Twitter as a “Twool” in the Job Search

While Social Media platforms like LinkedIn have gained increasing popularity with today’s job seekers, many are still on the fence regarding Twitter. Not too long ago, I was one of those wondering if and how this tool might assist job seekers. While I had my own ideas, I thought what better way to uncover how it can really help those in the midst of a job search than to find people who had success using it. So, I interviewed two women who found their jobs using Twitter.

To listen to these two interviews and learn tips on how to incorporate Twitter as a “twool” in your job search, use the links below:

How I Found My Job with Twitter – Interview #1

How I Found My Job with Twitter – Interview #2 (this one is missing the first few minutes, but still has tons of great how-to information)

After listening, please share your thoughts and feedback below and, of course…

Interested in learning more about social media and your job search? Read about my Job Search 2.0 Bootcamp where this is just one piece of the puzzle to uncover the “hidden” job market and get you ack to work quicker – all without job boards or recruiters.

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WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Kevin Kermes publishes the ‘Build the Career Your Deserve’ e-zine with over 21,000+ subscribers. If you are ready to empower yourself with the vital tools and information necessary to find the job you want and build the successful career you deserve, visit him now www.kevinkermes.com

2008 – 2009 (c) Kevin Kermes Inc. – All Rights Reserved

5 Reasons Why Social Media MUST Be Part of Your Job Search

There’s a lot of static out there about Social Media and its place in the job search process. Many think it is a bit of a time drain with little return on investment. And, like anything else, without a “plan” it can be just that. But, properly implemented, it can be a more powerful catalyst to getting your job search engine off and running than just about any other single tool out there. This is largely because it embodies a collection of qualities that, combined, can streamline your search efforts while putting the maximum amount of pressure on a pinpoint area – your target position:

Visibility – These mediums allow you access to an unlimited amount of professionals within your targeted audience. What’s more, Social Media sites by definition allow for and promote the organization of niche “groups” which make finding your audience that much easier. LinkedIn is a prime example of this, but Facebook and YouTube as well.

Transparency – This is a mantra to your success in Social Media environments. You can equate it to going to a party. Would you set up a table and starting pitching your product (i.e. “Here I am, looking for a job”) or begin by connecting on common ground? This is particularly true on Twitter – one of the more transparent tools out there. It is the first step in the process of “Know, Like, Trust,” which we all go through in determining what we are going to buy. Or, in this case, who they are going to hire.

“Give to Get” – Coupled with transparency, it is the second key to success in Social Media. Help others to not only get them to help you but, of equal importance, discover who will help you. And, by way of this assistance, you get a third party endorsement or recommendation. You can start doing it by simply asking others, “How can I help you?”

Nobodies are the New Somebodies – Borrowed from Guy Kawasaki, in the simplest of terms you don’t know who can help you nor do you know who knows who. Connecting with the big wigs in your industry through Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn can be fun, but it’s that avid networker who you have never met or heard of who is your better bet.

The Quality is in the Quantity – This is how you get to the “Nobody Somebodies.” There are a myriad of tools out there to help you build a network of likeminded, “give to get” individuals rapidly on the major platforms (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc.). By having a large number of connections, you have more choices from which to drill down and develop deeper, more meaningful connections. Think of it like filling your own networking event: pack the hall with as many folks as possible and then work the room to see who can help you (and, of course, who you can help).

It is clear that Social Media isn’t the fad some first claimed it to be. It is almost equally as pervasive off-line as it is on-line. By incorporating it on the front end of your job search efforts to “fill the funnel,” you will not only more effectively tie in with the opportunities you seek but also uncover that elusive “hidden job market.”

Social Media is only one part of Kevin’s 11 Module Job Search 2.0 Bootcamp System which not only uncovers the “hidden” job market – but drives those jobs to you. Learn more about this new system.

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WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Kevin Kermes publishes the ‘Build the Career Your Deserve’ e-zine with over 21,000+ subscribers. If you are ready to empower yourself with the vital tools and information necessary to find the job you want and build the successful career you deserve, visit him now www.kevinkermes.com

2008 – 2009 (c) Kevin Kermes Inc. – All Rights Reserved

How I Got the Job: Ed Warner – The “Hidden” Job Market

In this episode of “How I Got the Job,” Ed Warner talks about his recent job search. He shares how he tapped into the “hidden” job market, the importance of networking and how social media factored in as well. Listen in and share your thoughts below.

Interested in implementing these techniques to make your job search more efficient? Check out Kevin’s Job Search 2.o Bootcamp Homestudy System – designed specifically more the mid to senior level executive designed to drive opportunities to you, establish you as a Subject Matter Expert and cut significant time off your search – all without using job boards or recruiters. Click here to learn more.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Kevin Kermes publishes the ‘Build the Career Your Deserve’ e-zine with over 21,000+ subscribers. If you are ready to empower yourself with the vital tools and information necessary to find the job you want and build the successful career you deserve, visit him now www.kevinkermes.com

2009 © Kevin Kermes Inc. – All Rights Reserved

The Pre-Interview Most Miss…and How to Pass it Every Time – Part 2 of 2 (guest blogger Lorena Stanley)

Now that I’ve spent some time demystifying what is happening behind the scenes, it’s time for you to understand what the Pre-Interview Test typically looks like.  Keep in mind, this really isn’t an identifiable “test”, rather it is a process that most companies follow in some form that I’ll describe. 

As a result of the sheer number of responses to openings, Companies are now typically sending out a Pre-Interview Test that comes in the form of an email or voicemail that could say something like: 

“Thank you for your Resume submittal.  We are currently reviewing your information and would like to ask you a few follow up questions. 

1.         Do you have experience with ______________?  
2.         Have you ever ________________?  
3.         When is the last time you ________________?  
4.         Write a short paragraph of why you want to work for us.  

Please provide us with the answers to these questions and please do the following: 

1.            Reply back with a Word version of your Resume attached.  
2.            The subject line of your email should read:  Answers To ______ Questions  
3.            Reply back to:  abc@xyzco.com  
4.            Please call (555) 555-5555 and leave a brief message with: 
               a.         your name
               b.         your number
               c.         the position you applied to
               d.         the date you replied back
               e.         good days and times for us to get back in touch with you

Thank you and we look forward to your reply.

 If you are at all interested in the opportunity, PAY CLOSE ATTENTION to all the requests they’re asking of you.  Each layered request is a test. Do not be fooled by the simplicity in what they are asking for.  Here are some HINTS on how to best respond to the various questions and requests.

 1.            HINT:  Don’t answer with a yes or no.  Please understand you are being evaluated.  Don’t show you are lazy or in a hurry with a one word answer.  Be concise, to the point, but give a solid answer showing your experience.
2.            HINT:  Again, don’t just answer with a yes or no.  Respond and then tell them when.
3.            HINT:  When answer something like this, don’t stop at the date, but tell them the results.  Remember, you are selling yourself as a candidate.
4.            HINT:  This is important!  Make sure you have a well written paragraph that shows you have done your research and give real reasons why you would want to work for this company.  Don’t be generic and just respond with how much the industry interest you, make sure you are being specific to their company when you give your answer.  You are being judged on your written communication; as well as content of your response.
5.           HINT:  Vista is not compatible with earlier versions of Microsoft.  I suggest playing it safe and send a Word (97-2003) version. If you want to include a .pdf that’s fine, but make sure it is in addition to not instead of the Word version they asked for.
6.          HINT:  This is huge!  Most people just hit reply and never change the original subject line of the email.  This shows the employer you were not following directions.
7.          HINT:  Again, this is huge.  The person who originally sent the email may not necessarily be the one that needs these responses.  Make sure you are following their instructions very specifically.
8.         HINT:  They are testing your phone presence, your energy level, and your verbal communication skills.  They are listening to make sure you answered all the questions they asked, and quite honestly, they are listening for if they like you.           

As you can see, this is not rocket science, but it is easily dismissed as not being important.

If you are not completely following each step, even just missing one thing, you’re going into the “not a fit” pile.  I’m very serious.  No matter how qualified you may be, a filtering mechanism is needed and although it may not be perfect, it does weed out a high percentage of “prima donnas”, “non detail oriented”, and “really were never interested in the position in the first place” candidates.

These tests are purely a simple set of questions or actions for you to follow; precisely, as a pre-screening tool.  Pay attention to the details and follow any instructions you are given during the interview process!  Here’s what’s interesting:  About 70-80% of applicants get eliminated right away because of their inability to follow simple instructions such as the ones in my example.

 HINT:  I routinely use these tests for my own internal Hiring and I can attest to 80% of the applicants are filtered out right away.  It’s always so alarming to see.  Follow my simple tips and you will be part of the 20% that’s still going to move forward through the process.

Want to learn more?  Lorena is not only this week’s guest blogger, but my Subject Matter Expert (SME) Webinar for the Career Mastermind Group on December 15th.  Her topic – “You’ve Got the Interview – Now What?”  Read more about how you can join this call and the Mastermind Group for free.

Lorena Stanley founded Lorena’s List in 2008 to help Six Figure Corporate Career Seekers Get Back to Work Faster.  She has been In the Executive Recruiting business for over 15 years both as an Executive Recruiter and as an Owner of a World Wide Executive Search firm; which is part of an organization that has 600 Offices and 6,000 plus Executive Recruiters. This allows her access to real life, real time information. This network places 3,000+ candidates a month and connects with conservatively 100,000 Hiring Managers and HR Professionals a month.  Lorena’s List information has been time tested and proven to work thousands of times over.

The Pre-Interview Test Most Miss…and How to Pass it Every Time (guest blogger Lorena Stanley)

Does this describe you? 

• - You are Employable but not currently Employed. 
• - You know you’ve been perfect for the jobs you’ve applied for but never heard back from them. 
• - Or, you may hear back but after either a short email exchange, you don’t hear back again.  Why?  What happened? 

These are common scenarios I see daily.  The problem may stem from a very simple process that I’ll call the Pre-Interview Test.  So let’s talk a little bit about what makes up the Pre-Interview Test that most candidates miss! 

Pre-Interview tests are becoming common place for companies to use as another tool to screen applicants.  Why?  Let me take you through some real life numbers that will shock you.

When a Recruiting Firm places an ad for a Company, specifically in today’s market, regardless of the position, geography, or market niche, they typically get 500 resumes that first day for that one position.  By the end of 5 days on average they receive 1,000 to 1,500 resumes for one position.  1,000 to 1,500, for one position!  That’s a lot.  Now you have some more insight as to the competition you’re up against.  Don’t worry; read on, I’m also going to give you some information that if applied, will shatter that competition.  But, first I want to really give you some good insider perspective.

Let’s do some quick math.  If the person who is screening resumes only spends 2 minutes per resume to quickly scan it, that’s about 33 to 50 hours just looking at resumes.  Do you think the person doing this task only has one responsibility?  No!  They are probably only allotted 4 hours/day at most, to do this task. 

After the quick 2 minute scan to decide who is in the “move forward” pile and who’s in the “not a fit”  pile, they now need to re-scan the “move forward” pile and dig a little deeper into specifics.  This could easily be another 30 plus hours.  Calculating to this point, we are 2 weeks in and we are only talking about the 1^st week’s worth of resumes.  This is pretty enlightening information that I bet you didn’t think about before. 

So when you are on some of the social networking sites, or reading articles about submitting your resume, and you see “quote” experts telling you that after 3 or 4 days of you submitting your information, if you haven’t heard back, something must be wrong.  Well, I’m here to tell you nothing may be wrong at all, other than they are inundated with responses.  That’s the simple truth and the reality of what’s happening in today’s market.

So now you have a better understanding of the sheer volume Recruiters and Companies are getting, you can understand Companies have to find a way to screen OUT applicants. 

What’s happening to the “not a fit” pile?  Trust me, the last thing on their mind is to put them in some sort of a system to start processing the standard, “thank you for applying, but we are moving forward with other candidate’s” letter.  That would require conservatively another 30 to 40 hours of someone’s time.  They should (and most do) eventually follow up, but it’s not going to be their first priority. 

One more thing to consider, all this work I’ve described is only for one position that they may have open.  Most Companies (and Recruiting Firms) are Hiring for multiple positions at a time.  Not hearing back from a Company right away doesn’t necessarily mean you’re “not a fit”. 

Stay tuned for part 2 of this article where I walk you through what I’ve labeled as the Pre-Interview Test and how to make sure you pass it every time.

Lorena is not only this week’s guest blogger, but our Subject Matter Expert (SME) Webinar for the Career Mastermind Group on December 15th.  Her topic – “You’ve Got the Interview – Now What?”  Read more about how you can join this call and the Mastermind Group for free.

Lorena Stanley founded Lorena’s List in 2008 to help Six Figure Corporate Career Seekers Get Back to Work Faster.  She has been In the Executive Recruiting business for over 15 years both as an Executive Recruiter and as an Owner of a World Wide Executive Search firm; which is part of an organization that has 600 Offices and 6,000 plus Executive Recruiters. This allows her access to real life, real time information. This network places 3,000+ candidates a month and connects with conservatively 100,000 Hiring Managers and HR Professionals a month.  Lorena’s List information has been time tested and proven to work thousands of times over.

SME Mastermind Call: Lorena Stanley – “You’ve Got the Interview – Now What?”

Our next Subject Matter Expert (SME) Mastermind Call is on Tuesday, December 15 at  12:00pmEST

“You’ve Got the Interview – Now What?”

All your hard work has finally gotten you here – the interview.  But, do you have a plan that will secure the offer?  Are you relying on the interviewer to control the conversation or would you like to take charge? Our next Subject Matter Expert (SME), Lorena Stanley, is going to share the secrets to crafting the plan to help you get the job you want.  Leveraging her 15+ years in the Executive Recruiting business (both executing searches and owning a Worldwide Executive Search Firm) she has seen it all and will show you: 

• The Pre-Interview Test that 80% of people fail!  She’ll show you how to master it so you are called back
• How to impress them with your strengths without sounding like you are bragging
• Tips to make sure you remain in control of the interview – so you can standout every time!
• Plus, we will have a live Q&A session for you

Lorena will do all this by sharing clear and simple steps to help you develop an interview strategy that will help you get the job you want and stay true to your style and authenticity.

This call is ONLY for Career Mastermind Group members.  Not a member yet?
Join now to access this call (as well as the archived calls and training materials) with Kevin’s special F.R.E.E. 1 month Membership trial.

By joining you also get access to past SME Calls (Ilona Vanderwoude on Resumes, Chuck Csizmar on Compensation Negotiation, Wendy Weiss on Cold Calling Hiring Managers, Katherine Moody on Networking and numerous Q&A calls with Kevin) plus everything else the program has to offer.  Learn more about the Mastermind Program and take advantage of a one month F.R.E.E. trial.

When Getting to “No” is Better Than “Yes”

The foundation to the success of every step of the job search – from identifying the right job, to securing the interview, to getting an above market offer – is in first identifying your “Solution.” Without this firmly defined, everything else you build upon in the process is going to have a weak foundation. The end result: a prolonged job search, fewer interviews, jobs that don’t pan out and offers that come in below where you want them.

Your Solution is your go-to-market message telling companies why they need to not only talk to you, but hire you. It is a well crafted, comprehensive list of quantifiables that show your addition to a company’s team is an investment they cannot pass up. Your ROI is clear cut. It is much more than bullets for a resume or an “elevator speech.” It is a mindset that you take with you through every stage of the interview process to set you apart for your competition.

It does a number of critical things as well:

• Clearly defining Your Solution makes you more valuable to prospective companies – making you stand out in a sea of competition.
• With the Your Solution mindset in interviews, you no longer need to worry about what questions you are going to be asked – you will have greater control over what is discussed.
• Your Solution keeps you on message from the first interview to the offer – reinforcing why the company must hire you.
• Staying “on message” with Your Solution continues to set you apart from the competition – securing you a spot as the front runner.
• Your Solution paints a picture for your future employer of the exact role you will be playing inside the company – getting them to visualize you as an employee.
• When it comes time for the offer, Your Solution has made your case for you – helping you get top dollar in your job offer.
• Your Solution makes it clearer, quicker which opportunities aren’t a good fit for you – so you can focus on the job you really want and deserve.
• While all these pieces are crucial to a successful job search campaign, today I am focusing on the last point: the importance to finding an opportunity that is a good fit.

Too often, the interview process results in putting emotion over intelligence. As the interviewee, you are striving to establish rapport, build a relationship and often can unwittingly do so glossing over what might be long-term fit issues. This is true for the person interviewing you too. And, with the lack of formal training given to hiring manager on how to properly interview and select team members they often fall back to “going with their gut” and hire who they like. But, just like a first date, the excitement of something new can result in losing sight of critical issues that will keep you from ever walking down the aisle.

Don’t get me wrong. Loving where you work – the people, the culture and the product – is extremely important. But, when that overshadows your actual role, you can get yourself into a pot of hot water and end up somewhere that you like the people but don’t provide true value to the company. Keeping on target with Your Solution will help you avoid this. As you define where you are best suited, the problems/pains that your background has positioned you to solve best and where you excel, you keep your decision making equally balanced between emotion and intelligence.

Another thing to remember is that accepting a position that isn’t the right fit, but rather the “fit for right now,” has a potentially disastrous downside. Just like we didn’t arrive at this economic crisis over night, we aren’t going to get out of it in the blink of an eye either. As companies continue to downsize and trim the fat, being a bad fit can easily manifest itself in poor job performance, subpar results, and alienating co-workers. The company that extends an offer today may very well find themselves making cuts a quarter or two from now. And, the outcome of your mismatch could result in you being back on the street looking for a job again.

Everyone’s situation is different, but all can agree that the job search is tiresome, draining and something you would like to put behind you as soon as possible. And, no doubt, a new job offer is always welcomed news when it arrives. But, you still want to make sure it is going to be the right match. Defining Your Solution and staying focused on it is one of the best ways to make certain you don’t find yourself repeating a job search in a year (or less).

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Want to learn more about  Your Solution and how you can drive the “hidden” job market to you?  Use this link to read the success stories results from those who have used my Job Search 2.0 Bootcamp System.

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WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Kevin Kermes publishes the ‘Build the Career Your Deserve’ e-zine with over 21,000+ subscribers. If you are ready to empower yourself with the vital tools and information necessary to find the job you want and build the successful career you deserve, visit him now www.kevinkermes.com

2008 – 2009 (c) Kevin Kermes Inc. – All Rights Reserved

The Job Search is a Marathon, not a Sprint – Treat it as Such

The average job search is taking upwards of 8-10 months for those seeking salaries of  100K+.  These numbers are anywhere from 2 – 3 times longer than just a few years ago.  All too often, a day feels like a week and a week can feel like a month – particularly for those who haven’t had to really look for a job in years.  Approaching your job search differently these days not only includes how you find jobs, but how you manage what can be a long search.  Here are some tips to help you pace yourself and get better results in the process:

• Work in Blocks:  There are a lot of moving parts to the job search: developing leads, contacting prospective employers, following up, networking…and, of course, interviewing!  They all require a different focus and mindset.  Instead of constantly reacting to events, plan to work your day in blocks.  Create a short list of critical events that are cause for interruption (call from a potential employer, networking call, etc.).   Otherwise, focus on the tasks at hand.  Lump responding to emails into a block too…this is the biggest culprit of distractions out there!
• Change of Scenery: No need to be chained to your desk for all these activities.  Can you do your research in a coffee shop?  Do you find you are more creative in writing cover letters sitting outside (enjoy this summer weather while you can)?  A change of scenery can be great for your outlook and will help keep you out of a rut in your job search!  Give it a try.
• Take Time to Recharge:  As you shift between your blocks of work, use a physical event to do so.  A short walk around the block, the act of changing locations (like we just talked about), or even something as simple as getting a glass of water.  This event (small or large) signals your brain to shift activities and focus. Something that seems insignificant and takes only a few minutes can end up saving you time and making you more productive.  

It’s common to be feeling guilt during your job search – did I do enough today?  Should I spend a few more hours digging deeper?  But, just like training for a marathon (or any athletic event for that matter), you can over-train.   This leaves you tired, unprepared and ineffective for your race: the interview.  By using these tips and figuring out what works best for you individually, you can be better prepared to shine and excel when you get the call for your big event!

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Want to learn more about uncovering the “hidden” job market?  Join me on Wednesday, December 9th for a f.r.e.e. webinar where we will talk about just that.  You can read more here.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Kevin Kermes publishes the ‘Build the Career Your Deserve’ e-zine with over 21,000+ subscribers. If you are ready to empower yourself with the vital tools and information necessary to find the job you want and build the successful career you deserve, visit him now www.kevinkermes.com

about kevin

 

 Kevin is the Founder of Build the Career You Deserve, a company devoted to empowering professionals with the vital tools and information necessary to find the job they want and build the successful career they deserve. Sign up for his free e-zine – Build the Career You Deserve – for insider tips on how to do just that! 

2008 – 2009 (c) Kevin Kermes Inc. – All Rights Reserved

Cover Letters – A Dying Art Form?

In the age of the fast and highly impersonal on-line application process, it seems the art of writing a cover letter has gone by the wayside for many.  But, like so many other things in this challenging economy, now more than ever is the time to perfect the cover letter – not neglect it.  Here are a few reasons to consider:

• Reflection of Your Interest – the ease with which you can apply to jobs on-line is the exact reason that a cover letter is paramount.  It is a strong indicator that you are serious about your candidacy, not just slinging your resume out thre to see where it sticks.
• Template versus Boilerplate – Having a standard cover letter is a starting point, not something to arbitrarily cut-and-paste each time you apply.  Make sure the document reads like it is written for the reader and only the reader.  Ask yourself this – aren’t you more apt to take the time to read a letter you can tell was written just for you versus one that is clearly generic?  I know I am.
• It’s All About Standing Apart from the Crowd – as unemployment continues to increase, so does your pool of competition.  Differentiating is the name of the game now more than ever.  Your cover letter is the perfect platform to do just that.
• The Interview Before the Interview – Every C level executive I work with says the same thing.  They use the cover letter as a barometer to gauge a candidate’s ability to effectively communicate.  This is an ideal time to showcase your written communication skills.
• Recruiters Don’t Read Them – Yes and no.  The good ones do and the others should.  For all the reasons listed here plus it gives them pre-packaged selling points for their clients, should they consider you a candidate.  They, after all, are another example of an interview before the interview.

Are cover letter sometimes overlooked?  Yes.  On the other hand, they are quite often a deciding factor as to whether or not you will get an interview.  So, take the time to put together a document that reflects you and why you should be considered over the other hundreds of applicants.  This attention to detail could be the first step towards getting you the interview you want and the job you deserve.

Want to learn more about tapping into the “hidden job market?”   Join Kevin for his FREE “5 Secrets to Uncovering the “Hidden” Job Market” webinar – (Can’t make it?  No problem.  A recording of the event will be sent to you, but you must be registered.)

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WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEB SITE? You can as long as you include this blurb with it: Kevin Kermes publishes the ‘Build the Career Your Deserve’ e-zine with over 21,000+ subscribers. If you are ready to empower yourself with the vital tools and information necessary to find the job you want and build the successful career you deserve, visit him now www.kevinkermes.com 

2009 © Kevin Kermes Inc. All Rights Reserved

Don’t Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater: Turn rejection into opportunity in your job search

 

Have you heard this lately in your job search? “We have decided to move forward with another candidate…Our search has been put on hold…We think you are a great fit for our company, but just not the right one for this position….Let’s keep in touch.”  I know how frustrating the job search can be and these statements usually take the wind right out of you.  Today we are going to talk about a few techniques to turn this into something positive – sometimes immediately! 

Every time you make a connection in your interviews,  think about it in terms of building your network.  All too often, we look at the process from a static, linear perspective: submit information, get the interview(s) and either get the job or not.  I will grant you that not getting the job is frustrating.  But, how you handle losing the battle can result in you winning the war.

A huge part of the interview process is establishing rapport – winning hearts and minds.  Instead of seeing another door closing when you do not get the job, look at it as another door opening.  You have worked hard to make a new connection – professionally, sometimes even personally, bonding with the people in the company where you interviewed.  Shouldn’t you capitalize on it?  Here are some pointers on how to do so:

• They know you are looking – ask for help networking.  If you have just impressed them enough to have multiple interviews, they should give you high marks and gladly refer you.
• Keep in touch.  Create a system to reach out to each and every person you talk to throughout your job search.  This is no different than a sales campaign.  And the person who isn’t buying today may be ready to purchase (hire) tomorrow.
• Get to know the people with whom you interview.  This personal connection will get your calls, emails and requests answered quicker.
• Pay it forward.  Find out what you can do for them.  Helping someone first is the quickest way to endear you to them.  They will seek you out to return the favor!

Not getting the offer – particularly after several rounds of interviews – is frustrating, no doubt.  But you have worked hard to make it that far.  In this economy, getting to the first round of interviews is tough enough.  So, when you do make a connection treat it like gold.  Managed well, this network can drive your job search for you.

 Want to learn more about uncovering the “hidden” job market?  Join me on Wednesday, December 9th for a f.r.e.e. webinar where we will talk about just that.  You can read more here.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Kevin Kermes publishes the ‘Build the Career Your Deserve’ e-zine with over 21,000+ subscribers. If you are ready to empower yourself with the vital tools and information necessary to find the job you want and build the successful career you deserve, visit him now www.kevinkermes.com

about kevin

 

 Kevin is the Founder of Build the Career You Deserve, a company devoted to empowering professionals with the vital tools and information necessary to find the job they want and build the successful career they deserve. Sign up for his free e-zine – Build the Career You Deserve – for insider tips on how to do just that! 

2008 – 2009 (c) Kevin Kermes Inc. – All Rights Reserved