Internet 101: Effectively Using The Web For Your Career Marketing

IP is over the quota
IP is over the quota

Over the years the internet has changed the way business does business. More and more, companies have increased their web presence and, in doing so, cut back on personnel and in personal contact. At job fairs, the phrase "you need to go on-line and fill out an application" or "e-mail your resume" is heard over and over again. Go to Target or K-Mart to fill out an application, and you are directed to a machine. But what business has failed to realize is there are many people out there who are reluctant to use this tool, the main reasons being the how's (as in how do I use this) and why's (if I'm looking for a job dealing with people, why do I have to deal with a machine). Let's look at a few ways to improve and to use this tool effectively.

Professional E-Mail

Time and time again, candidates hurt their chances in this new era of impersonal contact by using an inappropriate e-mail address. Now, "onehotbiscuit at whatevermail" might be true, but, if you really sit there and think about it, would you hire you if that was the e-mail you saw? What kind of professional image does that display? What about a person's judgment?

This is how companies that are interested in you will get their first impression. Is it a favorable one? With the plethora of free e-mail services out there, you can have one for family and friends and one for business. Just make sure that whichever one you choose for business will let you get your name and if you have to use numbers, don't use your birthday, anniversary, year graduated, or phone number (cause when you change phones, sometimes there is a porting fee to keep your number, the number should make sense, like an area or zip code). Don't us this e-mail for personal matters and it should not become inundated with spam. If it does, you know that company does not respect you as a client and you should feel free to use another company.

Getting To Know You

There are terrific ways to find out how your vast array of skills can play in today's workforce. But sometimes, finding out what those skills are can be a challenge in and of itself. Taking a free career assessment is an effective and efficient way to find out what you like to do and in what fields you can look for the right opportunity. One very good site to try is projectcareer.com. The questions are focused and the results are very through. It will break down your best results; discuss the industry, list sample job titles, interesting facts, and employment outlook. The report is comprehensive and even provides links for further career information. Or you could go to a search engine and take one or two. This way you can compare the results and see which one fits you best.

Not All Job Sites Are Created Equal

So now it's the time to post your resume. You go to Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com and follow the directions. And then you wait. And wait. And wait. They are the best ones for me, right? The biggest is always the best, right? Maybe. But what if you're looking for something different, like working on a cruise ship or a government job? Or what about working for a non-profit, where all your different skills could come into play, instead on a few specific ones. You could have a background in the military, where are opportunities listed for you?

Research pays off big time in this endeavor, as you can go to any search engine and look for specific job sites for your career goals. To help you along the path, here is a list of 12 worthwhile sites that you can try:
idealist.org (non-profit careers)gettinghired.com (career opportunities for people with disabilities)ecoemploy.com (environmental careers)funjobs.com (just what the name implies)diversityinc.com (companies looking to hire a diversified staff)greentogray.com (military to civilian opportunities)helmitstohardhats.com (same as above)backstagejobs.com (performing arts careers)showbizjobs.com (same as above)dice.com (technology career positions)jobsinhealthcare.com (you got this, right)usajobs.gov (federal government jobs)

The point is, there are hundreds of thousands of web sites out there. The biggest isn't always the best for your career growth and development. Try to find one that fits your career path. And avoid the sites that keep pressuring you for premium service. They are more interested in your money than your career.

Networking

Networking is a job seekers best friend. The people you know, both personally and professionally, provide valuable contacts that can help provide advice, job leads, and help alleviate the feelings of isolation that you can experience. So it's time to find the business cards you've accumulated, take out the Rolodex, find your phone book, and reach out. You'll find people ready, willing and able to help, once they know you're available.

Another way to network is to join professional associations relative to your professional goals. You can join local organizations in your community. This will get you out of the house, with a sense of purpose. And you need a way to reach out to your friends' friends.

While Facebook and Twitter are fun, these are social sites. And the information, photos and video's posted on these and other sites don't exactly scream "hire me." And as a point of fact, postings of your weekend escapades or what you did when you called out sick can ruin your professional reputation, affect your chances of promotion, and in some cases, can lead to termination as your supervisors will question your judgment. Just remember what a photo of Michael Phelps did for his marketability and reputation. If 14 gold medals and 7 world records don't cut someone any slack, how much can you expect?

One of the best sites for business networking is www.linkedin.com. Not only can you post your resume and other career accomplishments, the recommendation feature is a powerful tool. Past and present supervisors, colleagues, and peers can extol your value and virtues. True, they may not be specific to the opportunity you are targeting, but they have a genuineness, a believability about them. They are more personal, and since they are part of your network, a company doing a background search, sees the type of people you know and associate with. And like the "seven degrees of Kevin Bacon" game, you can find out who knows who, which can help get your foot in the door. It won't get you the job, but it could get you a chance to interview, and then the rest is up to you.

A Research Tool

Since most companies have a web presence, researching the companies that you want to work for is now easy. You can find the company history, products, services, personnel, stock prices, what's been written about them by whom, and who there competitors are. Armed with this information, you can better state your qualifications and what you bring to the table. Doing research shows more than just interest, it shows you care about making an informed decision.

Last Thoughts

The internet is a tool whose value increases when it is used effectively. Creating a presence on the web takes careful planning. And the positive results that can come of it are worth it, both personally and professionally. Information is available anytime, at your fingertips, to help you make the right choices. Make sure you choose wisely.

Are you looking for a new career opportunity and want to learn how to present your skills more effectively? If so, I recommend my book "Pieces Of The Puzzle - A Job Hunters Guide for the 21st Century." which is currently available at https://www.createspace.com/3710544

New Year, New Career - 7 Tips for a New Career

IP is over the quota
IP is over the quota

It is interesting how many people believe that the New Year is the time to reinvent themselves and change career. Maybe because it's a time for reflection on what has happened in the last year and a feeling that it is the time for a new start. If this is you then please take the time to read my top 7 tips to help you change career.

Do you really need to change career? This may seem like a silly question but many people make spur of the minute decisions that result in them saying that they hate their job. Take a close look at your job and what it is about it that makes you feel dissatisfied. What is the real problem? Is it something you can change? If you believe that you are underpaid for what you do, have you tried asking for a pay rise? Consider what you have achieved in this job over the past year along with any advantages of this job. The excitement of a new job can fade fast and in a few months time you don't want to be feeling that the only difference in your new job is different headed paper!
Do some real soul searching. What is it you really want from a job? What sort of company do you want to work for - do the company values match your own? Do you even know what you want to do? What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing? What do you really not want to do? Take time to really consider these questions so that you can find a career that really reflects who you are and will keep you motivated and inspired.
Using your answers from 2 above, start brainstorming your ideal job. Write down everything that comes into your head without analyzing it - don't leave something out just because you hear yourself saying, "I'd love to do Y but..." Take some time out after brainstorming and then go back and review what you have written and see if you can fine tune any of the ideas. Seek help either from a friend or a career coach if you need to.
Once you have a clearer idea of what you want to do, start doing some research to find out as much as possible about your chosen field. Do you need to retrain? What companies have these jobs? If this is a completely new area of work for you, find someone who already does that type of work and contact them to find out more about it and use this to check that you have the necessary skills and experience.
Job search strategies. A recent survey in the UK showed that only 24% of men and 32% of women found a new job by replying to an advert. What this shows is that very few jobs are advertised on the open market. You need to start thinking about new ways to find a job. The most successful of which include: networking, preferably face to face rather than just via social media; use the internet to find out what companies to target; make use of job search sites like monster.com; make sure that your CV is readily accessible online e.g. via LinkedIn, so that potential employers can find you; make sure that all your profiles and credentials are up-to-date on career networking sites and any professional organisations that you belong to.
Know your skills and strengths so that you can really sell yourself on your CV - this is particularly important if you are looking to move into a new field of work as you need to be able to sell yourself using your transferrable skills and experience - no matter what job you have had in the past, you will have transferable skills. Make a list of all your achievements, both personal and professional, that could help you get the job. Once you have written you CV always get someone to check it.
Preparation is key. It is imperative that you spend a lot of time really preparing for an interview, never try to wing it no matter how confident you feel.

And of course, stay positive!

"Choose a job you love,and you will never have to work a day in your life." - Confucius

And now I would like to invite you to sign up to receive your free copies of my Inspirational Toolkit delivered direct to your inbox when you visit, http://www.power-to-change.eu/ - just click on the subscribe button. Here you will find even more free advice and tips to help you put the fun and passion back into your working week.

From Anne Galloway, "The Inspirational Coach" at power-to-change