OutWorks - Job Hunting in the Web 2.0 Jungle

Overview:

I have discovered that people often experience overwhelm when considering all of the current web tec

Description:

I have discovered that people often experience overwhelm when considering all of the current web technology and resources available for networking in a web 2.0 world. Overwhelm generally means, "to be overcome in mind." This means that when you are experiencing overwhelm more than likely you are trying to think about way too much at once. Therefore, I strongly urge you to stop, take a deep breath, and give yourself permission to tackle one thing at a time. One way to do this is to break down what you're attempting to understand into more chewable chunks. I am going to do that for you here by outlining your web 2.0 career management options.

First, let's go over some basic job-hunting statistics. Only 15-20 percent of jobs are found through actual job ads, and 60-70 percent of jobs are found through networking. Only 2-3% of resumes actually get to recruiters after they have gone through database filters. When they do, they only get about 15 seconds of a recruiters time. Let me spell this out – Network, Network, Network. I am telling you this so that you are empowered to make informed, effective choices for your job search.

The great news!? Web 2.0 technology makes networking about as easy as brushing your teeth. You just have to know which toothpaste to use.

Social Networking and Career Networking sites:

Well-known examples of social networking sites and career networking sites include Myspace.com, Facebook, LinkedIn. Here is a startling fact. There are over 100 million active users on myspace.com. The United States has a population of 300 million people. If my space were a country and its members were the citizens, it would be roughly one third the size of the United States. This is important.

Many executives find themselves unclear about what to put in a networking profile. This is important to consider from both a social networking and a professional networking perspective. Careerbuilder.com recently released a study indicating that at least 20 percent of employers are now searching job candidate's online networking profiles. In some cases this is bad news that can inhibit your chances of getting the job. Therefore, you want to make sure that your social networking profiles contain employer friendly information. However, the study also found that 24 percent of hiring managers found content on social networks that helped convince them to hire a candidate.

Online career networkers are generally looking to connect with people who share career values and aspirations, so make your profile reflect this. Avoid including too much personal information on your profile. Depending on your geographic location, industry, and profession you may want to consider if it would be better for you to be out at work after you get the job or before you get the job. Simply put, you may want to avoid specific information that would out you on your profile. If you are in a small town you may want to avoid providing the actual city you live in and stick with your state. You definitely want to position yourself as an expert by having testimonials, professional affiliations, and any publications listed on your professional profiles.

In the web 2.0 jungle the old adage, "It's all about who you know," is no longer true. It is no longer just about who you know. It's also about who they know. Therefore, it is in your best interest to constantly expand your network. For instance, on linkedin.com the more you expand your tier 1 network (the people to whom you are directly connected) the more connections you have to people in 2^nd and 3^rd tiers. Also, who you are actually connected with could help enhance your profile. If it is clear, for example, that Barack Obama or Steve Jobs are direct contacts of yours there are millions of people that would take serious interest in your profile.

Use multimedia to position yourself as an expert

Video networking sites like youtube.com and video capability on sites like myspace.com allow you to position yourself as an expert and clearly express your message in a fun, dynamic way. For instance, if you are a trainer or presenter and you had your last presentation filmed, consider creating a youtube page with some of these video clips. You can also link the page on your other profiles and on your paper resume. In addition, with the accessibility of advanced audio technology (www.audioacrobat.com, www.audacity.com) you can easily provide quality audio messages on your profile pages. The operative word in my last sentence was quality. Don’t just throw anything up. As great as these tools are, it is also easy to appear amateur. You may want to consult with someone who is an expert in this area. With the network you've built using web 2.0 technology, finding an expert will be easy. The bottom line in the technology world in which we now live is that typical, text based websites and profiles are becoming very boring and even obsolete.

Write to position yourself as an expert

Establish a blog. Make your point of view clear When your message resonates with others there is a good chance they will start subscribing to your blog and you will continue to build your network. This is a great way to increase your SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

Also, publishing articles online helps to establish you as an expert and makes you accessible to a vast number of people. With websites like www.ezinearticles.com, in a very short period of time you can publish numerous articles with a profile linking people to you. Each article becomes a sales tool in and of itself and helps to make you highly visible as a professional and a candidate.

How does all of this web 2.0 technology serve your job hunt? I see this as two fold. One is that with an expansive network you have a vast pool to dive into when you are looking for a job. I reiterate, it isn't just about who you know, it's also who the people in your network know. Also, as you become more and more visible as an expert online, it is highly likely that your passive candidate status rises exponentially. This means that people will be seeking you out to offer you your next best opportunity!

Copyright, 2008. Jason Mannino. All Rights Reserved

Submitted by:

Jason Mannino

Date added:

Wednesday, 12 Nov 2008