Ways to Look for a Job

As we know job-hunting can be extremely difficult.  There are just times that we will face when we realize our job hunt is just not working.  What are we to do?  First, never give up.  Three words that should be inserted directly into the brain and never forgotten: never give up. Take a breath and try a different approach.  Even when you are feeling as low as the ground and feel as if you have tried everything... chances are you haven't.  Time to think outside the box.  Don't just work hard to find a job, work harder at a different strategy.  Do some deep thinking, use your brain, and attempt to solve the problem.

With that said, provided are some of the best and worst ways to look for a job.  Hopefully this will help in avoiding, or perhaps using some of these methods... 

1. Looking for job postings on the Internet.  Many will argue that this method is in fact the best way to look for a job.  Surprisingly this works on average only 4% of the time (according to information provided by the Dictionary of Occupational Titles)
2. Mailing out your resume to employers.  Only works about 7% of the time...
3. Answering local newspaper ads.  As times are changing, so are the ways of employers.  This method works anywhere between 5% and 24% at best.
4. Seeking help from private employment agencies or search firms.  This method works somewhere between 5% and 28% of the time.
5. Responding to ads in professional or trade journals, relating to your field.  This method only works about 7% of the time. 
6. Job clubs.  What is a job club?  I didn't even know... Apparently they are clubs that job hunt together.  Apparently the success rate is around 10%... I sure didn't know these "clubs" existed. 
7. Seeking help from the state or federal employment office.  Only works about 14% of the time.
8. Going to places where employers pick up workers.  This is for union members - assuming you have access to a union hiring hall, this will find you work up to 22% of the time. 
9. Asking for job leads.  Knowing someone is always a plus.  Knowing someone who knows someone is also good.  This method works around 33% of the time.
10. Going directly to the employer/office and knocking on the door.  This works best with smaller employers and is known to work 47% of the time.
11. Using Yellow Pages.  I was shocked to see this percentage.  Apparently this method works 65% of the time.  What you do is go through the Yellow Pages of your local phone book and identify what interests you.  Old fashioned, but apparently it works!  

When it comes to job-hunting, I prefer using the internet to search job postings.  I think that with today's technology, it is the most efficient way of seeing what is out there and I can contact employers with just a click of a button.  I argue that this method works a small percentage of the time.  I have had great luck with finding job postings on the Internet and even landed a job within a few weeks of searching.  But we all have different ways of doing things and that's what makes us different!

Hootsuite

Being pretty social media savvy myself, I would say that I have a pretty decent background in the field of social media.  However, it wasn't until a few months ago that I found out about Hootsuite.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Hootsuite, it is a free social media dashboard that allows users to manage and measure their social networks.  It lets users manage multiple social networks, schedule tweets and messages, track brand mentions, analyze social media market, and more!  What a perfect idea for keeping your social media organized and all in one place.

Getting started with using Hootsuite may seem overwhelming at first.  If you don’t know where to start, a recommendation is to start with Hootsuite University.  When I first wanted to see what Hootsuite was about, I dove right in and went to www.hootsuite.com and got a feel for some of the things I could do in Hootsuite to see if it was something that interested me.  Now, I have a Hootsuite certification!  Who would have thought!

Facebook Ads

Facebook has been and continues to remain a huge and influential social media site, which was the first social network to surpass 1 billion registered accounts, according to statista.com.  A very common way of advertising today is through Facebook.  Facebook advertising, just like any type of advertising is important to use carefully and correctly.  With that being said, there are several ways to advertise on Facebook.  However, the most common type of ad that appears on the site is the type that you see on the right hand of your screen after logging in.  Another type of ad can be seen on your news feed that reads, “Suggested Post."

One thing that a lot of people don’t know is that Facebook ads are not just limited to businesses to try to sell you their products.  Anyone wanting to promote something, whether it is an organization trying to spread awareness, or an individual trying to promote his or her published works, Facebook ads are for everyone.

In fact, the graphic to the left is a screenshot of a Facebook ad I just created myself.  The ad is promoting an organization called Miracles in Progress.  The objective of this ad campaign is to get people to click on the website and spread awareness about the organization

You too can make an ad like I did!  All you need is a Facebook account and an idea of what you will be advertising!  You can access www.facebook.com/advertising.  From there, you can click on "Create An Ad" to get your ad campaign started!

Dealing with Handicaps in the Job World

There are times when you go in for an interview and think you nailed it.  There's no way you didn't land the job... you were a superstar and they loved you.  Then reality sinks in and you find out you didn't actually get the job.  When an individual gets turned down, he or she may naturally think about what could have gone wrong.  Then you think about the "I got turned down because I..."

It isn't you or the handicaps you think you have.  Some employers just have a very distinct set of requirements for hiring.  So even if you think the reason for you not getting hired is because of a "handicap" you may have, understand that you can't possibly have a handicap that will keep all employers from hiring you.  Some employer, somewhere is looking for someone like you.

When I use the word "handicap," I am referring to everyone.  Yep, everyone.  Sure, you're probably thinking "I'm not handicapped."  Well... handicapped refers to a disability and it is true that everyone, in some sense has some sort of disability, or the inability to do something.  There are some things a person simply does not have the ability to do.  

So when job-hunting, realize that everyone has some type of disability that can keep them from being hired, not JUST you.  There may be a million things you can't do, but focus on the million and one hings you can do.  Think of why an employer would be lucky to have you.  If the company you just interviewed for turned you down, it's their loss, not yours.  

Things to Remember When Job-Hunting

Job hunting is one of the most stressful processes ever.  Some, however, have more luck than others. But for those of you out there who are anything like me, job hunting is the opposite of fun.  I dread nothing more than finding a job.  What if the job isn't for me?  What if the career I want to go into isn't for me?  What if I fail?  What if I hate it? Job-hunting for me is full of "what ifs."  With that said, you are not alone.  And it is important to remember that you are not as powerless as you think. In fact, you hold the power.

When job-hunting, try and remember that job-hunting itself is a job.  You should be fully committed to finding the right job for you and that best fits your needs, and perhaps your wants as well.  Job-hunting is by no means a science, rather it is an art.  Some simply are better than others in such a process.  Job-hunting is also mysterious and we will never understand why things work and why other times they do not.  Trying to understand these things can not be done, so try and avoid the stress.  And finally, there is no always wrong and always right way(s) to hunt for a job.  Again, job-hunting itself is a job - if your job hunt isn't working, you need to increase the amount of time you are dedicating to finding a job. With that said, do not give up!  You are not alone. 

P.S. - For those of you need help staying on track with job-hunting, visit www.jobsearchpowermeter.com!  

The Secrets of Salary Negotiation

Before accepting a job, a salary must be discussed at some point.  To be prepared for such a discussion with your employer, you should want to and be able to negotiate your salary.  Without going into extreme detail, there are six main secrets to salary negotiation that everyone should pay attention to.

• Do not discuss salary with the employer until after the employer clearly states that they want you.
• This next one is key.  The main purpose of salary negotiation is to reveal the most that the company or organization is willing to pay you to get you in the door.
• When salary does come up, don't be the first one to bring up a salary figure
• Do your research.  Before your interview and before discussion regarding salaries, it is important to carefully research what is a typical salary for your field and in that particular organization. (I find www.salary.com to be extremely helpful!)
• In addition to doing your research on typical salaries within your field/organization, it is also a great idea to research the range in which the company has in mind, and in addition to that, to define a salary range for yourself based on the employer's range. 
• Last but certainly not least, the sixth secret of salary negotiation is knowing how to close the deal.  Avoid leaving the salary an open conversation to save for later.  An important thing to remember about closing the deal on salary is to get it in writing and a signature.  This serves as a contract between both you and the employer.  

Hope these tips have been helpful!  Negotiate away!

Mistakes Made in a Job Interview

Nothing is worse than wondering to yourself for days and months on end why you didn't land that job you really wanted.  Where did you possibly go wrong?  There are ten major mistakes that are made in terms of job interviews that result in a decrease in chance of you landing a job.  These mistakes are described in the best seller, What Color Is Your Parachute?, written by Richard N. Bolles.

1. Limiting yourself to large organizations only.

Going after only large organizations limits your options and your chances are lessened greatly. Landing an interview may be more difficult and you're being compared to tons of other candidates.   

2. Doing the search by yourself for places to visit.
No one wants to go about this type of search alone.
3. Not doing prior research about the company or organization before the interview.
It is like not doing your homework before class.  You are unprepared and have no knowledge about the subject you are supposed to know.
4. Interviewing with the Human Resources department.
Usually the HR department looks for reasons to screen you out, not bring you in..
5. Overstaying your welcome.
If you are being interviewed, you need to have an understanding of when it is over.
6. Only talking about your resume during the interview.
Sure, your resume is important but it is important to talk about other topics also.
7. Talking only about yourself through the interview
It is important to show interest and ask questions to your interviewer.
8. Lack of support in backing up skills you claim you have.
Your resume says you have certain skills but if you can't use examples of how these skills can be applied, you might as well not even list these skills.
9. Acting as if you are begging for the job.
Approaching an employer as if you were a job beggar, is not at all appealing to an employer.
10. Not sending a post interview thank-you.
Saying "thanks for having me" is a huge must after an interview.  They took the time out of their day to listen to you, now take the time to say thank you.  It is courteous and wins in the long run.

There you have it.  Prevent yourself from making these careless mistakes to higher your chances of landing the job!