How to Rev Up Your Job Search, Even if You’re Happily

Employed

Presented by:Heather R. Huhman

Who am I?

Founder & president of Come Recommended– Career and workplace education and consulting

firm specializing in young professionals– ComeRecommended.com is a social networking

site for internship and entry-level job candidates and employers

Entry-level careers columnist for Examiner.com

Career expert for a number of other orgs2

Every Job is Temporary

Unfortunately, every job is temporary. Seriously, every single one. So, even if you’re over-the-top happy where you are today, chances are you will move on from this position for one reason or another eventually.

Knowing this, how can you rev up your job search now?

What We’ll Cover

How to create a comprehensive job search plan

The importance of building your network now

360-degree networkingHow to build and maintain your personal

brand

How to Create a Comprehensive Job

Search Plan

How to Create a Comprehensive Job Search Plan

Have a clear idea of what you want and how you’ll get there

Map out your goals:– What’s your ideal workplace environment?– What type of organization do you want to work

for?– Where are you going to live? – What type of job does your previous experience

and education qualify you for? (Be realistic)

How to Create a Comprehensive Job Search Plan

Utilize various job search methods to land the job you want– Job boards– Social networking sites– Informational interviews– Company websites– Networking – events, conferences, online– Talking with your existing network to see who

can help you

How to Create a Comprehensive Job Search Plan

Dedicate set amounts of time to various job search methods – You don’t want to rely on one method to get you

an interview

Stay on top of your applications and interview opportunities– Follow-up with hiring managers several times

throughout the process to show that you are passionate about the job opening

How to Create a Comprehensive Job Search Plan

Prepare yourself– Have a quality resume and cover letter prepared

for job openings – Research the company to identify how you

would fit and ways you can help them improve– Show that you know what they need by spelling

out exactly how your qualifications and experience fit the job description

How to Create a Comprehensive Job Search Plan

Stay organized– Create a method for keeping track of

applications, dates, names and contact information

The Importance of Building Your Network

Now

The Importance of Building Your Network Now

To create a strong network of connections, build it before you “need it” (for example, when you’re job searching)

You’ve been interacting with many people who can help your job search throughout the years, such as:– Peers and classmates– Professors and university professionals– Former co-workers and supervisors

The Importance of Building Your Network Now

80% of jobs are secured through networking– Employee referrals – Unadvertised openings – Connections with hiring managers/CEOs

Many are secured through acquaintances or weak connections– You never know who can help you in your career!

360 Networking

360 Networking

Just because you follow someone on Twitter, read their blog or friend them on Facebookdoes not mean you are reaching the end goal of networking. Networking goes beyond the initial meeting whether online or offline.

360 Networking

Networking is a two-way street – it’s all about creating mutually beneficial relationships

That said, you need to give, give, give before you ask for help from new contacts

Know your unique selling points (USPs) – Your unique characteristics and skills – Create an elevator pitch for networking

opportunities to explain who you are, what you’re seeking and your qualifications

360 Networking

Provide value to your contacts – Think about how you can help them succeed, so

they will want to help you succeed in the future. Networking is all about creating good karma!

Follow-up– After an initial meeting, it’s extremely important

to follow-up– You don’t want to lose the connection because

you didn’t stay in touch

360 Networking

Follow-up (cont.)– Also important to stay in touch with your

network contacts via updates, e-mails, meetings, phone calls, etc. throughout the year

Leveraging your connections– Once you’ve built a relationship, your

connections can vouch for you and lead you to a multitude of new opportunities

360 Networking

Bringing it all full circle– After completing networking activities, show

gratitude to those you’ve connected with– Take notes on the back of business cards about

unique conversations– Explore ways to help or give back to build the

two-way relationship – Add contacts you’ve made on LinkedIn or follow

them on Twitter to continue building the relationship

How to Build and Maintain Your Personal

Brand

Building Your Personal Brand

Create a professional presence on major social networking sites, such as LinkedIn & Twitter– Keep usernames similar (use your name)– Include a professional picture to show you are a

real person– Completely fill out your bio, including

information from your elevator pitch– Make your account public

Building Your Personal Brand

Keep public social networking sites professional– Become a “go-to” professional for industry news,

interesting articles and recent issues– It’s okay to share some personal information, but

don’t give potential employers a reason to dislike you because of sharing too many personal details online

Building Your Personal Brand

Create an online portfolio to display your experience and pieces of work – Include your resume, classwork, volunteer

projects, leadership experience, recommendations, etc.

– Consider starting a blog to increase your visibility and sharpen your writing skills

– Where to start: WordPress, Weebly, Wix, VisualCV

Building Your Personal Brand

Know your unique selling points (USPs)– Education– Qualifications– Experience– Industry/Field/Niche

Position yourself as an expert in your field– Blogging is a great way to do this

Attend networking events and conferences to meet other professionals

Building Your Personal Brand

Invest in quality business cards that align with your personal brand

Be sure to include the following on them:– Full name– E-mail address– Website/blog– Twitter handle/LinkedIn profile link, etc. – Phone number– Photo of yourself (if you’d like)

Maintaining Your Personal Brand

Keep your different sites consistent by updating them often – Employers and recruiters will check to see that

your online presence is consistent across all channels

Don’t just sign up for networking sites and leave them inactive– Focus on a select few and make sure to provide

value to your followers

Maintaining Your Personal Brand

Update your status often on various sites so you’re always on the front of people’s minds

Keep in mind what’s appropriate for the outlet:– Twitter: several times per day is acceptable– LinkedIn: not more than once or twice per day

Look for new opportunities to display your expertise, such as guest posting on other’s blogs

iMarketYourCareer Services

Questions?

Heather R. HuhmanFounder & President

Come Recommended www.comerecommended.com

heather@comerecommended.comTwitter: @heatherhuhman