Using Technology to Land Your Next Job

With nearly one in ten Americans currently unemployed, the job market hasn’t been this challenging since possibly the Great Depression. The recession and subsequent layoffs have affected workers at all stages of their careers, with everyone from blue collar laborers to C-level executives looking for work. Employers who are currently hiring are receiving hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of resumes and applications for each vacant position. With the odds stacked against job seekers, only the most qualified and proactive candidates are attracting the attention of hiring managers. Those who are simply perusing their local newspaper’s want ads and passively mailing their resumes are likely to stay unemployed for quite some time. The old fashion job search rules of past decades simply no longer apply. In this digital age, pretty resumes and cover letters on colored paper aren’t the ticket to success. Job hunting is now much more about embracing technology, creating a strong online presence, smart networking, and using unexpected and unconventional marketing strategies to convey your personal brand to help garner the attention needed to get hired. The current labor statistics are undoubtedly daunting for job seekers. However, for those who are smart, savvy, and willing to take the extra steps to get noticed, there are still jobs to be found. The following strategies are a must for anyone wanting to jumpstart their search and find that next opportunity. Familiarize Yourself with Current Technologies Many recently laid off individuals who are now looking for work are returning to the job market after years of steady employment. Times have changed, and job search strategies from just a few years ago are now outdated and ineffective. New technologies have made it easier to look for a job but have also made it more challenging to directly connect with hiring managers and other decision makers within companies. Because of these advancements, job seekers must take advantage of the current tools that can assist them and be aware of the challenges that they are facing. Of course, it’s vital to have a basic understanding of the Internet to conduct job searches, research companies, and send emails. However, it’s now just as important to know how to keyword optimize your resume, understand the basics of Web 2.0, and communicate effectively online. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is one such technology that delivers real value for job seekers, especially for those looking for employment outside of their local area. Providers of VoIP, such as Mediaringtalk.com give individuals the ability to call from their PC to anywhere in the US and many other global destinations for free. This is an ideal service to use for making follow up calls, networking with former colleagues, and conducting phone research on possible employers. Create an Online Presence Because it’s now common practice for recruiters and hiring managers to Google candidates before calling them for an interview, it has become a necessity to have an online identity that employers can easily find. They’re specifically looking for individuals who are knowledgeable and active on the Internet. Networking sites such as LinkedIn are a good place to start developing your internet presence. It’s used by professionals in all industries and in all stages of their careers. By creating a LinkedIn profile, anyone can post work experience, activities, education, and awards. It’s used for reconnecting with coworkers and researching companies. LinkedIn also lets users write recommendations for others such as former supervisors, colleagues, and classmates. Many recruiting executives and hiring managers use LinkedIn for both finding and evaluating potential candidates. They specifically look for the number of recommendations and the quality of the connections. Along with joining a networking site such as LinkedIn, there are many other ways to beef up your online presence. Consider creating your own web page or blog devoted to your job search. They’re no longer expensive or complicated to create, and in a few hours, you can have a great site that will augment your other job search efforts. Wordpress, Wix, and Google.com/profiles all offer free website solutions for individuals who want to create their own sites. As well, don’t forget to post your resume on career sites such as Monster, Yahoo! HotJobs, CraigsList, CareerBuilder, and SimplyHired. Other specialty sites such as Dice and The Ladders might also be worth exploring. Not only do these sites have up-to-date job postings, they are also frequently searched by hiring managers and recruiters looking for possible candidates. Network Intelligently Networking has undisputedly become the most popular buzz word in today’s job market. With Facebook and Twitter becoming wildly popular, many are wondering if it’s necessary to join these sites to find a job. The answer is yes, but there are important concerns to consider. Of course, the more contacts you make on these sites, the more opportunities you might find. However, because they are focused on making social connections, you can expect old friends, relatives, acquaintances, and others from your past and present wanting to connect with you. This can lead to possible trouble for job seekers. With employers conducting online research on candidates, keeping pages free of offensive, suggestive, or controversial images and comments is essential. Pictures with the family are not a problem, but shots of you and friends partying over the weekend are not going to get you hired. If you are going to use Facebook, take advantage of the privacy settings to limit who is viewing your page, and make sure that all comments that you make on Twitter or any blogs project the image that you want to present to future employers. Besides Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, there are literally thousands of other resources for both online and offline career networking. Check out alumni associations, professional organizations, and local career networking groups. Develop Your Own Personal Brand To stand out from the masses of other job seekers, you do have to be creative to get noticed. A well-written resume and cover letter is only just the start. Consider positioning yourself as an expert in your field and write articles, white papers, or ebooks that you can distribute online or offer to a popular trade publication or journal. Volunteer your time to industry events and demonstrate your passion for what it is you do. Employers know that the most productive employees are those who take initiative and are excited about their work. By taking these extra steps, you’re positioning yourself as the talent that they’re looking for, not just another resume in a pile. Stay Flexible Finally, remain open to all opportunities while searching for your next job. Contract or part-time work might present itself before a traditional 9 to 5 position is offered. Consider taking temporary gigs to not only keep income flowing but also to improve your skills and to network for a full-time job. Websites that specialize in project work and temporary assignments such as Elance and Guru can be helpful and offer tremendous opportunities to work with a variety of employers. In this current market, it can take months to find a new job. With so many job seekers, recruiters and hiring managers certainly have the upper hand and can hold out until they find exact matches for positions. The candidates who are getting hired are those who are perceived to be those exact matches. They are the ones who are effectively communicating their skills, passion, ability to make connections, and desire to bring value to a company. The job search is no longer about sending out resumes and waiting for the phone to ring. It’s now truly about becoming that exact match that an employer is prepared to hire.