developing your job search strategy - marsh sutherland
DESCRIPTION
Too many potential job search “to dos” and not enough time to do them in? Sound familiar? You’re all project managers, right? What are the Level 0 mission critical activities to complete every day and every week? We will cover modern best practices in prioritization and execution of job search activities on job boards, social networks, and in-person business networking to land your next adventure. Go check out http://socialgrow.com to grow your relevant social network connections!TRANSCRIPT
Developing a Job Search StrategyA project plan for landing your next career adventure
Marsh Sutherland | President and Co-Founder
PMI Career Clinic, Waltham, MA
February 9, 2010
©2010 SocialGrow™ Inc.
Twitter Users?
Tonight’s Twitter hashtag is #pmicc
My Twitter profiles are @waldenrecruit & @socialgrow
Please tweet out things you learn with• hashtag, • one of my Twitter Ids • the URL shortener http://bit.ly/jobsearchplan
©2010 SocialGrow, Inc.
Who Am I?
“Hi, my name is Marsh! What’s yours?”President of Walden RecruitingSM
President and Co-Founder of SocialGrow™ Inc.Author of “New Job Now!” book to be published this spring.LOVES NETWORKING!
Boston BizSpark Meetup Founder, Web Executives Founder, Boston JavaScript Meetup Organizer, Boston Chair of Tech Exec Networking Group, and Manager of the Boston Entrepreneur’s Network
All-around multi-tasker using PM best practices to succeed in life
I’ve walked in your shoesFormer deNovis / eHealthDirect Project Manager | Laid offFormer Akibia Siebel Implementation Project Manager | Laid offFormer KPMG ABAS Consulting Project Manager | Left for AkibiaFormer Cohesive Consulting Project Analyst | Laid off
©2010 SocialGrow, Inc.
Getting Started
Overview to get you started:Research what you want to doUpdate your resumePost your resume on the various job boards & social networksSign up for social networks and state that you are job huntingSign up for job alerts on the job boards, Craigslist RSS, and Indeed, SimplyHired, and follow Twitter job tweetsSign up for VirtualJobCoach.com (a paid service) as digital dashboard to manage your job search. Promo code “WDR35AMVD”Sign up for SocialGrow.com Alpha to start growing your LinkedIn and other social network connections with relevant contactsNetwork by getting out and meet hiring managers & people who know hiring managers
©2010 SocialGrow, Inc.
Getting Started
“So…What Do You Want To Do?”Is what you’ve done in the past what you want to do again?Many Project Management skills in your toolkit can be transferred to new job situations.Employers will always pursue candidates that have demonstrated success in a number of different roles.Ask yourself:
What gets you excited at work? What have you really enjoyed doing in your past positions?What other roles can you think of that will provide the opportunity for you to perform those enjoyable activities regularly?Is your current career path becoming obsolete due to technology applications or offshoring job activities?
Is your current career path the one you really want?Make your decision on what you want to do.
©2010 SocialGrow, Inc.
Getting Started
Update your resumeResume writing best practices will be covered in session 3 with myself & other resume writing experts
©2010 SocialGrow, Inc.
Getting Started
Post your resume on these job boards:Monster.comHotJobs.comDice.comCareerBuilderCraigslist - http://boston.craigslist.org/res/Google sites – post your resume as your site & Google will index itPMI.org nationally
Suggest that PMIMassBay.org allow members to post resumes and viewable by recruiters for free. A PMI chapter in NJ does this and it has really helped.
LinkedIn – On your profile using Box.net applicationFacebook – use Captain Resume applicationTwitter – use Twitsume app at http://oneforty.com/item/twitsumeZoomInfo & SpokePeopleAhead, Real Match, Zapoint, and JobMagic
©2010 SocialGrow, Inc.
Getting Started
Sign up on these social networks and state your are job hunting:
LinkedIn & LinkedIn Groups relevant to your profession
Facebook & Facebook Groups relevant to your profession
MySpace
Jobster
Meetup
Yahoo! Groups
©2010 SocialGrow, Inc.
Getting Started
Sign up for Job Alerts:Monster.com, HotJobs.com, CareerBuilder.com, and Dice.com
Craigslist Jobs RSS feed
Indeed.com
SimplyHired.com
TweetMyJobs.com
You are signing up for these alerts as you want to be reactive to job postings and spend most of your time being proactive using social networking channels for your job hunt
©2010 SocialGrow, Inc.
Getting Started
Sign up with VirtualJobCoach.com:VirtualJobCoach.com is a digital dashboard/CRM-like system to manage and record all job search activities
It also has a central Job Alert functionality available as well
VirtualJobCoach is a paid service. Use Promo code “WDR35AMVD” to save $2 the first month.
©2010 SocialGrow, Inc.
Getting Started
Sign up with SocialGrow.com:So…have you noticed the logo in the lower left corners?SocialGrow is a social networking invitation automation engineHelps users rapidly grow their social network connections with relevant connections.The greater the number of connections, the more visible you are to hiring managers & recruitersWe are in Alpha stage right now so presently it is freeWe are looking for feedback for improving the service for job seekersSign up tonight at http://socialgrow.comAlpha should launch very soon
©2010 SocialGrow, Inc.
Getting Started
Find industry-relevant networking groups and events:
Network by getting out and meeting hiring managers & people who know hiring managers
PMI events are obviously one. Attend the monthly meetings and target as many “recruiter-looking” folks as possible
Check the attendees list before leaving and assemble a target list of who you want to bring with you
©2010 SocialGrow, Inc.
Daily List of To Dos:
1. Check your Job Alerts and RSS feeds for new jobs as early as possible. Be one of the first to apply
2. Check your online groups Jobs pages for any new jobs. Don’t wait for the notification email.
3. Use LinkedIn JobsInsider browser toolbar or other sources to determine who the hiring manager is and send them a nice note of introduction.
4. If you have a contact at the company you’ve applied to, ask them to refer you for the position and put a good word in with the hiring manager.
5. Email a former coworker and let them know your are looking for a job, attach your resume, and see if they know anyone looking to hire.
6. Look for new groups to join and post your bio stating you are looking for a job
©2010 SocialGrow, Inc.
Weekly List of To Dos
Take a checkpoint of your To Dos from last week and see if there are any gaps you need to follow up with immediately
Refresh your resume on all the job boards and social networking sites
Refresh your status on the social networks that you are looking for a job
Send out new messages or post new discussions on your social networking groups indicating you are looking for a job with a link to your bio or online resume
See what networking meetings are going on that week and attend with your target people you want to meet
©2010 SocialGrow, Inc.
Any Questions?
Marsh Sutherland
@waldenrecruit | @socialgrow | @marshsutherland
©2010 SocialGrow, Inc.
Appendix for Marsh’s Best PracticesResume Writing Best Practices
Resumes can be more than one page in lengthResumes should be written in an easy to read fontFont size should be 10, 11, or 12 for the body textResumes should use bullet points and adequate spacingResumes should answer all the obvious questions on the first readResumes should contain all your contact informationIf you have a website or blog, that internet address should be near the top of your resumeYour Name and Email address need to convey professionalismThe Career Summary needs to be clear and conciseThe Body Text for each position should quantify your accomplishmentsProfessional candidates should be members of their relevant professional organizations, such as “PMI” (Don’t have to be certified either)Go to http://office.microsoft.com for resume templates
©2010 SocialGrow, Inc.
Appendix for Marsh’s Best Practices
Simple and Direct Cover EmailsRecruiters and hiring managers don’t spend a lot of time reading cover e-mails. They need to be direct and to the point.Here is my recommend format (can’t see it, but will be on PDF takeaway:
Subject: “Professional” position - Former “Relevant Role” at “Similar Industry Company”
I am applying for the “Professional” position.
Most recently I was a “Relevant Role” at “Similar Industry Company” from “Start Year to End Year.” My employmentended due to a Reduction in Force.
The following skills and experience make me a strong candidate for this position:- Led the development of the CRM platform at XYZ Corporation, resulting in Employee of the Year award- Contributed to the Company’s knowledge base in the areas of . . . best practices- Mentored junior employees in . . . areas
I am available to interview and start work immediately. Please call me at (XXX) XXX-XXXX if you wish to discuss myqualifications further.
Thank you for your time and consideration of my application.
John Doe123 Anywhere StreetAnytown, MA XXXXXHome: (XXX) XXX-XXXXCell: (XXX) XXX-XXXXEmail: [email protected]
©2010 SocialGrow, Inc.
Appendix for Marsh’s Best Practices
References that get you the job offerIf a hiring manager asks you for references, then he/she wants you to join their team. Hiring managers want to speak with former supervisors and peers and hear, “yes, if given the opportunity I would hire and work with John Doe again.”If you have developed friendships with prior supervisors or peers, you want to be sure to list them as references.Always be honest with your potential employer.
©2010 SocialGrow, Inc.
Appendix for Marsh’s Best Practices
Applying for Open Positions Best Practices for Monster.com™, Careerbuilder.com™. Dice.com™, HotJobs.com™, Indeed.com™, SimplyHired.com™
Setup search agents to e-mail you the daily listing of new jobs matching your keyword search criteria. Especially on Indeed, SimplyHired, and VirtualJobCoach.Be the first to apply to new jobs as soon as they are listed by checking and running your saved searches several times throughout the day.Refresh your resume daily or weekly on the job boards.On Craigslist scroll down to the lower left corner of the job listing pages you are interested in and click RSS feedOn Craigslist when you post your resume, Click the check box “ok for others to contact you about other services, products or commercial”
©2010 SocialGrow, Inc.
Appendix for Marsh’s Best Practices
Make Yourself Visible…LinkedIn™is the Place!Where the good recruiters do keyword searches to find qualified candidatesWhere good job seekers go to research personnel at their target company.LinkedIn Profile Building Best Practices:
Fill out your LinkedIn™ profile completely.Include a head or head and shoulders picture.Include your e-mail address in your title.State that you are unemployed & are looking for a job.State in the Specialties section of your profile particular skills and toolsAdd the Box application and upload your resume so it is publicly availableIn your Account & Settings, make everything open and publicly visibleIn your LinkedIn Status state you are looking for employment & referrals
©2010 SocialGrow, Inc.
Appendix for Marsh’s Best Practices
Make Yourself Visible…LinkedIn™ is the Place!LinkedIn Profile Building Best Practices (Cont’d):
Join as many groups as possible related to your professional interests.For Jobs posted on LinkedIn, apply directly to the poster’s email address.If not included, send a message to the poster.Ask people you’ve worked with to write Recommendations for you.In Additional Information add:
Memberships in professionally relevant groups outside LinkedInDirect email and phone numberCheck off Career Opportunities in Opportunities Preference section
Add as many relevant LinkedIn connections as you can.The more contacts you have, the easier it will be for recruiters to find youUse the LinkedIn Import Contacts Wizard to initiate invitationsSign up for SocialGrow.com Alpha release for “real-time” social network invitation automation for people who email you. (Shameless Plug)
©2010 SocialGrow, Inc.
Appendix for Marsh’s Best Practices
Make Yourself Visible…LinkedIn™ is the Place!LinkedIn Profile Building Best Practices (Cont’d):
Join as many groups as possible related to your professional interests.Buy a Business Plus account on LinkedIn™ for $50 per monthSearch Jobs on LinkedIn™ for jobs posted on LinkedIn™ as well as those on the web provided by SimplyHired.com.Download and install the LinkedIn™ JobsInsider™ browser toolbar.
Other sites you should be actively seeking a job on:SNs: Facebook, Jobster, Doostang, ZoomInfo, Spoke, Meetup, Ning Groups, Yahoo! Groups, Google GroupsGoogle Profiles and Google SitesRelevant Professional Group Website Job Boards: PMIAlumni Job Boards & Alumni Associations
©2010 SocialGrow, Inc.
Appendix for Marsh’s Best Practices
Networking Does Work!Yes, there is a hidden job marketGet out and meet hiring managers & people who know hiring managersHiring managers want to “get the wash out” and don’t have time to recruit for openingsIf you come across someone with a need, offer to come on as a contract to perm basis and try each other out.In-Person Networking Best Practices
Buy business cards from VistaPrint with your picture and your resume on the backAttend at least one networking event per weekReview the attendee list and target people in advanceBe selfish with whom you spend your time withOffer referrals to other. Build the Favor Bank.
©2010 SocialGrow, Inc.