Well, there’s good news and bad news regarding the use of social media for career advancement. The good news is that social media can help you get a job. The bad news is that social media can help you lose a job. Let’s start by discussing some websites that can help you get a job.
LinkedIn: I highly recommend that college students and recent grads join LinkedIn. Whenever I speak at colleges, I ask students if they are using LinkedIn and usually only a few say yes. There are currently 80 million members on LinkedIn and while the average age of its members is much higher than the age of college students, if you join while in college or right after you graduate, you will have a great advantage in your job search.
LinkedIn is a professional website, not a social one. You can put your resume on it and unlike a paper resume, you can add one photo of yourself if you desire, which is usually a headshot of you in professional attire. One of the great things about LinkedIn is that once you are connected with someone, you have access to all of their connections. If you want to get a job in finance, for example, and your new connection has 100 connections, you can go through each connection and search for those in the finance field. You can then ask your mutual connection to introduce you via LinkedIn to those finance connections and perhaps one or two would be willing to help you.
LinkedIn can search your online address book and let you know which of your contacts are already on LinkedIn. You can also search for jobs, people, and organizations on LinkedIn. However, one of the big advantages of LinkedIn is that you can get recommendations from professors, fellow students, former bosses and co-workers, etc. Employers will be checking your LinkedIn profile when you apply for a job and the more recommendations you have, the bigger advantage you’ll have over those who don’t have recommendations.
Twitter: Believe it or not, Twitter is not just about following celebrities or having your friends tell you where they are having coffee. Many of the top job search websites like Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com, etc. have a profile on Twitter. Importantly, there are many companies and people who give career advice on Twitter every day. They provide links to Internet articles on interviewing tips, networking tips, resume/cover letter tips, job listings, etc. All you have to do is enter a few keywords and you will find tons of valuable information on how to get and keep a job.
Facebook/MySpace: While these two websites are social networking websites, they can also be utilized as valuable networking tools when you are searching for a job. At the top of your Facebook page, for example, it asks “What’s on your mind?” This is a great place to let your Facebook “friends” know that you’re looking for a job in a particular field or company and to ask them if they know anyone that can help you. All it takes is one good referral and you may be on your way to getting a great job.
So far, I’ve discussed the positives of using social media for career advancement but you must be aware of the dangers, too. Perhaps you’ve heard the true story of a young woman who wrote on her Facebook page that she hated her job and her boss. Unfortunately, she had forgotten that her boss was one of her Facebook “friends.” He called her in the next day and basically told her he was sorry she didn’t like him or the job and showed her the door. One of my former colleagues was allegedly dressed provocatively on their MySpace page (they were fully clothed). The president of our company found out because one of the company rats, I mean employees, told the president about it who then spoke with my colleague’s boss who then spoke with my colleague. I’m sure this was quite embarrassing for them but these are just two examples of the dangers of social networking websites.
I think it’s quite apparent that we must all make the assumption that your employer or future employer is checking out your social networking profile. I know that there are privacy settings but they seem to be constantly changing and personally, I don’t trust them. As a result, you need to be diligent and be careful about the photos you post on your profile (don’t post partying photos, bathing suit photos, etc.). You also need to be very careful about what you say and what your friends say on your profile. Big Brother and Big Sister are watching.
As we have seen, social media can be extremely helpful in giving you an advantage when networking and job hunting but you do need to be cautious. You may even want to Google yourself and see what pops up. If you don’t like what you see, try to change it. Importantly, in addition to utilizing social media for career advancement, please keep in mind that there is no substitute for face-to-face contact. If you use a combination of online and in-person networking, you will be successful in your job search and career advancement. Good luck!
This article was a guest post for the Generation Y website ebrandingMe-http://ebranding.me/
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
HOW TO BE A GOOD PRESENTER AT WORK
If you get an opportunity to give a presentation at work, it means that your boss has confidence in you and thinks that you're knowledgeable in a key area. This is your time to shine. If you can give an informative and entertaining presentation, you will enhance your work reputation and help your chances of moving up the ladder.
Many people get nervous before giving a presentation but don't worry, this is normal. It's extremely important to know your material inside and out. Practice giving your presentation several times. Try to anticipate every question that may come up. If it's a PowerPoint presentation, proof it very carefully and then have someone else proof it.
If your presentation is in PowerPoint, try to do a run-through the day before or day of the presentation in the room where you'll be presenting. Make sure you have the proper audio-visual equipment and that it is running properly. If you can get a co-worker to be present during the run-through to critique you, that would be helpful.
If your presentation is on a CD or DVD, personally check to see that the right CD/DVD is in the machine before you give the presentation. I once saw a colleague give a presentation at a big sales meeting that had the wrong CD/DVD and let's just say, his boss was not too happy.
When you give your presentation, look your audience in the eye and be confident and enthusiastic. Don't speak too fast or too slow and change the tone of your voice so it's not monotone. You can even make the presentation interactive by asking the audience questions as you proceed.
Important-always bring hard copies with you as a back-up in case you have technical difficulties. In other words, ALWAYS HAVE A BACK-UP PLAN. When I give lectures at colleges/universities,I ask them to supply a laptop and projector since I will be bringing a flashdrive. However, I always bring my laptop with me as a back-up and most importantly, I always bring a hard copy of the presentation with me in case of a power failure or their machines don't work (have the phone number of the A/V department with you just in case). By having a back-up plan, it will enable you to be confident that you are prepared for any eventuality.
Good luck!
Many people get nervous before giving a presentation but don't worry, this is normal. It's extremely important to know your material inside and out. Practice giving your presentation several times. Try to anticipate every question that may come up. If it's a PowerPoint presentation, proof it very carefully and then have someone else proof it.
If your presentation is in PowerPoint, try to do a run-through the day before or day of the presentation in the room where you'll be presenting. Make sure you have the proper audio-visual equipment and that it is running properly. If you can get a co-worker to be present during the run-through to critique you, that would be helpful.
If your presentation is on a CD or DVD, personally check to see that the right CD/DVD is in the machine before you give the presentation. I once saw a colleague give a presentation at a big sales meeting that had the wrong CD/DVD and let's just say, his boss was not too happy.
When you give your presentation, look your audience in the eye and be confident and enthusiastic. Don't speak too fast or too slow and change the tone of your voice so it's not monotone. You can even make the presentation interactive by asking the audience questions as you proceed.
Important-always bring hard copies with you as a back-up in case you have technical difficulties. In other words, ALWAYS HAVE A BACK-UP PLAN. When I give lectures at colleges/universities,I ask them to supply a laptop and projector since I will be bringing a flashdrive. However, I always bring my laptop with me as a back-up and most importantly, I always bring a hard copy of the presentation with me in case of a power failure or their machines don't work (have the phone number of the A/V department with you just in case). By having a back-up plan, it will enable you to be confident that you are prepared for any eventuality.
Good luck!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Top Ten Mistakes Of Recent College Graduates
Even in this tough economy, there are many recent college graduates who either have jobs or are about to start jobs. However, many of them will be making some mistakes that can be avoided. Here they are, in no particular order:
1. Not dressing appropriately. What's the first thing that people notice about you when you go to work? Probably the way you're dressed. Take the lead from upper management and don't follow your peers when it comes to the dress code at work. Dress appropriately. If you work in a corporate environment, a business suit is probably the norm and if you work for Google, it will be a lot more casual.
2. Criticizing the way things are done. When you're first starting out, I'm sure you want things to be done the way you're used to having them done but it's best to defer to the way your bosses want things done. I once had a new employee who was very smart and well-educated. They proceeded to criticize a big project my bosses and I were working on. We were very successful with that project and all this employee did was alienate themselves from their supervisors. Establish a great work reputation first before trying to change things.
3. Expecting a promotion after one week on the job. I was giving a college lecture recently when one of the students mentioned that her boyfriend couldn't understand why he hasn't gotten a promotion after being on the job for 3 months. BE PATIENT! It doesn't do you any good to quickly get a promotion if you're not ready for one. Once you have a great work aptitude and the experience that is required, you will move up the ladder but don't be in a rush.
4. Coming in late to work. You may have gotten used to coming in late to class but that won't cut it in the workplace. If you want to tick your boss off first thing in the morning, then by all means come in late but I wouldn't recommend it. When you arrive late to work or to a meeting, you're basically saying that your time is more valuable than everyone else's-it isn't. Set your alarm clock earlier and you'll be fine.
5. Spending too much time on the phone or Internet. You never want to be known as the person who "is always on the phone" or "is always on the Internet" for personal reasons. It shows your boss that you have too much time on your hands. Some departments keep a log of phone calls for their employees and many companies keep track of your Internet usage so avoid those porn sites at work!
6. Drinking too much at company functions. You may be used to partying at school but partying too hard at a work function can cost you a job or career. It's that one extra drink that can hurt you. I've seen employees say very inappropriate things to bosses and co-workers, some got hurt physically, some have gotten DUI's, and some just make asses out of themselves. If you must drink at a work function, have one drink and nurse it.
7. Inappropriate material on social networking websites. You may have hit the right privacy functions on Facebook or did you? Just assume that your employer or prospective employer can see your Facebook or MySpace page. Don't post any photos of you drinking/partying or in a revealing bathing suit. Definitely don't say anything negative about anyone at work because many people who have done so have been fired.
8. Not asking the right questions. When you're new to a job, it's not only important to ask questions but to ask the right questions. If you ask too many your boss might get frustrated but too few and you won't learn what you need to learn. Think about the most important questions you have and ask them. A former boss once told me that the person asking the questions is the one in power.
9. Sending inappropriate emails at work. You have to be very careful about the content of your work emails. They should all be professional and don't assume it's o.k. to use shorthand like you would in a text message. Importantly, if you are upset with someone, take a step back, wait 30 minutes, and then edit your email. Once you send a nasty email, you're at the point of no return and I've seen employees get fired for one negative email.
10. Not accepting constructive criticism. Younger employees have been brought up by parents, teachers, and sports coaches with a lot of praise which means a lack of criticism. Don't worry-your boss will probably make up for a lifetime of praise with a lot of criticism. Don't take it personally. Everyone gets criticized. Listen to what the boss says and if they're right, tell them you will do a better job in that area. If you disagree with your boss's criticism, it's o.k. to tell them that but make sure you have examples of why they're wrong.
1. Not dressing appropriately. What's the first thing that people notice about you when you go to work? Probably the way you're dressed. Take the lead from upper management and don't follow your peers when it comes to the dress code at work. Dress appropriately. If you work in a corporate environment, a business suit is probably the norm and if you work for Google, it will be a lot more casual.
2. Criticizing the way things are done. When you're first starting out, I'm sure you want things to be done the way you're used to having them done but it's best to defer to the way your bosses want things done. I once had a new employee who was very smart and well-educated. They proceeded to criticize a big project my bosses and I were working on. We were very successful with that project and all this employee did was alienate themselves from their supervisors. Establish a great work reputation first before trying to change things.
3. Expecting a promotion after one week on the job. I was giving a college lecture recently when one of the students mentioned that her boyfriend couldn't understand why he hasn't gotten a promotion after being on the job for 3 months. BE PATIENT! It doesn't do you any good to quickly get a promotion if you're not ready for one. Once you have a great work aptitude and the experience that is required, you will move up the ladder but don't be in a rush.
4. Coming in late to work. You may have gotten used to coming in late to class but that won't cut it in the workplace. If you want to tick your boss off first thing in the morning, then by all means come in late but I wouldn't recommend it. When you arrive late to work or to a meeting, you're basically saying that your time is more valuable than everyone else's-it isn't. Set your alarm clock earlier and you'll be fine.
5. Spending too much time on the phone or Internet. You never want to be known as the person who "is always on the phone" or "is always on the Internet" for personal reasons. It shows your boss that you have too much time on your hands. Some departments keep a log of phone calls for their employees and many companies keep track of your Internet usage so avoid those porn sites at work!
6. Drinking too much at company functions. You may be used to partying at school but partying too hard at a work function can cost you a job or career. It's that one extra drink that can hurt you. I've seen employees say very inappropriate things to bosses and co-workers, some got hurt physically, some have gotten DUI's, and some just make asses out of themselves. If you must drink at a work function, have one drink and nurse it.
7. Inappropriate material on social networking websites. You may have hit the right privacy functions on Facebook or did you? Just assume that your employer or prospective employer can see your Facebook or MySpace page. Don't post any photos of you drinking/partying or in a revealing bathing suit. Definitely don't say anything negative about anyone at work because many people who have done so have been fired.
8. Not asking the right questions. When you're new to a job, it's not only important to ask questions but to ask the right questions. If you ask too many your boss might get frustrated but too few and you won't learn what you need to learn. Think about the most important questions you have and ask them. A former boss once told me that the person asking the questions is the one in power.
9. Sending inappropriate emails at work. You have to be very careful about the content of your work emails. They should all be professional and don't assume it's o.k. to use shorthand like you would in a text message. Importantly, if you are upset with someone, take a step back, wait 30 minutes, and then edit your email. Once you send a nasty email, you're at the point of no return and I've seen employees get fired for one negative email.
10. Not accepting constructive criticism. Younger employees have been brought up by parents, teachers, and sports coaches with a lot of praise which means a lack of criticism. Don't worry-your boss will probably make up for a lifetime of praise with a lot of criticism. Don't take it personally. Everyone gets criticized. Listen to what the boss says and if they're right, tell them you will do a better job in that area. If you disagree with your boss's criticism, it's o.k. to tell them that but make sure you have examples of why they're wrong.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Top 10 LinkedIn Mistakes
I always recommend that people, especially college students, join LinkedIn, a free professional networking website with over 65 million members. I think it's a great tool which makes it easier for prospective employers to see your work history and background. Once you become "linked in" to someone, you then have access to all of their professional contacts. However, many people make some common mistakes on LinkedIn:
1. Waiting until they are unemployed before they join. If you wait until you're out of a job (or are looking for your first job) to join LinkedIn, you'll be in panic mode-trying to get as many contacts as possible in a short amount of time. It's best to join when you still have a job so that you can take your time posting your resume, making contacts, and getting recommendations.
2. Lack of a photo or having a non-professional photo. The first thing that people notice about you is your photo. Unlike Facebook or MySpace, you are only allowed one photo to be posted so make it count. Have a professional headshot in business attire taken of you.
A lot of people who are on LinkedIn don't have a photo (half of my contacts don't). Perhaps they're afraid that it will bring unwanted attention to them and that their bosses may suspect they're looking for a job. With so many members on LinkedIn, I think it's generally accepted that being on LinkedIn doesn't mean you're looking for a job. There's also many people who have a photo of themselves in casual dress with a swimming pool or baseball field in the background. As I said, business attire only.
Another reason that some people may not have a photo posted is that LinkedIn has a 4MB photo size limit. If your camera takes photos that are larger than this, you should edit and downsize them so that they can be downloaded on the site.
3. Posting an incomplete resume. When you post your resume on LinkedIn, you have to post it in different sections so make sure you don't leave out a section. Everything should be in chronological order and don't leave out dates-employers want to follow your career path from beginning to present.
4. Lack of a clear, specific objective. At the top of your profile you have an opportunity to list an update. This is the perfect space to state your job objective. You can also state it in the "Summary" section. Just like on any resume, a specific job objective goes a lot further than a general job objective. Unlike a resume, you can't keep changing your resume objective to match a specific job since you don't know who is looking at your profile.
5. Lack of a personal greeting when trying to get "linked in" with someone. Personally, when someone tries to "link in" with me, especially someone I know, I prefer that they send me a personal message and not the auto message that says "I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn." I think you have a better chance of getting someone to be "linked in" with you, especially someone you don't know, if you include a brief personal message.
6. Lack of recommendations. When potential employers look at your LinkedIn profile, they will be looking at how many recommendations you have. The more you have, the better chance you have of getting noticed. Get them from supervisors, co-workers, employees, professors, and fellow students.
7. Contacting your contact's contacts without a mutual introduction. One of the great things about LinkedIn is that once you are "linked in" with someone, you then have the ability to access all of their contacts, some of whom may be able to help you get a job. However, I would recommend not trying to contact them directly. First, ask your mutual contact if they can introduce you via email to the person you want to be "linked in" with. Now, you're no longer a stranger. If your contact is unable or unwilling to do so, then contact the person you want to be "linked in" with directly. However, don't tell them you think they can help you. A better approach would be to introduce yourself, tell them your objective, let them know you admire what they're doing, and tell them you would really appreciate it if they can take the time to speak with you in the future.
8. Not joining LinkedIn groups. There are many LinkedIn groups you can join and all it requires is doing a search, then clicking on a link. To start with, join your college's alumni association. Join a group that is associated with the field you're in. The more groups you join, the more diversified you become and you now have something in common with many other LinkedIn members.
9. Not using the search function. Once you join LinkedIn, you can do a search for jobs, people, groups, and companies. Don't forget to utilize this function.
10. Not using LinkedIn once you get a job. Networking doesn't stop once you get a job. You should always try to increase the number of contacts you have and continue to add recommendations. In this economy, this is no such thing as job security so always be prepared for the next job by constantly updating your LinkedIn profile.
1. Waiting until they are unemployed before they join. If you wait until you're out of a job (or are looking for your first job) to join LinkedIn, you'll be in panic mode-trying to get as many contacts as possible in a short amount of time. It's best to join when you still have a job so that you can take your time posting your resume, making contacts, and getting recommendations.
2. Lack of a photo or having a non-professional photo. The first thing that people notice about you is your photo. Unlike Facebook or MySpace, you are only allowed one photo to be posted so make it count. Have a professional headshot in business attire taken of you.
A lot of people who are on LinkedIn don't have a photo (half of my contacts don't). Perhaps they're afraid that it will bring unwanted attention to them and that their bosses may suspect they're looking for a job. With so many members on LinkedIn, I think it's generally accepted that being on LinkedIn doesn't mean you're looking for a job. There's also many people who have a photo of themselves in casual dress with a swimming pool or baseball field in the background. As I said, business attire only.
Another reason that some people may not have a photo posted is that LinkedIn has a 4MB photo size limit. If your camera takes photos that are larger than this, you should edit and downsize them so that they can be downloaded on the site.
3. Posting an incomplete resume. When you post your resume on LinkedIn, you have to post it in different sections so make sure you don't leave out a section. Everything should be in chronological order and don't leave out dates-employers want to follow your career path from beginning to present.
4. Lack of a clear, specific objective. At the top of your profile you have an opportunity to list an update. This is the perfect space to state your job objective. You can also state it in the "Summary" section. Just like on any resume, a specific job objective goes a lot further than a general job objective. Unlike a resume, you can't keep changing your resume objective to match a specific job since you don't know who is looking at your profile.
5. Lack of a personal greeting when trying to get "linked in" with someone. Personally, when someone tries to "link in" with me, especially someone I know, I prefer that they send me a personal message and not the auto message that says "I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn." I think you have a better chance of getting someone to be "linked in" with you, especially someone you don't know, if you include a brief personal message.
6. Lack of recommendations. When potential employers look at your LinkedIn profile, they will be looking at how many recommendations you have. The more you have, the better chance you have of getting noticed. Get them from supervisors, co-workers, employees, professors, and fellow students.
7. Contacting your contact's contacts without a mutual introduction. One of the great things about LinkedIn is that once you are "linked in" with someone, you then have the ability to access all of their contacts, some of whom may be able to help you get a job. However, I would recommend not trying to contact them directly. First, ask your mutual contact if they can introduce you via email to the person you want to be "linked in" with. Now, you're no longer a stranger. If your contact is unable or unwilling to do so, then contact the person you want to be "linked in" with directly. However, don't tell them you think they can help you. A better approach would be to introduce yourself, tell them your objective, let them know you admire what they're doing, and tell them you would really appreciate it if they can take the time to speak with you in the future.
8. Not joining LinkedIn groups. There are many LinkedIn groups you can join and all it requires is doing a search, then clicking on a link. To start with, join your college's alumni association. Join a group that is associated with the field you're in. The more groups you join, the more diversified you become and you now have something in common with many other LinkedIn members.
9. Not using the search function. Once you join LinkedIn, you can do a search for jobs, people, groups, and companies. Don't forget to utilize this function.
10. Not using LinkedIn once you get a job. Networking doesn't stop once you get a job. You should always try to increase the number of contacts you have and continue to add recommendations. In this economy, this is no such thing as job security so always be prepared for the next job by constantly updating your LinkedIn profile.
Friday, April 9, 2010
How to Ace the Informational Interview
The informational interview is different from a typical job interview because technically you are not interviewing for a job. You are there to make a great impression and to get as much information as possible from the person you are talking to while at the same time, promoting yourself. Your goal is to get them to voluntarily refer you to someone else that can more directly help you get a job or if you're lucky, has a job opening.
There are two types of informational interviews-those you've set up through people you know and those you've set up with people you don't know. I highly recommend asking your parents to contact their friends and asking your friends to contact their parents for you. Visit as many as these contacts as you can in their work environment, even if it's in a field you're not interested in. By experiencing several different work environments, you can really get a good feel for what's out there. Plus, you never know who they know. Importantly, you can ask as many questions as you want and there's less pressure on you because you're not interviewing for a job. However, dress as you would for a job interview because you want to make a great impression.
The other type of informational interview involves cold calling-calling up a company without any introduction. Find two or three companies you'd like to work for. You can start in the Human Resources Department or call the department you want to work in directly. Tell them what college you're going to or are graduating from and that you realize that there may not be a job available at the moment but you would love to work for their company (do your research on the company so you can tell them why) and do they have a few minutes to meet you and talk with you. If they say no, keep trying. Try someone else in that department or call another department until you get a yes.
Once you get an informational interview, dress up very conservatively and arrive early. Smile at the person you're speaking with and give them a firm handshake. Don't be nervous because you are not there to get a job but to gather information and impress the person you're speaking with. Thank them for their time and ask them plenty of questions like-what is the environment like here?, what are the hours?, what are the qualities of the people who get promotions?, what is the reputation of employees my age who work here?, what is the office politics like?, tell me about your career path, what do you like and dislike about working here? Tell them about your background and strengths. See if they know anyone in your potential field if they haven't already volunteered that information.
When you leave, make sure you take their business card. Keep a computer record of your interviews, especially the questions you asked and the answers you received. Finally, always send a thank-you note. The more informational interviews you have, the better chance you have of finding a job so don't give up and good luck.
There are two types of informational interviews-those you've set up through people you know and those you've set up with people you don't know. I highly recommend asking your parents to contact their friends and asking your friends to contact their parents for you. Visit as many as these contacts as you can in their work environment, even if it's in a field you're not interested in. By experiencing several different work environments, you can really get a good feel for what's out there. Plus, you never know who they know. Importantly, you can ask as many questions as you want and there's less pressure on you because you're not interviewing for a job. However, dress as you would for a job interview because you want to make a great impression.
The other type of informational interview involves cold calling-calling up a company without any introduction. Find two or three companies you'd like to work for. You can start in the Human Resources Department or call the department you want to work in directly. Tell them what college you're going to or are graduating from and that you realize that there may not be a job available at the moment but you would love to work for their company (do your research on the company so you can tell them why) and do they have a few minutes to meet you and talk with you. If they say no, keep trying. Try someone else in that department or call another department until you get a yes.
Once you get an informational interview, dress up very conservatively and arrive early. Smile at the person you're speaking with and give them a firm handshake. Don't be nervous because you are not there to get a job but to gather information and impress the person you're speaking with. Thank them for their time and ask them plenty of questions like-what is the environment like here?, what are the hours?, what are the qualities of the people who get promotions?, what is the reputation of employees my age who work here?, what is the office politics like?, tell me about your career path, what do you like and dislike about working here? Tell them about your background and strengths. See if they know anyone in your potential field if they haven't already volunteered that information.
When you leave, make sure you take their business card. Keep a computer record of your interviews, especially the questions you asked and the answers you received. Finally, always send a thank-you note. The more informational interviews you have, the better chance you have of finding a job so don't give up and good luck.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Why College Students Should Use Twitter
Since I first started lecturing at colleges about a year ago, I always ask the students if they use Twitter. I continue to be amazed by how few of them raise their hands. In fact, I believe that only about 10% of college students use Twitter. I wrongly assumed that members of Gen Y (The Millennials) would be all over Twitter because it was another social networking website like Facebook and MySpace. However, this was the very reason why they don't use Twitter. They can let their friends and family know what's going on at the top of their Facebook and MySpace pages so Twitter is just redundant to them.
Some people feel that Twitter is all about following celebrities or giving people an opportunity to tell you what they're doing every waking hour. However, it does serve a much more valuable purpose by providing career advice. Yes, providing career advice. If you type in keywords like career advice, resume tips, interview tips, etc., you will find a plethora of information on how to find a job. There are many people on Twitter who not only give career advice (including myself at times-andyteach is my Twitter name), but many people utilize attachments to articles with career tips and job postings.
There are many great tools out there to help you get a job so think of Twitter as just another tool. Give it a try. You don't have to post anything if you don't want to. You can just follow the people who give the best career advice. Continue to use Facebook and MySpace to let your contacts know that you are looking for a job but if you add Twitter to your toolbox, you'll increase your chances of finding a job. Oh yes, while you're on Twitter, if you like to waste some time following celebrities, be my guest, but I don't think they will help you find a job!
Some people feel that Twitter is all about following celebrities or giving people an opportunity to tell you what they're doing every waking hour. However, it does serve a much more valuable purpose by providing career advice. Yes, providing career advice. If you type in keywords like career advice, resume tips, interview tips, etc., you will find a plethora of information on how to find a job. There are many people on Twitter who not only give career advice (including myself at times-andyteach is my Twitter name), but many people utilize attachments to articles with career tips and job postings.
There are many great tools out there to help you get a job so think of Twitter as just another tool. Give it a try. You don't have to post anything if you don't want to. You can just follow the people who give the best career advice. Continue to use Facebook and MySpace to let your contacts know that you are looking for a job but if you add Twitter to your toolbox, you'll increase your chances of finding a job. Oh yes, while you're on Twitter, if you like to waste some time following celebrities, be my guest, but I don't think they will help you find a job!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Company Layoffs-Just An Excuse to Save Money?
I have many friends who recently joined the ranks of the unemployed. Some of them suspected it was coming but all of them were basically given no notice-they were called into a conference room and told it was their last day. So much for company loyalty.
It got me thinking. Why were they and others let go? I believe there are two reasons. First, when companies need to save money, they terminate higher-level employees who are earning a lot of money. Sometimes the employees have been with their company for 15, 20, or 30 years but company loyalty is irrelevant during tough economic times. Second, company layoffs are used as an excuse for supervisors to get rid of employees they either don't like or who are not doing a good job.
If your company is contemplating layoffs and you are making a lot of money in your position, you may have a difficult time escaping the ax. However, you may be able to prevent the second reason for layoffs if you have a great relationship with your boss and if you do a great job. Notice I said a "great" job, not a "good" job. Put yourself in your supervisor's position. They have to trim their staff so how do they decide? It may very well be based on how much the boss likes you so make sure you have a solid relationship with your boss. If you don't like them, pretend you like them. Constantly communicate with them. As far as the work is concerned, do whatever it takes to get the job done. Volunteer to do things that aren't asked of you. Become a star at work and maybe, just maybe, you can avoid getting the ax.
It got me thinking. Why were they and others let go? I believe there are two reasons. First, when companies need to save money, they terminate higher-level employees who are earning a lot of money. Sometimes the employees have been with their company for 15, 20, or 30 years but company loyalty is irrelevant during tough economic times. Second, company layoffs are used as an excuse for supervisors to get rid of employees they either don't like or who are not doing a good job.
If your company is contemplating layoffs and you are making a lot of money in your position, you may have a difficult time escaping the ax. However, you may be able to prevent the second reason for layoffs if you have a great relationship with your boss and if you do a great job. Notice I said a "great" job, not a "good" job. Put yourself in your supervisor's position. They have to trim their staff so how do they decide? It may very well be based on how much the boss likes you so make sure you have a solid relationship with your boss. If you don't like them, pretend you like them. Constantly communicate with them. As far as the work is concerned, do whatever it takes to get the job done. Volunteer to do things that aren't asked of you. Become a star at work and maybe, just maybe, you can avoid getting the ax.
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