need.

In the meantime, too, you’ll probably find some way to help someone else along the way.

It’s hard for me to pinpoint exact instances in which this blog has helped someone get a job, but I know that you’re out there reading it. When I started it in July 2002 my intention was to find information that would be helpful to me in my own job search and then share it with others via this “network.” Anyhow… go read the article already!

No related posts.

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Tue, 02 Sep 2003 15:30:00 +0000

Wings and Wireless: A Tech Thursday Casual Networking Event

The next Wings and Wireless event will be on Thursday, September 18, 2003 at the Buffalo Wild Wings, 6210 Wilmington Pike in Centerville, Ohio.

Be sure to check out the Greater Dayton IT Alliance web page for more information.

I went to one of these before and found it to be a great opportunity to network with other in the same field in a casual environment. It’s also cool to see the wireless networking capability the restaurant has.

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Mon, 28 Jul 2003 12:31:00 +0000

Make the Most of Every Opportunity

My daughter started Kindergarten last week, and I met another family, whose daughter gets picked up at the same bus stop. I told the mom about my looking for a job, and a day or so later, she told me that she’d been looking at her company’s job board for me. I didn’t ask her to do it, but she did it anyway.

We’re getting ready to head to the bus stop shortly, and I’ve created another few business cards to give her. That way she’ll have my email address and other information so that she can forward me email, and she can also forward my card to other potential interested parties.

Never miss an opportunity to network!

Update: She wasn’t there this morning. Perhaps her daughter was ill. Maybe tomorrow!

You’ve Fallen – Now Get Back Up

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Wed, 23 Jul 2003 03:47:00 +0000

Networking for Introverts

So you’re not blessed with the gift of gab. That doesn’t mean you can’t network effectively. A recent article in the WSJ College Journal offers some tips for introverts to use their disposition to their advantage to find that perfect job: “Networking When You’re a Job-Seeking Introvert”.

Thanks to the WetFeet.com Weblog, July 7, 2003 post.

Update: I was just browsing the article, and it looks like some good advice for anyone, not just introverts.

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Tue, 15 Jul 2003 15:51:00 +0000

Wings & Wireless – Casual Networking Event via email from the Greater Dayton IT Alliance

After the great turnout to last month’s Tech Thursday at Buffalo Wild Wings, we’re going back. This month’s casual networking event will once again be held at Buffalo Wild Wings in Sugarcreek. So come out for great networking opportunities and to connect the wireless network available at no charge, so bring your laptops!

Don’t have a Wireless Card or a Laptop? Both 802.11a and 802.11b cards and Laptops will be available for use.

More Details:

When: Thursday, July 17, 2003 from 5PM to 7PM

Where:

Buffalo Wild Wings

6210 Wilmington Pike

Centerville, Ohio 45459-7019

map

For more information, contact

Bob Brogan

BBrogan@daytonitalliance.org

(937) 229-0054

Check out the Event Photos page of last month’s event, which I enjoyed attending.

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Wed, 11 Jun 2003 00:34:00 +0000

Get Ready for… Speed Networking!

Learn how to network with 25 people in four minutes. Well, something like that. read more…

No related posts.

Heraclitus said it well

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Sat, 10 May 2003 23:43:00 +0000

“A hidden connection is stronger than an obvious one.”

Any good job seeker knows the truth of that statement. Courtesy of QuotesBlog.

Thoughts on the Job Fair

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Fri, 02 May 2003 22:15:00 +0000

I attended a job fair at the Dayton Job Center this past Wednesday, April 30, 2003. I’ve spent a lot more time at the Job Center lately, searching for a job and getting set up with other services. Last fall, I attended another job fair at the Job Center as well.

I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect. I knew from attending the job fair last fall that there were sure to be a lot of people there. I also expected that there would be a lot of organizations looking for people in the health care fields. Both of these expectations were met.

I felt that there were so many people at the job fair that it was hard to be in a one-on-one conversation with any recruiter for very long. I noticed a long line of people waiting to talk to recruiters from one company in particular.

Since my wife Jennie has been ill lately and was not able to attend the job fair, I used the opportunity to network a little bit with the health care companies that were looking for nurses asisstants.

I also went to see which companies would be looking for people in my field. I saw a few of them. Yet, when I talked to company representatives in person, their recommendation was still to send my resume via the company’s website or via email.

I still wonder why these companies were present at the job fair at all if they were just going to ask me to send my resume to the company electronically.

As I left the job fair, I was encouraged to chat with another job seeker who was looking for a job in accounting. We used the opportunity to network and share our thoughts on the job fair.

I still believe that job fairs are great ways to meet companies and network with other job seekers, and I look forward to attending others in the future.

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Wed, 19 Mar 2003 20:49:00 +0000

Toastmasters International™

This afternoon my wife and I stopped at the school administration building, and I spotted an annoucment for a local Toastmasters International™ club. I was reminded of my recent visits to the Mid Day Cabaret, the club at LexisNexis, where I worked for a short while. Twelve years ago, when I was co-oping for General Dynamics Land Systems in Michigan, I became a member of the Hi Nooners club.

Since these meetings are often open to anyone interested, I may very well attend some meetings of the local Dayton Toastmasters™ Clubs.

These venues are great places to network, so I’ll have to be sure to have plenty of business cards when I go.

Find a club near you.