SusanStrayer.com

Quick Advice? You Got It.

Survey says: job seekers are getting most of their career advice from online experts. Cool. But they're not responding. Not cool. Early results from my survey of seekers and how they use social media tell me that job seekers want and need more engagement. If you're a job seeker, the survey's still open so share your two cents.  Some of you are also pretty clear about where you need advice and resumes are winning out. So I have updated my "Colorful Advice" to provide some quick and easy help.

The World Series and a Great Cause

Normally, I don't have commercial breaks. But my Dad asked so it's the least I can do!  His college is currently auctioning off two World Series Game 4 tickets (plus a parking pass). The college provides associates degrees and certificates for hard working young people and professionals, and they have a 94% job placement rate.  Now that's something to be proud of.  Details follow -- please help us promote this great cause and pass it on!

Social Networking Means, Well, Social

You can't click a site these days without reading about the power of social media--from marketing, to sales, to college campuses.  The same power goes for job seekers.  But they just don't know it. Yet.

New Grads Don't Need an Agent to Get a Job

I finally got around to watching the Season Finale of Entourage, one of my favorite shows.  I'll admit it, as long as I have been in HR, I never considered Ari's paintball strategy (video link possibly NSFW) to, uh, reorganize. (Can't wait for next season.)  But humor aside, I couldn't help thinking that these days, everyone wants an agent to do their job search work for them.  And recent or soon-to-be college grads are no different.

#EpicJobSeekerFail

Across the many years I have been in HR and a career coach, I have seen it all.  And every time I think I've warned just about everyone about what not to do, another brilliant example comes along. In fact, I have started using the hashtag #epicjobseekerfail on Twitter to track some of these fantastic moves.

A recent one comes courtesy of a friend who forwarded me his colleague's recent "goodbye" email.  I've shared some excerpts below, and redacted (in red) information to protect the innocent. (The incredibly dumb yet innocent). You probably don't need me to tell you why this entire letter is an #epicjobseekerfail and CLM (career limiting move), but enjoy my witty insights (in blue).

Update on Job Search Perfection

A few weeks ago, I wrote about my brother's plight. He'd been unexpectedly laid off and while he took a weekend to "grieve" his loss, Monday came and he was at the job search like it was his new full-time job. I talked in depth in that post about his strategy (in my mind, perfection or close to it). So how did he seal the deal? (and in less than 60 days no doubt...)

Job Search Perfection: Here's How to Do It

Three weeks ago, John was laid off.  It wasn't performance, it was one of those mass layoffs by the numbers (either time in position, or eliminating highest salaries).  He was caught off guard--it was a Thursday afternoon and he was pulled into his boss' office at end of the day with the layoff effective end of day.  He was just about to buy a house with his wife, and think about starting a family.  This was not good news.  But he took a deep breath, carefully planned his next steps, and executed job search perfection. Full disclaimer: John is my younger brother and I still think he did a great job.

INSIDE TRACK: Why I Recruit - And You Should Career Search - Using Social Media

   This post is courtesy of Chris Havrilla (@havrilla)               
    at Hitachi Consulting.  

There are many reasons why I use social media – and why you should too.  Networking has never been more important – and with tools like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter it has never been easier.

Inside Track Compuware: What Do Recruiters Look For on LinkedIn?

Post courtesy of Scott Boren, Senior Technical Recruiter, Compuware

 

I think most of us know what LinkedIn is.  According to their published statistics, they now have 40 million people who have created profiles.  That’s a lot of people.

 

But how many of those 40 million created a profile then let it sit?  I know I did that 4 years ago.  I created my profile but then didn’t know where to go, what to do, or how to make use of it. 

Inside Track Ernst and Young: Facebook and Online Interactivity

As a follow-up to my list of companies recruiting on Twitter, I am inviting each company to share a guest blog post. Use this as your inside track into each company recruiting on Twitter: learn more about the company, their brand and how social media has strengthened their recruiting strategy. This post is courtesy of Dan Black, Director of Americas Campus Recruiting

As an accounting student in the early 1990s, my technology prowess didn’t even factor into the job search  process. Back then, you mailed a resume or went to a job fair, talked with a recruiter, interviewed and then hoped for an offer. Times certainly have changed, and thanks to technology, students today have greater options.