10 Things You Should Be Doing Now to Prepare for Future Job Search (Web 2.0 Style!)
Jan 16, 2009 Digital Marketing & Metrics, Social Media, social networks
I wonder how Social Media and Web 2.0 will change the way we present ourselves to potential employers. Will the resume be enough to make you stand out in the future?
A few months ago I had the task of going through applications for a Marketing Coordinator who would be working with me until I went on mat leave. I was shocked at the quality of résumé and the lack of personal websites, or participation in social networks. This may be understandable if I were looking to hire a accountant or a trades person – but I expect a marketing professional (junior or senior) to be able to sell themselves – and what better way then using the Internet. Just a LinkedIn account would be a start. In the future, I believe this will be the bare minimum for many positions in the workforce – not just those that work in Creative or Marketing.
Given that the news is sadly filled with layoffs, downsizing, and economic ugliness – what are you doing to ensure that you are “recession proof”? If you were to lose your job tomorrow – what would you do? Would you immediately start furiously writing a new résumé, applying for any and all jobs that you might be qualified for – posted on Workopolis and Monster and then wait, wait, wait for the darn phone to ring.
I was laid off once, and I implore you be prepared. Be ready 2009 style.
So here are the things you need to do, just in case:
Social Network
1 . Network online and offline. Extend your network by connecting with like-minded individuals. Don’t underestimate the power of social networks including Facebook, and Twitter.
2. LinkedIn of course is the obvious choice for business networking. Keep your profile up-to-date, and of course add colleagues, friends and connections to your LinkedIn network.
3. With all social networks share, collaborate and help followers and friends. Post interesting articles (including, but not exclusive to your own), answer questions, and comment on tweets, status’ and posts. Get involved and check-in regularly.
4. Don’t forget social networking started off-line – and despite our dependence on computers you can still get out there and meet new people! Attend community events, professional meetups, conferences, classes and Tweetups!
Create an online résumé and portfolio
5. The problem with a résumé is that it is just a piece of paper. There are no hyperlinks (oh sure you can add them but once it is printed out, or placed in a text only application form…poof it’s gone), there are no pictures, no graphs, no presentations, no videos and no personality. An online portfolio however can be all of that.
Take a look at mine – (a work in progress) at MichelleKostya.com
Be an expert in your field
6. Start a blog. Why not – everyone is doing it! Write about what you love, what you know, and what you wish you knew! Be passionate and personal (eventually people WILL read your blog!)
7. Perhaps you are more of a talker then a writer. Start a podcast and broadcast your expertise. Equipment can be relatively inexpensive and there are a plethora of places you can post your podcast out into the world.
8. Create Videos, E-books, Host Webinars or Guest Post – all are ways to get your name out in your field.
9. Even if you aren’t a blogger consider commenting on blogs (with all the bloggers commenting it is a bit of a echo chamber!). This will help you expand your network, encourage you to read and learn more, and maybe even enhance your confidence and writing skills! Consider using FriendFeed so you can “lifestream” your comments and share your expertise!
10. Get active on industry forums and discussion groups. Help out others…and they may reciprocate when you need it. Ah…Karma.
Added bonus…you could also do this:
job offer t-shirt
Image from Flickr Creative Commons- SocialisBetter
In Summary…
Don’t rely on a piece of paper when and if the time comes that you need to get out there and find a new job. As Dan Udey (@danudey) said in a Tweet to me when I asked Twitterland about the relvence of résumé: “resumes are becoming less interesting than who you are and what you’ve done”.
And, never assume you are safe. When it comes down to it – only you will look after YOU. During a recession – a company will just look at numbers – so sympathy, years, experience, or passion may not help you keep your job. Don’t wait until it is too late to update your résumé, skills and portfolio.
What do you think – are résumés still enough? What else are you doing?
Popularity: 34% [?]
| 3.5 (1 person) |
Tags: blogging, career, facebook, Internet, job hunting, jobs, linkedin, online portfolio, podcasting, resume, social media, social network, top 10, twitter, web 2.0
digital marketing – the new frontier in the job market…
Sep 30, 2008 Marketing & Communication, Search Marketing, Social Media, social networks, word of mouth
While I am on maternity leave, I am still in constant contact with my workplace. Answering questions, helping forge ahead on a number of projects that I feel are important enough to keep one foot in the door. Some days though I wonder why I bother. I wonder sometimes if my evangelism for digital media and word of mouth just rests on deaf ears. One step forward, two steps back. Approval. Then budget is cut. Approval. Then they freeze hiring for required resources. Approval. Then disapproval. But is any other company different? Is frustration just destined to be part of my working life? Perhaps this is simply what life is like when you are passionate for change, and a little impatient!
So while I am not currently looking for employment, some days I think back on Seth Godin’s book “The Dip” and wonder if I am stuck in a “cul-de-sac” where no amount of hard work will lead to success. On other days, however, I think I am just in a “Dip” and if I push forward I will make it to the other side, successful and triumphent in the completion of my career goals. When I see interesting job postings, or a recruiter calls I wonder if the grass is greener…
I saw this posting on a blog I read:
Sheridan College prides itself on its leadership in the field of digital media studies.
We are now looking for an accomplished and creative Online Marketing Manager with exceptional project management and communication skills to manage our own online presence.
Working with internal clients, a team of web developers and external resources, you will help Sheridan maximize its online impact by planning, implementing and measuring ongoing initiatives in support of our strategic objectives.
Responsibilities:
- Managing Sheridan’s website, monitoring and enhancing its performance;
- Managing extensive online advertising campaigns, social media activities and e-mail marketing programs;
- Collaborating with colleagues, internal clients to develop effective online strategies;
- Tracking new user trends and IT developments and leveraging them for our online impact.
Requirements:
- 3 year diploma/degree in E/Marketing, Advertising, Business, Web Design, E-commerce, or related field;
- Min. 5 years experience in E/Marketing, Advertising, Business, or related professions;
- Understanding of effective website design and online marketing, including SEM and SEO principles and social media;
- Experience with web analytics tools/metrics management.
Wow! A job posting that is looking for SEO and SEM experience, someone to work on social media and e-mail marketing, someone to forge ahead in new media. They “get” the new space, and want some one to focus entirely on Digital Marketing, rather than divide their time between online and offline marketing. The last time I searched the job postings I didn’t see positions like this (it has been awhile!) and it is exciting to think that Digital Marketing is slowly becoming its own discipline (even in smaller companies and organizations like Sheridan College ). A quick search on Workopolis found 4 Digital Marketing Manager Positions, 4 mentions of “Social Media” in a job description, and 7 “e-marketing” positions – all in the last 30 days! So, I suppose based on this I can hope that someday I will be able to focus entirely on this area tactically, and strategically work with other marketing disciplines; rather than being the jack-of-all-trades, evangelist for digital marketing, and occassionally frustrated worker-bee, that I currently seem to be! I can hope that someday this will become so important in my own company that “approval” remains approved. That resources find their way to the department. And, instead of talking to myself…banging my head against the wall on occasion…I will find that people are saying the same thing to me!
Popularity: 10% [?]
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Tags: career, Digital Marketing & Metrics, Dip, job descriptions, jobs, Marketing & Communication, Seth Godin, social media, word of mouth, Work
