job search

I love meeting new people, even if it makes me a little nervous. But one set of words that I hear at mixers and networking events makes me really want to run for the hills. You may have uttered these words. And I want to share some alternatives with you, so that you'll make more connections, rather than having people dash off. Last night, I attended a fun networking event in Berkeley, full of people who are on LinkedIn. The event was hosted by Ilene Koehler, who set us up in speed-dating fashion, to mix and mingle for five minutes per "couple," and then move on.

About six months ago, I was flooded with invitations to join Facebook. I thought "You've gotta be kidding! Facebook? I graduated from college too many years ago. I'm not a 20-something anymore."

I poked around...and decided to give Facebook a whirl.

I'm so glad I did.

Facebook is a great place to...

Conducting a job search can be tiring -- it takes a lot of effort.

Why?

Because you don't know exactly when you'll actually accept a job offer, or even what job you'll actually take. If you knew the "what" and the "when," then you'd just work backwards and plan out your job search, right? If you knew you'd have a job in 3 months, then you could predict that one week before that, you'd have a final interview. And two weeks before that, you'd have a first interview. And three weeks before that, you'd send in your resume.

I'm a big fan of LinkedIn as a way to conduct a job search. It's great whether you're seeking a job in your existing industry and/or function, or making a big change.

LinkedIn has just added a new resource, corporate profiles, according to SF Chronicle staff writer Ellen Lee. Currently, over 160,000 employers are profiled, meaning you can get access to some interesting company insider scoops, like these (remember, these relate only to employees who are registered on LinkedIn, so the statistics are skewed):

* Yahoo employees tend to land at rival Google for their next job.

Ihatemyjob_2 Just today, I got an email from a new client who's very recently started a job search. He's fed up using the job search boards, like Monster.com and HotJobs, to find his job. Job search boards are fine...later in your job search, when you know what you're seeking...and as a part of your strategy, not the whole enchilada!

Envision Your Way to Job Search Success

Panic Do you panic during the job search process? It's natural. Most of us dislike processes where we don't have control. In the job search process, you'll eventually get a job. But unless you're a career psychic, you won't know in advance when you'll get the job, who will give it to you, and what organization you'll join.

Hmm, that much uncertainty can create a lot of self-doubt.