Job Seekers on the Web

LinkedIn seems to be the hottest place these days for the currently laid off as well as the job seekers. Don’t be afraid to change your status from “current” to “past”, employers are still looking to hire, and you could be just what they are looking for!

These are the results of the networking recession. With the small amount of jobs available right now, people are turning to who they know personally, to get the job taken care of. Millions in the work force are turning to social networking sites such as LinkedIn, which has 37 million members. According to David Hahn, LinkedIn’s director of product management, job searches on the site rose 51% in February over December.

The more traditional job sites, such as CareerBuilder, Monster and Yahoo HotJobs are still gaining large amounts of traffic and the amount of users is quickly growing as well. Job seekers are really reaching out to the networks of Twitter and Facebook as well and blogging tremendously.

This may not be wonderful news to the older generations, however, this is wonderful for the web 2.0 savvy millennials, like yourselves!

Make sure to create a profile on all of these social networking sites. Be sure to keep them updated regularly so that you are presenting yourself well, and rest easy knowing that you are being pro-active in this recession that relies on networking!

Common Mistakes New Grads Make

I stumbled across an article written in 2007 by Anne Fisher about the 5 Mistakes New Grads Make. Although the optimism of the 2007 job market is the thing of a past, the advice for new grads is still relevant.

1. Keep parents’ involvement to a minimal- Your parents can help expand your network and make professional contacts for you, but make sure you are the one actively searching for and applying for jobs. You will come off as mature and professional if you keep your parents’ help behind the scenes.

2. Manage your social media profiles- Keep in mind posting information to the net makes your profile one Google search away from public knowledge. Make sure your profiles on social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook are appropriate and a good representation of your personal and professional lives. Potential employers do not want to see pictures of your scandalous Halloween costumes or your first keg stand.

3. Network, Network, Network- Let friends and family in your network know you are job hunting. Keep in mind everyone in your network has their own network of professionals they can talk you up to. College alumni associations are another networking resource.

4. Say “Thank you”- When someone goes out of their way to help you with your job search or refers you a potential employer, email or send them a hand-written note expressing your gratitude. New grads are underestimating the impact of a simple ‘thanks.’

5. Appropriate voice-mail greetings- Although a poem or rap directing your caller to leave a message brings a smile to your face, it is not an appropriate greeting for potential employers. Record a mature, respectable message detailing who they have reach and to leave a message.

Career Fair Benefits

This After Grad author is in full job search mode. In addition to traditional search methods, such as job search Web sites and local classified sections, career fairs are a great way to network, find local jobs, and gain experience.

As I’ve been told throughout my undergraduate career, “It’s all about who you know.” Applicants are finding jobs through peers and other professional contacts. According to the latest Help-Wanted Online Data Series report, over the last two months (December 2008 and January 2009) there has been a 1 million, or 23 percent,  decline in the  number of advertised job vacancies. Career fairs are an excellent time to network, or make professional contacts, and find out about non-advertised positions.

I recently attended the C2C, College to Career Fair, in Richmond, Virginia. I was able to expand my network by interacting with fair participants. Receiving several business cards and e-mail addresses, one participant urged me to contact her for advice and for a list of possible employers. She expressed that I was not a good fit her company, but referred me to three organizations I would be a good fit for. This is a perfect example of networking at career fairs- I was able to increase my network and found out about  possible jobs through one fair participant.

Even if the fair does not lead to a job, career fairs are a great way to gain experience interacting with peers and company representatives in a professional setting. The more experience you get “selling” yourself, or talking about your skills and proficiencies, the better!

I understand how hard it can be to find a job. Remember to relax, put your best foot forward, and take advantage of everything career fairs have to offer.