February 27, 2009

Are You the Next Director of Social Media?

Schnake Turnbo Public Relations firm based in Oklahoma City and Tulsa announced earlier this week that they are hiring a Director of Social Media. Yes, I said Director of Social Media. And of course, the position was announced via a youtube video which at present time has 400 plus views in addition to the numerous tweets, online comments, and blog posts that the position announcement has also generated.

This announcement and position comes as no surprise to those of us who advocate the use of social media for personal and business branding and marketing. It is a testament to the fact that managing your online brand is more important now than ever. How you to choose to brand yourself could result in a new position as the Director of Social Media.

The buzz this announcement has generated has resulted in multiple newspaper articles, water cooler talk as well as the viral and public relations frenzy. I'm looking forward to seeing how ST goes about announcing their new Director Social Media possibly via live podcast available through multiple social media channels.

With so much buzz generated from this announcement, what do you think is the best way as a potential candidate to grab ST's attention? Certainly, a tradition resume won't do.


February 25, 2009

Networking on a Budget with Cup of Coffee Networkers

Want to network locally for just the cost of a cup of coffee?

Whether you are in the job search, marketing, sales, or new to the area, networking is an important part of being a successful professional. These days it's not just about your skills and qualifications but also about who you know.

Join Cup of Coffee Networkers at Cafe Bella in South Oklahoma City on March 5, 2009 from 7:30-9:00 AM for a good cup of joe and networking.

  • Where: Cafe Bella, 9018 S. Pennsylvania Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73159
  • When: March 5, 2009 from 7:30-9:00 AM




Interested in starting your own Cup of Coffee Networkers Group? Visit www.cupofcoffeenetworkers.com

February 22, 2009

Surviving Unemployment

Surviving unemployment seems to be at the forefront of everyone's minds these days. Take a look at the slideshare below and be sure to read my previous post also titled, "Surviving Unemployment."

February 20, 2009

Jumpstart Your Jobsearch with B4J

Need to jumpstart your job search?

Receive a job tips pdf from Blogging4jobs. Leave a comment on any of my blog postings between now and April 1st and receive a free job tips pdf via email from me. Make sure you include your email address with the comment posting.

A good friend of mine hosted an event in Topeka, Kansas, earlier this week called "Resumes & Wine." Young professionals received my job tip sheet, a free resume critique, networking opportunities, and of course wine! Don't miss an opportunity to get a leg up on the job search!! This job tip sheet is a great start.

Leave me a comment. Request a topic or post your link/website address. A great deal of my blog traffic comes from other recruiters so this is a great opportunity for self promotion. Don't have a link? Use your linkedin profile address.

Cheers,

Jessica

**Don't forget to follow me on twitter @blogging4jobs

February 15, 2009

Babies & Your Career Development

Being a new mom and a recruiter who specializes in helping people find new jobs and careers, I couldn't pass up posting this slideshare. And for good measure, I'm throwing in a darling picture of my daughter, Ryleigh who is now 9 weeks and the absolute love of my life.

What I often see from job seekers that is keeping them from being successful in their job search is Number 2, "Where you are going and why". When speaking with a recruiter or hiring manager, you need to have a plan and a clear idea and understanding of how you plan to get to your end point and execute that plan. Don't just tell me you're looking for a career change. Tell me about the steps, preparation, and training you have taken after making the decision to make a change. It's like getting in the car and driving without knowing the address of where you are supposed to go.

I also want highlight Number 1 in the slideshare, "Sleep, Blissful Sleep." You and only you are in control of your destiny. Others that do nothing tend to have a self-fulfilling prophecy. Get out there. Know what your goal is. Plan and GO FOR IT!!

Enjoy! Please leave your comments below. I always love to hear your thoughts and insights.

February 10, 2009

Increase Your Odds: Candidate Job Board Tricks

Major job boards like CareerBuilder and Monster are one of the most popular ways for companies to develop a candidate pool when looking to fill an open position. CareerBuilder alone boasts 2 million unique users per month according to a report by Cnet News last year. With unemployment at its highest since 1982 and candidate competition increasing, how does a candidate stand out from the virtual pack when posting a resume on a major job board?

1. Your Resume Title. First impressions are important and the title of your resume will determine whether your resume gets a first look. Include action words in the title that best describe your experience and are different from the norm. An example would be “Certified AMX Audio Visual Professional.”

2. Include an Objective in your online profile. An objective describes what career opportunity as well as industry you are interested in learning more about. Recruiters spend roughly 10 seconds or less per resume. Keep your objective simple, direct and to the point. For example, “Seasoned and Certified Human Resource Director interested in opportunity within the non-profit industry.” Limit your objective to 1-2 sentences.

3. Resume Format. Include bullets, open space, dates, and quantitative numbers on your resume. Avoid spelling errors, unprofessional email addresses, and a format that is not easily skimmed and no more than 2 pages.

4. Update Your Profile Weekly. Job boards list resumes by most recently updated and allow recruiters to use search by resumes updated daily, weekly, and monthly. Keep your resume at the top of the pack by updating it weekly. You can also take advantage of CareerBuilder’s advantage option which automatically provides you this service but at a fee.

5. Use Searchable Buzzwords & Keyword Terms. Recruiters resume mine for qualified candidates also by keyword search. Include terms relevant to the industry or job you are interested in. Include any specialized certifications and their abbreviations as well as other specific qualifications to increase your exposure.

6. Include Your Contact Information. Recruiters do not have the time or patience to contact a candidate that uses an anonymous resume on a job board. Increase your exposure odds by including your contact information, including email and phone numbers. Monster has a feature called, Privacy Plus that allows users to block up to 20 companies from viewing your resume.

February 6, 2009

Develop Online Brand with SlideShare

Slideshare is a great way to showcase your creative talents and build your online brand and presence. Take a look at the slideshare I created below based on my recent post titled, "7 Ways to Network on a Shoestring Budget."

With a little time and creativity, you can market yourself using your slideshare presentation on all social media sites including Facebook, LinkedIn, and even Twitter. What a great way to get a leg up on the competition.


Economic Stimulus Update Amist January Jobs Report

January's jobs report was just released this morning with 598,000 job lost and unemployment at 7.6%. Most consider the silver lining to be the progress regarding the new economic stimulus package. For the unemployed or recently unemployed, here are the details on how it will affect your unemployment and benefits:

  • Weekly Unemployment. This stands to increase by roughly $25 per week federally. Some states are pushing to supplement and increase their own unemployment benefits separately as well in the form of a state separate stimulus package.
  • Extended Unemployment Benefits. Unemployment typically lasts 26 weeks. The proposal seeks to extend the ability for individuals to receive an additional 20 weeks of unemployment for those who file until Dec. 31, 2009 instead of the original March 31, 2009. The extended unemployment benefits are available to those that reside in states with unemployment percentages greater than 6% which includes 34 states as of Dec. 2008.
  • Access to Subsidized Health Insurance. The average cost of COBRA is $1,000 per month. The bill would allow subsidized premiums of 65% for a year. The benefit would apply to those who lose their jobs between September 2008 and the end of 2009. Those who income is 200% the federal poverty guidelines could be eligible for Medicaid. The benefit, paid for by the federal government, would apply to those who lose their jobs between September 2008 and the end of 2010. Interested in what the Federal poverty lines are? Click Here.
Want to know more. Visit www.cnnmoney.com for the entire article and more information.