Executive Career Insights

Jobless And Frustrated - So Who Will You Sue?

A recent graduate of the New York-based Monroe College, Trina Thompson is gaining a lot of "negative" publicity by suing her alma mater because she has not yet secured a full-time job since completing her degree in April of this year.While I can certainly sympathize with her frustration and despair, especially in this down economy, no one person or institution can be held responsible for her lack of employment.

Though it may be easy to dismiss her actions as naive and shortsighted, I have certainly experienced a number of executive candidates who, under pressure, have exhibited the same type of finger pointing towards well-meaning resume writers, career coaches and executive recruiters.

Whether you like it or not, looking for a job is a job - you cannot depend on any one person, resource or tool to generate positive results. 

First accept that they are absolutely NO guarantees with an executive resume, NO company has exclusive access to the hidden job market and NO-ONE will do a better job of selling you to employers than you.

So what efforts should you focus on that make sense and are worth your time?

-- Start with a narrow list of five to ten specific companies that you are interested in and use your personal and professional contracts to develop an internal network of supporters.

Ideally, if someone can hand deliver your resume to a key decision maker you are off to a good start.

-- Only post your resume to deeply-niched, specialty career, recruiter and association-based websites.

In describing her efforts, Ms. Thompson did reveal that she "fulfilled her end of the job-search bargain, peppering companies listed on Monroe's e-recruiting site with cover letters, résumés and phone calls. But no more than two employers have responded to her outreach, and those leads have borne no fruit."

Depending on online resume scanning and application databases are the most PASSIVE and REACTIVE ways to conduct a job search. All online activities should be matched with efforts to reach a real person through in-person networking events and referrals.

-- Make sure that recruiters and employers can find you online and offline.

Effective, user-friendly tools like Zoominfo, Ziggs, Plaxo, Twitter and VisualCV allow you to have a 24-hour, online marketing presence with minimal effort.

-- Attend and participate in networking events and career fairs that allow you to come face-to-face with individuals who can play a critical role in your job search campaign.

If one of the companies in your top ten list is looking for a marketing executive and you are right for the job, actively seek out opportunities to get in front of someone who can make an introduction or pass your resume along.

Learn more about proactive job search strategies that you can embrace today:

Executive Job Search Success: Part 1 - Have a clear target

Executive Job Search Success: Part 2 - Determine your job search tactics

Executive Job Search Success: Part 3 - Identify your target companies

Executive Job Search Success: Part 4 - Create your marketing collateral

Executive Job Search Success: Part 5 - Pursue job opportunities

Keeping Your Network Alive And Kicking

Congratulations! You have made a connection with a key person in one of your target companies, but they are not hiring at the moment. The person has assured you that you are the right fit for the company and once the hiring freeze has passed, you should reach out again.

While it is a bittersweet victory - having a key inside contact at one of your target companies is truly golden in an executive job search. Well, once you have moved past the initial introductory phase, it is critical that you don't drop the ball.

So, how do you maintain the relationship and stay in contact without become a nuisance?

Remember To Give, So You Can Receive

Try this: I just read a very interesting article on global outsourcing and thought you could benefit from the information, should I send it directly to your email address?

Show That You Are Abreast On Current Affairs

Try this: I just heard on the television that one of your company's competitors is considering massive layoffs due to the economy, how do you think your company will be impacted?

Ask For Advice & Resources

Try this: I am considering engaging with an executive recruiter as part of my job search strategy, have you personally working with any firm that you would recommend to me?

Keep Your Contact Informed

Try this: I'm calling to give you an update on my job search progress and my success so far.

Show Initiative

Try this: I am actively looking to expand my network, do you mind referring me to any of your professional contacts that would benefit from talking with me?

Try this: I have another lead at ABC firm and I'm trying to get some information on that company...do you have any contacts there and know anything that I should be aware of?

Say Thank You

Try this: Thank you very much for the contact (information, resources, etc) that you provided me with last week. I have scheduled three informational interviews and will give you an update next week.

Do You Know Where Your Network Is?

My Mother Is On Facebook Now What?

Okay, so I stole the idea for the title from one of my colleagues, Jason Alba, but I simply could not resist it. Recently, my dear old mother gave it to the call of social media and with help from my oldest sister, Faith created a Facebook account.

Within just a few days, she had connected with her family and friends - granted most of whom are her children, but she has put herself on the media map to find old friends and colleagues.

How many of you are still fighting the need for social media marketing in your executive job search?

Are you still not convinced that you can make easy connections and start to build a network of supporters and strategic partners by simply joining and actively participating in social networking groups?

I spent this past weekend, reaching out others in my LinkedIn groups to offer support, general ideas, and suggestions as job seekers are facing seemingly "insurmountable" obstacles in today's recession-packed market.

But I noticed something very phenomenal, the more I reached to help others, many of whom I have never connected or communicated with reached to offer me their support in my business ventures. I was offered opportunities to be a guest blogger and submit articles to major self growth and information sites, and an author asked for my feedback on her upcoming book.

What I am getting at? Networking is more than you using opportunities to get what you want, it is also about you offering support and encouragement to other who may be going through the same thing - word of kindness, patient listenly, and sharing of resources will cost you nothing.

On the LinkedIn blog, there are several jobseekers who have shared their success with using it in the post called "Top Linked In Stories of 2008".

Check it out, get some ideas for yourself, get your profile up, and get to connecting and networking. If my once-technology-challenged mother can do it, so can you.

Look forward to "seeing" you on LinkedIn.

Additional resource:

I'm On LinkedIn Now What?

 

Going Public With Your Executive Job Search

With approximately 1.9 million layoffs that occurred in 2008 and the expectation that more will follow in the upcoming year, conducting an effective job search and career marketing campaign will mean going beyond job boards and Internet career sites.

Even as an entrepreneur, I have had to embrace social media and the impact that it has on our entire lives - how we live, how we work, how we play, and more importantly, how we communicate.

Chris Bogan, a social media marketing expert has created a free e-book called Using Social Media To Find Work. It is a 19-page guide on getting started on various social media networks and how to maximize them for career success.

Whether it's LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Namz, Diggs or using a blog, I want you to get comfortable with the idea of marketing yourself online through these social networks.

Here is a strong argument for Twitter from one of my colleagues, Deb Dib posted at Job Hunt's blog.

Wishing you the very best that 2009 can offer as I remain committed to your career success in the upcoming year.

Seven Ways To Find Hot Leads In the Hidden Job Market

I personally love the Internet and everything that it has to offer - I cannot think of any other tool that is more user-friendly, timely, and more importantly free to use for finding the answers and solutions to "most"of life's questions.

When you are looking for a job, the best, proactive approach is to research "hidden" opportunities before they are advertised to the masses. Companies that are fresh on the market, newly funded or handing out promotions to its senior employees are good sources for viable job opportunities.

Rather than spending hours on large commercial sites and company databases that attract hungry job seekers from across the world, focus your efforts on specific Internet resources that will provide critical information pertinent to your industry and job targets. 

Here are nine resources to get you started:

1. Zoominfo - get direct access to fresh information on more than 40 million people and five million companies

2. America's Career InfoNet - comprehensive, free online resource for occupations and industries and also provides information by state

3. JustSell - get free report on companies (by state and province) that received recent funding

4. The Money Tree Survey - receive quarterly study and in-depth data on venture capital activities throughout the United States

5. Biz Journals - pay close attention to companies that have recently hired new executives and division heads and those executives who have been recently promoted

6. Google Alerts - keep track of internal and external activities at your top five target companies

7. Vault - get your hands on information-packed industry career guides and employee perspectives on your favorite companies

Looking for a way to accelerate your job search and engage innovative, high results strategies, check out our new FastTrack Career Transition Mastermind program