Job Searching In The Age Of Social Media

Posted by:    Darlene Duncan, CWDP, JSS
                   Training Coordinator

Not that long ago social media consisted of people getting in touch with old friends, staying in touch with family and joining clubs or groups of people that shared similar interests.

Today it’s all that and more.

There was a time when you didn’t have to worry about what you said on your Facebook page or the pictures that got posted of the wild party where you were wearing a lampshade and little else.

In today’s world things are different. Employers Google you and search out your Facebook page. If they don’t like what they see, then your résumé could end up in the trash can.

Does this mean you should deactivate your Facebook account? NO! That’s really not necessary. What is necessary is to adjust your privacy settings. Simply make sure that only certain people have access to your more personal information and posts on Facebook.

The reality of our world is that you need to have a Web Presence. That includes Facebook, Google +, LinkedIn and Twitter. Do you have to have all of them? Probably not.

For job searching the main one you really need is LinkedIn. You need to have a complete profile on LinkedIn. Why? Because more and more employers are using that tool to find their new hires. I recently read an article that stated 85% of employers found 69% of their most recent hires through LinkedIn.

Today, and in the future, I’m sure it will be even more important for job seekers to have computer skills.

You don’t have to like computers but you do need to learn to use them and the social media platforms associated with them.

How To Find A Job With a Criminal Record

Posted by:    Darlene Duncan, CWDP, JSS
                   Training Coordinator

If you have a criminal background and need help with your job search you can find that help at the Daytona One-Stop. These are the steps you need to follow:

1.    Register in Employ Florida (www.employflorida.com)

2.    Attend the NEXT STEP TO SUCCESS workshop given every Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. (Check with the One-Stop for day and time as it is subject to change.)

3.    Sign up at the front desk to schedule an appointment or via email at: projectreconnect@cbe-fvc.org.

You can also find some resources in an article that was published in Careerealism.

Click here to read article.

Five Easy Ways To Mess Up Your Interview

Posted by:    Darlene Duncan, CWDP, JSS
                   Training Coordinator

Here are five of the most common mistakes interviewees make:

1.    Arriving late – employers figure if you can’t get to the interview on time you probably won’t get to work on time.

2.    Failing to research the company – virtually every interviewer is going to ask you, “Why do you want to work for us?” You need a good answer. If you don’t know anything about the company, coming up with a good answer is going to be very difficult.

3.    Lying about your experience or education – sooner or later the truth will come out and most likely lead to you being fired.

4.    Shaking hands too weakly or too firmly – no one wants a limp fish and by the same token, no one wants their hand crushed. In addition, clasping the other person’s hand with both of yours could be considered a power play.

5.    Wearing sunglasses – we live in Florida, for cryin’ out loud, everyone wears sunglasses. Yes, however, as you enter the building for your interview, take the sunglasses off and put them away. That does not mean, put them on top of your head or around your neck. It means put them away so they are out of sight.

For more great information on the dos and don’ts of interviewing attend Interviewing Skills for the 21^st Century offered at your local Flagler-Volusia County One-Stop.

 

 

 

 

 

How to Handle Those Last Days

Posted by:    Darlene Duncan, CWDP, JSS
                   Training Coordinator

There are still people out there being downsized, laid off, or whatever euphemism is being used this week to describe letting someone go because the company can’t financially afford to keep them any longer.

Should you find yourself in that position, here is something you might want to keep in mind.

Your current employer will very likely be called by potential future employers. So how you behave at work during those last weeks or days prior to your departure will have a huge impact on your future job search. You need to make sure you maintain a good attitude combined with continuing to do your job.

I’m not saying it’s easy. I am saying it’s important that you continue to do quality work and have a good attitude.

You might ask, “Isn’t it enough that I’m doing my job? I mean, after all they’re getting rid of me. Rejecting me.”

The answer is “NO!”

Let’s look at a possible scenario.

Jane Doe gets a notice of lay off. She will have a job for three more weeks. Jane gets angry. She starts coming in late and doing the bare minimum of work. For the next three weeks Jane does only what is required of her. She sulks and pouts like a spoiled child. Before the three weeks is over, the company gets a new contract and now has sufficient funds that they don’t have to eliminate Jane from the payroll.

Hmmmm. What do you think is going to happen? Will they keep Jane? Or will they still let her go? What would you do if you were the one in the position to decide?

Let’s revisit Jane.

Jane Doe gets a notice of lay off. She will have a job for three more weeks. Jane continues to do her job. She does her best to always have a good attitude and is eager to help her co-workers. Before the three weeks is over, the company gets a new contract and now has sufficient funds that they don’t have to eliminate Jane from the payroll.

Hmmmm. What do you think is going to happen? Will they keep Jane? Or will they still let her go? What would you do if you were the one in the position to decide?

There is very little in life we have control over, our attitude is the one thing we always have control over. You choose how you react to life’s obstacles. Quite often how we react will determine whether life’s everyday obstacles become mountains or remain speed bumps.

Revisiting LinkedIn

It has been quite a while since I last did one of these posts on using LinkedIn. Since successfully using LinkedIn to land my current job, I've been busy doing what I hadn't done in nearly four years -- working!

Landing a job is great and for many of you it's your ultimate goal, but don't let your landing lull you into thinking that you no longer need LinkedIn. One thing the two years I spent in meetings at my ProNet group in Deland and Daytona with Donna Runge and Jamie Newcomb taught me was the importance of networking. Never underestimate the prospects that networking can offer you. I know, it was through my own networking on LinkedIn that I found my job.

Even after you have found your job and are working, the effectiveness and use that your LinkedIn Profile is still there to help you. Make sure that you continue to frequent and update your Profile. Times can change and new opportunities can present themselves to you so make the most of them.

Over the past two years, I have been routinely checking my Profile and making Status Updates. If you haven't been doing this on a regular basis you're missing out on one of the easiest ways to grow your reach through LinkedIn. You don't have to spend a lot of time with your Profile when you make a visit. Just check to see who has been viewing your Profile. They might be another prospect, or a link to that further contact you'd like to establish with another business. See if any of the Groups you are affiliated with have any discussion going on that you can relate too. Look for any Invites or Messages that you may have from connections or people seeking you out. These are ways for you to increase your range of connections and networking. Remember, all it takes is some activity, a change on your Profile, or a mere question or statement in a Group to increase your web presence.

If you're like me, keeping tabs on your LinkedIn Profile will also help your become up-to-date on changes in the function of LinkedIn itself. The look has changed and the toolbar may appear different to you. The LinkedIn Learning Center with its Resources is no longer there but some of those same Tutorials and Helps that you may need from time to time can be found by exploring the LinkedIn Help Center. Be sure and update yourself.

Keep up your maintenance on that LinkedIn Profile and make those connections.

Larry French works as a Science Editor for TSI Graphics and is a novelist and writer. He will soon publish his first novel, Time Will Tell, The Awakening which blends his love of history and science and is set during the American Civil War. http://www.linkedin.com/pub/larry-french/12/213/534 Read about his work at, LARRYFRENCHHISTORICALNOVELIST.COM

Life’s what you make it

By: Lori Mcmullin, APR,

Director of Business Operations & Communications

Center for Business Excellence

“Life’s what you make it – celebrate it. Anticipate it – yesterday’s faded.”  If you don’t recognize these lyrics, they come from a song by the 1980’s English band, Talk Talk.  You should YouTube them – they are awesome!

Getting to the point of this blog posting, this Mantra of sorts will be more relevant than ever as we finally see momentum in climbing out of the recession.

Bad news and bad things happen to all of us – including the good people.  As humans, we are allowed to wallow from time to time.  It’s when we continually hold ourselves back or, worse yet, burden or unnecessarily worry friends, relatives and even complete strangers with our woes that it becomes a major issue.

Many times, the latter actually serves to drive these people away. It’s hard to remember when life is crashing all around us, but how we respond to the situation at hand is really the more important testament to our character.

Here’s the cool thing. We have unique opportunities out there to rise from the proverbial “ashes” and reinvent ourselves.  It’s up to us to be open to the possibilities.

So, enjoy the ride!

Time May Fly But Remember, You’re The Pilot

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
                  Training Coordinator

We are all given the exact same number of hours in a day, minutes in an hour and so on and so forth. It’s what we do with our time that makes the difference. Organization is a key element in getting the most done in the least amount of time. You have the same number of hours in a day that Thomas Edison, Leonardo da Vinci and Helen Keller had, now think about what they accomplished. 

Hours in a Week 

7 x 24 = 168 hours in a week

168 – 40 hours for job searching = 128 hours remaining in a week

128 – 56 hours for sleep = 72 hours remaining in a week (3 full days)

72 – 24 hours for miscellaneous chores = 48 hours remaining in a week

48 hours remaining = 2 full days left to recharge 

The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.
                                                                                     Michael Altshuler

Remember this: your lack of planning does not create an emergency for anyone, other than yourself.

 

For more on this issue, click here for an article.

Tips for those who despise networking

By: Lori McMullin, APR

Director of Business Operations & Communications
Center for Business Excellence

For years, the CBE has blogged about networking tips to help job seekers land positions.  I am a firm believer in effective networking and was recently on the hunt for something new on the subject.

Whether you are looking for a job or needing to grow your company’s business, networking is a key ingredient to success.  However, there are many of you that would rather have dental work done than go to a business function.

For those of you, who are uncomfortable or highly dislike this activity, check out these tips to help you survive.  It may not be as bad as you think!