Texas Jobing Community Blogs

Recently, I have been asked on more than one occasion this very question.  So, I thought I'd write down a few ideas to share!  This doesn't just apply to students either. Perhaps you are transitioning into a different industry, changing jobs, or perhaps you've been out of the workforce for a while, and coming back in.  Either way, here are a few thoughts, but I'll tailor it to the graduates since this was the direct question.

First, congratulations on your achievements in education!  Your question hits close to home with students getting ready to graduate, so thinking about it now is a step in the right direction.  Most graduates make the mistake of waiting until after graduation to start looking for a job, only to find thousands of other recent graduates doing the same thing.  Finding a job is a full time job, and you need to treat it like a business.  Here’s what I mean...

Within a company, there is typically a strategic plan, incorporating a number of factors including but not limited to: Marketing, budgeting, planning, values, a mission statement, client lists, etc.  Many of these concepts should be considered into your plan, as you are now the CEO of YOU!  You are the sole proprietor of YOU and you can take some very basic steps to put you in the lead. 

First, keep your focus on your school projects and finals, but balance in time to start the “process” of looking for a job.  Schedule out time in your day/week that you will dedicate to getting your strategic plan going.  By having designated time, you are ensuring that it will get done- almost as if it’s another assignment. (probably not what you what to hear, but necessary)

Second, how are you “marketing” yourself?  There are a number of social media sites out there (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter) but are you only using them for your personal use?  What about creating a Professional profile on these sites as well that highlights your accomplishments, awards, projects, etc?  Have you been on LinkedIn?  By creating and designing your professional profiles on these types of sites, also allows you to be visible to the recruiting and business world.  Trust me- Many recruiters and HR Professionals ABSOLUTELY look at these sites when selecting candidates.  Do you want them to see your Friday night, out at the club, keg stand pictures, or your professional profile with accomplishments? Upload your resume and create your profile on job boards such as Jobing.com.  Many employers utilize these sites to not only post jobs, but they also search the resume databases looking for key words within resumes.

Next, begin networking- not only through the social media sites, but start utilizing your connections to learn more about different industries, companies, businesses around town, etc.  Write a list of all the people you know that work in an organization, or start seeking out people that you would like to get to know.  Have you thought about what type of company culture is important to you?  Do you want to wear a business suit, or work in a more casual environment?  Do you like fast-paced changing companies, or more traditional?  These all come into play as you begin your discovery process. Create your own Mission Statement and Value Statement.  Check out your local Professional Associations for your industry.  For example, with HR students, SAHRMA (San Antonio Human Resource Management Association) is a fantastic organization with phenomenal resources, people, and connections.  Check out their website for local events, luncheons, and start meeting others in your field of interest. www.SAHRMA.org 

Finally, (although there is so much more to cover, but this is the start), don’t be afraid.  This is a learning process, just as the last 14-16 years in school as been.  Nobody is perfect at it.  There isn’t one perfect way to job search.  Do not sit behind the computer all day and just use that for your job searching.  Get out and talk with people- Get involved with your local Chambers, or professional associations, work with your Career Advisors and Alumni network.  You’d be amazed at how many people can connect and build rapport based on the town they are from, or college they went to!  Even if it’s out of your comfort zone, remember, this is about YOU and YOUR career to be.  You don’t have to be a sales person to sell yourself in the job market… Just be smart, strategic, and most of all, be CONFIDENT!

Stay positive!
Brian 

 

If you want to learn how to become the top candidate for even the most competitive positions:

Mark your calendars for Tuesday November 10th at 8PM CST for JobRadioUSA’s Episode 19 “Personal Branding During the Interview Process.”

Carole Martin - author of “The Complete Book of Perfect Phrases For Successful Job Seekers” - will discuss:

Why interviewees today need an extra edge or uniquely beneficial trait to win the job

How to develop 3-5 relevant, unique advantages and benefits that will wow hiring managers

How to use these unique advantages and benefits to develop elevator speeches and answers to interview questions

How to make it obvious during the interview that you are the candidate a company cannot live without

You can access the show by either dialing 347-838-9326 or visiting http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thecareercatalyst.

Feel free to share this information with fellow job seekers.

During the listener Q&A session, Carole will reveal:

Techniques interviewees can use to demonstrate their personal brand during phone screens

Tactics interviewees can use to win interviews during the first few minutes

Interview answers before and after personal branding for a few common questions

Questions interviewees can ask at the end of interviews to differentiate themselves

This is a show you do not want to miss. Likewise, I look forward to your live participation Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, visit http://thecareercatalyst.podbean.com/ and listen to Success Mapping: How to Achieve What You Want… Right Now! This show was very good and different.

"It's easy to make a buck. It's a lot tougher to make a difference." Tom Brokaw

I thought about using a quote from Groundhog Day to start this off. You remember, the movie where Bill Murray is a weatherman that finds himself living the same day over and over again.  Do you ever get that feeling when you are dealing with the same patients that come back for the same issues? Over and over again.

So you stabilize them and before they go you try to teach them. You hope the teaching sinks in and takes hold. Maybe they won’t come back – again.

The reality is it takes more time. In the hospital diet is controlled; in the home the fridge is always open. In the hospital it’s the right patient, right medicine, right dose, right time; at home two out of five ain’t bad.  In other words, it is takes more time and exposure to make changes in lifestyles.

So what if you had the chance to make a difference in whether that person came back or not? Would that be more rewarding than treating them? Prevention is the key to making a difference in today’s community.

Our agency offers a 3-1 solution focused on preventing hospitalizations. We offer cutting edge care in the home setting. Medicine management and keen diagnostic skills help us prevent signs from becoming symptoms.

We offer programs for a variety of patients, including:

• Cardiovascular Home Care - Patients with COPD/CHF/and other heart diseases
• Orthopedic Home Care - Orthopedic patients
• Safe Choices - Hard to discharge patients or patients w/ frequent rehospitalizations

For more information on our services, please contact us at 817-847-8888 x121.

If you are a nurse, therapist or home health aide that is looking for the opportunity to join a progressive company that makes a difference in the patient’s disease process please click on the links below to submit your resume/application. 

This content is provided by Doug Mayes, Jobing.com Community Relations Director.

Fellow Employers,

In our tough economy, it seems that employers and HR professionals fall into two divergent camps, both of which can pose significant challenges and opportunities. 

Camp 1.  I'm hiring.  With what news people call a "flood of talent" on the market, some will say you have an embarassment of riches.  Some will say you have the opportunity to get the very best...on the cheap.  However, you may feel quite differently.  Perhaps you're overwhelmed with unsolicited responses.  If you post a job, your email system goes berserk and you're so buried that you can't give people the attention required to make a strategic decision.  Some candidates who are motivated by financial pressures from recent layoffs, are applying to all sorts of jobs indiscriminately further compounding the issue.  You may be dealing with candidates who are bitter or feel entitled to a job.  Just because they were a big deal at their last job doesn't mean they're right for your organization.  I bet you're feeling this pinch, whether you'd admit it in polite conversation or not. 

This landscape poses real management challenges for the HR professional.  I was recruiting in the pharmaceutical biz when the 911 recession hit and I saw this situation play out with some of my clients.  Some companies abused the buyer's market treating people like cattle, artificially driving down wages, and generally forgetting what it's like to be a job seeker.  Although they got fat off the land for a hot minute, I think this treatment caused employees to behave like mercenaries.  Since relatively little effort was made to create a compelling employment brand or establish engagement upon hiring, employees soon split for the next big thing.  They felt "disposable", so they took their passion, skills, and brain power to the competitor down the street.     

Other companies saw this as an opportunity to get the right people on the bus.   They did this by communicating their employment brand.  They built great employment pages on their websites that communicated their culture.  Remember Google?  Nobody did this better than Google!  Southwest Airlines was superb as well.  They invested in high-touch candidate application systems with automated email responses.  They kept their name top-of-mind by being active in the community.  They created strong relationships with colleges to ensure a pipeline of talent when the market inevitably tightened.  All these branding efforts helped them whittle down the giant stack of resumes and make strategic hires.  Thus, we came up with the basic equation of my business.  Strong employment brand=Strong company. 

Camp 2.  I'm not hiring.  Many wonderful companies have been set back on their heels.  Hard working HR people in these organizations perservere in a pressure cooker of layoffs, personal uncertainty, and unemployment claims, all the while trying not to be a "cost center."  God forbid you should appear too expensive.  Touchy-feely things like an employment brand may be the last thing on your mind.  They're the provenance of $500/hr consultants. 

Careful now...although it may be easy to toss aside the brand you worked so hard to create, consider the risks.  In tough times your employment brand is even more important.  Candidates believe what they hear, especially if it's bad.  What message are you sending to your potential candidates?  Are you on top of your PR strategy?  Is your company just recuperating between rounds, or are you down for the count permanently?  Surely, you care about every single one of your employees and the way you treat them on the way out will help you or haunt you when this economy turns.  Building your employment brand is never a bad investment and by doing this you'll be prepared to rocket out of the gate before your competitors when our economy rebounds.  We must think strategically about all this stuff, even though things are wild right now. 

November is here and we are ready for another great TRA lunch and learn! This month we will be with our friends at Workforce Solutions - Capital Area.   Last month we enjoyed Adriana Hook of the Ginac Group, and pics from that event can be found here on TRA Oct Event Set. 

For the November's event we're so excited to have Carl Dodd who is the President of People Velocity LLC.  Mr Dodd helps organizations save time and money by developing their people and improving their systems. He brings to the position a wealth of experience in the public and private sectors. 

Carl's topic "The Business Case for Emotional Intelligence" One thing you can always count on as a Recruiter is that you will be working with people. John C. Maxwell, in his book The Winning Attitude, notes that "The Stanford Research Institute says that the money you make in any endeavor is determined only 12.5% by knowledge and 87.5% by your ability to deal with people." In this presentation on Emotional Intelligence, you'll learn to understand and manage yourself and your emotions effectively, and understand and effectively relate to others.

We look forward to having a great group on the 17th, to register for the event (it's free - we just like to know how many are coming) go to TRA's site, Texas Recruiters Association. 

Also, we're on facebook and you can join our group!!  Facebook Group for TRA

In today’s job market where demand far exceeds supply of jobs, job seekers need an edge. Job seekers who are confident about their skills and capabilities have a greater chance of successfully ending their job search. Below are seven approaches job seekers can use to develop or enhance their confidence simultaneously as they conduct their job search.

1. Believe in yourself and your abilities - you must believe that you are the ideal employee who can produce great results for your targeted employers. You can accomplish this by minimizing doubt, viewing failure as a temporary setback, and looking for the good in every adverse situation. Also surround yourself with confident people and participate in positive mental attitude activities.

2. Develop or revisit your career plan - next adjust or map out your career path. You must determine where you want to go and the actions you need to take to acquire your career aspirations. This exercise will help you focus on potential opportunities that will keep your career on track – maintaining or growing your confidence in the process.

3. Determine the required skills and capabilities - next identify the technical, soft, and personal skills and capabilities you need to move from the beginning to the end of your career plan. You can acquire this information by conducting external research and interviewing professionals who are where you want to be in your career.

4. Identify your strengths and weaknesses - pinpoint areas of strength and weakness for each of the competencies and qualifications you need to achieve your career goals. For each skill and capability, determine which ones are either your greatest assets or areas for improvement.

5. Develop methodology for previous capability and skill usage - create outlines for the processes you used to produce great results for your previous employers. These outlines will help you produce work that at least meets your future employers’ expectations especially when you encounter unfamiliar territory in your career. For example, you could have identified potential solutions, conducted analyses to prioritize these resolutions, gained stakeholder buy-in throughout the process, and executed the best solution(s) to solve problems.

6. Locate resources and access to help - compile all of the relevant resources you can store on a computer such as training material including eBooks, industry and analyst reports, notes, previous work, and so on. Also bookmark websites that provide relevant online databases and free assistance from subject matter experts for all of your required technical, soft, and/or personal skills. These resources will provide you with assistance whenever you need it.

7. Participate in professional and personal development - consistently engage in professional and personal development activities which can include formal and informal hands-on training to acquire and/or strengthen your required skills and capabilities. You could also participate in pro bono (or volunteer) and/or consulting assignments and work in teams with confident individuals who are strong in your areas of weakness.

I recommend you listen to Ron Nash’s “How to Use Facebook to Revitalize Your Job Search” which was a Featured show or one of BlogTalkRadio (BTR) Today’s Picks. This show supplied several golden nuggets. Click here: http://tinyurl.com/yfftohf to listen to this podcast.

Ever feel like you are on the adventure of the Wizard of Oz? You are tying to follow the "yellow brick road of success" and all along the way you are faced with challenges that sometimes feel too big to handle. Considering the current employment situation, more and more people are telling me that they feel trapped in an increasingly hostile work environment.

What exactly is a hostile work environment? Well, recent law on hostile work environment harassment says that "bad behavior" can now constitute unlawful behavior, primarily to any protected class. So, it is now about "how" the behavior makes the victim "feel." What is important for both employees and employers to understand is that this is measured not by the intentions of the harasser or by the bias of the employee or employer. It is measured by the perception of the victim. So a hostile work environment is all about interpersonal behavior. Hence the sticky wicked.

Let's say that you feel that your boss is constantly questioning your work, leaving you out of meetings, screams at you in front of others and criticizing your every move? Is this a hostile work environment? Do you feel like a victim or is your boss an equal opportunity abuser? Hence the sticky wicked.

For me, I think the bottom line is that if you literally feel sick on Monday morning about going to work, something is wrong. If you get nauseated at the thought of having to communicate with your boss, something is wrong. Now, we have all had some creepy bosses (you may be a creepy boss. . .you know who you are) that just seem to be a pain from time to time. I am not talking about those. You can't expect to get along beautifully with everybody all of the time--we are people after all! I am talking about a work "atmosphere" that seriously effects your productivity, the ability to do your job well and enjoy the commodore of your colleagues.

In normal employment conditions, most people would simply start looking for another job and resign as soon as possible ( I hope), but this is not so easy in today's job market. So, I am asked "what can I do?" My advice would be to first try and have a conversation with your boss about your concerns and how you are feeling. Be prepared to provide some solutions and make sure your boss understands that you want to be as productive as you can. If that doesn't improve things somewhat (don't expect miracles) the next step would be to have a confidential conversation with someone in your Human Resources department. Perhaps they could look for another position within the company that you would be well suited for, or perhaps they can provide some guidance in dealing with a difficult boss, etc. My point being that you can and should do something! I can definitely advise you that now is a good time to be updating your resume, improving your skill sets, taking a class and networking. You will want to be "ready" when the job market improves to make a move.

You should let your Human Resource department know that you think you are working in a Hostile work environment as they need to know if this is a possibility. They will know what actions to take to investigate such an concern and will thank you for the 'heads up.'

Life is not fair, work is not usually a haven, and money doesn't grow on trees. Oh to be a kid again!!!

Doctor Bonnie

Congratulations on getting that interview!  You’ve been sending out resumes and applying for jobs online.  You crafted that perfect cover letter, found a position you qualify for and have been selected for an interview!  That’s awesome!  Celebrate for a few minutes but then it’s time to prepare for it.

Research – Do your best to research everything you can prior to the interview.  Of course you’ll study up on the company but also look into their competitors and the industry as a whole.  Find out as many specifics about the job as you can.  See if the company website has info about the recruiter you’re interviewing with.  Look for recent news articles too.  You’ll touch on a few things naturally while interviewing.  This will make you look good.

Questions – Write a list of questions to ask.  Typically the interviewer will ask what questions you have toward the end.  If they don’t bring it up go ahead and tell them you have a few questions.  Having good questions shows that you care enough about the position to be well prepared.

What to Bring – Be sure to bring several copies of your resume.  I would make it a point to also bring a few covers letters and printed references.  Of course, store everything in a professional portfolio.  Make sure you have a pen or pencil with you too. 

Getting There – Confirm the address and print a map.  Make sure you understand exactly where you’re going.  Ask about parking beforehand.  The last thing you want is to be late because you’re lost or didn’t know where to park.  In case of emergency bring the company phone number with you.  Call if you’re going to be late for any reason.

You’ve gotten your chance.  Make the best of it.  Good luck!

If you live in Carrollton or Rowlett you've almost certainly noticed our two little construction projects. The next RaceTrac to open in North Texas will be at 4788 N. Josey Ln. in Carrollton. That's at the intersection of Josey Ln. and Parker Rd.

Hot on the heels of that store will be a new RaceTrac in Rowlett at 7401 Lakeview Parkway, at Lakeview Parkway and Chiesa Rd. This store is another one that makes me feel a little old. I can remember when a lot of the neighborhoods around there were just fields with newly-paved streets running through them.

When we bring a new RaceTrac to a community we bring everything you expect from RaceTrac: Smiling, friendly faces; A huge selection of fresh, convenient foods; Cold beverage selections including beer, sodas, fountain and frozen drinks; Eight different blends of fresh-brewed coffee including iced coffee, cappuccinos and hot chocolate; Huge gasoline islands with some of the best fuel prices around; and, of course, GREAT jobs!

We are very pleased to have been recognized by the Dallas Business Journal as one of the Best Places to Work in North Texas. As we continue to build new stores (and we are going to keep building - Plano, Duncanville, Lake Worth ... keep your eyes open) we will continue to create new career opportunities in the communities we serve. We offer a competitive wage, outstanding benefits (our Associates are eligible for health coverage from day one of their employment), opportunities for growth and advancement and a chance to work for an industry leader that serves the best guests in the business!

Jobs at RaceTrac are not seasonal jobs or temporary jobs. There are a lot of retailers attempting to attract "part-time, seasonal" help right now. In other words, those jobs will be going away right after Christmas, if they even last that long. Not RaceTrac jobs. We're not looking for "seasonal" help. We are growing and we're looking for outstanding talent to help drive that growth. RaceTrac Store Associates are the front line of our ongoing guest service promise. Energy, teamwork and a winning attitude create the friendly face of RaceTrac that our guests expect and depend on when they shop with us.

If you believe you have what it takes to work for one of the best companies of its kind in the country, we invite you to Click Here to apply with RaceTrac.

If you're one of our loyal "Trac Fanatics", thank you for the opportunity to serve you. It is our mission to earn your business every single day.

If you haven't shopped with us before, let me invite you to visit your nearest RaceTrac. We have 75 stores in North Texas, so there's bound to be one on your way, and we love having new guests in our stores!

(This post is based on some of the principles included in my new book, Unlock the Hidden Job Market: 6 Steps to a Successful Job Search When Times Are Tough which I wrote with San Diego-based executive coach, Duncan Mathison. For a free sample chapter, visit the book's official site: www.unlockthehiddenjobmarket.com )

If you’ve been following my posts, you’ll know that I’ve been writing about networking a lot lately. Or at least it seems like it. Networking, networking, networking. Maybe it’s me but don’t you think that when you say it out loud enough, it begins to sound like earwax? Okay…it’s probably just me.

Networking doesn’t have much appeal, does it? It doesn’t sound nearly as much fun as going to your local Applebee’s with some friends for a beer and some wings. Now there’s a problem with even that Applebee’s scenario. Based on the emails I’ve been getting, a lot of you are feeling that you don’t have too many friends either. And the ones you do have are getting, like, really tired of hearing you talk about your struggles to land a job. And you’re getting really tired of talking about it too. In fact, you’d just wish they’d change the subject.

I don’t think my readers are social losers. (At least I hope not, but, then again, what are you doing reading this blog post when it’s such a pretty day outside?) When you’ve been out of work for any amount o time, it’s easy to feel that you have run aground in the contacts department – especially in recent years when we’ve all been so busy taking care of our jobs and our families. We’ve let outside friendships perhaps atrophy. Maybe all your friends were work-related. And now that you’re out of work, you’re also fresh out of buddies. Or you’ve moved to a new town where you really, really don’t know anyone.

Whatever the reason for your feelings of isolation, you know you have to mix it up a little bit, well, a lot. Get some fresh meat, I mean talent, into your tight circles of relationships. Get out of the house. So I thought I’d offer some tips in that direction.

Remember that one thing leads to another. The thing about circulating is that your first dip into big world probably won’t net you a job. It’s a cumulative kind of thing. So leave that desperate, graspy, over-eager feeling at home when you head out the door. Just be open to meeting who you meet. Maybe tonight you’re destined to actually help someone else. And you’ll come home feeling just a little better about yourself.

Look for opportunities where you can become a regular. And no, I don’t mean the Applebee’s bar. When your face starts becoming familiar, you will emerge from invisibility to someone who people will be glad to see. Maybe they’ll even shout out your name, like, “Norm!” (But don’t count on it.) If you try a business mixer or worship service or volunteer opportunity, and people completely ignore you, keep going. Week after week. Introduce yourself as often as you can. And just let the cumulative effects of time work their wonders.

Stay away from solitary pursuits, even if they’re out of the house. Going to a matinee movie doesn’t count as “getting out there.” Go to local economic development or chamber of commerce meetings, receptions, mixers. Your local bookstore probably offers booksignings, author lectures or special classes. A friend of mine who is a professional coach is part of a team who gives courses at Whole Foods! Go! The home improvement stores offer free courses. Go! The American Red Cross offers courses in first aid, cpr, etc. Go!

Make job-related networking events only a small percentage of your out-of-the-house activities. First of all, you’re so much more than unemployed. And you need to nurture those other parts of who you are. At the very least, this way you’ll lead with an opener that’s so much more interesting than, “Hi, gotta job?” But most importantly is that your self-definition has a chance to stay strong and defined beyond this immediate need of landing a gig. You will also stand a better chance of meeting people other than fellow job-seekers. You know…people who already have jobs? And who would be thrilled to help you get inside their companies or organizations.

Learn something. Go to local college courses – especially the ones at night, when employed people go to school. You don’t have to matriculate and take on the expense of a formal semester. Continuing ed courses can be inexpensive. The teachers are often professionals in the community (hint: employed people!). It’s probably best if you took a course that would help you be more qualified for the kind of job you’re looking for. But even taking a non-job related course will at least remind you that there’s more to life than your daily bread (although, it’s kind of hard to make that argument right now, I know).

Teach something. Surely you know something that will benefit others. How to read, for adult literacy programs, for instance. If you have a profession or skill that’s useful in the for-profit world, surely you can introduce at least the basics to young people. Convene a panel of other experts and put on a program! (You’ll be able to find a venue. A friend of mine hosted the annual meeting of his professional association – on the premises of the company that had just laid him off. Awkward.)

Volunteer. Those same skills you can teach you can donate. It will make you feel good about being who you are and what you can do. That boost in self-esteem will give you the added confidence that will send out the signal that you’re a valuable contributor to the world.

Call old friends – even if they haven’t heard from you in a long time. This is where Facebook comes in handy. The other day I heard from a dear friend for the first time in about 8 years. We’d been looking for each other off and on over recent years but, thanks to Facebook, she found me first! And we talked on the phone for a full three hours. A lot of it was catching up. But, she was also very candid about the fact that she needed some professional advice from me. Did I see this as a cheesy ulterior motive? Heck no! First off all, I owed her a gigantic favor from 10 years ago (I mean, huge). Secondly, I love her and I know she loves me. So whatever I have is hers. (Advice, I mean.)

Ask for introductions. Unless you’re a bitter whiner who needs to blow your nose and brush your teeth (and, uhm, a little roll-on?), the friends you have should be happy to give you introductions you need to move your job search forward. If they’re reluctant to help you, find out why. Wouldn’t you want to know the truth, especially if it was something you could fix? And, if they’re possessive with or protective of their contacts to the point where they’re keeping you from helping yourself, or making you feel judged, it’s best that you should know that now. You might have just discovered a brand new opening in your group of friends to fill.

They say that once you achieve a certain age, it gets harder and harder to make new friends. Everyone is set in their habits, patterns, commuting routine, relationships. Well, one of the upshots of these economic times is that everyone is thrown higgledy-piggledy into a big pile of confusion and some flavor of disconnectedness. Now is a fantastic time to build new circles of friends and business contacts.

And vow to take better care of them in the future. Like, don’t wait 8 years before picking up the phone.

(This post is based on some of the principles included in my new book, Unlock the Hidden Job Market: 6 Steps to a Successful Job Search When Times Are Tough which I wrote with San Diego-based executive coach, Duncan Mathison. For a free sample chapter, visit the book's official site: www.unlockthehiddenjobmarket.com )

If you’ve been following my posts, you’ll know that I’ve been writing about networking a lot lately. Or at least it seems like it. Networking, networking, networking. Maybe it’s me but don’t you think that when you say it out loud enough, it begins to sound like earwax? Okay…it’s probably just me.

Networking doesn’t have much appeal, does it? It doesn’t sound nearly as much fun as going to your local Applebee’s with some friends for a beer and some wings. Now there’s a problem with even that Applebee’s scenario. Based on the emails I’ve been getting, a lot of you are feeling that you don’t have too many friends either. And the ones you do have are getting, like, really tired of hearing you talk about your struggles to land a job. And you’re getting really tired of talking about it too. In fact, you’d just wish they’d change the subject.

I don’t think my readers are social losers. (At least I hope not, but, then again, what are you doing reading this blog post when it’s such a pretty day outside?) When you’ve been out of work for any amount o time, it’s easy to feel that you have run aground in the contacts department – especially in recent years when we’ve all been so busy taking care of our jobs and our families. We’ve let outside friendships perhaps atrophy. Maybe all your friends were work-related. And now that you’re out of work, you’re also fresh out of buddies. Or you’ve moved to a new town where you really, really don’t know anyone.

Whatever the reason for your feelings of isolation, you know you have to mix it up a little bit, well, a lot. Get some fresh meat, I mean talent, into your tight circles of relationships. Get out of the house. So I thought I’d offer some tips in that direction.

Remember that one thing leads to another. The thing about circulating is that your first dip into big world probably won’t net you a job. It’s a cumulative kind of thing. So leave that desperate, graspy, over-eager feeling at home when you head out the door. Just be open to meeting who you meet. Maybe tonight you’re destined to actually help someone else. And you’ll come home feeling just a little better about yourself.

Look for opportunities where you can become a regular. And no, I don’t mean the Applebee’s bar. When your face starts becoming familiar, you will emerge from invisibility to someone who people will be glad to see. Maybe they’ll even shout out your name, like, “Norm!” (But don’t count on it.) If you try a business mixer or worship service or volunteer opportunity, and people completely ignore you, keep going. Week after week. Introduce yourself as often as you can. And just let the cumulative effects of time work their wonders.

Stay away from solitary pursuits, even if they’re out of the house. Going to a matinee movie doesn’t count as “getting out there.” Go to local economic development or chamber of commerce meetings, receptions, mixers. Your local bookstore probably offers booksignings, author lectures or special classes. A friend of mine who is a professional coach is part of a team who gives courses at Whole Foods! Go! The home improvement stores offer free courses. Go! The American Red Cross offers courses in first aid, cpr, etc. Go!

Make job-related networking events only a small percentage of your out-of-the-house activities. First of all, you’re so much more than unemployed. And you need to nurture those other parts of who you are. At the very least, this way you’ll lead with an opener that’s so much more interesting than, “Hi, gotta job?” But most importantly is that your self-definition has a chance to stay strong and defined beyond this immediate need of landing a gig. You will also stand a better chance of meeting people other than fellow job-seekers. You know…people who already have jobs? And who would be thrilled to help you get inside their companies or organizations.

Learn something. Go to local college courses – especially the ones at night, when employed people go to school. You don’t have to matriculate and take on the expense of a formal semester. Continuing ed courses can be inexpensive. The teachers are often professionals in the community (hint: employed people!). It’s probably best if you took a course that would help you be more qualified for the kind of job you’re looking for. But even taking a non-job related course will at least remind you that there’s more to life than your daily bread (although, it’s kind of hard to make that argument right now, I know).

Teach something. Surely you know something that will benefit others. How to read, for adult literacy programs, for instance. If you have a profession or skill that’s useful in the for-profit world, surely you can introduce at least the basics to young people. Convene a panel of other experts and put on a program! (You’ll be able to find a venue. A friend of mine hosted the annual meeting of his professional association – on the premises of the company that had just laid him off. Awkward.)

Volunteer. Those same skills you can teach you can donate. It will make you feel good about being who you are and what you can do. That boost in self-esteem will give you the added confidence that will send out the signal that you’re a valuable contributor to the world.

Call old friends – even if they haven’t heard from you in a long time. This is where Facebook comes in handy. The other day I heard from a dear friend for the first time in about 8 years. We’d been looking for each other off and on over recent years but, thanks to Facebook, she found me first! And we talked on the phone for a full three hours. A lot of it was catching up. But, she was also very candid about the fact that she needed some professional advice from me. Did I see this as a cheesy ulterior motive? Heck no! First off all, I owed her a gigantic favor from 10 years ago (I mean, huge). Secondly, I love her and I know she loves me. So whatever I have is hers. (Advice, I mean.)

Ask for introductions. Unless you’re a bitter whiner who needs to blow your nose and brush your teeth (and, uhm, a little roll-on?), the friends you have should be happy to give you introductions you need to move your job search forward. If they’re reluctant to help you, find out why. Wouldn’t you want to know the truth, especially if it was something you could fix? And, if they’re possessive with or protective of their contacts to the point where they’re keeping you from helping yourself, or making you feel judged, it’s best that you should know that now. You might have just discovered a brand new opening in your group of friends to fill.

They say that once you achieve a certain age, it gets harder and harder to make new friends. Everyone is set in their habits, patterns, commuting routine, relationships. Well, one of the upshots of these economic times is that everyone is thrown higgledy-piggledy into a big pile of confusion and some flavor of disconnectedness. Now is a fantastic time to build new circles of friends and business contacts.

And vow to take better care of them in the future. Like, don’t wait 8 years before picking up the phone.

(This post is based on some of the principles included in my new book, Unlock the Hidden Job Market: 6 Steps to a Successful Job Search When Times Are Tough which I wrote with San Diego-based executive coach, Duncan Mathison. For a free sample chapter, visit the book's official site: www.unlockthehiddenjobmarket.com )

If you’ve been following my posts, you’ll know that I’ve been writing about networking a lot lately. Or at least it seems like it. Networking, networking, networking. Maybe it’s me but don’t you think that when you say it out loud enough, it begins to sound like earwax? Okay…it’s probably just me.

Networking doesn’t have much appeal, does it? It doesn’t sound nearly as much fun as going to your local Applebee’s with some friends for a beer and some wings. Now there’s a problem with even that Applebee’s scenario. Based on the emails I’ve been getting, a lot of you are feeling that you don’t have too many friends either. And the ones you do have are getting, like, really tired of hearing you talk about your struggles to land a job. And you’re getting really tired of talking about it too. In fact, you’d just wish they’d change the subject.

I don’t think my readers are social losers. (At least I hope not, but, then again, what are you doing reading this blog post when it’s such a pretty day outside?) When you’ve been out of work for any amount o time, it’s easy to feel that you have run aground in the contacts department – especially in recent years when we’ve all been so busy taking care of our jobs and our families. We’ve let outside friendships perhaps atrophy. Maybe all your friends were work-related. And now that you’re out of work, you’re also fresh out of buddies. Or you’ve moved to a new town where you really, really don’t know anyone.

Whatever the reason for your feelings of isolation, you know you have to mix it up a little bit, well, a lot. Get some fresh meat, I mean talent, into your tight circles of relationships. Get out of the house. So I thought I’d offer some tips in that direction.

Remember that one thing leads to another. The thing about circulating is that your first dip into big world probably won’t net you a job. It’s a cumulative kind of thing. So leave that desperate, graspy, over-eager feeling at home when you head out the door. Just be open to meeting who you meet. Maybe tonight you’re destined to actually help someone else. And you’ll come home feeling just a little better about yourself.

Look for opportunities where you can become a regular. And no, I don’t mean the Applebee’s bar. When your face starts becoming familiar, you will emerge from invisibility to someone who people will be glad to see. Maybe they’ll even shout out your name, like, “Norm!” (But don’t count on it.) If you try a business mixer or worship service or volunteer opportunity, and people completely ignore you, keep going. Week after week. Introduce yourself as often as you can. And just let the cumulative effects of time work their wonders.

Stay away from solitary pursuits, even if they’re out of the house. Going to a matinee movie doesn’t count as “getting out there.” Go to local economic development or chamber of commerce meetings, receptions, mixers. Your local bookstore probably offers booksignings, author lectures or special classes. A friend of mine who is a professional coach is part of a team who gives courses at Whole Foods! Go! The home improvement stores offer free courses. Go! The American Red Cross offers courses in first aid, cpr, etc. Go!

Make job-related networking events only a small percentage of your out-of-the-house activities. First of all, you’re so much more than unemployed. And you need to nurture those other parts of who you are. At the very least, this way you’ll lead with an opener that’s so much more interesting than, “Hi, gotta job?” But most importantly is that your self-definition has a chance to stay strong and defined beyond this immediate need of landing a gig. You will also stand a better chance of meeting people other than fellow job-seekers. You know…people who already have jobs? And who would be thrilled to help you get inside their companies or organizations.

Learn something. Go to local college courses – especially the ones at night, when employed people go to school. You don’t have to matriculate and take on the expense of a formal semester. Continuing ed courses can be inexpensive. The teachers are often professionals in the community (hint: employed people!). It’s probably best if you took a course that would help you be more qualified for the kind of job you’re looking for. But even taking a non-job related course will at least remind you that there’s more to life than your daily bread (although, it’s kind of hard to make that argument right now, I know).

Teach something. Surely you know something that will benefit others. How to read, for adult literacy programs, for instance. If you have a profession or skill that’s useful in the for-profit world, surely you can introduce at least the basics to young people. Convene a panel of other experts and put on a program! (You’ll be able to find a venue. A friend of mine hosted the annual meeting of his professional association – on the premises of the company that had just laid him off. Awkward.)

Volunteer. Those same skills you can teach you can donate. It will make you feel good about being who you are and what you can do. That boost in self-esteem will give you the added confidence that will send out the signal that you’re a valuable contributor to the world.

Call old friends – even if they haven’t heard from you in a long time. This is where Facebook comes in handy. The other day I heard from a dear friend for the first time in about 8 years. We’d been looking for each other off and on over recent years but, thanks to Facebook, she found me first! And we talked on the phone for a full three hours. A lot of it was catching up. But, she was also very candid about the fact that she needed some professional advice from me. Did I see this as a cheesy ulterior motive? Heck no! First off all, I owed her a gigantic favor from 10 years ago (I mean, huge). Secondly, I love her and I know she loves me. So whatever I have is hers. (Advice, I mean.)

Ask for introductions. Unless you’re a bitter whiner who needs to blow your nose and brush your teeth (and, uhm, a little roll-on?), the friends you have should be happy to give you introductions you need to move your job search forward. If they’re reluctant to help you, find out why. Wouldn’t you want to know the truth, especially if it was something you could fix? And, if they’re possessive with or protective of their contacts to the point where they’re keeping you from helping yourself, or making you feel judged, it’s best that you should know that now. You might have just discovered a brand new opening in your group of friends to fill.

They say that once you achieve a certain age, it gets harder and harder to make new friends. Everyone is set in their habits, patterns, commuting routine, relationships. Well, one of the upshots of these economic times is that everyone is thrown higgledy-piggledy into a big pile of confusion and some flavor of disconnectedness. Now is a fantastic time to build new circles of friends and business contacts.

And vow to take better care of them in the future. Like, don’t wait 8 years before picking up the phone.

(This post is based on some of the principles included in my new book, Unlock the Hidden Job Market: 6 Steps to a Successful Job Search When Times Are Tough which I wrote with San Diego-based executive coach, Duncan Mathison. For a free sample chapter, visit the book's official site: www.unlockthehiddenjobmarket.com )

If you’ve been following my posts, you’ll know that I’ve been writing about networking a lot lately. Or at least it seems like it. Networking, networking, networking. Maybe it’s me but don’t you think that when you say it out loud enough, it begins to sound like earwax? Okay…it’s probably just me.

Networking doesn’t have much appeal, does it? It doesn’t sound nearly as much fun as going to your local Applebee’s with some friends for a beer and some wings. Now there’s a problem with even that Applebee’s scenario. Based on the emails I’ve been getting, a lot of you are feeling that you don’t have too many friends either. And the ones you do have are getting, like, really tired of hearing you talk about your struggles to land a job. And you’re getting really tired of talking about it too. In fact, you’d just wish they’d change the subject.

I don’t think my readers are social losers. (At least I hope not, but, then again, what are you doing reading this blog post when it’s such a pretty day outside?) When you’ve been out of work for any amount o time, it’s easy to feel that you have run aground in the contacts department – especially in recent years when we’ve all been so busy taking care of our jobs and our families. We’ve let outside friendships perhaps atrophy. Maybe all your friends were work-related. And now that you’re out of work, you’re also fresh out of buddies. Or you’ve moved to a new town where you really, really don’t know anyone.

Whatever the reason for your feelings of isolation, you know you have to mix it up a little bit, well, a lot. Get some fresh meat, I mean talent, into your tight circles of relationships. Get out of the house. So I thought I’d offer some tips in that direction.

Remember that one thing leads to another. The thing about circulating is that your first dip into big world probably won’t net you a job. It’s a cumulative kind of thing. So leave that desperate, graspy, over-eager feeling at home when you head out the door. Just be open to meeting who you meet. Maybe tonight you’re destined to actually help someone else. And you’ll come home feeling just a little better about yourself.

Look for opportunities where you can become a regular. And no, I don’t mean the Applebee’s bar. When your face starts becoming familiar, you will emerge from invisibility to someone who people will be glad to see. Maybe they’ll even shout out your name, like, “Norm!” (But don’t count on it.) If you try a business mixer or worship service or volunteer opportunity, and people completely ignore you, keep going. Week after week. Introduce yourself as often as you can. And just let the cumulative effects of time work their wonders.

Stay away from solitary pursuits, even if they’re out of the house. Going to a matinee movie doesn’t count as “getting out there.” Go to local economic development or chamber of commerce meetings, receptions, mixers. Your local bookstore probably offers booksignings, author lectures or special classes. A friend of mine who is a professional coach is part of a team who gives courses at Whole Foods! Go! The home improvement stores offer free courses. Go! The American Red Cross offers courses in first aid, cpr, etc. Go!

Make job-related networking events only a small percentage of your out-of-the-house activities. First of all, you’re so much more than unemployed. And you need to nurture those other parts of who you are. At the very least, this way you’ll lead with an opener that’s so much more interesting than, “Hi, gotta job?” But most importantly is that your self-definition has a chance to stay strong and defined beyond this immediate need of landing a gig. You will also stand a better chance of meeting people other than fellow job-seekers. You know…people who already have jobs? And who would be thrilled to help you get inside their companies or organizations.

Learn something. Go to local college courses – especially the ones at night, when employed people go to school. You don’t have to matriculate and take on the expense of a formal semester. Continuing ed courses can be inexpensive. The teachers are often professionals in the community (hint: employed people!). It’s probably best if you took a course that would help you be more qualified for the kind of job you’re looking for. But even taking a non-job related course will at least remind you that there’s more to life than your daily bread (although, it’s kind of hard to make that argument right now, I know).

Teach something. Surely you know something that will benefit others. How to read, for adult literacy programs, for instance. If you have a profession or skill that’s useful in the for-profit world, surely you can introduce at least the basics to young people. Convene a panel of other experts and put on a program! (You’ll be able to find a venue. A friend of mine hosted the annual meeting of his professional association – on the premises of the company that had just laid him off. Awkward.)

Volunteer. Those same skills you can teach you can donate. It will make you feel good about being who you are and what you can do. That boost in self-esteem will give you the added confidence that will send out the signal that you’re a valuable contributor to the world.

Call old friends – even if they haven’t heard from you in a long time. This is where Facebook comes in handy. The other day I heard from a dear friend for the first time in about 8 years. We’d been looking for each other off and on over recent years but, thanks to Facebook, she found me first! And we talked on the phone for a full three hours. A lot of it was catching up. But, she was also very candid about the fact that she needed some professional advice from me. Did I see this as a cheesy ulterior motive? Heck no! First off all, I owed her a gigantic favor from 10 years ago (I mean, huge). Secondly, I love her and I know she loves me. So whatever I have is hers. (Advice, I mean.)

Ask for introductions. Unless you’re a bitter whiner who needs to blow your nose and brush your teeth (and, uhm, a little roll-on?), the friends you have should be happy to give you introductions you need to move your job search forward. If they’re reluctant to help you, find out why. Wouldn’t you want to know the truth, especially if it was something you could fix? And, if they’re possessive with or protective of their contacts to the point where they’re keeping you from helping yourself, or making you feel judged, it’s best that you should know that now. You might have just discovered a brand new opening in your group of friends to fill.

They say that once you achieve a certain age, it gets harder and harder to make new friends. Everyone is set in their habits, patterns, commuting routine, relationships. Well, one of the upshots of these economic times is that everyone is thrown higgledy-piggledy into a big pile of confusion and some flavor of disconnectedness. Now is a fantastic time to build new circles of friends and business contacts.

And vow to take better care of them in the future. Like, don’t wait 8 years before picking up the phone.

Stalled in your Job Search? We'll give you some enhanced information to re-energize you search by providing information that is not readily available in the DFW area. This event will feature advanced lectures on relationship building, understanding advanced resume technologies, the importance of personal branding and expanding your digital footprint, as well as other timely and relevant topics for the savy job seeker. You are not alone. We are here to help.

Saturday, October 31
8:30am - 1:00pm
Trinity Vineyard Fellowship Church
1401 W. 5th Street
Fort Worth, 76012

Registration is required. To register go to www.careersearchnetwork.org and click on the Seminars/workshops page.

This is a post by Jobing.com Social Media Manager, Brett Farmiloe.  Thanks Brett

In case anyone was wondering what the fuss is with social media, here it goes.

What is social media?

Social media is an integration of words, pictures, video and/or audio with an element of human interaction. (Essentially, the words, pics, videos are the "media"...the human interactivity of commenting on a Twitter status update, tagging someone in a Facebook photo, watching a video on Youtube and forwarding on to your friends...that's the "social" element of the umbrella term, 'social media'.)

A couple other fun stats to throw around about social media:

3 out of 4 Americans use social technology - Forrester Research, 2008 (Meaning, not just Gen Y. This means that my mom and my dad are my friends on Facebook.)

Visiting social sites is more of a popular online activity now than checking personal email, Nielson 2009

93% of social media users believe a company should have a presence in social media (meaning, users are open to being a fan of your company on Facebook. It's not intrusive if your company is on there...as 300,000 businesses have found out on Facebook (currently, 300,000 business have Facebook pages)

Of the 4,000+ tools that can be grouped into the growing 'social media' bucket, there are only about 4 or 5 that matter when it comes to recruitment.

1) Facebook. The reason it matters in recruitment?

There are over 300 million users on Facebook.

There's no other social media site or tool that's better to brand your company. On a fan page, you can share video about what it's like to work at your company, show them what it's like to work at your company with photos, and you can post status updates that go directly to a fan's home page. Plus, there are a couple recruitment applications that integrate your jobs into Facebook and allow fans to share these jobs with their friends (Jobing offers this application, plug intended.)

2) Twitter. The reason it matters in recruitment?

You have to look at Twitter as a chat room and as a listening tool. You listen to the people you're following, and you chat with the people who are talking about your company by monitoring with tools such as Tweetdeck or Twitter Search. All Twitter is good for is for your company to interact with potential candidates so it positively impacts your brand.

3) Linkedin. The reason it matters in recruitment?

Allows recruiters to mine a database of resumes (aka Linkedin profiles) to find potential candidates.

4) Youtube. The reason it matters in recruitment?

Video arguably is one of the best branding tools for a company. Youtube is one of the largest search engines on the internet. Put the two together and you've got a winning social media site.

5) Myspace. The reason it matters in recruitment?

Myspace is the forgotten son of social media. The other week I was in Texas and asked a woman who was the HR manager for a call center if she had looked into using Myspace to recruit. She responded by saying that Myspace was full of pedophiles and teenie boppers...which may be true, but it still doesn't change the fact that more people go to Myspace than Twitter and Linkedin. The numbers and traffic alone make Myspace a tool to keep in the tool belt.

Whew! Those are the tools that are slowly changing the world of recruiting...

Brett Farmiloe is the social media manager for Jobing.com. He'd love it if you became a fan of Jobing on Facebook, and a follower on Twitter. Ecstatic, actually. Also, feel free to contact and connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or by good ol' email (brett(at)jobing.com) for any social media questions.