LinkedIn Job Hunting Tips
Whether you're just getting started using LinkedIn or you're making good progress using it to build your network, these job search tips from LinkedIn will help you make the most out of LinkedIn. LinkedIn is the professional networking site that everyone, regardless of where you are on the career ladder, should be using to grow their career and to job search. I use LinkedIn every day and it's definitely the one networking site I couldn't get by without. Here's my LinkedIn Profile, in case you'd like to take a look.
LinkedIn's Top Five Job Hunting Tips
Update your resume and establish your online presence. LinkedIn allows you to post your extensive work experience and relevant awards or activities. You may be surprised to learn how many recruiting executives use online networks to locate potential candidates.
Reconnect with former colleagues and current coworkers. The more connections you acquire, the higher the chance of building new relationships and finding job leads specific to your network.
Research companies you’d like to work for. LinkedIn, unlike other social networking sites, gives you access to over 200,000 Company Profiles, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to philanthropic organizations.
Get recommendations. Your profile not only lets you post a virtual resume, but it also provides a space where recommendations from coworkers or former colleagues are displayed. Headhunters check out recommendations to gauge your level of experience and areas of expertise.
Find out more about industry trends and hot topics by using LinkedIn Answers. Answers allows users to ask industry experts questions and find inside ways to approach new markets. It’s a great tool to solicit input and gain perspective from your connections or from the broader LinkedIn community.
Here's more how can you ensure that you're using the full power of LinkedIn to job search.
Jobs at Ski Resorts
I had more than a few conversations with self-proclaimed ski bums last season. All of them told me that as soon as they see a serious snowflake or two, they give two weeks notice to their current employer and head for the slopes to start their seasonal ski resort jobs.
If you're interested in a ski resort job this winter, now is the time to be looking. Ski resorts are hiring, so don't wait until the last minute to get started on your job search. Jobs are plentiful, in part because of the cap on H2B Visas which is leaving many ski resorts short of seasonal employees.
CoolWorks, for example, already has a lengthy list of ski resort jobs posted already including ski and snowboard instructors, ski patrol positions, hospitality, marketing, and retail jobs. Also, you can follow CoolWorks on Twitter to get the latest job postings fast and, if you're interested, you can follow me on Twitter, as well.
Here are the type of ski resort jobs available, plus how to find a ski job.
Also, check directly with the ski resort where you are interested in working. Most have employment information on their web sites and About.com's Skiing Guide, Mike Doyle, has a directory of US and international ski resorts you can use to check ski resorts listed by location.
Ski Resort Jobs
- Ski Resorts
- How to Find a Ski Job
- Ski Instructor, Ski Patrol, and Operations Jobs
- Ski and Snow Jobs
- Cool Jobs
Unemployment Over 6%
Employment continued to fall in construction, manufacturing, motor vehicle and parts manufacturers, and employment services, while health care added 27,000 jobs.
This is the 8th month in a row that the economy has lost jobs. Payroll employment has fallen by 650,000 this year, or an average of 76,000 jobs per month. About.com's US Economy Guide Kimberly Amadeo notes, "The last time year-over-year job growth trended down this severely was in 2001, which led to 29 months of job losses." Kimberly adds, "Generally, about 150,000 new jobs are needed each month to keep the economy stable."
This means that, not only are you are more at risk for losing your job, but there is more competition for available jobs. It's important to spend some time checking out the job market, so you know what type of jobs are available for someone with your skills - just in case you have to find one.
If you have already lost your job, here's information on filing for unemployment. It's important to file as soon as possible, and you may be able to file your unemployment claim online. If you're out of benefits, an unemployment extension was passed this month. Check with your state Department of Labor for information on eligiblity and how to collect benefits.
Unemployment
- Unemployment Extension
- Unemployment Benefits
- How to File for Unemployment
- How the Job Loss Report Effects You
Using Facebook Ads to Job Search
During the summer, One Day, One Job, the entry level jobs site, posted a call for job seekers who were adventurous, wanted to start a job in the next few months, and who had a clear idea of what companies they would like to work for.
Five recent college graduates accepted the challenge and even though they haven't landed a job yet, each of them has had positive results from their Facebook ad campaigns. One Day, One Job Founder Willy Franzen, says, "Facebook advertising is a great way to grab the attention of employers. Landing a job is all about standing out, and these 5 students certainly made themselves stand apart from the competition."
Here's how the candidates used Facebook ads to job search, along with guidelines for how to advertise on Facebook, if you'd like to give it a try.
Related Resources
- Use Facebook Ads to Make Employers Hunt You Down
- One Day, One Job
- Entry Level Jobs
- Internships for Grads
- College Job Search Tips
Image © One Day One Job
Finding Jobs On Company Web Sites
At most company sites, you can apply for all level positions online - from part-time hourly jobs to top management positions. Employers ranging from AT&T to Walmart have jobs online, so does the government (both state and federal), non-profit organizations, and schools.
Here's how to use company web sites to job search, including locating career information and job listings, online job applications, and benefits, as well as where to look if you can't find jobs on the company web site. Then, once you have found jobs you are interested in, use sites like Glassdoor.com and LinkedIn's company profiles to find out more about your potential employer and the jobs that are available.
Company Research
- Finding Jobs on Company Web Sites
- Company Research
- How to Avoid Bad Companies
- How to Research a Company
Best Job Search Sites
Where do you begin to look for jobs when you're starting a job search? I hear from people every day who are getting overwhelmed by the amount of information that's out there. It can be hard to know where to start and which job sites to use. There are thousands of job sites and millions of jobs posted online, and you'll find more of both each and every day. In fact, there can actually be too much of a good thing when it comes to finding jobs. Having too many listings to weed through doesn't help. You need to find the right jobs to apply to - not just any jobs.
How do you begin to find jobs that match your skills and interests? It helps to look in less places, rather than more. It makes sense to narrow and focus your job search, using sites that match the type of job you're seeking.
Here are the best job search sites to find job listings, including full-time jobs, entry-level jobs, part-time jobs, teen jobs, job search engines, and networking sites.
Top Job Search Sites
- Best Job Search Sites
- Top Job Search Engines
- Top Part-Time Job Sites
- Best Career Networking Sites
- Job Listings
- Your Favorite Job Site?
Image Copyright Anatoly Vartanov
Leave the Politics at Home
It's hard not to have a political opinion, especially when the Democratic and Republican Conventions are all over the news, and we're getting closer to the US Presidential Election.Coming from a family that's a mix of Democrats, Republicans, Conservatives, and a lone Independent, I know full well that political discussions can be tough enough when you know the people involved well. We've had more than a few heated discussions at the dinner table. There's no need to go there with strangers unless your political opinions are going to be part of your job description.
Be discreet when you job search and keep politics out of the process. Stay away, of course, from the obvious (like wearing a pin advertising your party affiliation) and also be careful about what you mention on your resume, in your blog and on Facebook and MySpace, and in interviews.
Photo © Andy Adams
Types of Job Interviews
There are a variety of types of interviews that employers may conduct when hiring, including behavioral interviews, group interviews, phone and video interviews, second interviews, and even interviews held during a meal. Review the different types of job interviews, along with tips on how to interview effectively regardless of the situation you're in, so you're prepared for any eventuality when you're interviewing for a new job.
Job Interviews
- Job Interview Guide
- Job Interview Questions and Answers
- Interview Thank You Letters
- Interview Attire
Photo © Sharon Dominick
How to Follow Up
You have sent a resume to a company you'd like to interview with and you haven't heard back right away. What do you do next? You can either wait patiently, presuming the employer will contact you if they are interested or you can opt to follow-up with the employer. Here are the pros and cons of following up, and how to follow up, if you do decide to do so, after sending your resume.
After an interview though, you should always follow up with a thank you letter or thank you note reminding the interviewer about your key qualifications for the job and reiterating your interest in the position.
How to Follow Up
- How to Follow Up After Sending Your Resume
- Should You (or Shouldn't You) Follow Up After Sending a Resume?
- Poll: Should You Follow Up After Sending Your Resume?
- Job Interview Follow Up
- Job Interview Thank You Letters
Image Copyright Jason Stitt
How to Avoid Bad Companies
What happens though, when someone goes to all that effort only to discover that the employer doesn't pay similar attention to detail or simply isn't a place anyone would want to work? Here are the warning signs to watch for, if you have reservations about whether this is the right company for you.
Company Research
- Company Research
- How to Avoid Bad Companies
- How to Research a Company
- Avoiding Entry Level Job Scams