CM Access

Back to finish my very educational post about the information that recruiters are getting, and how it applies to you, the job seeker, as the other side of the process coin. You’re both hoping for the same result: to fill an opportunity that will ultimately help both parties (company and employee) succeed. This article from Adecco highlights recruitment best practices and I’ve begun explaining how the information is like understanding what your enemy (in a very broad generalization) knows.

so to continue:

Communication. It’s essential to take the time to communicate consistently with everyone involved in your recruitment process…It’s essential to have buy-in from the people who will be working with the new person on the key skills and other characteristics this person should possess.

You better think to ask about what the backgrounds and personalities of the other team members are, if it’s not brought up to you in the interview.

…It’s very important to help your recruiter understand your needs. Whether it’s an internal recruiter in HR or from a recruitment firm, the more information you share with the recruiter, the better a job they can do for you in identifying high potential candidates.

Many recruiters are not trained to understand what goes on in every department in a company. A technical recruiter who gets put into a creative recruiting role won’t be fully equipped to qualify certain design skills, or marketing strategy case studies. This is why talking directly to a hiring manager is always your best tactic. You can figure this information out by being a good salesperson, researching, and practice.

Recruiting is marketing. Every point of contact builds a brand, and recruiting is no exception. As you post jobs, interview candidates, and introduce them to your company, it’s an opportunity to help build your company’s reputation….Also, we can never forget the impact that word of mouth has in the workforce today, so always put your best foot forward with recruits.

I won’t get on a soapbox here, but this last part is absolutely true for recruiters and hiring managers to understand. And unfortunately, many don’t and won’t change their practices to improve the negative experiences candidates have. So my suggestion here is to be an informed job seeker: talk to other candidates about their experiences with applying to certain companies, and share your own experiences through conversation (online or other).

Job seekers unite! No company is perfect for every person, and no position fits every skillset, so in order to make the best teams and help everyone be successful, step back and think about how you can really assess if it’s right for you–and if not, then for who that you know might it be a better fit?

Technorati Tags: networking, recruiting process, hiring manager behavior, job search strategies

I was at PodCamp Boston 2 back in October, unfortunately only for a short time, but enough to see how far the unconference has come since September 2006! It was held at the very new, and gorgeous,
Boston Convention and Exhibit Center and even though it was gray outside, inside it was bright and buzzing with creative conversation, networking and technological innovation!

CM Access was able to host a session about Job Searching in a 2.0 world, and to hold a forum where concerns, topics and ideas related to technology in career management could be shared.

In many ways, the PodCamp Boston 2 was very much a typical conference or seminar: nametags, t-shirts, PowerPoint presentations, and give-aways from vendors. ‘

But in many more important ways, it was an evolution of the gathering idea, a more inclusive and interactive community-building event. And I have to say, the coolest thing of all (aside from getting to walk around my session room with a wireless mic like Bob Barker) was meeting the guy who designed our blog! Special shout out to Nico from Snowy Day Design. I was commenting on his BarCamp Buenos Aires tshirt, about how that must have been a really cool event, and he introduced himself: “I’m the guy that designed your blog!”

What a small world, it was really a reminder.

Technorati Tags: PodCamp Boston 2, PCB2, podcampboston2, Snowy Day Design, job search 2.0

My coworker and I were just discussing the new LinkedIn feature to include a photo of yourself on your profile.

We were discussing how this can be seen as the perfect next step in a “complete” profile, but also how it might be a deterrent to someone contacting you, or you reaching out to connect to someone else. And, if you know your contacts face-to-face, do you really need the photo to remind you what they look like?

Would a photo put someone off? What if your photo isn’t the best representation of you? Or if you have changed visibly in the recent months or years, what purpose would it serve?

Although, if you’re seeking a job outside of your local area, and speak with someone over the phone for first round interviews, perhaps the link to you LinkedIn profile is a more professional way to share what you look like than sending a huge .jpg file, or worse, a resume with your head shot!

What do you think?

Oh, and I also wanted to mention a really cool new site we found: Kijiji I found out it’s a part of the eBay network, but it’s basically a prettied-up Craigslist. Superneat!

Technorati Tags: Craigslist, Kijiji, LinkedIn, online profile, professional, photo, eBay, opinion, photo on resume

Just wanted to share this information because I feel that it’s incredibly valuable in managing your career.

First– when looking at job postings on line, figure out if it’s posted by a staffing firm or the corporate HR. This will help you when applying. Most agency recruiters (like CM Access) don’t need a long cover letter. They need to see what job you’re applying for and your resume, possibly salary or rate requirements, but just the facts, ma’am. If it’s a corporation you’re applying to directly, cover letters are a good indication of your writing ability (IF it’s a job that would involve writing) and they should give clues about you and your personality. Make it worth reading, not a chore. And if you’re applying to Craigslist, see my notes here.

Second– working with recruiters is a good thing! The more people that know about you and your abilities and career goals, the more you’re marketing yourself, the more chances that someone might get you a great opportunity. However, be realistic about your expectations and your abilities. If you’re straight-forward with a recruiter, they should be realistic with you. It’s much easier for a recruiter if you tell them straight up that you’re not looking for certain types of positions, you’re not willing to commute more than a certain distance, etc. If you’re flexible, then that’s a different story. But if you have specific goals and needs and criteria, stick to them.

Third– Keep reaching out to those who know you and your resume. If it’s a recruiter, and you haven’t heard from them in a month, but are still looking for a new job, then reach out and say so.

Fourth– Recruiters are paid by client companies to fill the open positions within that company. Headhunters are paid by job seekers to find opportunities that suit them. [promotional plug: CM Access uses the needs of the job seeker as ammunition for the companies we work with=the best of both worlds!] You should only work with recruiters you feel are honest and genuine about the information they’re sharing. You should only work with recruiters who aren’t sharing your information without your knowledge (ie your address, phone number and email contact information.

I hope this helps! I sure wish I had known that recruiters aren’t evil, and how their business works. Knowledge is power. The more you know… and so on.

Technorati Tags: Recruiters, Headhunters, CM Access, How to, marketing you

And yes, they deal with a lot of people and a lot of resumes, so if they forget that your cat died last month, don’t take it personally.

Too much to write, and too little time to do it in! I have been collecting thoughts, ideas, opinions to share with my wide audience of readers (ok, myself really) but today I have just one important tidbit to share:

Fall Networking event-o-rama!

There are so many ways to actually go and meet new people, build those ever-important relationships you keep hearing that you need to have during your career, that you had better have a darn good excuse not to try at least one before the end of 2007! This site is just one of many resources to find out what’s going on in Philly. Try the newspaper (they always have a business section, and a calendar) or meetup.com or search for associations that are of interest to you.

It’s not easy to talk to strangers, so take a friend or colleague with you. Your employer will be glad that you’re representing the brand (whatever it may be) and there are many things you can gain from listening to a speaker or panel, or just plain ol’ socializing.

The AMA in Philadelphia (yes, I’m promoting it because I am on the board, and I believe our content to be relevant and helpful to marketing profesisonals) is hosting some great events this year, and our October 10th luncheon at the Downtown Club (oooh ritzy!) is a presentation on how to use new Web2.0 tools in your business with Molecular internet consulting firm out of NYC and San Francisco.

More info is available at the PAMA site, (with a new design coming soon!)

Technorati Tags: PAMA, Networking, Philly, American Marketing Association, Molecular

(I just read about how blog post subject lines are supposed to be really great in order to grab and hold a reader’s attention, and yet…that will have to do!)

I wanted to put in a plug for next weekend’s PodCamp Philly! It’s really going to be a fantastic weekend, as the organizers have done such a terrific job of getting sponsors, and ensuring that this event, on the anniversary of the first PodCamp (Boston)–the idea of which has spread across the globe to include PodCamp Perth (Australia) and PodCamp Capetown (South Africa)–will be spectacular!

I’m also really excited that CM Access is going to be a part of it, since we definitely acknowledge how much we have to learn from the talented, technologically-advanced professionals in the new media space. And for those of you who’ve been craving another CreativeCamp to get all your inspired thoughts out in the open, we’re having a miniCreativeCamp session on Saturday of PodCamp.

If there are topics you’d like to discuss, questions you want to ask, or just want to know what the heck this PodCamp thing is all about, definitely come on down to this free event! First 350 registrants get a free tshirt, and I’ll be there, so come find me!! More information, and SIGN UPis at this wiki site.

Oh, and in case you can’t make it down to our city of Brotherly Love, PodCamp Boston is in October, and you can bet there will be a major turn out for that one!

Technorati Tags: podcamp philly, networking, podcasting, blogging, CreativeCamp, Philadelphia, PodCamp Boston

Just wanted to update my millions of readers that CM Access is increasingly busy! We’ve been adding to our team of dedicated and passionate career advocacy professionals, and we’re still keeping busy learning about how tactics and strategies are changing in this crazy world of ours.

Among others, the most important thing I’ve learned is that it’s no longer acceptable to admit defeat when it comes to using the Internet. “Oh that’s too complicated for me!” just won’t cut it. Your job search shouldn’t rely solely on internet job boards, but neither should it ignore that realm of limitless information altogether!

But the Internet changes so quickly, one could hardly keep a handle on the new vocabulary and the instantly popular pages that might just as quickly recess back into obscurity. Here’s where the blogosphere enters the conversation…”How?” you ask?

Join me at BlogPhiladelphia on July 12 and 13 at the Radisson in Rittenhouse to come out and see what’s going on in Philly and beyond in the world of the Inter-web-net. And if you can’t make it on such short notice, be sure to check out PodCamp Philly in September!

Be a part of the future!

Plus, I’m working on having a mini-CreativeCamp session so we can get the creative types together and talk about job searching, a self-marketing campaign strategy for more clients and more money, and whatever else you’re dying to talk about!

For those who’ve ever been to a job fair, you are probably aware of the rather deflated feeling you get as you’re leaving the huge auditorium/gym/conference room: a whole lotta nothing.

That’s not to say that job fairs aren’t a great way to learn, or that they’re not worth your time. They certainly can be! But are you working the room, or is the room working you?

It can be intimidating, especially when passing by booths that are manned by extremely outgoing company representatives, eager for the next person to talk to about their outstanding management trainee program, or their fabulous opportunities in the stockroom. But what other opportunities might you be missing by simply judging each exhibitor on their visual promotions, on their “list of opportunities”, or their reps’ first impression?

I see the job fair as almost the same thing as a trade show. Have you ever been to one of these? (A bridal expo is a good example of a trade show too.) It’s essentially a place for people to get exposure for their product/service/brand and to generate sales leads that will result in increased revenue. Trade shows are more effective when they get incredibly specific: almost any industry you can imagine has an expo for vendors and buyers. And since the job search is the “marketing me” process for you, the job seeker, this can be a great way to get some exposure of your brand!

Philadelphia has job fairs coming up in the next few months, and I thought in a good opportunity to share some tips about working the room, and not letting the room work you!

The general idea is this: (and kudos for reading this all the way to here!) The job fair can feel disappointing because there are so many others just like you. So make yourself stand out! You know you want to hit up that booth with the chocolate covered strawberries–make them want to write “call her!” on your resume the second you walk away. Be remarkable!

Technorati Tags: job fair, trade show, remarkable, follow up, be unique, research

I recently moved, and like any pack-rat, realized there were a lot of sentimental items that needed to be tossed for good.

But one item I found to be particularly interesting. It is a document titled, “The Job Search” and I remember it came from my Public Relations methods professor. I thought it’d be a worthwhile study to explore how accurate the document remains since I’ve learned a lot from my career advocacy experience.
Here are some highlights with my comments.

The people you know are the most valuable resource you can have when searching for a job. And it’s not about calling someone to have a conversation that sounds like this:
“Hi John.”
“Hi MaryHelen. Haven’t heard from you in years!”
“Yeah, I know. I was calling because I’m looking for a new job. Do you know anyone that might be hiring?”

How could John help? He barely knows me!

Details are what make you a unique candidate. Be sure to write thank you notes (my recommendation is to write one for ANYTHING-even just a lovely conversation) and make sure it mentions something particularly relevant to the encounter, not something generic.

There are many other items in this document that are great tips for the search, though more tailored for those seeking their first job post-graduation, and I’m sure I’ll write about that more in the coming months.

All in all, not too much varies from what I’d recommend for a comprehensive job search: follow up, research, self-evaluation.

This leads me to believe that no matter what job board you’re frequenting, what niche site you’ve saturated, or how Flash-y your personal website is, the tactics that get you that great job don’t really change.

Technorati Tags: job search tips, research, details, first job

Ok…well this could be misleading. There are many ways to actually BE a good networker. The biggest ones are:

I’m well-aware that all these are debatably personality traits more than job searching or networking tactics. And we all know how difficult it can be to change others, let alone ourselves! So rather than saying that to really land a good job, you should just “be a nicer person!” I’ll pass along something that can easily become a habit, and with minimal effort WILL help your networking skills.

READ.

Everything you can get your hands on: Newspapers (online or in print!), magazines (for industry or just popular culture), and the newest resource of increasing importance: blogs and websites.

Once you are aware of what’s going on everywhere, you’ll start to see more and more occasion to offer something to a conversation, to have something worthwhile to say to a potential contact, and then you’ll become thoughtful and considerate (hopefully!). Blogs are quickly becoming a very important way to finding out what is going on in certain sectors of the economy.

[note: ok, ok…I’m saying how important blogs are on my own blog…bear with me, ok?]

If you’re new to this whole medium, and we all were at one time or another, there are several ways to make the information overload more digestible. Start by finding the right people to guide you through it. HINT: CreativeCamp this Saturday is an informal, laid back meet-up where you can ask anything you want from people who know what they’re talking about!

Or start with local blogs to explore what’s going on in your community and the neighborhood. With a simple search I found several that I’ll add to my reading list, including Phillyist, which has a lot of information about what’s going on ’round here. There’s also the Metroblogs network, that has over 45 cities (I think) including Boston and Philadelphia.

What better way to seem a bit more prepared than your colleagues? “I read on this blog the other day…”

Of course, like everything worth doing, it takes some effort. And if you just need a jumpstart, come out to CreativeCamp! Inspiration for all!

Technorati Tags: Philadelphia, networking, read, Boston, CreativeCamp, Phillyist, how-to