Get LinkedIn. This is a great professional networking tool with more than 20 million professionals all around the world. It is free to join and is a terrific tool to help you develop and manage your professional online presence. There are so many benefits for using this tool in your career, some of which are: getting noticed in job market, uncovering inside connections, exploring companies and opportunities that you may not have even thought of, getting introduced to other professionals – the list goes on and on.

Remember, in the world of networking and recruiting, one of the most common things that a person will do is google your name. If you’ve never googled your own name before, go ahead and give it a try. This is a big part your online presence – albeit not all of it, but a good majority of it. One thing that is critical is that now that you’re in the career marketplace your online presence must be squeaky clean. Wild party links to MySpace, Facebook or other social networking sites can be a big career mistake.

LinkedIn can help to provide you with a professional link that will show up on a google search. Just create your account with LinkedIn, complete as much of your profile as possible and then begin to send ‘invites’ to other people you know who are trusted colleagues/contacts. Soon, they’ll be joining too and you’ll be amazed at how many people you are actually connected to in the world. So, do it now – and remember to work on the profile part of your page, since this is where you can list your education, previous employers or volunteer groups, affiliations, etc. That way when others find you on LinkedIn they will be able to get to know who you are.

Action:

It’s easy, here’s the link – so, get on there and set up your account - start growing your professional online presence.

Posted by Robin – FiredUP Careers

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Practice your interview. Definitely take this advice; you do not want to ‘wing it’. I can’t remember the last time that I spoke with someone who went on a job interview and said they were glad they just played it by ear. In fact it’s just the opposite. Most anyone I speak with that has been on an interview always wishes they were better prepared. Unfortunately, hind sight after an interview is not what you want – because more often than not, you won’t get a second chance. So, prepare and practice.

Action:

To help you determine the best approach to answering any given question, take into consideration the context of the question. Learning to differentiate between the possible contexts and selecting an appropriate response will minimize your need to memorize questions and answers. Most interview questions will fall into the three following contexts:

Past Context. These are asked because the best predictor of future performance is past behavior. You may hear of these being referred to as “Behavioral Questions” – which are quite popular now.

Behavioral questions will usually begin with:

Tell me about a time…

In the past how did you handle…

Describe three key factors you have used to…

Give me an example of…

What is the biggest mistake you’ve made in your career…

Present Context. These surround - who are you? What do you know? What do you want? The interviewer wants to know what is going on with you and who you are right now.

Present based questions will sound something like:

Tell me what you know about…

Where do you believe the industry is taking…

Why did you select this profession…

Future Context. With these questions the interviewer is trying to find out how you think, how you solve problems, what process you go through.

Future based questions will begin with:

What do you believe…

What steps would you take if…

How would you handle…

What would you do if…

So, pick out ten or twelve good interview questions that fall into the above contexts and prepare your answers. Then practice the answers in front of a mirror. Next, enlist one or two of your friends (you can use a parent, but they are not always the most objective in this situation) and have them ask you the questions. Formulate answers so that they are results oriented and prove the value you can bring to the organization. Make sure you stay on track with the question and keep your answers down to 30 seconds or so, (no rambling) you can always ask the interviewer if they would like more information.

To develop a strong interview strategy check out FiredUP Interviewing for New College Grads – It’s loaded with tips and techniques you’ll use now and in the future.

Good luck and remember – just move forward!

Posted by Robin Ogden – FiredUP Careers

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Be prepared for the interview phone screen. Phone screening helps the employer weed out candidates who are not a fit for the position because of salary requirements, knowledge inadequacy, location requirements, etc. These calls can also be a time of assessing personality, energy and overall interest in general. Employers do not want to waste time bringing candidates in for full on site interviews if they do not believe there is a match.

Although the phone screen may not be the first thing on your mind, it is an important part of your job search and should be treated with top priority. It may be just a time scheduling contact, but more often than not, it is a mini-interview…so be prepared.

Action:

Make sure you have all the items you need located by your phone; pen, paper, a copy of your resume and calendar, so that you do not have to put the employer on hold. Keep in mind that when the employer representative is calling they are in ‘business mode’ and you need to pick up on this yourself. If you sound too casual, or relaxed it will be a turn off. Make sure that you have information handy regarding the companies you have targeted – there’s nothing worse than the employer representative contacting a candidate only to find out the candidate doesn’t know anything about them, nor does s/he even remember submitting a resume. It’s easy to make a quick spreadsheet on the companies you have targeted, a bit about their mission, products, etc. and the position you’ve applied for – and keep this in an area near your phone. Very important…be sure your voice message is ‘professional’. If it is not currently, change it for the period of your job search. Practice and be prepared to answer some general questions, such as – tell me a little bit about yourself, what made you choose our company, how did you decide on your career path…etc.

Good luck and remember – just move forward!

Posted by Robin Ogden – FiredUP Careers

Visit us and get your FREE report – and while you’re there check out our new Great Video ebook

Whether you’re looking for a job or not (but ‘especially’ if you’re looking) you will need a text resume that is up to date and in style/current with today’s marketplace.

Here’s a quick tip: If the top of your resume contains an “Objective Statement” that reads something like: Looking for an opportunity where I can apply my expertise in XYZ in an environment that offers growth and advancement”… you’re in the dark ages. Get that thing updated! You must build an objective statement that tells the employer what you will bring to ‘them’ – not what you want them to provide for you. Today’s career marketplace is no longer about what’s in it for you – you’ve got to stand out by telling the employer what’s in it for them if they hire you. A strong entry statement on your resume is a must.

Here’ a better profile/objective sample that I came across in The Gallery of Best Resumes:

A creative graphic design/illustration professional with more than seven years of proven talent; expert in designing graphics and illustrations for textbooks, catalogs, magazines and Web pages coupled with an amazing understanding of composition and color usage. Excellent project management skills. Ability to establish rapport with individuals at all levels, analyze needs and develop appropriate materials within project scope.

Ok – if I’m looking for a graphic designer this entry paragraph tells me quite a bit about this person. More than likely I’ll read more of the resume because I can see right up front that there are several areas this person can contribute to in my organization. I’d be curious and want to read more. And that’s what you want your text resume to do - keep ‘em reading and get you in for an interview…right?

If you’re stuck on how to update or what to say to make your resume stand out in the pile contact our resume expert – Christine, she has helped thousands of individuals with their resumes and will provide you with a ‘free’ resume review. You can’t lose!

Either way, the number one rule is to keep your resume up to date at all times, whether you’re actively looking for a job or not. You never know when you’ll need it and you don’t want to miss out on prime opportunities.

Posted by Robin – FiredUP Careers

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Create a strong ‘targeted’ resume. A one-size-fits-all version is not in the game anymore. Employers expect you to know what you want and why you are interested in them ‘specifically’. So, do your research, find a position you believe you are qualified for and target your resume to that position. This is a sure way to stand apart from the competition and will also help you in preparing for a phone screen from the employer. Knowing the position and having researched the employer will speak strongly in your favor.

Action: Your resume should be no more than two pages – if it is, edit it back. The first page needs to grab them (or they’ll never even peek at the second page). So, break the first page into three specific categories – top third; your objective speaking from the standpoint of ‘what you will bring’ to the employer, not ‘what you want’ from the employer. Middle third; your accomplishment statements. Since you’re a New Grad you can place your educational accomplishments here. In addition, this is where you add what you’ve done in the past that shows you focus in on and deliver results. Bottom third is where you add your experience and carry on through the second page.

For more expertise on resume writing contact our resume expert – she will give you a free review and analysis.

Good luck and remember – just move forward!

Posted by Robin Ogden – FiredUP Careers

Visit us and get your FREE report – and while you’re there check out our new Great Video ebook

Get known – now. If you are not involved in a professional networking group it is time to join. If you think of these groups as a bunch of people coming together to get something from someone, then it’s time to change your mindset too. Networking groups are a terrific way to find out what’s going on in your community and profession, get to know people who are in the field you’d like to be in and gain visibility. Neglecting networking as a key component in your job search is a huge mistake. Networking will do more for you in the long run than almost any other form of job search. So, take action now.

Action: Begin right here. Research networking groups in your area and pick a couple that sound interesting to you. Set a goal to research and attend and/or schedule to attend at least two networking functions in the next two weeks. This will help you discover which groups will be best for you to join. If you’re stuck, here are a few links to get you FiredUP!

Riley Guide

MeetUp

Washington Network Group

Financial Executives Networking Group

eWomen Network

I love Seattle

Toastmasters

There are many more, just Google networking for your local area and also be sure to check with your Chamber of Commerce.

Just move forward!

Posted by Robin Ogden – FiredUP Careers

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One of my instructors once said “judgment of your overall competency and credibility can be made in an instant, in other words big impressions can be made out of little things – so, watch those typos.” Although he was referring to term papers you can attach the same remark to a resume, blog post, advertisement or any other written material. The point here is that we do make judgments about individuals based on how they present themselves in writing. I’ve had recruiters comment to me that if they see a typo in a resume or cover letter it gets tossed, or deleted. They just don’t have time to be correcting grammar or passing on poorly created materials to their clients – in essence, they consider it a reflection on who they are and how they represent themselves and their business.

My point here is that you must make sure that your written communication to an employer is ‘squeaky clean’. I know that sometimes when we have spent so much time on something our eyes go buggy, but that’s why you’ve got friends and/or mothers (they always like to put their two cents in…hey, what am I talking about, I am a Mother!). Seriously, have someone review your materials for typos before you send them out. If you don’t have someone that you trust (or you don’t want anyone to know that you’re looking), pass your resume by our resume expert – she is terrific and gives a ‘free’ review.

Posted by Robin Ogden – FiredUP Careers

Visit us and get your FREE report and while you’re there check out our new Great Video ebook!