CareerAlley » Networking

It’s a Small World – Networking

CareerAlley — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 09:00:59 +0000

“Through the too many miles and the too little smiles I still remember you.” – Harry Chapin

I ran into some former coworkers the other day both of whom I worked with a few years back at a large financial institution. I had also worked with one of the two, coincidentally, early in my career at another financial institution (yes, I’ve worked at lots of places). We got to talking and, at the end of an hour or so, had discussed an impressive and very long list of people we all knew from our travels in our careers. It was then that I realized that it really is a very small world. Depending on your industry and the city you work in, your network and extended network can span a very large number of people and companies.

Formal and Informal Job Networking – So exactly what is an “informal” job network? This article, posted on Geekinterview.com, provides one definition of both formal and informal job networks. The article stresses how our ever more connected world has changed the way we network. As a first start to understanding networking, this article is a good start. There are related topic links at the bottom of the page as well as job search resources on the left hand side of the page.

Job Search Networking: Merging Formal Networking with Informal Networking – One more post on this topic, Associatedcontent.com provides this article which provides a good overview of networking, followed by good definitions of formal and informal. The article is spread across two pages, so you will need to click on the next page at the bottom right hand side of the screen. Tabs at the top of the page provide links to additional job search resources (like networking events and Job Openings) with links to related articles at the bottom of the page.

Networking Advice – What better place to seek out networking advice than the Rolls Royce of job search, The Riley Guide. In typical fashion, this page has an amazing number of links to networking tips and pointers. Directly below this are links to “netiquette” which is then followed by links to Online Networking. While you are here, don’t forget to look at all of the other related job search links but especially the other networking tips at the top of the page.

Face to Face Networking for Introverts – What, don’t have the confidence to network? Not to worry. This article, posted by Miriam Salpeter on Secrets of the Job Hunt, provides some great advice for “breaking the ice” on your networking fears. My favorite is “Use the Buddy System” (although get a drink is appealing as well). Plenty of great advise, all presented in bite size chunks for quick reading.

20 Networking Mistakes You Should Not Make – It isn’t always as easy as it sounds. This article will help you avoid some of the most typical mistakes. Posted on Thewisdomjournal.com, there are some great tips like don’t be a time hog and creating a script (a much longer version of your elevator speech). This article is definitely worth a read.

Good luck in your search.

Growing a Professional Network: Using LinkedIn’s Groups

CareerAlley — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 09:00:57 +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

Author Byline: Christina Archer is a career agent, recruiting specialist, professional resume writer, and author with I-CareerSearch.
Author Website: http://icareersearch.wordpress.com

When it comes to embarking on a serious job search, we constantly hear about the important role networking plays in our success. There are multiple ways in which a job candidate may choose to network; community events, attending professional organizational meetings, and participating in web-based social networks.

LinkedIn is the Internet’s most widely-used business social networks, and claims that over 65 million professionals use their site to exchange information, ideas, and job opportunities. One aspect of using LinkedIn that many job seekers may not have previously considered is utilizing the groups feature to grow their network exponentially, with little additional work.

Here are the top five reasons every job candidate should consider signing up for LinkedIn’s professional groups to expand their networking reach, and ultimately land their next job.

1. The job seeker should search for and join groups that cater to their specific field and industry.

For example, if an individual is a pediatric R.N., they would search for groups within the health care industry, and include pediatric nursing in their keyword search. A list of search results will provide the candidate with a number of group networking options. To determine which group is the best match, simply visit each group’s home page, and read the description. Each member of LinkedIn can join up to 50 groups.

2. Gain access to targeted job openings.

Each group has a job posting area, where hiring managers and recruiters may post their openings. Every member of the group can access these job openings on demand, or choose to have updates emailed directly to them.

3. Connect and send messages to fellow group members.

Job seekers who join LinkedIn groups can easily connect to other members of the same group, without being first level connections. For example, suppose an individual has 100 first level connections. They find a hiring manager is looking for a Staff Accountant in their Dallas, Texas office, and this is their target position. Instead of having to pay to send InMail, (LinkedIn’s direct messaging service), the job seeker who shares a group with the hiring manager may send them a direct group message. This is an excellent way to expand a person’s network reach, and connect with industry professionals who serve as decision makers.

4. Post blog entries to groups.

For those job seekers who blog about their profession, and believe it serves as an asset to their employment search, they have the ability to cross-post their blog entries to members of their groups. When making a blog entry, simply click on the “share” button, and click on the LinkedIn logo. Candidates who are not sure whether or not their blogging platform offers the share option, can sign up to join add-this.

5. Start a LinkedIn Group.

For those individuals who do not find a group specific to their needs, LinkedIn allows them to sign up to start their own. To get started, simply log in on the home page, click on groups, and select “start your own.”

With the high number of members who regularly participate on LinkedIn, it is very likely there is a group for every field and possible profession. When pursuing a quality job opportunity, it’s important to utilize a professional network. This enables the candidate to find unadvertised jobs, connect directly with decision makers, and land their next job more quickly.

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

What’s New in Job Search

CareerAlley — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:00:25 +0000

“The difference between ‘involvement’ and ‘commitment’ is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was ‘involved’ – the pig was ‘committed’.” – unknown

We all know that there is a big difference between having a job and looking for a better one and not having a job and trying to get one (many of us have been there). In a way, it is a little like today’s quote. When you are employed, no matter how bad your situation may be, it is difficult to be as committed to job search as when you are unemployed. Sometimes you’ve been on “the hunt” too long and you need to refresh your approach and other times it’s a matter changing your approach in order to get better results. But no matter the reason for job hunting, sometimes you just need to try something new. This brings us to the title of today’s post. So, what is new in job search? Not much really, the real question is what is new to your job search. Today’s post is a mix of updates from previously posted resources to advice on how to refresh your job search.

Try These Tips to Refresh Your Job Search – This article, from the Project Management Institute, provides some useful tips on restarting or refreshing your job search. Tips on revamping your resume, switch industries, networking and attitude are all included in the article. Additionally, there are embedded links in the article as well as a link to their career center at the bottom of the page.

How to Restart a Stalled Job Search – Written by CareerJournal.com and posted on writejobs.com, this article also provides some advice as to how to restart your job search. Much of this tends to be about strategy and getting back to basics. There are additional links on the left hand side of the page for related topics such as Career Advice, Job Listings and Resources.

100 Useful Social Sites for Every Kind of Job Seeker – Posted on associatedegree.com, this article provides a long list (100 to be exact) of social sites that you can leverage for your job search. The article breaks them down into categories including General, College Grads, Resume Help, Networking, Technology and many more. Some of these you would have heard of but there are a number of sites that will be new to you and should help you in starting, restarting or ramping up your job search. There are links to related articles on the left hand side of the page and a link at the top of the page for Best Jobs.

Job Search Shortcut – An update from jobsearchshortcut.com. The site has been expanded from 30 metro areas and 15,000 links to 41 metro areas and 20,000 links. The main page has links to metro areas (center top) with a link to Nationwide Company Jobs and Toronto/Ontario Jobs as well. The right hand side of the page has additional links to other job resources. Clicking on Nationwide Jobs provides an alphabetical list by company. Click on any company name and you and a new window will open to that company’s career site.

Don’t wear pajamas for a phone interview – Besides the “getting your attention” with the title of this article written by Anne Fisher and posted on Fortune.com, the article focuses on the increase in telephone interviews and provides a number of tips for phone interviews. I’m not sure I buy into the “don’t wear pajamas” (unless, of course, it’s a video conference call) and I certainly am not likely to put on business attire for a telephone interview, but the tips are good and this is certainly worth a read.

Good luck in your search.

The Best Job Search Sites – Vol 3

CareerAlley — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:00:30 +0000

“All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are moveable, and those that move” – Arabic Proverb

So which are you? Successful job search is all about putting in the time to get your resume out there and cultivating your contacts. Networking is a key component, but you need to have done your research as well. Yes, research. Whether it’s looking for the companies you would like to work for or researching a company where you have an interview, research is the key to finding your job. Then, leverage your network to for contacts in those companies. It’s those that move that make a difference, all of the rest are just obstacles that the rest of us steer around.

Company Research: It sounds really simple (and it is in a way), but you really need to put in some time to researching the companies you may want to work. The following links will tell you how and where you can do this.

How to Research a Company Online Before Your Job Interview – This article, from eHow.com, provides 9 easy steps to help you in researching companies. But in addition to the “Google it” the remainder of the tips provide some really good information.

Research Companies – If you haven’t visited vault.com now is the time. This is a great site (use my link at the start of this paragraph) for company research. The page starts with the Vault Rankings (their “best”) and is followed by most viewed companies. Lower on the page are links for featured employers. As if this was not enough, you can use the links on the right hand side of the page to search for specific company, industry or location.

Wall Street Journal Company Research – Who better than the Wall Street Journal for company research? This link provides quotes, profiles, financials, ratings and research reports. Enter the company name or symbol and you are on your way.

Networking: Yes, networking. This is one of the “big four” (Networking, Recruiters, Company Career Sites and Job Search Sites).

Job Search Marketing Toolkit – Networking – Where best to start then on CareerAlley? There are a number of links to networking “how to’s”, “Ten Excuses Why People don’t Network” and more. Take a look.

Key Career Networking Resources for Job-Seekers - According to Quintcareers.com, this post offers “A collection of key Web-based career and job-search network resources for job-seekers” and it does. This page provides articles on tips, advice and tutorials. There are links for tutorials, special links for college grads, who to talk to and more.

Top 10 Social Sites for Finding a Job – Leave it to Mashable.com to gather this great collection of the top social sites for finding a job. Networking is not only about “calling your friends”, it’s also about leveraging social networks. As you might have guessed, LinkedIn.com tops the list (and if you’ve not joined, now is the time). You have probably heard of some of the remaining nine (I would be impressed if you heard of all of them).

Good luck with your search.

Leveraging Technology for your Job Search – Vol 1

CareerAlley — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:00:19 +0000

“We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology.” – Carl Sagan

Most (if not all) job searches must leverage technology to be successful these days. Even the “low tech” methods require that you have a resume in Word, pdf or some other electronic version. But to be honest, successful job search requires technology these days. I’ve written a number of posts on this topic, but the technology changes and improves so often these days, it doesn’t hurt to provide updates from time to time. Even CareerAlley is now “mobile ready” if you view it on your smartphone (or Blackberry) browser (take a look). Too much to cover in one article, so consider this volume 1 for now. So what’s changed, new or not covered before?

Podcasts: Most of you are aware of podcasts and many of you watch (or listen) to podcasts in some way, shape or form. There are free podcasts you can leverage in your job search:

Secrets of the Job Hunt – Great topics (the link to the left will take you to the podcast in iTunes) complement the Secrets of the Job Hunt website. Depending on the topic, which range from job search strategies to advice for recent grads, each podcast runs 2 to 25 minutes or so. You can listen to these while sitting in front of your computer (a few are video podcasts) or while using your iPod, this is a great way to get valuable information to help in your job hunt. By the way, did I mention that these are free?

JobDig – Another podcast for job search, the link to the left will take you to the podcast in iTunes (JobDig offers other formats as well from their podcast page at JobDig Podcasts). These podcasts (also free) range from 4 to 10 minutes or so and complement the JobDig.com website. Topics range from job advice to job search tips. Also worth a listen.

The Savvy Jobseeker - One more for you (and yes, the link to the left takes you to the podcast in iTunes), The Savvy Jobseeker (website = savvyjobseeker.com) also provides free podcasts with topics that range from “Tips to landing a high-paying job” to “How to choose job references”. Each of the podcasts range from 14 to 30 minutes or so.

Smartphones: This is not just about the iPhone anymore. There is now a long list of smartphones out there on just about every cellphone provider network. From Apps to web-browsers, you can leverage your smartphone to stay mobile in your job search. Three are listed below, just the tip of the iceberg. All have their pros and cons, so make sure you understand this before you make your choice.

Google Nexus One – At the writing of this article, Google’s Nexus One is the latest entry in the smartphone category. Using Google’s Android phone operating system and available on several carriers, the smartphone functionality that will help you in your job search: access to email on the fly, voicemail, job search apps (like CareerBuilder), social networking as well as productivity apps (to do lists, calendar, etc.).

Palm Pre – Another new entry into the smartphone category, Palm’s Pre (and now the Pre Plus) is a good alternative for a smartphone, offering all of the essentials you will need to keep your job search mobile – web access, email access, social networking (including LinkedIn), productivity (to do and calendar) and apps. At the moment, only available on the Sprint Network (which boasts a 4G network).

Apple’s iPhone – I could not cover this category without covering the iPhone (my personal favorite). With the exception of the AT&T network, which is passable at best, the iPhone still offers the best selection of apps specific to job search (from free to “paid” apps). Integrated email, visual voicemail, web-browser, productivity (to do lists, calendar, etc.).

Other Tech to consider:

Twitter – Yes, you can use Twitter for job search. There are countless Twitter members who offer leads, advice and more (CareerAlley is one!). You can follow those Twitter members that offer the best match for you job search needs. You can check Twitter on your computer or your smartphone.

Good luck in your search.

Job Search – The Best Job Search Sites – Vol 1

CareerAlley — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:00:18 +0000

“Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Like many of my posts, today’s is about being the best. We’ve done “the best companies to work for” and numerous other “best” lists. As with most of these lists, much of being rated the best is subject to the person writing the list or the criteria used to “rank” the pool of participants. Likewise, much about being the best you can at any one thing is subject to opinion. What we can say about ourselves which can’t be disputed is that we try the best we can, and that is the best we can do (no pun intended). So, as Ralph Waldo Emerson says, above -”Make the Best of Yourself”.

With the year drawing to a close, I thought I would make my own “best” list. I did not use any specific criteria other than my own observations about those Job Search Sites which I feel add the most value for their “specialty”. Since there are so many great sites out there, I will do this over several posts in the next few weeks. Again, no specific order to my list other than I think they add great value and will help you in your search, whatever that might be.

General Interest Job Advice - These sites offer a broad range of advice and have been my favorites for some time now.

JobMob – The site’s motto – “All together now” says it all. The site is about bringing together job seekers with those who have the jobs. The site is filled with tips, events, books, articles and more. To get a feel for what you will experience, take a look at the post “The Best of JobMob in 2009“, which provides links to articles on a broad range of job resource topics (way too many to list here). There are a number of ways you can stay connected to JobMob (email, RSS, Twitter, etc.). There are 4 tabs at the top right hand side of the page – Home (main page), Archive, About and Best Of. This site is in my top 10 and it should be in yours as well.

Spin Strategy – Another top 10 blog site for me, the articles are simply amazing. Left hand side of the page tells you what it’s all about. There is a free E-Book (“30 Ideas. The Ideas of Successful Job Search.”), numerous ways to follow, a link to the website (you must visit this) and a list of recent posts. Right hand side has the top 10 posts, categories and more. Okay, now to the website – Spinstrategy.com – Tools, downloads and a link back to the blog. What more can I say, visit the site.

Job Search Resources – These sites are jam packed with topic specific resources that will help you jump start your search.

The Riley Guide – “Providing free career and employment information since February 1994.” is the tag line for this site. Seeing is believing, and you really must visit this site. The left hand side of the page has everything you need to get to the part of the site that best serves your needs. “Navigating the Guide” provides a list of the major sections of the guide. The middle of the site has links to what’s new, as well as the links that are on the left hand side of the page. This is then followed by a few comments on the site by career experts. This site contains an amazing number of resources.

QuintCareers.com – “Your Job Search Starts Here” is the tag line for this site. Tons of resources, with the main page jam packed with an amazing amount of information. At the top of the page are links that will guide you to where you need to go (Student, Job Seeker, Career Changer and more). Left side of the page is filled with a long list of links to resources (career toolkit, samples, resumes and so much more). Center page starts with a search bar for job search followed by tools. Right hand side of the page Hot Resources, Free Books and more. You can spend days here getting all of the information you need for your job search.

Lists of Job Search Resources – These sites provide lists of other job search sites and are a great resource for building your list of where to look next.

Employmentwebsites.org – “The Sources of Success” (can’t get away from these tag lines!). A list that must be a mile long, you can browse alphabetically or by Industry/Area. There are job sites, search sites, company sites and more. If you search by Industry/Area, the list on the left hand side has the industries (as well as functional job categories) while the right hand side has the area (country, state, etc.). But that is not all, the top of the page has additional links for research, Tips and more.

General Job Listing Sites – This list is provided by job-hunt.org and is another list that will help you make your list. Center page starts the list, which is diverse and not as long as the list mentioned above. However, there is quite a bit on this page as well, with the left hand side of the page listing a very long list of resources (like Getting Started, Career Resources and more).

Good luck in your search.

New Year, New Job – What is Your Resolution?

CareerAlley — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:00:02 +0000

“Don’t bunt. Aim out of the ballpark.” – Yogi Berra

This is the time of year when your local radio station starts the countdown of the top 500 hits of the decade ending with the number one hit on New Year’s Day. Lots of parties, lots of food, a clean slate and lots of hope for a fresh start in the New Year. Last year at this time I too was out of work, another casualty of the “Great Recession” (yes, even job search experts can lose their jobs). Soon after the New Year I was re-employed, but not as a result of my New Year’s Resolution (it should be so easy). Months of “pounding the keyboard” (for us old timers, the modern day replacement for “pounding the pavement”). Who’s to say what individual action will land you your next job? I’d like to believe that it is no one single action, but the collective actions over a period of time that help you get that special opportunity.

For those that have followed this blog over the last 300 or so posts, you will be familiar with my view that the best way to find a job is to launch a job marketing campaign, ensuring that as many people as possible know you are looking for a job.

Job Search Networking: Do you network? Take a look a these articles that will help you leverage your network in you job search.

Successful Job Search Networking – This article, from About.com, reviews the ins and outs of job search networking. Long thought to be the best way to find a job (you know the stats that are always quoted “80% of all jobs are not advertised”), this article reviews different ways to network (yes, emails are okay) and additional links that can help (like sample job search networking newsletter) followed by some tips.

Networking Tips - This article, from Workbloom.com, reviews tips for networking. Some of the tips are a bit out there (like “being genuine), but most are helpful (like Don’t wait until you have to). A fairly short article with some good tips, take a read.

Lists of Resources: Key to your search is where to look. Do you have your lists? A few links to a few lists which will shortcut your search.

The Top 50 Job Resources – Quintcareers.com provides a comprehensive list of job search sites. The top 50 on this link (hard to believe there are so many that you could have a top 50). The list appears to be in alphabetical order.

Find a Recruiter – Looking for a recruiting firm? Searchfirm.com provides a search engine for finding search firms. Just click “FIND” from the middle of the page and then add your criteria (specialty, location, etc.) to find recruiters.

Company Career Sites: – What better place to look than “at the source”. Company career sites provide one of the best ways to find a job by going directly to the source.

The Quintessential Directory of Company Career Centers – Okay, Quintcareers.com once again. This page provides a list (too many to count) in alphabetical order. Click the letter of your choice for a list of companies. Just click on the company name to link to their company career site.

CareerAlley Company Career Sites – Okay, this one is my list, but it is certainly worth a look. Just click on any company name to link to their career page.

Good luck in your search.

The Hidden Job Market – Find Yours

CareerAlley — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:00:19 +0000

“Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice, and discipline.” – Jim Collins

So many of my posts have been about where to find a job (as you would expect). But then I started thinking, what about the not so obvious places to find a job? You’ve heard the usual statistics “80% of all positions are filled without employer advertising” or “80% of all jobs are filled by referral” and finally “most job seekers find jobs through networking”. Now there is some truth to this (although I’m not convinced about the statistics), and you should ensure you focus on this as one part of you job search strategy (hence this post).

Unlocking the Hidden Job Market – This article, posted on Yahoo’s Hot Jobs, not only covers the “80%” type quotes, but actually gives some pointers on how to tap into the hidden job market. The article talks about leads and contacts as well as some passive methods of tapping the hidden market.

Step-by-Step Plan for Using the Internet to Go “Beyond the Want Ads” – Technically speaking, the hidden market are the unadvertised jobs. But it is much broader than that as it includes leveraging who you know (even if the job is advertised). This article is by jobstar.org and provides a 6 step process to find the hidden jobs. Great tips like focusing on a target industry or focusing on a particular position. The article provides lots of great advice as well as additional links to research tools.

Psssst! I Have a Secret! The Hidden Job Market Isn’t Really Hidden! – Finding the hidden job market just takes creativity according to this article by best-interview-strategies.com. The article provides information about where you should look and why. The strategy includes Networking, industry publications, specialty search boards and more.

HIDDEN JOB MARKET SECRETS – Cold Calling Your Way into the Executive Suite – Jobwhiz.com‘s take on tapping the hidden job market. The approach is slightly different than the other articles – the dreaded “cold call”. The article provides 9 great steps to leveraging cold calling.

Tapping In To The Hidden Job Market – So let’s get to the point, the hidden job market by any other name is networking. This article, from one of my favorite career sites Secrets of the Job Hunt, focuses on that. The article combines cold calling with traditional networking (using who you know to meet who you need to know). A very good article and certainly worth the read.

Don’t forget to take a look at the Networking section of my Job Search Marketing Toolkit.

Good luck in your search.

Job Hunting – It’s Who You Know

CareerAlley — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:00:47 +0000

“‘Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?’ ‘That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,’ said the Cat.” – Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

I’ve never really been a big believer of networking as the main job search strategy. In fact, for whatever reason, I’ve always felt that “who you know” plays a very small part in landing a job (despite the statistics). But just last week I helped someone I know get a job by referring them. I actually referred three people over the last few weeks (only one got the job so far), so it got me to thinking. Maybe there is something to this “it’s who you know”. For me, out of the way too many jobs I’ve had over the way too many years I’ve worked, only two jobs were as a result of someone I knew. But in my current job, of the six people I’ve hired over the last 10 months, three have been referred in one form or other. 50%! Lower than the statistics would lead you to believe, but still an impressive number. So you know what? I’ve changed my mind. There is something to this “it’s who you know”. So, what better place to start than my Job Search Marketing Toolkit and the Networking post?

Business Social Networks – The Usual Suspects:

LinkedIn – According to Wikipedia, LinkedIn is “a business- social networking site founded in December 2002 and launched in May 2003 mainly used for professional networking”. This site has become very popular over the last year. At the end of September 2009, the site had 9 million unique visits for the month and by September of this year there were more than 50 million registered users across well over 100 industries. The site allows users to link to colleagues from current and past employers, schools and any other group that may be defined. One of the features I like best is the “degrees of separation”. The site will show you how you may know a third party through an existing connection. Linked has job search functions as well formats which allow you to showcase your background. Clearly the “best in class” from what I’ve seen.

Meettheboss – This is a brand new site from what I can tell and seems to be focused on Financial Services (a way to differentiate from other sites). One item I do not like is that it forces you to add your company website url as part of the registration. Two issues with this. First, you may not want to advertise the company you work for and second, what happens if your company is small and does not have a website (yes, there are still companies without websites!)? Unlike LinkedIn, there does not seem to be a way to search for people you may know. The interface is nice, but the site looks thin on functionality. I will keep an eye on this site to see how it fairs, but I’m not sure I get it yet.

Networking – Where to Start:

Riley Guide on Networking – This article from the Riley Guide provides an excellent review of networking. What it is, how to do it and what it isn’t. The article provides a number of additional links on associated topics.

Successful Job Search Networking – This About.com article provides another view on networking (formal versus informal) as well as a long list of additional resources. The article mentions that 60% of all jobs are filled via networking (I’ve heard as high as 80% as well).

The Art of Career and Job-Search Networking – Quintcareers also has a page dedicated to networking and they also stress that this is probably the most important part of your search methods. They provide detail on networking on the web, networking groups (like Diversity, Women, Military, etc.) as well as some publications on the topic.

The Social Network as a Career Safety Net – This NY Times article provides a real-life example of how social networking helped someone find other opportunities. While the current job market environment is likely to make it more difficult than the success of the individual in the article, it does stress the importance of networking.

Other Networking Resources:

ExecuNet – This is an organization for senior executives which helps them leverage their networks and manage their careers. This is a “member only” organization, so there is a fee based on length of membership. Membership allows users to connect with c-level executives, attend regional networking meetings and meet with recruiters and companies.

WEDDLE’s Association Directory – Not sure where to start? Weddle provides an online comprehensive list by functional job of professional associations. The site also supplies a wealth of career support such as Tips for Success and a Training Center.

The Financial Executives Networking Group – FENG, which is free to join but accepts donations to support their work, provides a very robust networking group for Accounting and Finance professionals. They have local chapters in many locations and offer regular meetings based on function (like Asset Management) or Tax. Their regular newsletter provides job leads and information to help in your job search. The group also provides access to Insurance and a wide range of other benefits.

Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement – (HACE) – This organization provides an outlet for building Latino careers. The organization provides a guidance and support from High School through to the experienced Professional. There is a “Job Seeker” section which allows for resume posting as well as a listing of regional career conferences.

Good luck in your search.

Confessions of a Job Search Fanatic

CareerAlley — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:00:40 +0000

Okay, so I admit it – I’m a fanatic with job search (and, therefore, this blog). When I’m looking for a job I’m obsessed. A victim of the financial services implossion last year (yes, I admit it), I found myself without a job on October 30 – arguably the worst time you could be looking for a job in a good year (let alone what we’ve been through).

So what did I do? I became a job search fanatic and I found a job in two plus months in my industry (in NY) at a slightly higher salary. I spent 10 hours a day and went on countless interviews.

So “who cares?” you say, “how does that help me?”. I’m going to give you a play by play of how I spent my days looking for a job. If it worked for me it can work for you. So here goes.

First, start with my Job Search Marketing Toolkit:

So what comes next? Plan your day out with a number of small goals. This makes it easy to achieve the goals and also provides positive forward motion, even if the goals are small:

Keep a list to keep track of which sites you’ve visited. Include your username and password for each site. You think you will remember them but you won’t. Also include the last date you visited
ALWAYS return calls as soon as possible, start off your day doing this
Review your top 5 job search sites
Check jobs on LinkedIn
Respond to emails as appropriate (and related)
Research, research, research – making a list of companies you would like to work for
Register on 3-5 company websites
Register on 3-5 job search sites
Send your resume to 3-5 recruiters/headhunters
Use job agents and leverage technology
Register where you can and make sure you upload your resume
All done with every list known to man (not likely)? Recycle the list, revisit the job search boards and try new searches

So, where to get some of the items above? Use my research tools:

Company Career Sites – use this list until you’ve run out of names, then check my newer posts on this.
Job Search Boards – Another list, another resource – Use it!
Recruiters – A list of recruiters, pick a few each day

Does this fill ten hours a day? Probably not, since I’ve done most of the reseach for you and assuming you work through all of my lists, start to build your own.

Good luck in your search.