Remember that most jobs are never posted. Think about it this way…if you were an employer would you shell out the salary you’re expecting to a complete stranger? No. Most of us would rather hire people we’ve met, who have engaged with us, demonstrating interest and initiative. Or, we’ll hire through word-of-mouth. So it’s key to target specific companies to begin your research process. When doing so, be sure to Google THEM as well, and pay attention to what they’re saying through social media (i.e. follow them on LinkedIn and Twitter, and connect with them.) Company research is vital in an effective job search campaign.

Don’t rely on others (i.e. recruiters) to find you work. While they are a great resource, they are simply that…another resource to use in conjunction with all the other job search strategies you use. Remember that YOU are the best salesperson of you! And in order to do that, you have to network, network, network! This is SO very important…crucial to an effective job search. When I facilitate job search workshops and ask participants how they got their last job, 9 out of 10 have said through networking. So it’s proven to be effective!
Jobs will not magically appear…you must seek them out. Through positive and consistent action, THEN jobs may appear! I equate it to the needle in the haystack metaphor. For some reason, when most of us are in job search mode, we hope we will miraculously stumble upon the perfect job for us…whether through the Internet, job board, etc. But that’s like waiting to find a needle in a haystack!

And, while social media is a necessity in today’s job search, real live face-to-face interaction is where all paths must ultimately lead.   Lastly, regarding being a mature worker…the methods I’ve suggested are for everyone, regardless of age. I would teach the same methods to mature workers or young workers. Just remember: you have a lot of skills, work ethics, and life experience to offer, that are highly valuable to an employer.

Hope this helps and all the best to you in your job search!

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• Brand You – Who do you think you are?
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The post Mature Age Job Seeker Tips appeared first on BC Jobs Blog.

In the past, we might have input the information into our computer’s address book and emailed everyone a followup letter. And while this is a great idea, once the initial followup action has been taken, that’s where it may end for a number of your contacts. Let’s face it…. life is busy and out of sight means out of mind.

A more current method is to conduct a search for your new contacts on all the various social media sites you use: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, etc. (Personally, I check LinkedIn first, as that’s my “go to” professional site. From there, if the contact has a profile page, I can investigate further to see if they have a Twitter account, etc. (Modafinil online) , it will usually be listed.) Of course, if they have their social media URLs listed on their business cards the searching is unnecessary, but due to space restraints often this just isn’t the case.

When requesting to add them to your network, be sure to write your followup letter within the body of your request. (One of my pet peeves is receiving LinkedIn requests that use the generic request sentence. Be creative and personal your message instead!)

Once connected, it’s easier to keep consistent communication with everyone. When you see your contact’s posts, you can comment, “retweet”, or “like”, and keep the dialogue going.

And while you’re networking online, don’t forget to connect with people of interest in the discussion groups or “twibes” you participate in.

Lastly, an interesting idea I ran into recently, re: business/calling cards, is the “social trading card”. It uses smartphone scanner technology (QR), which brings people to a page with all of your websites listed in one spot. An interesting innovation that you may want to consider purchasing for large job fairs, networking events, or conferences. For details, see: https://www.meet-meme.com

Happy networking!

Related to Networking, Business Cards & Social Media:

• Follow-Up ~ the Avoided Job Search Strategy
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The post Networking, Business Cards & Social Media appeared first on BC Jobs Blog.

• Create a networking contact list. Start by adding your friends, family, organizations, neighbours and business/community contacts.  Then start searching online, through social media sites (such as LinkedIn and Twitter), the yellow pages, directories, newspapers, associations etc.
• Each time you talk with someone, don’t be shy and ask for referrals (I always ask for two) and suggestions of whom you might speak to next.
• You’ll want to speak with several people in the industry before making any decisions, and should consider speaking with all levels of professionals in the field.

Step 2: A little preparation goes a long way

• Be able to state concisely what information you’re looking for, your objective, and goals.
• Create calling cards to distribute to everyone you come in contact with.
• Thoroughly research the website of the professional or employer’s organization you are interviewing.
• Prepare a list of questions, including ones customized for your specific career research.
• Keep your career exploration information together and well organized. Consider preparing a professional portfolio or binder with your questions, research, company information, your resume and any other pertinent information.
• Prepare telephone scripts for setting interview appointments. You’ll want one for seeking contacts (i.e. from a receptionist) and one for direct contact.
• Practice by role-playing. If you feel uncomfortable at first, try practicing with a friend or family member.

Step 3: Set the appointments

• Utilize your phone scripts. They will help you to sound professional, as well as help you to stay focused, articulate and concise.
• Smile while you dial! People can tell! It works and can change the entire tone of a conversation.
• Mention your referral if you have one. Explain your purpose and be to the point. This is not a job interview – it is simply a request for information. Most people are flattered!
• Ask for a set period of time to meet (e.g. 15 or 20 minutes.)

Step 4: Conduct the interview

• Treat this interview as a formal job interview. Dress appropriately, be well groomed, polite, organized, prepared, punctual, sharp, and alert.
• Always greet people with a warm, friendly smile and a firm handshake.
• Have a good two-way conversation. Ask your questions, making sure you get the information you need about the occupation. At the same time, be willing to share some information about yourself and your occupational goals.
• Be relaxed. There is no need to be nervous or intimidated. This interview is not for a job (not now at least), but you are making the crucial first impression.
• Be sure to ask for the names of other people you could speak with. Be open to other ideas and avenues. Ask for at least two other contacts.
• Courteously follow the time frame agreed upon. If it was 15 minutes, stop at that point to thank them for their time. Quite often they are happy to extend, so count on spending more time there just in case! (https://www.hanakaimaui.com/)
• Thank them for their time and ask for a couple of their business cards. Your closing needs to be strong, as it will leave a lasting impression.

Don’t forget to stay objective during the process.  I once had a client who, after his first informational interview, announced that sadly he supposed the career of interest wouldn’t be for him.  The reason?  He interviewed someone who had negative things to say about the job and his company.  Remember, information from one source does not make it so.  You have to conduct multiple interviews to substantiate views and separate fact from fiction.  Stay positive and stay with it!

Step 5: Follow-up

• Just as you would do after a job interview, write a formal thank you card (or at least an email) to each person you conducted research with. This reinforces your sincerity and professionalism, and will encourage the contact person to speak with you again if you need to.
• Keep in touch with people who you think might be able to help.
• It is not uncommon that the contacts gained from informational interviews later turn into actual job leads. It has been said that while 1 in 200 resumes turns into a job interview, 1 in 12 information interviews results in a job!

So before you jump head first into a new career, commit to the research involved with information interviews. By doing so you will be able to rest assured that you are making the best possible decision. Have fun and enjoy meeting new people along the way!

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