I’ve recently heard of several acquaintances finding jobs. So I was a bit puzzled when I learned that a former colleague, particularly accomplished in her field, still has not found work after a lengthy job search.

The individual I reference (we’ll call her X — she lives far from Anderson and hopefully does not read this column) is well educated, respected by former colleagues and has mastered complex subject matter. She’s articulate, attractive and previously worked in an expanding industry.

Therefore, I was perplexed as to why X has not found work. Then I had one of those eureka moments where her struggle made perfect sense. You see, X is one of the most vocal voices I hear on social media platforms. The subject where she most likes to exercise her colorful online voice relates to politics.

Whereas this mild-mannered person is the model of civility in personal interactions, her online sentiments would embarrass most sailors in a four-letter-word competition. Most of her Facebook updates contain several Drudge Report or Huffington Post links, always coupled with an expletive-peppered commentary.

Could it be that potential employers are doing online research on X before interviewing or hiring her? You’ve probably heard that employers across the job spectrum are using social media as a first means of screening potential job applicants.

What kinds of employers? Even physician recruitment firms use social media to screen applicants. A study in the September 23/30 Journal of the American Medical Association found that 60 percent of medical schools that participated in a survey reported incidents of students posting unprofessional content.

The National Association of Physician Recruiters has added a special session on the subject of future physicians’ online behavior to its annual meeting this spring. It’s clearly not just simple-minded folks who fail to see the potential consequences of inappropriate social media behavior.

If you’re in the job market or simply want to optimize the chances of keeping your current job, consider the following tips, regardless of your position on the career ladder:

• Avoid profanity. That’s a no-brainer, you say? Consider a Journal of the American Medical Association study titled “Online Posting of Unprofessional Content by Medical Students.” It found that 52 percent of medical school respondents reported they viewed profanity on students’ social media postings.
• Refrain from posting risqué content. That bachelorette party picture with you and the naughty policeman dancer may be hilarious to your friends but could leave a prospective employer with second thoughts.
• Never disparage your school or business. If you say something negative about your current employer, what’s to keep them from thinking you might uncork a mouthful about their business?
• Don’t play politics. We all see things differently. Unless you’re the candidate, be careful about exercising your right to free speech when it comes to politics. Political correctness can be smart business when it comes to social media.

Source:  Susan Miller for The Herald Bulletin.

By Anita Bruzzese for USA Today.

As employers try to whittle down what can be hundreds of applicants vying for one job, they’re turning more to phone interviews to screen candidates and streamline the process.

“People are answering the phone with a ‘Hey, how ya doin’?’ and crazy music playing in the background,” Paul J. Bailo says. “What kind of message is this?”

Not the right one, says Bailo, founder and chief executive of Phone Interview Pro.

He contends that any phone contact is a way to build a relationship and never should be taken lightly.

“In a job search, everything you do or say matters,” he says.

After research of what employers like and don’t like in phone conversations, Bailo has developed advice that he believes will make the best impression and help you score a job. He advises job seekers to:

• Ditch the cellphone. Dropped calls, weird noises, feedback and a host of other problems mean you always should talk to employers on a land line.

If you don’t have one, invest in one for your job search, he says.

Also, don’t use a headset, which often can make it difficult for an interviewer to hear you clearly. If an employer calls, let your cellphone voice mail pick up, then call back on a land line.

• Don’t multitask. When talking to an employer, don’t tap away on your keyboard, fiddle with a pen or wash dishes.

An interviewer can pick up any of those sounds, and your tone will convey your distraction. Make sure it’s clear that the conversation is your priority.

• Make a great first impression. The first 15 seconds can make or break a phone conversation, Bailo says.

Don’t answer on the first ring. Let it go two or three rings before answering with a professional “Hello.” Never say “Hi,” which sounds too casual, or just state your name, which seems unfriendly.

• Be prepared. If you know an interviewer is going to call, make sure you’ve done your homework on the company and the interviewer.

Read the day’s headlines so you’re prepared to talk about current events if they’re brought up. Have a cough drop or glass of water nearby in case you need them. While it should go without saying, Bailo says many people forget to visit the restroom before a phone interview, so he advises taking care of such personal needs beforehand.

• Shut out distractions. Get a babysitter for your children, post a sign on the door to not ring the doorbell and lock the dog out of the room.

You want quiet so you can concentrate and the interviewer isn’t distracted with the sound of a howling child.

• Don’t be too eager. When an interviewer asks to set up a time for a phone chat, don’t jump at the first time offered, Bailo says.

“Tell the person you’re not available then, but then give another time the next day. This shows you’re in demand with other things. Remember, people like things they can’t have,” he says.

At the same time, he advises not answering the phone but letting voice mail pick up if an interviewer calls more than 15 minutes late. You then can call the interviewer to reschedule.

• Have a checklist. Make sure that throughout the interview you say things like “I am very excited about this position” or “I would be happy to be part of your organization,” he says.

This eliminates any confusion that can come from not having a face-to-face conversation.

If you’re moving before you have a job in the new city, you should start preparing before you move.

Here are some ideas that will increase your success of landing great opportunities.

Research your new hometown. Read the local newspaper, visit corporate and community Internet sites, review chamber of commerce and other publications that offer information about the local business market or your field.

Use your local network to link you to contacts in the new area. This can be a fast way to establish and expand contacts quickly. It can be a mistake to focus only on contacts within your industry, so keep an open mind. Your job during the preparation phase is to develop as many contacts as possible in your future home.

Use your local network to link you to contacts in the new area. This can be a way to establish and expand contacts quickly. Don’t disregard potential contacts in industries other than yours. Your job right now during the preparation phase is to develop as many contacts as possible in your new home.

Networking long distance actually can be easier in some ways than networking locally because you are new to the area and focused more on gathering information. Most people like to help, especially if you get a contact from your local network.

Talk with a local real estate agent, even if you’re not going to be buying a home right away. By doing so you will receive an accurate picture of the cost of housing and you can discuss top area employers.

Ask open-ended questions. Start with more general questions when making contacts in the new location, such as the largest employers and the state of the job market in general, then move to  specific questions such as who you should talk to so you can move your job search forward.

Looking for a job in a new area tends to make you more focused with your listening skills. The time you spend searching companies will pay off with good discussions with new contacts.

Before moving, make several trips to the area if you can. These trips give you a good reason to touch base with the contacts you’ve been given by meeting them face-to-face.

You can cold-call contacts in the new location. Research professional associations in the area, and contact members for information about employers in your field. One job seeker did this, and he was given the names of several decision-makers. He followed up on the leads, explaining the need to relocate and his desire to learn more about the company and services or products provided. The link was the common membership in the professional association. He developed rapport with five employers, and he received two job offers.

Be sure to offer to help those who have helped you. Ask what you can do to help them; return the favor.

Replace anxiety about relocating with a plan of action. The things you fear most likely will not come to pass, and you will be surprised by the help you get from those you contact.

Be realistic about the new city’s job market. You may need to consider taking a job that doesn’t exactly match the one you’re leaving in order to get your foot in the door. Being too specific with job titles can be a barrier when transitioning to a new community. Focus on your interests and the employers that could benefit from your background, and don’t be too tied to a job title.

Stay in contact with the friends you have left behind. Moving does not equal forgetting – it just means there are more miles between you.

Source: Kim Thompson for the San Francisco Chronicle.

After Jillaine Smith was laid off three years ago, she went through a period of doubting her professional skills. That was despite her 25 successful years in nonprofit management.

“It doesn’t make sense rationally,” Smith says. “But, inside, wherever that part is, the fear starts growing that I don’t have what it takes anymore.”

She says her fear began to interfere with her job search. Smith still applied for positions near her home in Bethesda, Md. But she didn’t take steps that would really help land an interview — like networking.

“Did I update my LinkedIn resume and things like that? Absolutely,” she says. “But did I do the stuff that requires getting up, getting dressed, getting out of the house and going and talking to people? Not so much.”"There was certainly financial stress,” she says. “I always think it’s a bad sign when you have to use your credit card for groceries.”

Of course, this is the worst thing to do when you’re running out of money. Smith’s husband did work full time when she was laid off. But money was tight.

Fear Of The Unknown

Smith can tell this story because she got over the hump and is working again. A number of workers are still hung up on a fear of returning to work, but they were too embarrassed to talk about this kind of thing publicly.

Like Smith, these workers said their angst didn’t really make sense, given their talents and past successes.

But they acknowledged that their fear sometimes resulted in self-sabotage. It could paralyze them to the point where they didn’t even look for jobs.

“It’s not like it’s apparent to the person,” says Mary White, a job counselor with a nonprofit called HIRED in St. Paul, Minn.

She says of job seekers, “It’s not like they’re saying, ‘Well, I don’t ever want to work again, so I’m really going to mess this up.’ It’s that they’re saying, ‘I’m scared to work again.’ “

She says the fear she sees in her clients is understandable. New jobs are full of unknowns: You don’t know what the culture’s going to be like or whether you’ll fit in.

“People are scared to death to go to parties,” White says. “Why wouldn’t they be scared to death to go to a new job?”

EnlargeAnnie Baxter/NPRFormer human resources manager Alice Ferdinand says she wouldn’t immediately rule out job candidates who expressed fear about a return to work. She said in some cases, that anxiety was simply brought on by unemployment.

Waiting For Positive Reinforcement

Alice Ferdinand has witnessed that fear — from the other side of the interview table. She was a human resources manager for three decades. Before she retired in 2010, she met lots of job applicants who dreaded going back to work.

“It was not so much detectable in what they said at first as [in] the body demeanor: the slumped shoulders, the poor eye contact, the hesitancy to respond,” she says.

Some even told her explicitly that they feared their skills had eroded or that they wouldn’t enjoy working again. That might seem like a crazy thing to say to an interviewer, but Ferdinand says her grandmotherly nature prompted workers to open up to her.

And she says those confessions were not instant disqualifiers. The interview kept going if a candidate was committed to overcoming his or her unease.

“Those people were the kinds that you knew they were not clinically depressed,” Ferdinand says. “And you knew the underlying angst and the underlying fear was situational and would go away when they got some positive reinforcement, that is, a job.”

That’s what happened with Smith. Her fears turned out to be temporary. Physical exercise, volunteer work, and some freelance gigs brought her back to a more confident version of herself.

“Getting some work helped,” she says. “Getting some money in the door helped. Being productive again. Being useful. That helped.”

In other words, it was enough for her to feel rewarded again, since unemployment by itself offered no rewards at all.  Source:  Anne Baxter for NPR.

By Amy Lindgren for News-Sentinel.com

If you’re feeling sluggish about your job search, it’s possible you’ve gotten de-motivated somewhere along the way. By way of offering a self-help tutorial, I’ll list here the most common de-motivators that I observe in job seekers. If any apply to you, start troubleshooting! Because one thing’s for sure: You won’t get far in job search without motivation.

1. Discouraging labor statistics. The last couple of years have been extraordinary in the emergence of numbers-based reporting on the jobs issue. At base, these numbers are most helpful to corporations, governments, and other entities that use the information in longer-term planning. In my opinion, job seekers are not as well served by the data since they can’t actually use it; but they are certainly impacted psychologically – and rarely in a positive way.

Solution? Stop focusing on statistics, at least until you’re re-employed.

2. Generalized career information in occupational directories. As guides that describe a variety of jobs, these are wonderful tools for career changers and others who need information to choose career paths. Unfortunately, some of the guides are misleading, particularly in overstating the need for degrees or specialized certifications. Sadly, job seekers sometimes turn away from promising careers when told authoritatively that the field requires those degrees.

Solution? Confirm information by talking with people working in the field.

3. Inflated job postings. Perhaps you already knew this, but many postings ask for more skills than are actually needed. Why? One reason is that an inflated posting discourages casual responses. The employer benefits by having fewer people to consider. The practice is not without its casualties, however. Job seekers frequently review postings to determine their own marketability, then stumble away in disbelief at how “unskilled” they are.

Solution? Lean away from job postings and focus on networking, where candidates are judged individually.

4. Unproductive networking. It’s sad how often job seekers drop the process after a few coffee meetings. Since networking is partly a strategy and partly a lifestyle, it’s unrealistic to expect leads to sprout from every encounter. That said, some types of networking are more effective than others; to be involved in the latter can knock the wind out of a job search.

Solution? Troubleshoot your networking and improve it.

5. Feeling that things aren’t fair. I’ve known since I was 5 that life isn’t fair and you probably have, too. So why are people so discouraged in their job search after discovering that candidates with connections get more breaks?

Solution? Accept the “unfairness” and make it work for you.

6. Anticipating age bias. Mind you, I didn’t say “experiencing age bias.” When and how often age bias occurs is its own question. Separate from any actual occurrence, however, is the psychic burden carried by candidates who worry that it will happen. And the worry alone is enough to make people say, “No one will hire me. I’m too old.” Which can lead to curtailing one’s search.

Solution? Face your fear and get out there. Other people your age are getting hired; how are they doing it?

7. Unresponsive employers. It’s hard to get fired up about a search when no one calls you back. Worse yet is to be interviewed and then ignored. One tends to avoid rejection when possible, so the natural reaction is to stop reaching out to employers.

Solution? Get a thicker skin and improve your odds by contacting more, not fewer employers.

8. Hanging out with unemployed people. That’s ironic, isn’t it? On the one hand, you benefit from the support of others in the same boat. But if you spend too much time with people who aren’t working, unemployment starts to seem normal. Sometimes unemployed people slow each other down.

Solution? Pay attention to how you feel after a session, then eliminate meetings that bum you out.

9. Scary anecdotes. Why do people tell you terrible stories about whatever situation you’re experiencing? Pregnant women routinely hear about complicated childbirths, while job seekers are treated to tales of someone’s cousin who’s been looking for three years, lost everything and had to sell a kidney.

Solution? Put your fingers in your ears and sing loudly. Nothing else works with these boors.

10. Comparing current options to your last position and concluding that there aren’t any decent jobs out there. Sometimes we’re our own worst enemies. If you’ve been measuring every opportunity against your last job, you’re likely holding yourself back.

Solution? Review opportunities with an open mind. Sometimes “good enough” is all you need, at least for now.

Finally, there is better way for job seekers to land their next job. Spark Hire is redefining the online job market by allowing job seekers to search, apply and even interview for jobs like never before.

Spark Hire was developed as a solution to the frustrating and time consuming job search process. Traditionally, job seekers would search and apply for jobs using old-fashioned, static resumes and cover letters. What differentiates Spark Hire from other job sites is that job seekers now have the opportunity to present themselves to employers in a more unique and dynamic fashion. Spark Hire’s video integration with a plethora of other features helps job seekers gain the competitive edge they need.

One of Spark Hire’s premiere features is the Profile Video, where job seekers can bring their static resumes to life. Job seekers simply create a profile on Spark Hire and record a 60 second video using their webcam. The Profile Video allows job seekers to display their creativity, candor and communication skills. When job seekers search and apply for jobs on Spark Hire, employers will be able to view their profiles and watch their videos. Getting directly in front of employers has never been this easy.

Spark Hire even helps make the interview process more convenient. Now, job seekers can interview with employers through Spark Hire Online Interviews. Both parties can connect from the convenience of their own computer using webcams. The combination of Spark Hire’s Profile Videos and Online Interviews is sure to revolutionize how job seekers participate in the online job market. For the first time ever job seekers can interact face to face with employers throughout the entire job search process.

“I’ve heard the same thing so many times-’if only they can see me.’ Job seekers are looking for a way to stand out from the masses,” says Josh Tolan, CEO of Spark Hire. “Spark Hire was made to give frustrated job seekers the opportunity to get their foot in the door. We want everyone to have their chance to tell a company why they should be hired.”

In an effort to spark U.S. employment, Spark Hire is offering their services 100 percent free to job seekers. “It’s time for Americans to get back to work,” says Tolan. “We want to provide a platform which helps individuals nationwide achieve their objective of landing their dream job.”

According to a recent industry survey, one in six employees used social media to find their current job and about 54 percent of all job seekers use Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter to find jobs. However, many job offers listed on social networks are informal listings and hidden from users that are not connected with the poster. JobsMiner unlocks the closed circle of friends and expands it by finding all job postings on the social media sites, even wall postings on Facebook (posted ‘public’) or blog and forum posts. This allows job seekers easy access to many more hidden postings they would normally not find in their regular social media job search. Many of JobsMiner’s listings are found before the position is even posted on a company website or job board.

“We are extremely excited to be launching our one-of-a-kind job search tool,” said Ran Enoch, co-founder of JobsMiner. “With our extensive background and experience in providing real-time social media information analysis services and the fact that over 20 million people used online social networks to find their job in 2011, we recognized the need to unlock the wealth of hidden jobs across all online social media. JobsMiner aggregates the unstructured job postings and organizes them into a structured list search engine style interface which makes the job search faster and more effective. The system’s algorithm continuously teaches itself and improves in order to ensure the validity and accuracy of the job openings it presents.”

The JobsMiner development team led by CTO Shlomi Noach, a renowned MySQL expert who recently received Oracle’s “Technologist of The Year 2011” award, developed the monitoring and analysis solution that provides JobsMiner with its ability to continuously monitor and expose the latest job openings on all relevant sites ahead of any other job board. JobsMiner’s search capabilities are used to analyze unstructured text posts and, using the algorithmic technology, present them to the end user as a viable job offering with a link to the original post. This technology was developed based on years of experience with Makam, a leading service provider of online monitoring and research utilizing patent pending contextual technology.

If something is not meant to last forever, it won’t. Boyfriends and bosses are not meant to last forever. If they were, they’d be titled husbands or Japanese employers. Oh wait, those aren’t permanent anymore? Nothing is.

We’re all Temps. The bad news is you’ll lose this job. The good news is you could meet me. The best news is you’ll get another job with or without someone in my line of work. If you’re not lucky enough to meet me here are some actions that will help minimize the tissue and save a tree. What balderdash!

The First 48 Hours.

• Think about the best way to communicate the news to those closest to you.  What is the best time of day, anticipate their reaction, when & how to tell the children, and share a basic “moving forward” plan.
• Don’t panic.  It’s about you, but it’s really not.  People generally follow the lead of the person communicating bad news.  Listen to their concerns & paraphrase so that they feel like you heard them.  I put a “For Sale” sign in the yard before they got home.  Had to duck then too.
• If you can’t say something nice. Shut up.  Most don’t want to hear how poorly you were treated, even if you were.  Try saying “It’s tough, I’m disappointed, but XYZ Co. helped us put a roof over our head and I learned great skills there.  Who’s hiring, and would you consider being a reference?”

Pay Attention To The Details.

• Severance.  You probably can’t sign it for seven days, so don’t.  See an accountant before an attorney. Accountants understand the tax implications of lump-sum, deferring payment, benefit continuation. Most firms use a variations of a template with differences based on the employees level plus credited service formula.  Then manage change of control, non-compete language, etc. as required.  Less firms negotiate today than ever.
• References.  Anything more than name, rank & serial number is unlikely. Maybe later, and quietly offline when the above is buttoned up.  Playing nice on the way out helps.
• Set ego aside, and sign up for unemployment.  Follow the rules. Use the benefit for your family.  Check into TAA (Trade Adjustment Act) eligibility for grants and funding of further education.

Think and Dream.

• Even if the termination was out of your control quietly ask yourself  ”What should I have done more of, less of, and continued to do?” Answer honestly, and do that moving forward.  It’s now over, if you choose.
• What do you want to do?  What industry, type of business, geographical location, big or small company, work culture do you want to be a part of? Do you want to become an entrepreneur, or volunteer-aka, outplacement consultant (joke… boss)
• Start framing your initial sound byte for recruiters, former managers, peers, etc. Remember the “if you can’t say something nice, don’t” line. Focus on your new skill sets, and your value.

Over the short term don’t panic, focus, think and dream.  Spend time communicating with your family. Remember, it’s about you but it’s not only about you. They follow your lead and are concerned about you as well.  We’re all temps.  The next boyfriend, boss, or perhaps even your first customer will come along. I’m reminded I need to meet my granddaughter’s new boyfriend and see to it that a tree passes on.  What balderdash.

When I finished grad school and first started my job search, it actually felt exciting. I envisioned myself landing a high-powered job that I loved, strolling down city streets to my office in fabulously fashionable suits, and making my mark in the corporate world.

Cut to four months later, and I was sitting on the couch, in my not-so-fashionable pajamas, desperately searching for anything available. And unfortunately, I’m not alone. Many people—even people with advanced degrees, plenty of experience, and stellar qualifications—are feeling the blues of searching for jobs to no avail.

Sound familiar? If you’ve found yourself in job search desperation, here are a few good ways to ease your anxiety, take back your sanity, and maybe even score a new gig.

1. Be Realistic—But Don’t Settle

You’re probably hearing a lot of “any job is better than no job!” right now. Well, trust me, that’s not the case. It might be tempting to apply for any job posting you see, but it’s important not to take a position you know you’ll be miserable in. I’ve been desperate for a job. Beyond desperate. But, I’ve walked into places where I immediately knew that my soul would be crushed if I worked there. And in the long run, it’s just not worth it.

Before you apply to any more jobs, make two lists. Your first list should detail your “dream” offers—position title, salary, responsibilities—and the second should contain what you would be OK with taking. While this may sound silly, listing what you want in a position really helps to not only evaluate what kinds of jobs you want, but also how “low” you’ll go. And anything below that? Don’t even bother applying, it’ll only drain you.

2. Expand Your Horizons

Most of us love the comfort of familiarity, especially in a time of crisis, but the best way to get out of a rut is to mix things up. Start small: Those job search engines you use every day? Take a break for a few days and find some new ones. You’ll give your tired eyes a break and renew your drive, too.

Also, you’re a lot more likely to find a job when you have help—so think about new ways to expand your search using other people. Consider working with a recruiter, who can help you find a job based on your skills and career choices. Or, meet with your college’s career office—even if you graduated a few years ago, most schools offer career support for their alumni. Finally (and I know you hear it all the time), network. Are there new groups or organizations you could join? Different events you could attend? There’s no substitute for just getting yourself out there.

3. Surround Yourself with Positive People

I’ll admit it—I’ve had a lot of job rejections. And that’s mainly because you need five years experience to even land a job as a hostess. But all that rejection threw my ego for quite a spin, and it was tough at times to be optimistic.

I know staying positive is a lot easier said than done, but as negative thoughts take over, that attitude will come across to people, including potential employers. So, it’s important to surround yourself with people who are positive, supportive, and who care about you. Try to focus on the good feedback you receive. Whether it’s from past interviews, that professor who loved you, or that organization you volunteered for, having someone tell you that it’s not you, it’s the economy, really does wonders to revamp your confidence level.

4. Use Your Time Wisely

Being jobless can be a blessing in disguise. If you’re not working, you have the invaluable time to work on something else: you. For weeks, I sat on my couch and just applied for jobs without breaks—and that’s when I really became desperate and depressed. Then, I cut back to four hours a day, max. That not only made my job-searching time more productive, but it left the rest of the time for other things in my life.

Use this time to try something new, such as learning a second language or joining a new exercise class. Volunteering is a great way to be productive, and it can provide great resume-boosting experience, too. Making time for myself completely reshaped my confidence. Yes, I still needed a job, but I calmed down and had a much more positive outlook.

After really evaluating what I wanted, and what my bank account needed, I eventually landed a temporary position, which has led to other opportunities! Yes, it’s tough, but try to remember that your job search desperation isn’t forever. Keep up the work (and the optimism)—and you, too will be on your way to something new.

Everyday it seems like I meet another frustrated job seeker. They come from everywhere, every industry, and every career level. Job search frustration can stop the most optimistic of people dead in their tracks. Nothing is more irritating than the feeling of spinning your wheels without making any progress.  I bet you have heard the cliche, “work smarter, not harder.” I never liked hearing it. I still don’t like hearing it. I don’t even like writing it. However, that is the best advice I can offer you at this moment.

Working smarter isn’t nearly as difficult as some make it out to be. The key is to step back and look at everything you are doing, and then consider adopting these six habits of smart job seekers: Keep it balanced

The smart job seeker doesn’t stick to just one job search method. Instead, they divide their time between research, networking, and applying. They also do not focus entirely on online job hunting activities. They typically follow the 80/20 rule, spending 80% of their time involved in offline job search and networking activities and only 20% online.

You never know where an employer is going to reach out. Balancing your job search across the board allows you to take advantage of many different opportunities.

Thinking for themselves

A common pitfall many job seekers run into is the “well, so-and-so is doing this, so I should too” pattern. When this happens, you lose part of your identity as a job seeker. What works for one person might not work for another. Your situation will dictate the best approach for you and the type of job you want. Moreover, most employers don’t want to deal with a dozen job seekers doing the exact same thing. They are looking for the one or two people  who stand out from the crowd.

The smart job seeker always thinks for himself (or herself!). They offer their thoughts and insights in networking situations and job interviews. They might not fit in every situation, but a job seeker who thinks for his or herself will more often than not put themselves in situations where they are a good fit, and where great opportunities can ​find them.

Knowing their friends

Everyone knows that networking is valuable in the job search. Unfortunately, with social media, job seekers become avid collectors of “friends.” On Facebook, you can easily collect 500 “friends” without knowing a single person well enough to ask for advice.

The smart job seeker knows who their friends are. Additionally, they also know who their colleagues, acquaintances, competitors, mentors, and networking contacts are. When you know what role a person plays in your life, you will be able to use them the right way.

Making new connections

The smart job seeker is always making new connection, online and off. Introductions are the bread and butter of a networking-savvy job seeker. Making new connections and maintaining relationships is paramount for any job seeker. You never know who your next boss knows!

Being creative

For many job seekers, the only way to get hired seems like the same sequence of steps that everyone takes. Unfortunately, many people are finding that these steps aren’t working as well as they hoped.

The smart job seeker uses creativity in their job search. If one method doesn’t work, try tweaking it before completely ditching the idea, but don’t just keep doing the same thing that doesn’t work. If your dream boss loves bocce ball, why not stray from LinkedIn and join him on the court?

Always growing

The job market is anything but stagnant. So, don’t let your job search stagnate. Our communication tools have changed dramatically making everything we do that much more efficient and effective. While traditional tactics and tools (like resumes, manners, and thank you notes) have staying power, and can help you seal the deal on your dream job, nobody  should follow the job search playbook from 20, 10, or even 1 year ago.

The smart job seeker is always growing. They adopt new strategies and tools early on ​and always strive to keep their skills and capabilities up-to-date with their industry.