Telling your story/getting hired(for my kids and their friends)

greg shove, founder/ceo, socialchorus

@gregshoveJan 2015

first, the bullshit excuses I hear…

• Those privacy settings are confusing

• Don’t have time for extra classes/training

• I don’t have enough to say on social media

• Twitter is lame

• Linkedin is boring

In terms of finding a job, we are all SOlucky

• It’s never been easier to communicate who you are, what you care about and how you can change the world (or company, or job)

• It gets easier and faster every day to find and connect with the people you need to connect with (eg potential employers)

Finding your first job takes time, so allocate enough time

• It’s at least 90 mins a day:

(less time on buzzfeed, deadspin etc)

• One less episode of whatever show you have already seen

Don’t rush to the last step

• A lot of people rush to apply for jobs, as if # of applications submitted is a sign of progress. It’s not.

• Follow these steps:– Define and represent yourself online

– Find 5 job descriptions that you think you could do

– Find 50 companies that have those job descriptions inside.

– Start informational interviews with friends

– Start working your network to get to those companies

– Start targeting people at those companies

– Start applying for jobs (last resort)

If I was looking for a job

• I would make sure all my online profiles are consistent and current (words, photos)

• Check my FB privacy settings

• Complete my LinkedIn account

• Ask others to take a look at my profiles and give me feedback

Informational interviews

• Goal: 10 within 30 days.

• Why: learn, build network, follow leads to potential employers

• Steps:– Create email template to ask for interview

– Build target list – via friends, family etc

– Prep list of questions

– Ask for help in the follow-on email – look at their network on LinkedIn.

Define yourself exercise

• Pick 3-5 words that describe you - your skills, passions, hobbies - that you want someone who reads your resume or looks at your linkedinprofile to appreciate about you.

• Pick a couple photos that describe who you are, what you love to do.

• Write a tweet that describes who you are - with one hashtag.

• Pick your preferred resume template and draft –get feedback from friends

LinkedIn – deserves it’s own slide

• Create your own great profile

• Google “how to create a great linkedin profile”

The resume (its less impt. than your linkedin profile)

• Pick a template that is easy to read/scan

• No typos

• No inconsistencies, missing blocks of time

• Follow the best practices – check out or google:

– http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2012/05/10/how-to-write-a-resume-when-youre-just-out-of-college/

Represent yourself online

• LinkedIn profile – 100% complete, including join some relevant grps and follow some relevant companies

• About.me profile (tell a more personal story). Be super cool and set up a rebelmouse profile.

• Twitter handle – at least claim it and create a profile (consistent with others)

Be able to speak to your personal keywords and your passions

• What blogs do you read regularly?

• Who do you follow on twitter?

• What was the class you took, or meetup you went to?

• Does the way you spend your non-work time match the interests/passions you say you have.

Tools for social presence

• about.me, rebelmouse.com

• Upgrade your Linkedin account so you can contact more people (its worth the $$)

• Buffer for scheduling your social posting

• Build your own blog:

– Squarespace.com

– Crushpath.com

Tools for research and outreach

• Crunchbase.com, Glassdoor.com, company aboutuspage and linkedin page, twitter feed

• Use rapportive plug-in for connecting social profiles to email

• Use yesmail/bananatag to see if your recipients open your email.

• Use clearslide if someone wants you to send them a PPT prezo.

• Feedly to track content topics or companies• Mention to track names of people – including your

own

If I was writing/emailing prospective jobs

• Develop several email templates – personal intro, thank you, reach out again

• Make emails brief, bullet points, links, clear request or call to action

• Don’t attach your resume – link to Linkedinprofile only (it’s being read on a phone)

If I was interviewing

• I would follow the company on LinkedIn and Twitter

• I would research the person I am seeing on: LinkedIn (groups), Twitter, quora, slideshare

• I would NOT friend request them on FB or LinkedIn before the meeting/interview

• You can request connection via LinkedIn after meeting – never facebook.

Practice for interviews

• Expect all kinds of interview questions– A good starter list:– http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewquestionsanswers/a/t

op-50-job-interview-questions.htm

– http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/01/11/how-to-ace-the-50-most-common-interview-questions/

• Ask others who have interviewed there – or use glassdoor:– http://www.glassdoor.ca/Interview/index.htm

• Be prepared for video interview – so practice that with a friend via skype

My recommendations – therefore my bias

• Get a job quickly

• Get a job that means you have to use lots of software to get your work done

– any software

• Move your role closer and closer to the software

• Stay 9 months min, 18 months ++

As an employer, I ask myself

• Will this person get their shit done

• Are they authentic/real/passionate about SOMETHING

• Will the company/team be BETTER if we hire this person

– Will they do more than asked

– Will they help others on team

– Will they manage projects not process

Other thoughts

• Room mates and after-college friends matter -read this:

– http://lifehacker.com/5926309/how-the-people-around-you-affect-personal-success

• Be reading a real book – and don’t look terrified when someone asks: “whats your favorite book?” (or app)

You must be GREAT at

• All google app’s

• Powerpoint (sadly, yes)

• Box, Dropbox, Evernote etc

• Excel (I don’t mean you can figure out how much your friends owe you after a weekend at Coachella, more than that)

• The tools that the best in your field/domain use

• All social platforms

Upgrade your personal productivity

• Evernote to clip and save

• Mailbox or gmail app.

• Wunderlist – or a great cloud to-do list that you like

• Tempo for a better calendar

• Refresh for meeting prep

• LinkedIn apps (both)

Keep going to school

• Take some classes in person

– General Assembly or what’s in your town?

• Find some relevant meetups

• Nothing local, do it online

– http://www.skillshare.com/

• Follow others, read their blogs: Seth Godin, Gary Vaynerchuck (for biz) or the people/topics you care about