How to Reach Out to Your Network...Examples Included

SSI has recently developed our own Outplacement program for current applicants as well as administrative professionals who were recently laid off by our clients. We are very excited to offer this service FREE to those who qualify. We want to help job seekers in any way possible...

One of the most crucial pieces of advice we offer those who are looking is to reach out to your network and let them know that you are looking for a position. Of course, some ways of doing this are better than others. When you email your resume to a list of contacts, be sure that the message is well written, concise, spell-checked, etc. Also, this email should never place any burden on your network- always remember that the your job search is your responsibility!

Here are some real-life examples...live and learn!

What NOT to Do
"Hey Guys
I got laid off!!!! What thype of PT jobs you got? Im resending you my resume this weekend. Im warding off the last c ouple days of th eflu and should feel better soon!

- Me"

What to Do
"Good Morning!
I wanted to take a moment to let you know that I've been placed back into unemployment due to another downsizing. I've attached my resume for your review and would appreciate any help, ideas, or support you could offer. I know this is a difficult time for everyone and the market is saturated with people like me looking for a job but I'm willing and flexible. I would even be interested in part-time until a full time position would become available.

Please feel free to contact me at 636-555-5555 or on my cell 314-555-5555. Thank you for your time!

Sincerely,
Jane Doe"

How to Build Your LinkedIn Network

Found a great video tutorial that shows a person how to utilize LinkedIn once you've finished your profile. Geoff Peterson shows you how it's done in an easy, step-by-step video.

If you are a current job seeker, this will come in handy during your search. The more people in your network, the greater the possibility of connecting with someone who can help you land your dream job.

For those of you who are employed, you should make it a point to regularly build your network AND find the use of online social networking!



Find more videos like this on RecruitingBlogs.com

How to Self Destruct Your Career

Found a link to a great blog today- http://jasonseiden.com/

Jason writes in an incredibly sarcastic/biting manner, so beware! But he gets his point across very clearly about how to manage your job search AND career... Take a look at a recent post. I will also be checking out his book, "How to Self Destruct: Making the Least of What's Left of Your Career"

The Importance of Answering Machines and Voicemail

As one could imagine, we are consistently receiving several hundred resumes each week from people searching for work. After reviewing each resume, part of my job is to contact individuals who might be a good candidate for SSI.

After almost 2 years of recruiting experience, it's surprising to see how many people I contact do not have an answering machine or voicemail! Or the amount of times that I get a busy signal. This has me very confused- how do people expect to find work if a hiring manager can't get in touch? I actually posed this question to an applicant that I finally got in touch with (after several attemps). Her response? "I didn't think I needed an answering machine, because I figured someone would try to call me back or just send an email".

News flash: if a potential employer has to do extra work (beyond sorting through resumes and dialing your phone number) to get in touch with you about a job, s/he might not do it! Right now, employers have the luxury of selecting a few candidates from several hundred applicants. If the phone just rings and rings, the recruiter will simply hang up and move on to the next candidate.
Yes, some employers- like SSI, will make several attempts to get in touch. If I can't reach someone on the phone, I usually follow up with an email. But plenty of other companies do not make this effort- they receive too many resumes and have a limited amount of time to track down a potential candidate.

Even though an answering machine or subscription to voicemail is an additional expense, it's minimal and a worthwhile investment. Also, I would reccommend checking your machine to be sure it works or check your voicemail box to be sure that it's not full or you missed any messages. Finally, if you have voicemail, make sure change the settings to switch over to your message system, rather than allowing the caller to hear a busy signal. You never know who might be contacting you if you don't have the proper resources!

Stimulus Package Helps Defang COBRA Health Plan Payments...

Found a great article today that shows how the stimulus package can help people who are in-between jobs.
http://hrcafe.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/02/stimulus-package-helps-defang-cobra-health-plan-payments.html?email_id=hrcafe021909

How Networking Pays Off

For those of you who "pish posh" the idea of social networking, or don't think that it does any good, here's a perfect example of how it pays off...

"Bonny and Pam:

I am sorry but I am going to have to cancel our meeting from tomorrow afternoon. Something kind of unexpected happened to me today. I got a job!!!!!

Anheuser-Busch had a career fair for all us laid off folks a couple of weeks ago. At the fair I met a recruiter for an engineering firm. I passed along my resume to him and lo and behold they called me for an interview this morning. Things went very well during the interview. I spoke with the man I would directly be supporting and the President of the company. The chemistry was great and the position sounded like something that would really use my strengths. We talked for about 2.5 hours and before I knew what was happening, they offered me the position! Wow.

This is a real blessing for me and I am so thankful!! This economy is truly scary and, frankly I was worried sick about finding another job at this stage in my career... I thought I was going to be at A-B until I was a little old lady. Life has a sense of humor sometimes, doesn't it?

I appreciate all the help and assistance that you provided! I am so sorry to have to cancel this meeting with such short notice, but feel sure you will understand. You guys are a great team and I recommend you to everyone I know. I will definitely be in touch and let you know how things are going (and if my company has any more open positions!).

Thanks again,
Linda G."

This goes to show that in order to find the right position, job seekers need to do more than just sit at home and fill out online applications/submit resumes to online job boards. Getting "out there" and opening your eyes to other opportunities is a good thing.

Keep checking our blog - we list job fairs, networking opportunities, career seminars, etc. And if you hear of any of these kinds of happenings around St. Louis, let us know and we will post!

Telling It Like It Is- "I Was Fired"

How do you explain to a potential employer that you were fired? It's a sticky subject that many run into during a search... Found an insightful article on Resume Apple (www.resumeapple.com)
that helps people deal with this very problem.

Take a look!
http://www.resumeapple.com/articles/pdf/240041.pdf

How NOT to Get Hired...

Received a funny email today from a friend in HR...some "true life" stories of how not to land a job!

How to 100% Make Sure You Won't Get a Job Personnel executives of 100 major corporations were asked for stories of unusual behavior by job applicants.
1. "... stretched out on the floor to fill out the job application."
2. "She wore a Walkman and said she could listen to me and the music at the same time."
3. " A balding candidate abruptly excused himself. Returned to office a few minutes later, wearing a hairpiece."
4. "... asked to see interviewer's resume to see if the personnel executive was qualified to judge the candidate."
5. "... announced she hadn't had lunch and proceeded to eat a hamburger and french fries in the interviewer's office - wiping the ketchup on her sleeve"
6. "Stated that, if he were hired, he would demonstrate his loyalty by having the corporate logo tattooed on his forearm."
7. "Interrupted to phone his therapist for advice on answering specific interview questions."
8. "When I asked him about his hobbies, he stood up and started tap dancing around my office." 9. "At the end of the interview, while I stood there dumb-struck, went through my purse, took out a brush, brushed his hair, and left."
10. "... pulled out a Polaroid camera and snapped a flash picture of me. Said he collected photos of everyone who interviewed him."
11. "Said he wasn't interested because the position paid too much."
12. "During the interview, an alarm clock went off from the candidate's brief case. He took it out, shut it off, apologized and said he had to leave for another interview."
13. "A telephone call came in for the job applicant. It was from his wife. His side of the conversation went like this: "Which company? When do I start? What's the salary?"
I said, "I assume you're not interested in conducting the interview any further."
He promptly responded, "I am as long as you'll pay me more." "I didn't hire him, but later found out there was no other job offer. It was a scam to get a higher offer."
14. "Candidate said he really didn't want to get a job, but the unemployment office needed proof that he was looking for one."
15. "Pointing to a black case he carried into my office, he said that if he was not hired, the bomb would go off. Disbelieving, I began to state why he would never be hired and that I was going to call the police. He then reached down to the case, flipped a switch and ran. No one was injured, but I did need to get a new desk."

Go! Network Session Notes

I was lucky enough to attend the first Go! Network seminar yesterday. Over 200 people attended this session, which covered how to cope with job loss, how to handle your finances once you've been displaced, as well as the importance of networking.

One of the most interesting things about Go! Network is that the leaders solicited feedback from the participants- they wanted to know what were the most important questions and issues facing those who are currently unemployed. Based on their discussions yesterday, the rest of the program will be modeled around that feedback.

Weekly sessions are scheduled as follows:
Tuesday, Feb. 10- Creating a Resume
Monday, Feb. 16- Interviewing Skills
Tuesday, Feb. 24- Branding Yourself
Tuesday, March 3- Strategy and Networking Your Plan
Tuesday, March 10- Navigating the Web
Tuesday, March 17- Career Fair

Pre-registration is preferred before each seminar, as seating is somewhat limited. For more information, visit http://www.gonetworkst.com/

Follow this link to see KSDK's footage on the event: http://www.ksdk.com/video/default.aspx?maven_playerId=articleplayer&maven_referralPlaylistId=playlist&maven_referralObject=1020393150

Resume Tips

Putting together a "good" resume can be difficult for some, especially if you haven't needed to create one in a few years! Resume Apple (http://www.resumeapple.com/) is a website that offers resume advice, including general tips and for those looking in specific job markets.

Here's an article on overall resume ideas:
http://www.resumeapple.com/articles/index.php?id=240175&utm_source=WNW&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=20090130-13974