Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

Congratulations to Animal #timsackettday

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Screen Shot 2016-01-21 at 11.52.41 PMToday is a special day. My friend Laurie Ruettimann started it a few years ago to honor someone who’s made a difference in the HR and recruiting industries. Laurie notes they’ve “honored good folks like Tim Sackett, Paul Hebert and Kelly Dingee.” This year, the honoree is the Recruiting Animal. When I heard the news, I jumped in to participate!

If you don’t know about Animal, you should! He runs the “greatest recruiting show on earth,” and he’s been doing it forever. He’s been podcasting since way before podcasting was “the thing to do.” When I first came on the social media scene, he was always very welcoming and supportive, and even invited me on his show. He was one of my early friends on Twitter, and one of the people who made using Twitter worthwhile for me.

My earliest memories of Animal include emails where he invited me to argue with him publicly online. He also gave me information about his research about LinkedIn for my first book.

On the outside, he’s a little….shall we say…abrasive, but he’s always there with an offer to help. In fact, Animal recently started his “good recruiter list.” He says, “There are…recruiters…working in the trenches who are good at what they do and could offer lots of good advice but they never turn up on these lists because they don’t work at creating a public profile. This Good Recruiter List is going to make them visible too.”

See, Animal is always lending a hand.

I’d share other nice exchanges I’ve had over the years, but I’m afraid Animal might yell at me for sounding too sentimental or mushy.

But, it’s safe to say he’s one of the good guys. Even though he may yell at you. He only yells because he cares.

Whether you’re a job seeker, a recruiter or anyone in the HR world, you should check out Animal and keep up with what he has to say. Look up Animal’s show and find him online…You won’t be sorry! And, please share and post about @Animal and #timsackettday. Spread the love!

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How to identify your job search network

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ManWomanShakingHands-6Have you ever told someone you can’t network successfully because you don’t have a network? While it may seem as if your network is small, especially if you don’t put a lot of effort into growing it, or you are a new professional, you probably have a much larger network than you realize.

Learn how to:

Identify your network by expanding your definition of professional networking (both in person and online).

Pinpoint your network’s strengths and broaden your ideas about where networking happens — including random meetings!

Focus on the different levels of networks you have — including people you know directly and more distant contacts in your extended networks.

Get my free white paper: 5 Mistakes Preventing You From Landing a Job This Week 

Read more — including some inspiring networking stories — via my article published on Vault.com.

In addition, if you’d like a guide to help you through every step of your networking journey, I authored one for Vault.com, and it’s available now. Vault is known for its influential rankings, ratings and reviews of thousands of employers and hundreds of internship programs. Vault.com also shares information about what it’s really like to work in an industry, company or profession—and how to position yourself to launch and build the career you want. You can find the Vault Guide to Networking available online.

 

Networking tips you need to know

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Vault GuideDo you think of networking as a dirty word? Is it something you want to avoid at all costs? You are not alone. However, if you’re a hesitant networker, there’s good news for you! With a little preparation, the right expectations and a strategic plan, networking is probably a lot easier than you think.

If you’d like a guide to help you through every step of your networking journey, I authored one for Vault.com, and it’s available now. Vault is known for its influential rankings, ratings and reviews of thousands of employers and hundreds of internship programs. Vault.com also shares information about what it’s really like to work in an industry, company or profession—and how to position yourself to launch and build the career you want. You can find the Vault Guide to Networking available online.

In the meantime, click through to learn:

  • Compelling statistics to prove networking deserves your attention.
  • What is networking — and what it is not.
  • Networking myths.
  • How to network for success (including some tips to help you become a networking sleuth).
  • How to look beyond the obvious.
  • Understand what you offer.
  • Why networking isn’t about asking for a job.
  • How to time your networking to your best advantage.
  • Why it’s important to be a good listener.
  • Why it’s important to be persistent.

Get my free white paper: 5 Mistakes Preventing You From Landing a Job This Week 

Read the entire article on Vault.com.

Why you should have a personal website

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http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photo-people-social-networking-computer-network-concepts-image41603635How can you stand out in a competitive market? Whether you want to look for a job or you’re planning to start your own business, making a good first impression is key. People will turn to Google and online tools to help them form first impressions of you. When you apply for positions or vie for opportunities, it’s likely someone will check you out online before considering to invite you to an interview.

That can be good or bad news, depending on what that person finds! The good news is you can influence what people find when they search for you online. One way is to create a stream of professional content via social media tools, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus. Using these tools is free, does not require a lot of technical skill and, once you understand social media basics, makes it easy to showcase your information.

Get my free white paper: 5 Mistakes Preventing You From Landing a Job This Week 

One additional strategy many job seekers overlook is building and maintaining a personal website, also known as a “social résumé.” Domain.ME – provider of the “.me” domain extension –  conducted a survey of 600 professionals who own their own websites. Eighty-four percent of respondents reported receiving tangible career benefits from their personal website.

A  Forbes article, when referencing Workfolio, noted that “56 percent of all hiring managers are more impressed by a candidate’s personal website than any other personal branding tool – however, only 7 percent of job seekers actually have a personal website.”

How can having your own website help your career? Predrag Lesic, CEO of Domain.ME, offers these insights:

1. It helps you clarify your brand. Can you think of a brand you respect that does not have a website? Would you hire a service provider who didn’t have a strong online presence?

“Today, a web presence is a measure of credibility and a powerful tool for communicating what you are all about to your target audiences,” Lesic says. “While it may seem unusual to consider yourself a commodity, as a job seeker, you are marketing yourself to meet a need. Like every good brand, your personal brand should live online.”

2. It gets you noticed. In the Domain.Me survey, 70 percent reported believing that employers review their online presence prior to an interview. In fact, a 2014 Jobvite survey of human resources professionals reveals that 93 percent of recruiters will review a candidate’s social media profile before making a decision, and that candidate information found on the Web influences their hiring decisions.

“As employers increasingly turn to the Internet to identify and research potential candidates, you want to be searchable. Your Facebook page may entertain family members and friends, but it isn’t designed to highlight your strengths as a job candidate. Conversely, your LinkedIn profile, while providing professional credentials, can be dry and impersonal,” Lesic says. “Not only is your website a fully customizable platform to showcase your personal brand, the savvy you demonstrate in owning your Web real estate and building a site can impress potential employers.”

Creating this online real estate is not difficult, and there are various ways to accomplish it. One way is via “hosted” sites, such as About.me or Flavors.me, which allow you to design your own landing page on their directories. These options result in an online presence, but the URL will not be in your name only.

If you want to own a memorable, personalized domain, you can purchase an address using any of the major domain registrars. Lesic explains: “With .com availability dwindling, a popular choice for personal websites is the .ME extension.”

Once you own a domain of your choice – ideally, “YourName.com” or YourName.me – you can turn to various tools to populate and publish the site, such as WordPress, Wix, Squarespace or Jigsy.

3. It’s more than a résumé. In Domain.ME’s survey, respondents were asked which is more important for long-term career success: a personal website or a résumé. The majority (63 percent) favored websites. “A website is interactive, evolving and dynamic,” Lesic says. “Your portfolio, writing samples, testimonials, images and more add color to your professional history. And your site’s design aesthetic and tone of voice help to convey your personal brand.”

4. It networks for you. While in-person networking isn’t going out of style, digital networking can help make the job a lot easier. More than half of survey respondents believe their personal sites help them achieve professional recognition, connect them with a network of like-minded professionals and attract new customers.

“Your website never sleeps or takes a day off,” Lesic says. “It makes you accessible to an enormous audience and invites people to engage with your content and to contact you.”

Originally appeared on U.S. News & World Report.

Best gifts for job seekers

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giftIs someone on your holiday gift list looking for a job? Whether your friend or family member is a new college graduate, an unhappy careerist who covets a new job or an unemployed baby boomer, there are many great gifts that will be perfect for someone who is wishing for a new position in the new year. What are the best gifts for job seekers?

Start with these ideas and share your own in the comments.

A gift certificate for a job search coach and/or a résumé makeover. Many people remain unemployed or have a tough time finding something new because they don’t understand how to create appropriate job search materials. Looking for a job is a skill most people don’t use very often, so the majority of the population isn’t particularly good at it. Coaches who stay in the know about the job market understand how to create marketing materials that appeal to employers. If you know someone who has been looking for a long time, it’s very likely he or she has a poor résumé or isn’t focusing on the correct path to a new job. A coach can help.

Tools of the trade. Does your job seeker have the technology needed to land a job faster? A computer loaded with software needed to create résumés to send to employers is a key tool. A smartphone or tablet can also be helpful.

Bag or portfolio. It’s always nice to have a well-appointed bag to carry a computer and other materials needed when you’re out for a day of networking or interviewing. Something professional can help provide an extra boost of confidence. Look for special touches, such as pockets for key items like business cards so they don’t get lost at the bottom of the bag. A nice portfolio to carry to meetings can also be a great gift.

Watch. Even though it’s easy to see the time on a smartphone, a fashionable watch can be a great accessory and useful for the job seeker. Let’s face it – it’s awkward to pick up your phone in the middle of an informational interview to check the time; a quick, surreptitious glance at a watch is not obtrusive or distracting.

Get my free white paper: 5 Mistakes Preventing You From Landing a Job This Week 

Coffee shop gift cards. It’s nice to get out of the house, and coffee shops are locales of choice for many job seekers who want to be out and about while checking online for the latest opportunities. A gift card to cover at least a few lattes is likely to be welcomed.

A new look. Clothing or a visit to a salon for a makeover can be helpful for the cash-strapped job seeker, or for someone who hasn’t had a haircut in two years. We don’t like to admit that people judge us based on how we look, but there’s no question an updated look, including stylish clothing, polished shoes and a modern haircut can help the skilled job seeker get to the next step.

New skills. Most people can benefit from a class that helps them learn new skills. Whether you gift a job-related course or select a fun opportunity to explore or continue a hobby – either an online class or an in-person learning opportunity that may double as a chance to network – a gift of new skills is a great choice for job seekers.

A night out. If your gift is for someone who has been out of work or saving money for some time, an enjoyable evening out is especially welcome. A gift card for a favorite restaurant, movie passes, concert tickets or something along those lines can be a great gift.

Give a gift that keeps on giving. If you have even a small part in helping someone find a new job, they’ll always remember it.