Every ExecuNet meeting provides the opportunity for each participant to share a 1 minute “infomercial” to clearly enunciate their value. This meeting however, will give you the opportunity to sell yourself to the leading Executive Recruiters in the industry!

Executive Recruiters can play an important role in your career management however, there are numerous inaccurate assumptions and misnomers about the recruitment process and how Executive Recruiters operate. Martin Buckland, Principal of Elite Resumes and ExecuNet Facilitator will conduct a Question and Answer period to further engage discussion and information sharing among event participants. To ensure all questions are addressed, please submit your questions upon arrival.

What will you gain by attending this meeting of career experts?

• Learn how to introduce yourself to Executive Recruiters.

• Uncover why Executive Recruiters very rarely return your phone calls.

• Network with leading Canadian Executive Recruiters in: Interim Management, Banking, Insurance, Real Estate,  Private  Equity, Infrastructure, Advanced Technology, Communications, Utilities, Not-For-Profit and Consumer Products.

• Uncover how Executive Recruiters source talent and how to gain the maximum traction to attract their attention during a career transition or while gainfully employed.

• How do Executive Recruiters evaluate your career history if you are contemplating changing industries?

• Acquire knowledge on how Executive Recruiters use social media including LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook to find   candidates.

The following renowned Executive Recruiters will be joining our Executive Recruitment Panel:

Linda Clark

Partner/Recruiter

Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions

Mandeep Grewal

Deputy Managing Partner

Rosenzweig & Company Inc.

Joe Zinner

Managing Director

Zinner & Company Inc.

Register today to advance your network of key career influencers!

Attendance for this event is limited to 75 participants and will be sold out quickly!

Do you have a Facebook account? Are you a follower or a leader? If you have access to the Internet, it is simply a matter of time before you will decide to follow the other 800 million people and join Facebook. There is no doubt that for many it is the natural resistance to change that could be holding them back so if the numbers are convincing enough, it should be noted that Facebook was launched almost 8 years ago!

Another influential social media site is Twitter which was established in 2006 and currently has over 462 million users. An easy to use, real time resource, Twitter has become a favourite source for all who recognize it’s potential.

The absolute minimum online presence for anyone managing a career or business is Linkedin. Currently with over 136 million users, Linkedin provides a professional site with the resources to display authentic references and a career history linked to company’s and organizations. Networking with other professionals, following companies, job listings and the potential to connect with key decision makers around the world makes this the ultimate in job search tools.

Social media is not a passing fad and the consistent growth of Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin to name only a few, will ensure these social media sites continue to be key resources in the successful management of any career or business. No longer is there a choice to be the leader in joining these sites but by following those who did take the lead you are sure to discover the many benefits of online networking!

Holiday networking

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.

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.     

“Until Facebook came along, there was hardly anywhere on the public internet that you had to operate with your real name.” David Kirkpatrick Author of The Facebook Effect

Facebook has truly been the driving force behind an authentic, genuine online presence. Of course there will always be those who will lack professionalism and post inappropriate content online but the opportunity is also there to recognize those who are mature, professional and accountable. Social media has changed the way we “do business” and it is that very thing, the transparency and engagement that is generating influential and positive results.

A reputable and talented professional with an exceptional track record has the ability to share that information linking it to companies, organizations and testimonials supported by other validated profiles. Businesses that are not interested in engaging clientele or lack a human presence will no longer gain the credibility needed to entice customers. As Facebook nears 700 million users, sharing their profiles, opinions, likes and dislikes, it continues to enhance the most powerful influence in our society, “word of mouth”!

Whether you are pursuing an executive career or an entrepreneurial endeavour a Facebook Page could add to your success. Keep in mind that your Facebook Profile is not the same as your Facebook Page. Review professional pages, including the Top 50 Branded Facebook Fan Pages, June 2011 by Jim Tobin to understand the difference and then decide which type of Facebook Page will best suit your needs.

Networking is key to maintaining a successful career and will undoubtedly be key to securing your next position. Whether networking online or in person you should strive to be active on a daily basis and equally as important, continue networking after securing a new position.

Martin Buckland has been facilitating ExecuNet meetings in the GTA since 1999. Visit Senior ExecuNet for information and to register for upcoming meetings in July and August. Toronto ExecuNet meetings will resume in September.

Not open to receiving introductions is a message you do not want displayed on your Linkedin profile when someone is trying to connect with you. Why? Because Linkedin is the #1 Professional Networking Site. There are currently over 100 million professionals on Linkedin. You will find close to 2.2 million companies with detailed profiles including past and current employees. Linkedin has over 3,000 jobs posted in Canada and over 42,000 jobs posted in the United States. Over 80% of recruiters and HR professionals are seeking potential candidates on Linkedin. Adding Connections, Introductions, Answers and Groups are only a few of the features that are available on Linkedin for the purpose of networking and engaging professionals. And lastly, would you attend a professional networking event and turn your back to an extended handshake?

The message, “Is not currently open to receiving introductions or InMail” will display to someone interested in connecting with you if you have intentionally or unintentionally missed selecting the appropriate settings when completing your Linkedin profile. Since intentionally blocking introductions on a professional networking site lacks professionalism and social media etiquette we’ll address this as an oversight or a simple mistake and advise how to make the necessary corrections.

You will find your name in the top right of your Linkedin profile. Under your name select “Settings”. Choose “Email Preferences” found on the left side and address each category beginning with, “Select the types of messages you’re willing to receive”. You do not have to choose all of the OPPORTUNITIES listed although why would you make a choice to limit your opportunities even if it simply allows you to share those which are not of interest to you with someone else? Save your selection and then choose, “Select who can send you invitations” noting the Linkedin recommendation, “Anyone on Linkedin”. Unless you’re so popular that you are receiving hundreds of invitations you are unable to manage, why would you want to limit who can send messages on a professional networking site?

There is one mistake that many executives in career transition make after they land their next job; they choose to break ties with networking groups and connections which provided the support and resources that may very likely be the reason they are no longer in career transition. Why shun the people and organizations that assisted you to advance along your career path? The first error is to assume that you are at the end of your career path and the next is to use these resources and people to achieve your goals and walk away without giving back. Failure to participate is a decision to eliminate potential opportunities.

A recent email from a member of the Happen organization advised all members they had landed a new job but would continue their membership. Although a networking organization for many in career transition, this individual acquired their job by networking with another member who also chose to maintain their membership after being hired. For those who are not as giving or committed to paying it forward it is still in the best interest of your career to stay connected, continue networking and participate!

Removing your name from networking groups, dropping connections that likely helped you get your job and simply disappearing into a new position is a mistake. No job comes with a guarantee and establishing a professional network only to disengage after a new appointment could leave you in a difficult position if you find yourself back in career transition within a short period of time. Would it be a terrible thing if an organization or a connection provided you with a lead that resulted in another job offer while employed? Maintaining a professional network is simply a smart way to manage a successful career.

Toronto ExecuNet and Senior ExecuNet offer networking meetings for business leaders and senior executives to network on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Wednesday of each month. Visit ExecuNet for further information and to register online.

Without an established online presence, it is still highly recommended that you google your name. The fact that you are not interested in your own online profile does not mean that someone else isn’t. Online searches to verify the identity, history, credibility, references and achievements of individuals continue to increase at an amazing rate. Not unlike investigating a new product, resort location or local service, our due diligence involves a background check into the value and authenticity of what is offered. As a business owner, you do not want to risk the only online results showing up to be that of a disreputable organization with the same name and lose out on potential sales.

If you are managing a career it is important to know that over 80% of recruiters and HR professionals are currently searching online for potential candidates. Not only has this become the norm, decision makers are also choosing to utilize online resources such as Linkedin in order to review testimonials and verify references.

If you do not claim your public profile you could miss out on opportunities for two simple reasons:

1. You can’t be found
2. You are mistaken for someone else

Here are 3 possible scenarios for those who have not claimed their public profiles:

1. You recently attended a convention related to a personal interest hobby and made a significant impression on a well connected speaker. The speaker decides to look you up online with an offer that could take you out of a job you hate and transition you into the industry of your dreams but: you can’t be found or worse you are mistaken for someone else and it appears that you might have lied about who you said you were.
2. A company executive remembers your name from a previous organization and believes you could be a potential candidate for a high profile position but: you can’t be found or worse, you are mistaken for someone who has been incarcerated.
3. You have interviewed for a job and all that is left to secure your new position is a reference check. The results online fill the first page but all it verifies is that you could be a Russian girl from the Russian Brides Cyber Guide’s “Black List”, a scam girl! Will you get the job?

There is no cost to establish your online profiles but if you don’t claim your public profile you could be missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime, a position that could have saved months of unemployment,  your dream job, an invite to discover your life’s passion, the chance to connect with a dear friend or relative or perhaps, the love of your life!

Although social media provides the optimal resource for networking, establishing an authentic connection with others should be an integral part of every day whether it involves attending professional networking meetings, social events or engaging another while riding on an elevator. More connections result in more opportunities to give or to receive. Networking or connecting with the right person has resulted in the success of many. YouTube is without a doubt the place to be discovered but would Bieber be the success he is today if he hadn’t been introduced to Usher? And would Usher be as popular today without Bieber? Why Some People Have All The Luck (And How to Become One of Them) by Lateral Action is all about creating connections that lead to opportunities. Call it luck if you like but without networking, your luck will most certainly disappear. 

Utilize social media, network at professional meetings or socialize at family events for more connections and more opportunities.  RockMelt is a great resource to bring it all together and shows the ease of obtaining results and generating opportunities by connecting with others. Be found and find others to discover a world of opportunities!