CareerAlley » Networking

5 Steps to Making a Fresh Start for Job Search

CareerAlley — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 05:01:18 +0000

“The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” – Vince Lombardi

New Year, new start (right?)! Any resolutions? How many will you keep and how many will you break? If you are like most people, you will probably break some. If finding a new job was one of your resolutions, now is the time to get organized and set your plan in motion. One of the keys to success is to set goals that are realistic and tasks that can be reasonably accomplished.

How you approach your job search is driven by many factors:

Whether or not you are currently working (or have you lost your job)
Level of experience
Industry and job function
Geographic location
Compensation requirements and expectations

Making a fresh start is not that difficult:

Make a Plan – It may sound like overkill but it is not. Having a job search plan will keep you focused and help you achieve your goal more quickly. Speaking of goals, that is a good place to start.

What is your goal? Do you want to change industries, cities or career? Start with your goal and work backwards from there (what needs to be done to achieve your goal?).
Who do you know that can help in your search? Make a list of your job search network connections.
Where do you want to work? Make a list of the locations/cities where you would like to work.
Who do you want to work for? Make a list of he companies where you would like to work.
Job Search Plan Links:

Research – Using the list of companies you made while making your plan, research the companies where you would like to work. What type of research? If they are a publicly held company, look up their financials (make sure they are a viable company). You can also look up how employees rate the company (you don’t want to work for a company that no one likes). What about other company rankings (best company to work for, etc.)?

What You Will Need – Okay, you are ready to find your job, but do you have everything you need? Obviously you will need a crackerjack resume as well as a few different cover letters. What about your interview questions, elevator speech and a list of your references? Not sure that you have everything, take a look at the following links.

Resources for Job Search – You need select your resources for each “mode” of search. This includes your network, recruiters, job search sites and any other leads you may have. You should be selective, but each category should be representative of your search. You will also need to split your time (see the next topic) and spread your search across all of your resources.

Schedule Your Time – Whether you currently have a job or are out of work, job search is very time consuming. You need to schedule time to conduct your search and balance against your other time constraints. My rule of thumb is “one per day” as in, one recruiter, one person in your network, one company and one job search site. If you follow this, you will have contacted or leveraged at least 7 different resources by the end of each week (and they start to add up!).

Good luck in your search.

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Mixing Business and Pleasure: How to Networking at your Next Holiday Party

CareerAlley — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:01:30 +0000

“More business decisions occur over lunch and dinner than at any other time, yet no MBA courses are given on the subject.” – Peter Drucker

The holidays are here. But instead of simply enjoying the fine selection of crab puff appetizers and glasses of champagne at all of the fun holiday parties you’re invited to this year, you should be using this chance as a networking opportunity to improve your job search. When you go out to your next event, make sure to follow these networking tips below.

Do Preliminary Research. If possible, you want to know who is attending the party early on. This way you get a heads-up of the individuals you should give most of your attention to. If you’re really good friends with the host you might want to go ahead and ask them up front if any of the guests in attendance may be of any interest to you professionally—for example, do they have a friend who is the manager of a particular company or the CEO? If you don’t feel comfortable asking the host but you received an invitation to the event via Facebook for example, you could always do a little snooping on your own and check out the confirmed guest list—check out their profiles and glance at their career info if available.

Make a Good Impression. Experts say on average you have 119 seconds to make a first impression—that’s either a good one or a bad one. Naturally you’d rather it be the former not the latter. So smile, listen and be cordial. Use some flattery (don’t overdo it though) and get the person to start opening up. Your goal is that you want to make friends with this person and build a relationship. Remember: the party is not a career fair. If you come off as stiff and start spitting out your qualifications right of the bat and make things awkward you could turn people off. Besides, people go to parties to get away from work. So don’t make it all about business. That said, you need to weave-in your wants and goals seamlessly, which brings us to our next tip—

Look for Your Opening. You might have to start with small talk at first, but eventually the right time to hint that you may be looking for a job should come up— and it’s important that you seize the moment. You may simply be asked “what do you do?” and this is your chance to say, “[This] is what I went to school for and my career aspirations are to do [this], unfortunately I’m not getting any luck in the employment sector…”If you structure the conversation right, someone might just offer you his or her business card and say that they can help you. Or at the very least be able to get you in contact with someone who could help.

Keep in Contact. Lastly, even if the person wasn’t able to help you out right away, it’s important that you touch-base with him or her from time-to-time. Sure they might not have an opening for you right away but an opportunity could arise and if you are fresh in their mind, chances are you’ll be offered a position first. So send an occasional email, text, and phone call when the time seems right to “check-in.” As a courteous gesture, you should always ask if there is anything you can do for your new friend as well.

While upcoming holiday parties are a great time to network that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun and enjoy yourself, just try to utilize your time wisely so you can mix business and pleasure.

By-line:
Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about online colleges. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to mariana.ashley031@gmail.com

This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines.

Good luck in your search.

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Networking Etiquette: Tips on Expanding your Network

CareerAlley — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 05:01:13 +0000

“More business decisions occur over lunch and dinner than at any other time, yet no MBA courses are given on the subject.” - Peter Drucker

This article was contributed by copywriter Ritika Trikha from CareerBliss.com, a career community dedicated to helping people find happiness in the workplace.

People often ask is it who you know or what you know. While it’s crucial to have the proper experience and knowledge on how to do the job, take a step back and think about the sheer number of resumes that an average employer receives along with yours.

To put things into perspective, Google receives an average of 2 resumes per minute or 20,000 resumes per week, according to The New York Times. So, even if your resume is in tip-top shape and you have the perfect qualifications for the job, there’s a chance that your resume may never even get looked at. That’s where networking comes in. You just may end up shaking hands with a person who can help you land a job.

But networking can be tough.

The concept is great — but how do you actually network the right way? What do you say after Hi, my name is ____? If the thought of trying to carry on a conversation with a stranger and impressing them at the same time makes you a little nervous, consider the following networking etiquette tips to help you through the process.

First we’ll talk about where to start:
Existing Network: Guess what: You already have a network. It’s made up of all those people you’ve worked and interacted with in your professional life. Former boss? She’s a part of your network (assuming you left on good terms). Ex-coworkers? Yep … they’re part of your network. That vendor you worked with in your last job? Go ahead and add him to your network, too. While a big part of networking is getting out there and meeting new people, don’t overlook your existing network. These people can provide job leads, vouch for you and introduce you to new people to add to your network.

Social Network: Other starting points are professional social networking sites like Linkedin or Twitter. Adding people to your extended network on LinkedIn is a great way to introduce yourself, and you can even ask your mutual contacts to introduce you to other people on the site.

Networking Events: To find networking opportunities, ask people you already know or search on the Internet. A simple Google search (city + state + “networking opportunities”) should turn up results. Also, try websites like Meetup and Eventbrite.

Ok … now it’s time to get down to the business of networking! In the best case scenario, a mutual contact will introduce you to a potential networking partner. But eventually, you’ll have to get out there and break the ice with strangers.

Here are some tips for face-to-face networking:
Introductions: Wait until the person is not busy, make eye contact and shake hands confidently while introducing yourself. Use your full name and tell them what company you’re with. If you’re not employed, tell them your field. Don’t feel silly about rehearsing your introduction at home before the event.

Give then Take: Networking is a reciprocal process. Everyone at a networking event hopes to benefit. In other words: You have to give to get. Whenever you can, you should offer to help out a networking partner (but don’t make promises you can’t keep!). You’re building relationships, not looking for an immediate payoff.

Show interest: Don’t lead by talking about yourself. Ask your networking partner questions. Give them a chance to talk about their accomplishments. Encourage them. Be sincere. Build rapport.

Keep it Short: There are bound to be many, many people at a networking event. The goal of most of those people will be to meet as many of the other attendees as possible. So don’t be a time hog, Make your connection, chat for a bit and then let the person continue on through the event. Being succinct shows a networking partner that you value their time.

Exit Well: When the time comes to move on, make the most of your exit. Even after a brief conversation, you’ll have a feel for whether or not you connected with the person and want to interact in the future (and they will have determined the same thing about you). If the person is a potential addition to your network, exchange contact information (your business card) and ask for theirs. Let them know that you hope to see or talk to them in the future.

Follow Up: Within 24 hours after the networking event, send a follow-up email to the people with whom you exchanged business cards. Just say that you enjoyed meeting them and you look forward to interacting with them in the future. If you’ve thought of something specific you can do to help them out, include it in the email. This can be as simple as inviting them to an upcoming event you think they might be interested in. But, don’t ask them for any favors at this point!

This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines.

Good luck in your search.

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Job Search Marketing 101 – Battling for Prime Shelf Space

CareerAlley — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 05:01:58 +0000

“Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it.” ~David Star Jordan

I remember a story that a friend of mine told me about one of the products they covered at their advertising agency. This particular product was part of a well known brand, let’s call it Brand A. Anyway, my friend told me how retail products battle for shelf space. Not knowing anything about advertising (or shelf space for that matter), I asked him what he meant. Basically, every product battles for space on the shelf. There are so many brands for a particular product (and so many products), that most manufacturers of new products have to battle just to get space on the shelf at the supermarket or major retailer. Even if they get space, the don’t want the bottom shelf, they want the shelf that is at eye level. Eye level products are the ones that sell the best (or maybe they sell the best because they are at eye level). So, you may ask, what does this have to do with job search? Everything. Just like products competing for shelf space at the store, you are competing with other job seekers for a limited number of roles. Your “shelf space” is getting your resume to the right people who can ensure you are considered for the right job opportunities.

Build Your Personal Brand, Get Hired – This article, from Recruiter.com, provides information on helping you build your personal brand for job search without making it your full time job. The article provides four steps to help you build your personal brand. Tips on “getting your name out there”, including building your web presence (see the next point below). While you are on the site, take a look at the job seekers tab at the top of the page as well as the links to Jobs and Find a Recruiter.

Protecting Your Image – Too much information is not a good thing, and protecting your Internet presence is as important as building your personal Brand. Questionable pictures and social network information that may lead others to think you live a less than “straight and narrow” lifestyle can hurt your chances of finding a job. You know the old saying (slightly modified for current times) “if it would embarrass your mother to see it on the Internet, don’t do it”. You should regularly check your profile on the Internet. You can do this in several ways:

Google yourself - Run a Google search on yourself (regularly)
Check your Name – use services such as Spokeo.com, Zabasearch.com and 123people.com
Understanding Social Networking Site Privacy Settings – Make sure your privacy settings on your social network sites are set to protect your privacy (take a look at this article).

Brand-driven vs. Bland-driven Resumes – The difference could cost you the job! – This article is a guest post by Jessica Hernandez posted on my site and is worth a look. Specifically, the article is focused on helping you build a brand driven resume. This is an important part of building your overall personal brand.

Good luck in your search.

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Five Career Tips for College Freshman

CareerAlley — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 05:01:33 +0000

If you are a college freshman, time is on your side. How, you may ask. Well for one, hopefully the job market will be better in four years. And for another, you have 4 years to do all of the things you really need to do to set yourself apart from your classmates and the millions of other people that are competing for jobs. I know some college grads that are working in liquor stores or as cashiers in clothing stores. I don’t think this is where you want to work when you graduate (not that there is anything wrong with that). You need to position yourself now to be in the best bargaining position 3 and 4 years from now. Now is your chance to get ahead of the game rather than wishing you had been more diligent. So where to start? Take a read.

Internships: There are all different types of internships, the important thing is to ensure you participate as often as possible. There are summer internships and internships where you participate part time while you are in school (like c0-operative programs). Obviously the best internships go the quickest, but if you do your homework now (no pun intended), you can get a head start. If you don’t already know, internships give you practical experience before you get out into the working world. This experience is invaluable. Additionally, many graduating college students get their best leads (and sometimes jobs) from previous internships. And last, but not least, the connections you will make can make a huge difference in your career (read below). ==>> Students: 6 Best Ways to Get a Summer Internship

Semester Abroad: There is nothing like international experience and the best way to get that is while you are a college student. Now if you have no interest in visiting a foreign country, then skip this bullet and move on the the next. But, before you do so, consider how this experience might help you get a job when you graduate. How great will it look if you can say you studied and lived abroad for part of your college career. Many colleges offer this type of experience and, if yours does, you should consider taking advantage. ==>> Options for Learning Beyond our Borders

Be a Star – Volunteer: There is nothing more powerful that volunteering. Besides the fact that you will be helping others who are in need, you will learn things that most people would pay to learn. You will learn skills that will become an asset in your career as well. Better yet, it looks great on your resume (the resume that will not have much on it when you graduate from college – and everything helps). Hiring managers look to see what you did during your college years. Did you just party or did you take advantage of opportunities to grow. Another advantage is the people you will meet, many of whom can have an impact on your career. ==>>Top 11 Reasons to Take Action

Participate in Every Career Fair: You should attend every career fair that you can. It is never too early. What you will learn now will help you when you are looking for a job. But don’t limit yourself to your college, you can attend career fairs at other colleges as well as career fairs held for the general public. ==>> 20 Top Career Fair Success Strategies

Build an Amazing Network in Four Years: Your network is your most important job search tool, don’t underestimate it. Make all of the friends that you can at school. Be active, participate in clubs and sports. Volunteer on campus. All of the people you will meet in the next four years (students, professors, etc.) could play an important role in both your first job and your career. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity. ==>> How to Leverage Your Fraternity or Sorority Network in the Job Search

Good luck in your search.

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You Are Kind of a Big Deal

CareerAlley — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 05:01:50 +0000

“You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.” – Wayne Gretzky

Author Byline: Jessica has a true passion for the job seeker, evidenced by her desire to share everything she can with everyone she can about resume writing and interviewing.
Author Website: http://www.greatresumesfast.com

“I’m kind of a big deal.” When Ron Burgundy uttered this famous line in Anchorman, everyone in America laughed and started throwing this phrase around. Of course, the line was funny because it would be ridiculous for anyone to say this about themselves in real life … right?

One of the greatest challenges people face in writing their resumes is feeling comfortable talking about their accomplishments and achievements. The very idea of bragging about themselves is so uncomfortable for many people that they end up selling themselves short. This is one of the advantages of working with a professional—we have no reservations about highlighting other people’s talents!

For example, I recently wrote a resume for someone in the financial department of a Fortune 50 company. During his tenure, the company had done the largest-ever migration to a popular software system that is considered the gold standard in his industry. Due to his broad understanding of both his field and of technology, he was one of only a dozen people chosen throughout the company to work with the consultants who were designing, testing, and implementing the new system. The kicker was, he never mentioned any of this to me until our very last phone conversation. What a valuable piece of his professional life!

Many times, I don’t really know much about my friends’ professional lives unless they happen to get a promotion or change jobs altogether. Because I don’t interact with them in a business setting, I’m often surprised to learn that my friends are out doing some pretty impressive things in their work lives. For instance, a couple of months ago I learned that a good friend has been maintaining a 4.0 in the master’s program she’s been in for several years—while working full-time. No wonder she’s always studying!

As you begin a job search, it may take some time to become comfortable talking about your academic and professional accomplishments. Attending networking functions that focus on this type of conversation can help you overcome this roadblock. This is also why it’s important to have a professional, colleagues, or friends look over your resume before you start sending it off. If your current resume doesn’t scream, “I’m kind of a big deal”, you need to rework it until your strengths shine through!

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Good luck in your search.

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Selling Yourself Short – 5 Ways to Promote Your Job Search

CareerAlley — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 05:01:59 +0000

“We must become the change we want to see.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Team leader or “individual contributor”? Manager or supporter? Successful organizations are filled with all personality types. The best leaders in the world would be very unsuccessful if they had no followers. When you are looking for a job, it is no time to be modest. You need to be your biggest cheerleader and sell yourself to whomever will listen. And, while you need to take credit for all of your achievements, you also need to be careful not to exaggerate your achievements to the “unbelievable” level. Being a great leader is no better than being a great supporter. This is all well and good, but it is a delicate balance. The selling process starts with getting your name “out there”, it is supported by your cover letter followed by your resume and finally the interview process as the “clincher”. And did I mention your network?

Your Resume – First and foremost is your resume. This one document should summarize not only your work and educational experience, but it should also highlight your achievements (this is the part where you use action words). Maybe you completed a strategic project, or a new method to manufacturing a product. What ever your achievements are, they belongs in your resume. ==>> Resume Action Verbs

Your Network – In this case I’m talking about your friends, family and professional acquaintances. These are the people that know you best, know the quality of work you do and are aware of your achievements. But not everyone in your network is equally informed and they can’t effectively help you find a job if they don’t have all of the information. So, as part of your regular networking routine, you need to make sure that your entire network is aware of your achievements. ==>> How to Find a Job by Building Relationships

Social Networks – So of course you cannot mention social networks for job search without mentioning LinkedIn.com. In addition to your profile (which should mimic your resume), you should also list your accomplishments here as well. This is also a great place for references. Try to have some of your former coworkers submit a recommendation on LinkedIn for you. Join industry and other groups on LinkedIn, this is another great way to expand the your network and the people who know what you do best. ==>> Promote Your Job Search on LinkedIn in Stealth Mode

Blogs – Writing a blog is a great way to get your name out there. Of course you need to balance the type of material that is on your blog with the type of career and job you have. If your blog is too “out there” it is likely to scare people. If your blog is informative about your industry or job function, that is even better. Posting ideas and accomplishments (if done in the right way) will get you noticed. ==>> How to Write Killer Blog Posts and More Compelling Comments

Guest Articles -Writing articles is another great way to get your name out there and help with your job search. This is where you can leverage both, the Internet and print media. Trade associations are the first place to look, followed by college newsletters, industry news letters and magazines. You should also look for popular blogs and offer to writes guest posts. You could always write a book (although this is likely to take a long time.You will need to be the one who decides on the topic, ensure you will leverage your experience. Once you have at least one article published you can add it to your resume (and yet another achievement). ==>> Understand Recruitment Cycles to Give Your Job Search an Edge

Good luck in your search.

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5 Tips for Leveraging you Social Network in Your Job Search

CareerAlley — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 05:01:17 +0000

“Social media is just a buzzword until you come up with a plan.” – Zach Dunn

You know what they say – “It’s who you know, not what you know”. While I’m not so sure the second half of the statement is true these days, the first half of the statement is definitely true. Your network of friends, family and acquaintances is by far your single largest asset. While many people worry that “leveraging your network” means you will need to “cold call” your friends and relatives and ask them to help you get a new job, this is not the case. The Internet combined with your Network makes for a very powerful tool in your job search. Knowing how best to leverage this tool is not always obvious, but if you know what to look for it is quite easy to do. And then, of course, there is your extended network. Before the Internet, it was difficult at best to know who was in your extended network. With sites such as LinkedIn, your extended network is immediately known. =>> Ten ways to leverage professional networking

Build Your Networks to Suit Your Needs: In order for Social Networks to have any benefit in your job search, you need to build them in a way that complements your professional background. Search out former colleagues that you’ve worked with and add them to your network. Don’t limit this to “employees”, also look to add consultants you’ve worked with as well. But wait, don’t stop there. Also add former college classmates and friends to further build out your network. =>> Nine Ways to Build Your Own Social Network

Leverage Social Network Sites: The number one site for networking in your job search is, of course, LinkedIn.com. If you are not already a member, now is the time to join (and it is free). Enter your career profile, skills and add your links. Once you’ve entered the basic information, LinkedIn will help you find additional links. Once your profile is up, you and your experience becomes searchable by others (this is a great way to be “found” by others looking to hire). When you identify a lead, use LinkedIn to see who in your network is either working at your target company or who in your network may be linked to someone who can help you. =>> 20 Social Networking Sites for Business Professionals

Leverage Professional Associations: In case you don’t know, Professional Associations are a type of social network that links members based on expertise or functional experience, such as accounting, engineering, etc. There are professional networks for just about everything and most of these will have websites where you can leverage your contacts and make new ones. =>> List of international professional associations

Leverage Alumni Networks: Your college or university is one of the best resources you have (yes, even after you graduate) and your Alumni association is a powerful tool as you can leverage not only your graduating class, but all of the graduating classes. People stay connected to former schools so the depth of experience and connections in your alumni association is likely to be large and deep. => Leveraging Your Alumni Network In Your Job Search

Join Several Networks: There are so many social networks out there, and LinkedIn is not the only site you can leverage in your job search. You will want to be selective and limit the number of social networks you work with as well as the content. Do some research before you join and ask some of your friends as well. You should designate several social networks as your “job search networks” and only post work related information and (generally) no pictures. =>>Key Social Networking and Bookmarking Sites for Job-Seekers

Good luck in your search.

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5 Personal Branding Resume Techniques You Must Try

CareerAlley — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 05:01:53 +0000

“A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.” – Confucius

Author Byline: Global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of http://www.greatresumesfast.com is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.
Author Website: http://www.greatresumesfast.com

You’ve probably heard it a million times: Personal branding is important to the success of a job search. Why is it so important? Because as a unique job seeker, it helps define you as an individual and makes you stand out as a prime candidate.

There are aspects of your background that make you incredibly unique and highly qualified—and your job is to highlight those aspects so that hiring managers don’t have to guess whether you’re perfect for the job. To help you get started, here are five personal branding techniques to try when working on your resume.

1. Develop a Strong Title/Job Target

Your title/job target is the first impression a hiring manager will have when reading your resume. This short phrase provides a quick summary of what you’ve accomplished and why you are the right person for the job. It helps to set the tone for who you are as a candidate. This tone should remain consistent throughout the resume and any other information the manager receives about you.

2. Add Links to Your Professional Profiles

Another great technique for building your personal brand is to link to your professional profiles. Keep in mind that, most times, your resume is submitted online and can easily be linked to Web sites. If you link to your LinkedIn and Twitter profiles, as well as one or two other professional sites you have, you give the employer a chance to learn more about the contributions you’ve made in your field.

3. Summarize Your Career Highlights

You can also develop your personal brand by creating a career summary section. You want the most important moments of your career to stand out in this section. These moments might include your winning salesperson of the year five times, or your efforts as a team leader that resulted in record revenues. It’s good to list at least four highlights, but make sure they’re tailored to the job for which you’re applying.

4. Turn Your Duties into Initiatives

Instead of listing the duties you were given on any job you’ve worked, it’s great to brand yourself by listing your initiatives. So if you were in charge of taking phone messages and created a new system that made message delivery more effective, don’t just write, “Answered calls and delivered messages”. Write a couple of sentences starting with “Developed” or “Initiated”, then talk about what you created and how it helped the message-taking process flow more smoothly throughout the office.

5. Consider Testimonials

Adding testimonials to resumes is still a unique concept to many job seekers, so taking this route could automatically make you stand out. Find two or three reputable references in your field to vouch for your greatness in a one- or two-sentence quote. This could really help to back you up as a strong candidate.

There’s nothing better than standing out as the strongest candidate each time you apply for a job. Increase the odds of being that person by developing your personal brand in your resume.

For additional tips and advice on resumes and cover letters, follow us on Twitter @GreatResume or visit our blog.

Good luck in your search.

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Untethered Job Search

CareerAlley — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 05:01:19 +0000

“Computers are magnificent tools for the realization of our dreams, but no machine can replace the human spark of spirit, compassion, love, and understanding.” – Louis Gerstner

It would be so easy to spend every minute of your job search sitting in front of a computer, searching and applying for jobs. To a certain extent, you should be doing just that. But on the other hand, you do need to step away from the glowing screen every once and awhile and interact with living, breathing people. While there should be some balance between the two, I’ve not really focused too much on the people side of the search. And, although the bulk of your time should probably be spent “tethered”, you are more likely than not going to be hired by a person (no a computer). The two main aspects that come to mind are Networking and Marketing yourself. So, now that we’ve spent so much time learning how to leverage the Internet in our job search, now it’s time to learn how to leverage the human side.

Networking:

The Importance of Networking in Your Job Search -You know what they say (it’s who you know not what you know). This article, published by ContempoResume, provides a good overview of how to leverage both your network and your networking skills. From how to prepare (yes, there is preparation in networking) to building your relationships. This article is worth a read. While you are there, take a look at related articles.

Build Your Job Search Network – Who better to help you with networking than Monster.com? This article covers many of the important aspects of networking. From how to make your pitch to keeping track, there is some interesting advice. Best of all, the article provides a list to get you started (like, have you leveraged your alumni association).

37 Ideas to Grow Your Job Search Network Right Now – Not much of a network if it is too small. This article, from JobMob, provides lots of great ideas to help you grow your network. From preparing an elevator speech to following industry blogs, there are some ideas for you. In addition to all of the ideas, there are embedded related links throughout the article. Not enough? Take a look at the related articles at the bottom of the page.

Promote Yourself:

Why Self-Promotion is the Key to Success – You “need to be in it to win it” (borrowed from the Lottery guys). This article will give you some ideas on how to promote yourself. The more people who know you are available the better the chances. What first looks to be a short article is spread over several pages, so don’t forget to click Next Page. Some additional related content is available on the left hand side of the page.

Promoting Yourself on LinkedIn – Posted on The Wall Street Journal’s site, some advise on leveraging old standby (and now public) LinkedIn. Some good advice, like my all time favorite – update your profile often to another one of my favorites – get the word out. Some interesting advice for building your network. Lots of great related resources on the site, don’t forget to take a look.

Good luck in your search.

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