Use Twitter to get a Job

Twitter has been getting a lot of attention lately as one of the fastest growing social media networks.  Millions already log on and "tweet" their experiences and thoughts.  Micro-blogging (Tweets are limited to 140 characters) is turning out to be a great way to network within your industry and to learn a lot of insider information from people with your interests.

Lot's of articles on How To Get a Job Using Twitter, but bottom line is - you need to stay current in this rapidly changing job market.  Twitter is filled with people with your interests and in your career field, so learn the tools, connect with as many people as you can, and start the learning.

A great place to start is by adding EBL on Twitter.  We update daily with links and tips for your job search and professional growth.  

Also, for the visual thinkers, some cool Twitter visualizers.

Can you launch an entrepreneurship from your dorm?

Inc. magazine recently published an article about successful young adult entrepreneurs..VERY young. The article profiles students 14-24 years old with not only unique products and services, but also creative, out-of-the-box networking and branding tactics.

Vote for your favorite here: http://www.inc.com/college

Focus revisited

I recently met a wonderfully bright senior at an institution in Manhattan while conducting a workshop on presentation skills. During the breakout session, his peers were blown away by his confidence and the ease at which he presented his strengths and interests. Clearly they were envious.
At the end of the event I brought up some of the best presenters, as judged by their peers, so the entire audience could benefit. This gentleman was a unanimous choice by his group. Much to my surprise, his presentation, specifically crafted for a potential interview, would have never landed him the position.
He was surely eloquent and confident. However, he was all over the place and made it clear that his passions were many. Entrepreneurial spirit is wonderful, but a scary thing for a potential employer. Please don't forget that someone hiring you is looking for a commitment - someone they can hopefully grow with. They are already concerned with the figures that state a typical 20 something will have 5 jobs by the age of thirty. Please don't add to their concerns with your lack of focus.

Staying positive and being PROACTIVE

I was doing a seminar at The New York Public Library yesterday in conjunction with Vault.com and was upset to see how many people are not proactively seeking employment. No matter what you think, people are hiring. Even those firms that are actively laying off people will always make room for the "right" individual. As someone mentioned to me in passing, we just had two rounds of layoffs but I still have the green light to bring in really good candidates.

These companies are not posting jobs on-line or in the paper. Nor are they showing up at career fairs. It's your job to seek them out. Do your research. Decide if your credentials and more importantly, your personality strengths will WOW them. Find the person that can make the hiring decision. Better yet, find the person you will directly report to (may be the same person) and make it loud and clear how they will clearly BENEFIT by hiring you. How they would be CRAZY not to. What's in it for them.

So stop complaining and go find a great opportunity for yourself. Someone is being hired right now......why not you?

"People Skills Beget Success” "

--The Meridian, December 2008

Click the link above to see the full article.

Informational Interviews

Quick Tip...

If you're not sure where to locate the best people to reach out to, a good place to start is industry specific trade magazines. Pay close attention to the, "people on the move" section. You will not only find a great person to contact, but a little background info as well. Most of these publications are on file at the library. Have fun!

Informational Interviews

One of the more underutilized methods of networking is the informational interview. People love talking about themselves and sharing information about their job and industry. Take advantage of this to gain valuable insight and build your database. It may not lead to instant gratification, but if you plant enough seeds and water them properly, opportunities will present themselves when you least expect it.

Begin by targeting a specific company you would like to work for and the relevant department. Obtain the contact information of the department head - ie: VP, Marketing. Obtaining their contact info and getting them on the phone or via e-mail is all about being creative. See a future post if needed.

You simply want 15 minutes of their time (which will lead to an hour if you're truly personable and passionate about this field) to gain a better understanding of their job/industry and any advice they may have. Before you meet or speak, do whatever you can to obtain information about them and/or their company to assist with your "small talk".

Your goal - Keep the focus on them. Ask open ended questions to keep them talking. Take lots of notes. Send a hand written thank you. E-mail them asking if they don't mind hanging onto your resume should they know of any career opportunities. Stay in contact.