job tip # 8: What diets and networking have in common

My colleague and fellow Canadian John-Paul Hatala is undeniably an expert in social networking. We have attended and presented at major career conferences over the years. "JP" and I have both posted counselling articles on the prestigious counselling site, http://www.contactpoint.ca/

John-Paul drew a comparison between dieting and networking. Both profess to offer quick results (well, the  "quick" diet web sites that permeate the internet). How do they relate to a successful job search?

Both need time invesments for best results.

Realize that effective networking takes time and effort. Building a network of contacts doesn't happen overnight, but when properly applied to a job search, it's time well invested.

Best wishes,

Melissa Martin, bilingual career coach and ebook author, How to use social media in your job search

http://www.careercoachingbyphone.com/

Facebook fan page: careercoachingbyphonecom

Twitter: @ravingredhead and @melissacmartin (bilingual)

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Easy steps to designing a social marketing strategy in your job search

I'd like to share some notes from a presentation I delivered at an international career conference, called  Cannexus in Ottawa, Canada  http://www.cannexus.ca/

Perhaps in my next life, I will germinate into a web/Wordpress designer, but for now, let's concentrate on CONTENT:


1. What are the best Social networking sites to use for your Job Search and Career Management?

-decide what your goals/objectives are
-what do you want to achieve by using social networks? Job leads? Connecting with industry experts? Building relationships gradually?

-take a test drive ex: If using Twitter, find friends on other networks tool ex: gmail or yahoo

-find other twitter users who tweet about the same topics you're interested in, such as career change, résumé writing, interviewing, etc.
-use http://www.twellow.com/ to search for experts in your desired field

-test your existing online ID, if no ID, think about privacy settings ex: http://www.OnlineIDcalculator.com/

-ask for leads from contacts on Twitter

-choose a theme or topic you want to be referenced to
-join twitter lists
-use hashtags (#) to funnel down your area of interest. Some examples include: #careers #resumes #hiring #jobhunt #jobhuntchat #careercollective

-use niche web sites if in a specialized field

2. How do the social media sites differ?

a. Twitter-24/7 conversation; real time; the information network; like a cocktail party-7 million visits

-share information, connect, engage; leadership building; personal branding

-job searching ex: Tweet my jobs; Twellowhood: local directory search for T users by topic or name; T applications on -connect with influential people

-learn cutting edge information

-personal and professional branding

b. Linked in-professional SM site; recruiters and hiring managers use it for screening passive and inactive candidates; the "business suit"

-job seekers can take advantage of unique features: recommendations; get introduced; job insider info; search for jobs; find out info about managers BEFORE interview & get info from previous employees

-get professional advice on job search/career info on groups

-replace paper resume with a compelling Linkedin profile that acts as a "call to action."  Keep revising. Make sure your profile can be read out loud for 30-45 seconds as an "attention-getting" marketing document

Stats: 20 connections are 34 times more likely to be approached with a job than people with less than 5 connections

-can use to predict job search growth in areas

-using Linked in will show you as a “connecter” (big network) and a leader

-start to look like a “player and thought leader” in your industry (relates to “association term in the career counselling field)

-don’t market yourself as a job seeker. Instead, present yourself as a "solution builder."

-can use these strategies of building a network, even if you are a passive job seeker
-join Linkedin groups and contribute to forums and discussions, using your social media profiles
-if using LI, view LI blog and LI answers ex: skimming answers

c. Facebook-more information, conversational, spontaneous Traffic up to 314 % in a year

-personal in nature

-job searching features

-groups that allow others to share commonalities

Ex: military/civilian transition group; career changer group; guerrilla marketing for job hunters

-alumni groups (get job leads or referrals)

-recruiters want to see candidates on paper and online. Ex: FB allows hiring managers to gather extensive data. Writing style, values

1 in 5 hiring managers conduct background checks using SM networks, esp FB

3. Should Jobseekers focus on two or three main sites or ‘cast a wide net’?

-depends on objectives/goals

-casting a wide net, especially if novice might be overwhelming and intimidating; get comfort with the new technology

-using SM is a different skill set. As one observer noted, "Social media is a slow burn." It must be caressed, refined and treated with care. "Quality relationships" take time to build.

-penetrate the hidden job market

-people will judge what you write about and how you present online (professional, above all)

-generally, use multiple media

-works best when you incorporate SM with a variety of marketing tools

-Choose your networks carefully. Once your connections build up, the system will recommend people to connect with

FB: over 20 apps to job search ex: indeed.com, careerbuilder, simplyhired, LI contacts, easy CV (online resume service), business cards and testimonials

4. What advice would you give to Jobseekers and Career Builders for managing their Social Media Strategy?

-the world is about relationships. Job search is no longer local, it’s global

-have a consistent brand

-strive for 80/20  (tweet or post using others' information 80% of the time and 20% of the time, concentrate on the information you wish to share). Social media etiquette is important and detractors are lurking if you breach social media etiquette!

-strive for professionalism at all times

-even if laid off or unemployed, talk about projects you’re working on or tell people the types of things that interest you professionally

Ex: Facebook People will judge the company you keep on line. Recruiters are searching for candidates.

-is viable job search tool to enhance job search or career dev’t

-does not replace the best form of networking: in person and face-to-face experience

(1. advisable to use the strength of the strong philosophy: If you are strong, you have opportunities open anyway. Ex: Takes money to make money.

Knock on doors, get a lead, talk to people. Build network from others’ network

2. Carpe diem (an Ancient Roman saying for "Seize the day.") Be strong by acting strong 3. Not a strategy of the weak

Ex: A passive, electronic job search that appears as though you are "blasting" on networks is distasteful and highly ineffective if you want to achieve results.

If you don’t follow up, on follow up, it will cold fast. Instead of waiting for an employer to call back.

-traditional job searches are impotent and have lost currency

-another strategy: Preminence: “Once you position yourself as a go to person in your niche, be a source of help, you will be perceived as an authority.”

-SM is the new currency. It’s not a panacea, but a way to enhance a job search, advance one’s leadership and networking skills and seize the opportunity of standing apart from competitors (reason for the title of my ebook). If you are strong, you have opportunities open anyway. Ex: Takes money to make money.

Knock on doors, get a lead, talk to people. Build network from others’ network

“Engagement is the goal, SM are the tools,” Shane Gibson

-1 superior way to find a satisfying job: Dr. Mark Granovtter, Stanford University:" The best jobs come from a weak tie network. Casual acquaintances have a completely different circle of acquaintances than you do."

Watch for an upcoming webinar on Twitter, April 6th, 8pm EST on http://www.careerealism.com/

Melissa Martin, bilingual social media and career strategist
http://www.careercoachingbyphone.com/

Twitter: @ravingredhead  and @melissacmartin (bilingual)

Facebook: melissacynthiamartin
FB fan page: careercoachingbyphone.com

Linkedin: http://ca/linkedin.com/melissacynthiamartin

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Guest article: "Branding gone bad: 10 most ill-advised ads of all time"

This post originates from Rose King of http://www.bschool.com/:

Branding Gone Bad: 10 Most Ill-Advised Ads of All Time



We've all seen our share of groan-inducing commercials. But there are some that cross the line into big mistakes, often costing businesses plenty in time, money, and consumer goodwill. These take the cake for the most controversial, disturbing, and ill-advised ads of all time.

1.Quiznos Singing Rodents: The Quiznos "spongmonkeys" inspired strong opinions, most wondering how the strange creatures could make you want to eat a sandwich. Perhaps the most accurate perception was from The Modern Humorist, commenting that the gerbil-like creatures are "what you see before you die."

2.The Lamisil Digger: First, your eyes are assaulted by a disturbing animated foot fungus. And then, this fungus promptly rips the toenail off the toe, exposing the nail bed. Then he jumps in. Disturbing on so many levels.

3.AIDS is a Mass Murderer: Anything involving Adolf Hitler is bound to be controversial, but throwing in a deadly disease like AIDS is like throwing gasoline on a fire. HIV/AIDS organizations distanced themselves from the commercial, citing concern for people living with the disease who might feel stigmatized.

4.Fashion Violence: Fashion ads depicting violence against women are too numerous to name all of them. Among the offenders include Calvin Klein and Dolce & Gabbana for gang-rape imagery, and shoe and suit ads with dead women.

5.Calvin Klein's Amateur Porn: Before Calvin Klein's ads suggested gang rape, they suggested pedophilia. In the 90s, CK ran ads that were made to resemble low-budget porn screen tests with young men and women, answering provocative questions from an offscreen older adult. Retailers and consumers shared their criticism loudly, and even the FBI got involved to investigate possible child pornography charges.

6.I'd Hit It: McDonald's did not fully research their urban slang before making the ad that said: "Double Cheeseburger? I'd hit it." Nearly everyone but McDonald's understood it to mean that the new slogan advocated sex with sandwiches, and the ad lives on in parodies online.

7.Motrin Moms: Motrin learned a powerful lesson about opinionated moms on Twitter, when baby-wearing parents took on the painkiller giant in response to an ad that belittled baby slings as a fashion accessory that might cause pain. The ads didn't last much longer than a day.

8.7-up at Seven Months: In the 50s, Seven-Up ran an ad that suggested mothers give their babies Seven-Up instead of milk or formula. It shared information about its pure and wholesome ingredients that were supposedly good for babies, and suggested mixing milk with Seven-Up to encourage drinking.

9.Whopper Virgins: Burger King spent millions of dollars traveling to Transylvania, Greenland, and Thailand to find hamburger illiterate people to try their Whopper in an on-the-spot comparative taste test with the Big Mac. Critics blasted Burger King, upset that the company didn't acknowledge the hunger that exists in some of the areas where they filmed, citing Thailand in particular, where 30% of people would never be able to afford a hamburger.

10.Store Testing Coffee: Like the 7-Up ad, there are some vintage ads that would never fly today, like Chase & Sanborn's ad, which depicts a man spanking his wife for not store testing for fresher coffee would be one of them. This is one among many sexist vintage ads that most companies would probably prefer the public to forget.

Thanks Rose King for being a guest on my blog.

Melissa Martin, bilingual career and social media strategist

http://www.careercoachingbyphone.com/

Twitter:@ravingredhead and @melissacmartin (bilingual)

Now accepting NEW clients for CUSTOMIZED Facebook fan pages.

mmartin@careercoachingbyphone.com

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Why you need to use your personality and ask for help in your job search

A friend and I were chatting about how many people miss out on lost opportunities in a job search.
Admittedly, we are both extroverts, social and outgoing, as far as personality styles.

Speaking of personalities, Hippocrates (yes, I often harken back to Ancient Greek or Roman times) identified four personality types:

1. Perfector (43% of the population)
These personalities are "organized detailers who value responsibility and conformity."

2. Harmonizer (12% of the population)
These personalities are "nurturing communicators who value harmony and friendship."

3. Enforcer (12% of the population)
These are "goal-oriented analyzers who value competency and logic."

4. Socializer (33% of the population)
Thse are "spontaneous, out-of-the-box thinkers who value freedom and flexiblity."

Which one are you?

My friend and I, are unequivocally, in the last category.

How can personalities help your job search?
By identifying your unique strengths and pertinent information that will help you make effective career decisions.

Enforcers, and perfectors, to a certain extent, will be less likely to see the value in asking for help (particularly on the telephone) or making cold calls.

The major reason why people resist making cold calls refers to one commanlity about humans: we dislike rejection. There's little solace in knowing that rejection is part of a job search, but job seekers must acknowledge this.

Now the good news... By continuing to ask for help from others and by making cold calls, rejections (plural!) get you closer to acceptance by an employer to attend an interviewer.

A quick sales lesson: No= not right now

If you are making a cold call (in person or by phone), remember that you will probably hear 99% of the time," We're not accepting resumes" or "We're not hiring."  Not right NOW. Employers' needs change as fast as technology, especially as far as hiring needs are concerned.

If you are an introvert and are still loathe to asking for help or making contact to a stranger, via email, in person or by phone, think of how you seek out information.

When I have had introverted clients who misunderstand the "hidden job market" and the necessity to "name drop" and to follow-up with employers, I use the "restaurant analogy."

If you and a significant other wanted to dine at a Chinese restaurant (it's the Chinese New Year-the year of the tiger right now!), how would you get the information? Ask a friend for a recommendation of a good Chinese restaurant!

Remember a fact about hiring: employers hire based on referral, recommendation and reputation.

Would you go to a restauarant  that lacked these things?
The same with employers who want to hire. They want to protect their investment, and get a return on investment.

Back to asking for help. Here's a proven technique that gets results:
Once you do your elevator pitch on the phone (up to 54 words, according to recruiting expert David Perry), ask something like" Now that you know my skills, experience and talents (the person's name), if you were in my shoes, who ELSE would you be calling?" Try to get 2-3 names before hanging up or emailing a contact.

My friend referred to a phrase in the Bible that says "the meek don't inherit the earth."

Step out of your comfort zone. Ask for help. Make cold calls. The more rejection (NO's), the closer you are to YES (acceptance).

My thanks to David Dean, certified management consultant, David Dean Management, of Brockville, Ontario Canada, for providing the information on personalities.

Use the finest characteristics of your personality to work in your favour.

"Fortune favours the bold," Virgil, Ancient Roman writer

Melissa Martin, bilingual career and social media strategist
http://www.careercoachingbyphone.com/

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What N-E-T-W-O-R-K-I-N-G really means to reach potential employers

Recently, I came upon a book on networking called The Frog and Prince: Networking for business and life by Rezac and Donahue; the book's title and content gave me pause.

N= never leave home
This is SO vital for job seekers. Time and time again, when I have asked clients/job seekers about their weekly job search activity, invariably, they rely exclusively on electronic means to apply for jobs. STOP relying on this ineffective strategy. You MUST connect with people to get you closer to your goal (following up with a contact, getting an interview, etc). Sure, it is so convenient to stay in your comfort zone and not leave your domestic zone. At the very least, arrange at least one job search activity daily that involves contact with others.

T=travel in pairs
Especially for those who are shy, introverted, disconnected, etc. When networking, call up a friend or acquaintance who may be experiencing job loss (perhaps someone you met recently at an event, volunteering or job club). Find  an "accountability partner," as social media/career expert Keith Keller mentions in one of his podcasts (careersuccessradio.org). Your confidence will see a boost straight away! And never forget that potential employers are evaluating the company you keep, so if you are connected with others online, make sure that their reputation is intact and credible. Potential employers are increasingly evaluating the company you keep, on and off line!

W=working the pond
Push the envelope. If you have trouble with working your contact, ask your trusted contacts how THEY got their job or started their business. I GUARANTEE it was not as a result of inactivity. This means activity related to selling yourself as a product and making a transition from job seeker to SOLUTION BUILDER. The difference is immense. Go on community websites to check out events (remember, weak links are invaluable in gathering contacts) or go online to a site like http://www.meetup.com/
to connect with others in your industry. Created a linkedin.com (75 million users and growing), and check out groups and comment on forum links to gain knowledge. You will generate valuable information that will propel your job search. The social media web site http://www.facebook.com/ is useful for connecting with people you have not connected with. There is a feature on Facebook which allows you to connect with likeminded people who share your interests, expertise, etc.

O=opportunity is everywhere
See the latter point when I mentioned "weak links." The people you would LEAST expect may be the quintessential missing piece of the puzzle.  Opportunity is omnipresent: from hockey rinks, to soccer fields, to volunteering, to temporary employment. Don't leave a stone unturned. Focus on connections that will help you achieve your goal (ie gainful employment, self-employment, etc).
R=repeat
Keep your momentum going. Going from unemployment to employment may not happen overnight, but it is essential to track your successes and milestones. In other words, create a tracking system to focus on what is going WELL in your job search, not what is implicity unsuccessful (i.e. an exclusively electronic job search).
K=keep it going
Successful people in history have invested in activity have witnessed success after a series of setbacks, failures, etc.  Similar to the last point, evaluate what needs to be improved in your job search. Refocus and then charge on! Take risks. The reality of risks gets you closer to success. To find out the value of risks, check out my article," Taking risks: what the ancient Romans can teach us" on http://www.careerealism.com/ or http://www.secretsofthejobhunt.com/

Until the next time!
Melissa Martin, bilingual career coach and ebook author, How to use social media in your job search, http://www.careercoachingbyphone.com/
Please join me Facebook fan page: careercoachingbyphonecom

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Webinar about Twitter via careerealism.com

Join Melissa C. Martin, approved career expert from careerealism.com for a webinar on Twitter tools to use for your job search
April 6 8pm EST