The Executive Update

You Can Tweet Your Way To a New Job if You Know the Ropes

Many thanks to recruiter Lindsay Olsen of the search firm Paradigm Staffing for her tips in U.S. News & World Report on how to harness Twitter for job search. We have been talking to NETSHARE members about Twitter use for some time, and a number of our career coaches have become avid tweeters. The rules of Twitter are much the same as the rules for LinkedIn, Facebook, Plaxo or any networking site. It’s a place where you need to be found, engage in a conversation, and start building connections that can lead to other conversations. Hiring managers and recruiters are posting new jobs and searches on Twitter daily, and the advantage of Twitter is you can tweet back directly to get more details.

Lindsay’s tips are not only valuable for job search, but should be applied by anyone using Twitter:

1. Create a user-friendly profile. The whole concept of social media is to be real and be found, so use your real name or a professional equivalent and make sure your bio includes details about you that will be of interest to a potential hiring manager.
2. Link to your online sales materials. You have a web link in your profile – use it to link to your online resume or other background about who you are and what your personal brand represents.
3. Keep your tweets out in the open. There is an option to keep your tweets public or private. If your goal is to be found, keep your comments out there for all to see, especially recruiters.
4. Search for relevant hashtags. Twitter, Tweetdeck, and other third-party Twitter dashboard applications let you search keywords to follow, such as #job, so you can look for relevant conversations to follow.
5. Follow others in your industry. Track companies you are targeting and professionals working at those companies. Those connections could reveal hidden career possibilities.
6. Twitter lists help you find new people to follow. You can make your own lists to manage your feeds, or better yet, find similar lists that others are compiling and follow them to find new contacts.
7. Tweet consistently. Post regularly, at least once or twice a day, and try to interact with other Twitterers.
8. Help others first. Blatant self-promotion doesn’t work well in Twitter or any social media site. Listen and engage first, then offer information that is of interest and value. This will make you part of the community and promote conversation.

Ask the Coach: Harnessing the Web to Get the Attention You Want

Every week, NETSHARE hosts Ask the Coach, a phone-in coaching session with leading career management experts. Here is an excerpt from this week’s session with our newest expert to join Ask the Coach, Barbara Safani, owner of Career Solvers based in New York City.

The World Wide Web has become such an engrained part of our lives and our careers that everyone is trying to come up with creative new strategies to harness the power of the Web. Some job seekers are thinking outside the box when it comes to the Web – way outside.

Barbara cited the example of one marketing executive who wanted to get attention of specific industry movers and shakers. He bought their names and started a banner ad campaign, so every time the executive conducted a search for him or herself, an ad would appear congratulating them on their achievements and introducing them to a similarly skilled executive, himself. You could click through on the banner to view his profile and accomplishments. The campaign worked, and this marketing executive landed in a very short time.

Then there are other approaches that are just as effective. Other coaches have talked about the power of blogging. Barbara also is a believer in using a web log to set yourself apart from the herd. If your goal is to be seen as a subject matter expert, then a blog can be a great tool. For the sake of your personal brand, a blog can’t be a diary of your daily personal experience and opinions on a variety of topics. Facebook might be a better venue for that. Instead, a blog is a place where you can share your knowledge and expertise, and increase your digital footprint. Use the blog to discuss relevant problems or industry trends, and improvements in your field. Share insights that will attract others to you.

The objective is to attract other professionals and interested parties to learn more about you. Many of those who comment on blogs are open to contact in other forums and forms, and this gives you an opening to expand your personal network. If you are interested in a specific company, blog about them to get their attention.

If you want to learn more about blogging to build your personal brand, join Jim Durbin, the social media headhunter, at our next Experts Connection teleseminar entitled, “Executives: Get Noticed for the Right Reasons.” If you can’t join the discussion, an archive of the teleseminar will also be available.

However, blogging is not for everyone. If you aren’t prepared to set aside time each week to add new content to your blog site, then you aren’t really ready to blog. But you can comment on other relevant blogs and follow other professionals in your field. Remember that each comment and post is searchable and associated with your name, so even commenting is a create way to expand your presence as an industry expert.

Ask the Coach: Harness the Power of the Blog

Every week, NETSHARE hosts Ask the Coach, a phone-in coaching session with leading career management experts. Here is an excerpt from this week’s session with career transition coach and consultant Randy Block.

 

This week, seasoned career coach Randy Block hosted the Ask the Coach call. As always, Randy was prepared with insight and pragmatic advice about finding work. His most practical advice to job seekers was find new ways to get noticed. Find ways to stand out from the crowd of applicants. Make yourself unique.

 

Not long ago, noting on your resume that you were prepared to stand apart as a “team player” or by being “results oriented” was more than enough to get a foot in the door. These days, such catch phrases are listed as the seven deadly words or phrases on your resume. You need to make yourself unique. You need to find the personal brand that differentiates you and your value proposition, and then back it up with concrete proof.

 

To help you build that unique value proposition, consider tapping the power of blogging. Creating a weblog where you can share your insight and industry knowledge is an ideal means to create an online brand presence; a foundation from which to launch your personal brand. If you have target companies that you are truly interested in, blog about them! Apply your experience to comment on what they are doing well and where they need help. Offer suggestions and ideas to improve things.

 

Most companies have watchdogs assigned to keep track of all Web references about the company. Your posts will come to their attention. But don’t wait to be discovered. Take matters into your own hands and proactively send links to your blog to hiring authorities, such as the department managers, the HR department, or the CEO. And don’t just say, “See, I am writing about you,” but rather use your blog to engage them in conversation about topics of interest. Ask what they think. Provide a URL and invite them to comment.

 

This is a great way to get a dialogue going and make a positive connection with executives who can positively influence your career. But remember, this is a conversation, not a sales pitch. You need to engage the parties involved. Make sure they are heard, and that they see your unique value and what you bring to the table. Over time, it will become obvious that your skills and expertise will be an asset to the company. At that point you can start talking about possible work. But if you try to rush the process without engaging in the conversation, then you will appear disingenuous and the strategy will fail.

 

If you want to learn more about how to harness blogging as a means to building your personal brand, be sure to attend this month’s Experts Connection teleseminar,  “Executives: Get Noticed for the Right Reasons,” with recruiter and master blogger Jim Durbin. Jim knows as the Social Media Headhunter because he understands how to help you harness the power of the blog to build brand awareness that will help you land your next job.