Best Practicesfor Internet Jobseeking

Elyse WilliamsonStaffing Consultant for Frank’s Employment

presented at United Methodist Church of GenevaTuesday, May 26, 2009

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

Best basic practicesThe key = Employers assume that how you work on your job search tells them about how you work in the workplace!

Allot your time for various sites; adjust as needed; only one component of an effective job search

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

Best basic practices, cont’dEmail account name = consistent with your professional brand

http://www.google.com/accounts/ - freeApplying by email

Subject = your professional brandMessage• Include position title; where found• Phone number in signature; LinkedIn too?

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

Best basic practices, cont’dAttachments• Your name as document name for resume• Test format by sending to friend (esp bullets)

Regularly check spam filter, junk mailEmail follow-up

Subject (reflect your brand!)Content in message; include again first and last name, phone number

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

Best basic practices, cont’dResponses are rare!

EEOC guidelines may factor inTime constraints on overloaded HR peopleAuto-replies (usually within seconds) often trigger spam filterWhen possible, research company name, location, phone number for follow upAllow 2-3 days before follow up

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

Job boards – the Big ThreeMonster

http://www.monster.com

Careerbuilderhttp://www.careerbuilder.com

Yahoo hotjobshttp://hotjobs.yahoo.com

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

The Big 3 - commonalitiesThe most popular among employersPrices competitive with each otherEmployers tend to be loyal to one siteAdvertisers are notified by email, but usually access resumes by accountNot only a job board; but also applicant database

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

The Big 3 – commonalities, cont’dMost popular among job seekers

Each has excellent career resourcesBecause of the applicant database, companies may find you even if you didn’t apply with themCompeting with hundreds (even thousands) of others when you apply

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

The Big 3 - featuresCreating a profile

Legally authorized to work in USEducation; salary; willingness to relocateAdvantage = gets you past prescreenersDisadvantage = generates unsolicited and unwanted contactsIf you register, be sure to keep account current (address; phones; email)

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

The Big 3 – features, cont’dAnswering a questionnaire

Employers see results by percentage match; may or may not see those who don’t match (an EEOC factor)Most are T/F or multiple choiceCompleting questionnaire does help to differentiate you from those who auto-apply

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

Final thoughts on the Big 3All transactions are date-centered

In how postings appear to job seekersIn how responses appear to employersMonster: 14 day is shortest postCareerbuilder, Hotjobs: 30 day as slot

Careerbuilder does offer some basic keyword, focus matchingTargeted approach = most effective

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

AggregatorsThese sites “aggregate” or compile job postings from various sourcesExamples of better aggregators

http://www.indeed.comhttp://chicagojobs.comhttp://www.simplyhired.com

Not always accurate; not always timely

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

Best practices with aggregatorsWhen possible, trace back to original postRefer to position title, where advertised originallyAllow extra time before follow up because may not be transmitted in ATS (applicant tracking system) for the employer

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

Photo copyright 2009: Ron L ClaytonCCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

A different approachHttp://www.jobfox.comComplete full profile of employment strengths, not just your resumeProfile match; not keyword or timeframe basedMost robust employer blockingPremium tools also available ($)

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

Jobfox, cont’dResumepal (similar to jobvibes)Most time-friendly, confidentiality-friendly for currently employed job seekersFor professionals with expected salaries of $100K or more, theladders.com has similar functionality – but also $ fee

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

Sites oriented to networkingLinkedIn (40M+ active professionals)

Use status update to gently remindExpand and explore your networkUse Booleans to target search results• AND; OR; - (which is “not”)• Company: Deloitte OR IBM OR Wachovia• “Dir” finds “Director,” but “Mgr” does not

find “Manager”– From “Sourcer’s Daily Dozen” (copyright 2008: Microsoft)

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

LinkedIn, cont’dParticipate in group discussionsWatch for jobs posted within groups (may not be posted elsewhere; fairly simple format)Watch for jobs posted on LI – $195 for 30 daysFor LI jobs, will send your profile by emailLI etiquette

IDK reserved only for spammers, harassersGive specific reason when requesting introductionRequest permission privately before forwarding an introduction

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

Networking sites, cont’dTwitter – 140 characters/tweet

http://twitter.comhttp://www.twhired.com (by keyword)http://www.twitterjobsearch.com (not key)http://nearbytweets.com (by IP)http://localtweeps.com (by zip)Same user name as LI helps to build SEO

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

Photo copyright 2009: Ron L ClaytonCCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

Advanced toolsJigsaw (http://www.jigsaw.com)

Business card search systemPoints-based system; $1 per contactDownloadable company lists• 6.7M+ contacts• 530K+ companies

Issues: how fresh? who added?Zoominfo (http://www.zoominfo.com)

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

Advanced tools, cont’dhttp://www.google.com/alertsRSS feedshttp://argali.com (download; phone #)http://whois.domaintools.comConsult local library for online access to manufacturer’s guide, D&B, and other sources about businesses

Some advanced tools, examples from “Sourcer’s Daily Dozen” (copyright 2008: Microsoft)

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

Google searches with Booleanshttp://www.google.comsite:DOMAIN

site:sviintl.com (“chief engineer” OR “senior engineer”) (manager OR chair OR lead)

(inurl:job OR inurl:position OR intitle:job) chicago accounting (send OR submit OR resume OR CV)~bisongear.com (tilde = similar to)

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

Google searches, cont’dBy geography, put two periods between high and low values, with no spaces

60134..60175http://www.zipmath.com (find zip codes in a radius using applications menu)avoid numbers starting with 0 or less than 4 digits

Time-consuming; save searches in ExcelSome advanced tools, examples from “Sourcer’s Daily Dozen” (copyright 2008: Microsoft)

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

Photo copyright 2009: Ron L Clayton

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

For all Internet job seekingTargeted approach is most effectiveDevelop a consistent personal professional brand

http://personalbrandingblog.comUse SEO to your advantageCheck what associates with your name on google (http://www.google.com) – be sure to click on the links, too!

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.

I’m in your network now!http://www.franksemployment.comelysew@franksemployment.com630-584-0820, x103 (vm available)

http://elysew.wordpress.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/elysewilliamsonhttp://twitter.com/elysewilliamsonhttp://companies.to/franksemployment/ (fb)

CCL 2009: Frank’s Employment, Inc.