Holiday networking has a better chance of leading you to your next job than any other job search endeavour! Enjoy the holidays and succeed in your job search! The odds are in your favour during this holiday season as no other time of year presents as many opportunities to get together with friends, family, acquaintances and even strangers than the many events that are planned throughout the month of December. This is your chance to accept every available invitation and while sharing in the celebrations, network, network, network!

For many who are not at ease with networking, this time of year presents the perfect opportunity. As the holiday season unfolds it exposes a population suddenly acknowledging those around them, extending greetings and sharing smiles from the heart! This is the time of year that transitions even the most unreceptive and stoic of individuals into a world filled with camaraderie and joy. It is a time for giving and caring and sharing. So share the story of your job search and reap the benefits of a new contact or a new lead but be sure to keep in the spirit of holiday networking by asking what it is that you can do to help in return.

The family get together finds you catching up with your cousin not seen since this time last year and in sharing information about your job search, including your interest in a specific company, you discover his neighbour is not only the CEO but a close friend! Holiday networking success! And in the spirit of giving, your cousin is equally elated because you have offered to help him get his recently acquired, antique vehicle ready for the road in the spring. This  is surely what networking and the holidays are all about.

Season’s greetings to all! And to all, the very best of luck in your job search! For further job search strategies or to obtain a free resume critique from a Certified Professional Resume Writer contact Elite Resumes.

The infinite number of job search resources available can be overwhelming! Recognizing those that will be of benefit will save you a significant amount time and help you to succeed in driving your career in the right direction. A financial investment for  professional services and memberships, provided you’ve done your due diligence to ensure the company or organization is reputable will most certainly provide positive results throughout your career. However, there are also many free resources available that also warrant your attention!

Networking is the most successful job search tool available and an indispensable resource in uncovering the hidden job market. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to network while in an elevator, standing in line at Tim Horton’s or attending a networking event. Those managing a successful career should consider memberships with networking organizations such as ExecuNet, offering a free associate membership or HAPPEN which offers an annual membership for a nominal fee.  If you are interested in attending networking events, HAPPEN, Toronto ExecuNet and Senior ExecuNet all offer regular monthly meetings.

Monster and Workopolis are known for online job postings and provide an online venue to post your resume. As a job search resources there is a wealth of information; expert advice that could provide you with the key to succeeding in your job search. Many service providers offer free advice for managing your career as we do here at Elite Resumes including the opportunity to acquire a free resume critique. Check out MonsterThinking, a Monster blog, “exploring the complex world of work”. If you have special needs in your job search you may want to contact Northern Lights Canada and About.com job searching provides lots of great advice from Alison Doyle.

Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook are all exceptional job search resources! There is no fee to establish a profile along with millions of others worldwide including companies, organizations, groups and recruiters. These social media sites are only three of many free job search resources available which will allow you to develop valuable networks and open the door to infinite opportunities.

One simple tweet on twitter could provide you with a connection you would like to follow and multiple job search resources.

professional@email.com

Are you using a professional email address for your job search? An email address that is not outdated? One which identifies who you are? An email address that is easily deciphered even when hand written?

I’m sure we can all agree that an email address such as sexykitten@, beerking@ or gonefishing@ lacks the professionalism expected from anyone who is serious about managing their career. Get rid of them or use them exclusively for the singles sites.

Dots, dashes, underscores: Unless you are an extremely neat printer, it is possible that you’ve added your email address to a list in the hopes of receiving some important correspondence that will never be sent. Is it a dash or an underscore or maybe that line was supposed to represent a dot? Don’t leave anyone struggling to decipher your email address. For those of us who require reading glasses, a neatly typed email could still present a problem with the use of symbols which are smaller than letters.

You are known as George Brown but you created an email address cbrown@. This was done because you wanted to confuse people? I’m going to send the email to gbrown because I’m sure I must have made a mistake when I entered it as cbrown@. One more email that you will never receive.

What were all those numbers George added to his email address?

I just received an email from latvicus@. Since I have no idea who it is, I’m going to delete it. How was I supposed to know it was George Brown? His middle name you say?

It is completely understood that a common name requires some modification to obtain an available address so a middle initial or full name will be necessary; GeorgeLatvicusBrown@ or georgelbrown or georgezbrown. No, your middle initial is not a z but does anyone else know that? It still enables anyone looking at it to recognize that it is in fact George Brown. The George Brown that introduced himself at the last networking meeting you attended. But who was gb1234@hotmail.com?

If you are using Hotmail or AOL you’ll need to update to a new address. Those continuing to use them are dating themselves and perceived as not keeping up with the times.  @gmail and @rogers are both very popular today. Did you acquire the domain for your name or business? If so, you will have access to create email addresses such as, george@georgebrown.com or martin@aneliteresume.com.

What email address are you using for your job search? What does it say about you?

Do you have your online profiles established to gain access to the ever increasing number of job search resources that continue to flood the internet? Companies and organizations are online. Recruiters and HR professionals are online. Job boards, professional networking events, industry groups, and your competition…are all online! The news is also online and what better way to find out where the jobs are or where they will be!

Facebook partners with Labour Department to help job-seekers. Labour Secretary Hilda Solis also hopes to expand this initiative to Twitter Linkedin and other social media sites. 3 million job openings

Spaceport America conjures up spine-tingling future Forecasting 2000 jobs

Target Canada now hiring for 2013 launch 

Starbucks U.S. microlending program aims to create jobs “In the United States, small businesses hire more than half of all private-sector workers, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. But these businesses have been in a no-man’s land of tight financing, with little capital to grow. According to Starbucks, for every $3,000 donated through the program, a job will be created or maintained.”

5 Hot Jobs for Retirees, Two government agencies in particular — the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Transportation Security Administration — are known for seeking older workers. Both agencies have openings requiring little or no experience.

3,290,000,000 results are found if you google, jobs! Of course a successful job search will require a more specific search, one which may target a location, industry or organization. Do you have a company in mind? Did you know that company could be found on Linkedin and many of their employees are connected to the company as well as past employees? An old friend or relative may be one of them and can get you an interview or a past employee could provide advice to let you know they are planning to downsize and relocate outside the country. You will be amazed at the wealth of information you are able to dig up online and despite the millions of results, you’ll soon learn that so-and-so knows somebody that knows you and surprisingly it becomes a very small world. An online world which is easily manageable and not so overwhelming after all that enables you to seek out the opportunity that is right for you.

Create your professional online profiles on Linkedin, Twitter and establish a Facebook Page. You will increase your presence to be easily found by the recruiter who is looking to find the perfect candidate and you will be amazed at the wealth of information available which may lead you to the perfect job!

Richard Bolles has done it again, What Color Is Your Parachute?, A Practical Manual For Job-Hunters And Career-Changers 2012. Revised and updated annually with over 10 million copies sold, it is the best selling job-hunting book in the world!

Martin Buckland is proud to be mentioned in this 40th edition as the Canadian career expert! Richard includes the link to Martin’s list of 2,010 action verbs at Elite Resumes available for free when you sign up: 

Be sure to check out this new anniversary edition of What Color Is Your Parachute?, another amazing resource for job seekers!

Guerrilla Marketing For Job Hunters 3.0, written by Jay Conrad Levinson and David E. Perry, “How to Stand out from the Crowd and Tap into the Hidden Job Market Using Social Media and 999 Other Tactics Today”

Martin Buckland, Principal of Elite Resumes and Executive Career Management Expert is one of many contributors to another amazing Guerrilla Marketing book. Check out his War Story along with many others in addition to Case Studies, Guerrilla Tips and more! Advice is wonderful but gaining insight and knowledge from the experts, real life experiences and a strong dash of the recruiter’s perspective is guaranteed to provide positive results.

Microblogging Career Strategist Joins Elite Group

When Martin Buckland looked for even better ways to serve career-minded professionals, he decided to pursue world-class training through The Academies, Inc.

With reports of as much as a 10-to-1 jobseekers-to-jobs ratio in today’s economy, job seekers have a new ally on the job hunt. Martin Buckland, Principal of Elite Resumes and executive career management professional, took time from his business to join an elite group of career professionals learning the latest on job searching via social media, specifically via Twitter.

Author Susan Whitcomb, nationally known leader in the careers industry and CEO of The Academies, Inc., co-author with Chandlee Bryan and Deb Dib of The Twitter Job Search Guide (JIST), facilitated the program—a comprehensive curriculum that reveals how Twitter is dramatically changing the ways that jobseekers find and identify positions and how they are landing jobs in a tough job market. Buckland passed the tests to earn the Microblogging Career Strategist credential, an excellent addition to his 18 years of experience with job seekers.

To help people win and succeed in fully satisfying careers, Buckland now has even more powerful tools, including knowledge of:

- The secrets others have used to leverage Twitter to land job offers

- Building a personal brand, professional presence, and community on Twitter

- Using tools like TweetMyJOBS.com to be the first to hear about job openings

- Finding and connecting with previously inaccessible company insiders, recruiters, and other

influential networking contacts.

“I can offer so much more than the sum of what I learned,” said Buckland. “I’m excited about showing people how to use Twitter to turbocharge their job search and advance their careers. “And, I have an expanded circle of colleagues who share my dedication to partnering with people who want to manage meaningful careers and move forward faster.

For more information: 
Contact Martin Buckland, Executive Career Management Professional at Elite Resumes. Or follow @MartinBuckland @EliteResumes @EMBACareerCoach

There’s still time to land your next job before the competition explodes! Many North American job seekers are strongly influenced by our seasons, our holidays and our children. A limited summer season sees the cottage country population increase substantially and you can be assured that many in career transition are relaxing on the dock and have put their job search on hold. Holidays are important but why not seize this opportunity when the competition is greatly reduced to secure your next job and negotiate your holidays after you’ve landed!

Many parents are also busy preparing all that is necessary to ensure children are ready to head back to school, again taking them out of the job market and reducing the competition. Timing is everything and this is not the time to ignore a job search. Managing your time effectively to include an active job search could result in landing a job months ahead of those who choose to put it on hold until September.

Establishing an online presence, a recognized personal brand, an impressive professional resume, clearly targeting specific companies and networking are all necessary components of a successful job search. The time and effort required is consistent and unwavering but the summer months do provide a break in the competition so take advantage of the opportunity you have over the next  2 1/2 weeks. There’s still time to land your job while your competition has their job search on hold. Just think about how much more enjoyable your holiday will be when you have a job to return to!

Have you received a free resume critique from a Certified Professional Resume Writer?

As a job seeker, is it in your best interest to disagree with recruiters? As with any endeavour, not exclusive to a successful job search, it is imperative to listen and learn! Whether you agree or not is not always relevant to achieving the intended goal. You can disagree with what recruiters are looking for but that won’t change the facts. If you want to succeed and generate as many opportunities as possible to ensure your career success don’t waste time deliberating over what you believe the recruiter should be looking for. A common sense approach to assist in a positive and productive job search would be to focus on ways to accommodate that which will have a positive influence on the majority of recruiters.

How Recruiters Read Resumes In 10 Seconds or Less by Brad Remillard of IMPACT Hiring Solutions generated lots of comments from those who agree or disagree. It appears the majority who agree are also recruiters and HR professionals and of course those who disagree are those who will depend on their decisions. Unless you are a highly sought after, senior executive it is unlikely that you will be the decision maker in whether or not you get a chance to interview for the job! To influence the decision maker the best advice is to listen and learn and ensure your resume presents the pertinent information that the recruiter is looking for.

Of course there will always be a variety of opinions from recruiters regarding what they are looking for in a  resume so again, common sense should prevail. Whether you agree or disagree, consider the opinions of the majority. Do you want to send out a resume that will impress 2% of recruiters because you agree with them or do you want to impress 98% and increase your chances in securing a job interview?

Contact Elite Resumes for a free resume critique from Martin Buckland, Certified Professional Resume Writer.

As you walk in to your job interview you can be assured that your physical appearance will strongly influence the decision makers. Current style, well groomed and a professional attire will all contribute to a positive first impression. But how do you look online? Melissa Bell, The Washington Post’s article, Online Exploits Can Derail Hiring in thestar.com includes an important quote from Hasan Elahi at a TED Global talk, “We’re all creating an archive of our own lives, whether we’re aware of it or not.”

Further to how you look in a job interview, companies have been looking at your past requesting criminal checks as a standard part of their hiring process. The process was then expanded by some companies to look at your credit history with credit checks and today, companies like Social Intelligence are being hired to provide social media background checks.

Social Media History Becomes a New Job Hurdle, ourbusinessnews.com states, “…75 percent of recruiters are required by their companies to do online research of candidates. And 70 percent of recruiters in the United States report that they have rejected candidates because of information online”

The information you make publicly available online must be carefully considered! It is not just the friend you are messaging  or those who visit the site where you  posted your comment or the relative you invited to the all night bash that will have the ability to look at what you have posted online. How will it make you look to a prospective employer?

Those currently in a job search need only stay current to understand the impact they are creating with every public, online post. Unfortunately, most of our youth are unable to visualize 10 or 20 years into the future or understand the maturity and professionalism that is necessary to successfully manage an executive career.

There is no need to jeopardize an authentic personal brand when giving consideration to what you are posting online. Simply ask yourself if the same common courtesy provided in a face to face engagement is being extended to the online engagement. Unfortunately, there are many people who lack empathy when posting online which is most disturbing considering the fact that a post or comment on a public forum for all to see has a greater potential to emotionally offend or result in devastating consequences.

If you are not sure how your comment will be received

If you are angry or hurt

If your comment is a personal attack or an insult

If your comment discloses your involvement in illegal activities

DON’T POST IT!

Above all, do not post sexually explicit photos online even if you are absolutely positive that you may consider a career within that industry. Most individuals between the ages of 15 and 25 are adamant that they will never change their minds about anything but some of us have been there and know better.

You still have time to beat the competition in a summer job search! Of course you are a confident job seeker and believe you are the best candidate for the position. Unfortunately, you are only one of many who are all assuring recruiters and employers that they are the perfect candidate to fill the job. What if you had the opportunity to increase your odds by reducing your competition to position yourself as a potential candidate in a pool of 10 instead of 30? Or 20 instead of 60?

A summer job search may not seem as appealing as time spent at the cottage but this is the opportune time for a job search as job seekers drop off dramatically in the summer months. However, companies are not in a position to ignore the fact that a position needs to be filled regardless of the season. Over the long weekend in Canada, it was evident that few emails were being exchanged by those seeking employment but what did stand out was the fact that the few emails from one organization, 10 to be exact, contained 3 to announce they had successfully landed new jobs! These were senior positions which entailed job searches in excess of 10 months.

Seize the opportunity to beat the competition in a summer job search and land your new position before the September pool of potential candidates increases substantially!

Is your resume getting the attention you deserve? Contact Elite Resumes for a free resume critique from a Certified Professional Resume Writer.

How much of your job search are you investing in networking? There is no doubt that networking is a key component of any job search. Online resources continue to flourish with a recent Jobvite Survey revealing 89% of recruiters are, or will be utilizing the information provided by millions of professionals to source and validate potential candidates. Although paid memberships are available from two of the most well respected professional networking sites, namely ExecuNet and Linkedin, both sites also offer free memberships to network with millions of professionals. Establishing your free online profile  on these sites has become as basic to managing an executive career as a professional resume is to any job search.

Consult with a Certified Professional Resume Writer to find out what employers and recruiters are looking for.  A professional resume will provide the content necessary to establish your online profiles and impress even the most scrutinizing of prospective employers.

“Every month, there are over fifty face-to-face ExecuNet events that are facilitated by experts in executive career management who are aware of local trends and have helped thousands of people. They can help you learn of opportunities and business leads you might not know about any other way. In most major cities throughout the US and Canada, there are local events that can help you strengthen your network and gain the support you need to thrive in your career.” Execunet

Networking with millions of professionals online is of the utmost value to managing a career but face-to- face networking will always provide the greatest opportunity to generate the most memorable and personable first impression. Words and a photo will never compare to a confident handshake and an engaging conversation. Don’t miss out on the next ExecuNet meeting in the GTA and meet Martin Buckland, facilitator for ExecuNet and executive career management professional since 1993.     

If you are in career transition you are discovering that landing your next job may not happen within a matter of days or weeks or months or even years! There are many factors that will determine your success and reduce the length of your job search including a daily commitment, as finding a job is a full time job! Additionally, a carefully and methodically planned job search strategy should be reviewed and implemented with one key question in mind, “Where are the jobs”?

Close to 90% of recruiters are utilizing social media in 2011 to source potential candidates. Since they have the jobs, you need to be there. Establishing and maintaining a professional online presence utilizing Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook is a key job search strategy. In addition to networking online it is also imperative to network in person with no less than 2-3 meetings per day and at least that many per week attending professional networking groups. The likelihood that networking will be key to finding your next job is greater than any other job search strategy and it could take months off the length of your job search!

The number of online jobs continue to rise but use your time sparingly searching online job boards as it is not where the jobs are. At least not the majority of jobs. Although many positions can be found, recruiters have a more vested interest in enticing employers and other organizations to utilize their services for a substantial fee than using it to find potential candidates. It has been suggested that the success rate in securing a position from online job boards is approximately 4% so invest your time wisely by ensuring your professional resume is posted on all job search sites and updating it daily since your chances of being found will be greater than that of finding a job.

Dramatic changes in the economy and the rise and fall of various industries have impacted career directions around the globe. Job seekers are encouraged as employers are recognizing the value of transferable skills as well as the confidence and initiative required to successfully pursue a new career path. Of course success will be related to choosing the industry that will take you to where the jobs are. It would not be considered a prudent decision at this time to transition from Finance to Manufacturing or from mobile to land line technology so stay current with changing trends and technologies, economic conditions and business news to increase job opportunities. Be sure your qualifications meet the requirements of the position you are applying for to avoid extending your job search any longer than necessary.

Where are the jobs? Hidden, which is why networking is the best job search strategy with the best results.

Where are the jobs? Recruiters and HR professionals are trying to fill them and 89% are utilizing social media to search for potential candidates. Will they find you?

Where are the jobs? The upswing of many industries and evolving technologies will indicate where the jobs are so stay current and use the knowledge to assist in paving the way toward a long and successful career.

Reevaluate your job search strategies and ensure your path is leading you to where the jobs are especially this summer when most of your competition have decided to drop out of the job search race.

The Career Collective is an online community of expert career advisers and resume writing professionals. Each month these experts provide valuable information, Collaboratively Helping Job Seekers to gain the competitive edge necessary to succeed in the current job market. For professional advice in your job search visit:

4 Summer Strategies to Step Up Your Job Search, @DebraWheatman

Putting Your Job Search Up On The Rack For Inspection, @dawnrasmussen

Mid-Year Job Search Checkup: Are you wasting your time? @GayleHoward

What is your unique value proposition? @keppie_careers

It is Time for Your Check-up Ms/Mr Jobseeker, @careersherpa

Mid-Year Career Checkup: Are You “On Your Game?” @KatCareerGal

How to Perform a Mid-Year Job Search Checkup, @heatherhuhman

Reposition your job search for success, @LaurieBerenson

Mid-Year Job Search Checkup: What’s working and What’s not? @erinkennedycprw

Mid-Year Job Search Check-Up: Getting Un-Stuck, @JobHuntOrg

Mid-Year Check Up: The Full 360, @WalterAkana

5 Tips for Fighting Summer Job Search Blues, @KCCareerCoach

Are you positive about your job search? @DawnBugni

Where Are The Jobs? @MartinBuckland, @EliteResumes

Mid-Year Job-Search Checkup: Get Your Juices Flowing, @ValueIntoWords

When Was Your Last Career & Job Search Check Up? @expatcoachmegan

Is Summer A Job Search Momentum Killer? @TimsStrategy

Is It Time for Your Resume Checkup? @barbarasafani

A recent Jobvite survey showed 89% of employers will use social media for recruiting this year. For those currently using social media, 64% said they had hired people through a social network. John Zappe, ere.net provides an exceptionally informative article, More Employers Than Ever Recruit On Social Network elaborating on data from the Jobvite survey and Pew Research Centre report on social networking sites and our lives.

Today’s job search couldn’t be more different than it was just a few years ago so if you’re new to the scene be prepared for a huge learning curve! For many it may seem overwhelming but don’t use the excuse that you’re too old to change because over half of all social media users are over 35 years old! Most fears surrounding social media are unfounded and further research shows Facebook users are more trusting, get more social support, have closer relationships and are more politically engaged. You may also be surprised to know that only 7% of Facebook friends are people users have not met before and only 3% are people they have only met one time.

If you are managing a career it may not be a prudent choice to ignore Facebook with 700 million users or Twitter with over 200 million users but without a Linkedin profile, currently with over 100 million users you are guaranteed to limit your job search success.

The number of job seekers over 40 continues to rise and some employers are clearly acknowledging the trend with initiatives and programs to assist older employees according to a recent article in the Globe and Mail, Top Employers for Canadians over 40 based on results evaluated by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers.

Managing a successful job search requires a strategic plan; one which consists of clearly targeted companies. Success will be attributed to finding the company that provides the best fit possible. Too often job seekers will be focused solely on job posts, many of which are simply posted to recruit business rather than qualified applicants and in doing so are leaving the company to chance.

Online resources are rich with extensive information available for most companies. If you can’t find the company, take them off your list! Do your research and target those companies that have the potential to provide the cultural fit you are seeking. If you are in your 50′s, it is critical to consider pension plans and extended health benefits. You may be interested in an organization that provides training and development or flexible work options or the opportunity to plan extended vacations.

Before finalizing your list of targeted companies based on policies, plans, benefits and all around cultural fit be sure to  network with current or past employees to be assured it is all it appears to be. Of course there is always a chance of discovering a disgruntled employee but a thorough investigation could prevent a short lived tenure with the wrong company.

A job search, successful career path, credible reputation; all require a social media presence or you will disappear as a viable candidate. According to statistics, many reading this will already have established their social media profiles but for those still needing the support to get started follow these basic steps because your career needs social media.

• A professional email address is the key requirement to establishing social media profiles. If you have an old hotmail address or your email does not contain your formal name, create a new one. gmail.com is a good choice.

• The number 1 professional networking site is Linkedin! There are over 100 million users and it is a major resource for recruiters and HR professionals seeking potential candidates and verifying credentials. It is the premium start to influence a successful career. If you do not have a web site, this will provide you with an excellent address to add to your Twitter and Facebook accounts. You will be prompted with the necessary tips for 100% completion of your profile. Join Linkedin today!

• Twitter is the number 2 social media site nearing 300 million users. It is quick and relatively easy to create the profile and requires a minimal amount of information. As with all social media sites, the basis for success is the time and effort required to network and establish valuable connections. This is an exceptional resource to interact with real time events and news, search for jobs and follow targeted companies. Follow your interests.

• The social media giant with over 700 million users is Facebook! No matter what you’ve heard, you can’t argue with the numbers. A personal profile can be easily established and with it you have complete control over who you decide to invite or accept as a friend and various options to customize privacy settings. Once you have signed up for a personal profile you will have the ability to create your professional Page which can then be maintained completely separately from your personal profile and enhance your career. Sign up!

Just 4 more tips to help you get started:

1. As with your email address, a professional and consistent rendition of your name should be used on all social media sites. Linkedin allows you to customize your address (URL) and is a good indication of what may be available on other sites.
2. Invest in a professional photo. You will not generate a professional and credible online presence using the default image.
3. A google profile is also free and allows you to create a highly visible online presence providing the opportunity to add all of your personalized links to the social media profiles that you have created.
4. Use the help resource. All of the social media sites offer a “help” resource and if you are unable to find the answer to your question there simply google your question.

Martin Buckland, Principal of Elite Resumes has been providing executive career management services since 1993. As a member of the Career Collective it is our pleasure to provide you with the following professional advice from other members of the Career Collective, Collaboratively Helping Job Seekers:

Make Your Career More Social: Show Up and Engage, @WalterAkana
You 2.0: The Brave New World of Social Media and Online Job Searches , @dawnrasmussen How to Get a New Job Using Social Media,@DebraWheatman
Social Media: Choosing, Using, and Confusing, @ErinKennedyCPRW
How to Use Social Media in Your Job Search, @heatherhuhman
Updating: A Social Media Strategy For Job Search, @TimsStrategy
Your Career Needs Social Media – Get Started, @EliteResumes @MartinBuckland
We Get By With a Little Recs from Our Friends, @chandlee
Expat Careers & Social Media: Social Media is Potentially 6 Times more Influential than a CV or Resume, @expatcoachmegan
Social-Media Tools and Resources to Maximize Your Personalized Job Search, @KatCareerGal
Job Search and Social Media: A Collective Approach, @careersherpa
How Having Your Own Website Helps You, @keppie_careers
Social Media: So what’s the point?, @DawnBugni
Tools that change your world, @WorkWithIllness
HOW TO: Meet People IRL via LinkedIn, @AvidCareerist
Jumping Into the Social Media Sea @ValueIntoWords
Effective Web 2.0 Job Search: Top 5 Secrets, @resumeservice

Managing a successful career involves utilizing social media to establish profiles, network, follow targeted companies and keep abreast of the job market. With recent surveys showing over 80% of employers utilizing social media to seek out candidates, it is no longer an option if you are interested in advancing in your career.

A professional resume must contain a detailed career history, notable accomplishments and education. Although references have always been maintained separately, it is unlikely you will be asked to provide them. Why? Because, in addition to confirming the accuracy and consistency of the data in a resume with online profiles, employers are also looking for references online. Do you have the necessary testimonials in your profile that the employer is seeking to solidify your candidacy?

A written hard copy testimonial or a name and phone number are no longer easily shared information. If you have this information, re-create the content online and ask the author to verify it to enable you to include your  recommendations within your online profiles. If you have not made the effort to obtain references and testimonials, it’s never too late to start! Don’t make it difficult for a potential employer to verify you are the right candidate for the job!

Whether managing your career or business, testimonials are a necessary component of your online presence.

Have you performed your due diligence to uncover the knowledge necessary to implement a successful job search strategy? Have you investigated companies, organizations, people, industries, logistical information and market trends to ensure you have acquired the information necessary to succeed in your job search? The responsibility for managing your career is yours and it is unlikely long term success will be attributed simply to waiting for an online job posting. What is online, is a vast amount of information and statistical data to assist in making the decisions that will ensure you are moving in a positive direction along a successful career path.

Are you aware of the statistical data related to the availability of jobs in the city you reside in? Does your job search strategy include a willingness to relocate? According to Labour Statistics there is 1 job posting for every 1 unemployed resident in Washington DC but in Miami there is only 1 job posting for every 4 unemployed residents. Canadian statistics show an increase in the labour market in Ontario and a decrease in Nova Scotia for the month of April.

Are you following industry trends and if so has it impacted your job search strategy? Have you considered transitioning  to a thriving industry from one which has experienced a consistent decline over many years? What are your key transferable skills?

Have you compiled a list of targeted companies based on a variety of criteria including a sound financial history? Do they have a clear and proven mission statement? Are company policies in place for corporate social responsibility initiatives? Do they provide a healthy environment for employees and is positive feedback available from past employees?

As mentioned, resources for information are abundant. Labour statistics are available from government sources and most job sites include market trend information such as Indeed.com, Job Market Competition. Linkedin may be the top professional social media site for individuals but it also includes jobs, company data, groups and shared information including questions and answers. Monster and ExecuNet provide exceptional sites for job seekers but also include extensive professional advice.

If your job search strategy is not resulting in job offers, it may be necessary to obtain the services of an executive career management professional. Career coaching, interview tutoring or a free resume critique could be all that is needed to succeed in your job search.

Senior level job seekers may not complain as loudly as their junior counterparts but overall the general consensus is most recruiters and HR professionals are guilty of discrimination. Missing out on a job opportunity is often heard to be the result of an organization’s discriminatory hiring practices. With age and gender cited most often the following articles should be of interest to those who may have been concerned.

Is Your Age a Deficit–or a Plus? Laurie Tarkan includes some interesting statistics in the article and notes  discrimination is more of an issue to those unemployed than those employed as well as those who have been passed over for a promotion or just not happy in their current positions.

Women over 55 country’s fastest-growing labour market demographic. Darah Hansen of the Vancouver Sun provides details according to Statistics Canada showing a long running trend of women over 55 finding jobs.

There are many reasons you may not be considered as a potential candidate. Contact an Executive Career Management Professional to gain a wealth of knowledge to assist in securing your next job opportunity.

We could compose an endless list of all that is necessary to manage a successful executive career but if we look only at the top of the list, it will begin with a professional resume and following that is a Linkedin profile. In order to generate opportunities a resume must attract the attention of decision makers but equally important is the message you are sending. If you do not clearly and concisely relay what it is you have to offer or what you are looking for you will not attract attention and opportunities will be lost. A professional resume accompanied by a cover letter offering further clarification will ensure there is no confusion regarding your qualifications and suitability in relation to the positions you are applying for.

A Linkedin profile must also present a clear message with a detailed account of current and past positions and accomplishments. Regular status updates of a professional and focused nature will ensure differentiation and a compelling, visible brand. Ensure your profile contains pertinent keywords that HR professionals and recruiters are using to search for potential candidates. When you send an invitation to connect on Linkedin DO NOT send the default message:

“I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.”

If you have met the individual, let them know where and when. If you are acquainted in another way, elaborate. It is important to clearly indicate who you are and why you want to add them to your professional network on Linkedin. Not everyone will allocate the time to review a profile to discover who someone is. It has been said more than than a million times for a reason, first impressions count! If you send a compelling personal message which clearly relays what you have to offer and what you are looking for you have set the stage for a potential opportunity.

John Brown has sent an Linkedin invitation. He states he met you at a networking event and has been targeting a company you used to work for and would like to know if you could provide him with a contact name. He also notes he would be happy to provide some social media support as you had mentioned during the event you were looking for someone. Will you accept the invitation?

Lisa Smith sends a Linkedin invitation stating she is a research scientist and also a member of a group that you are active in and is interested in connecting to further exchange information on a specific topic of mutual interest. Will you accept the invitation?

Ted Jones sends an invitation that says, “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.” Has he provided a clear and concise message to attract your attention? Why would you accept this invitation? If you choose to accept simply to add a contact, will you ever remember who this individual is?