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Turn heads.

Fight first-date jitters.

Avoid generic or pick up lines.

Go for the goodnight kiss.

“To seal the deal, reaffirm your interest in the position (the equivalent of “call me”) and ask about next steps in the interview process (The equivalent of “will I see you again?”).”

Don’t wait by the phone.

Use these simple steps add Facebook groups to your job hunt networking strategy! The overall strategy revolves around a simple logic.  Social networks are SOCIAL. Thus, join the conversation and network!

Before you join the conversation, be aware of the image you project to potential employers or anybody that can help you meet potential employers.  It is important to know how to manage your personal branding on Facebook in order to maximize your chances to be hired via the social network.

Where are the conversations?

Conversations are everywhere, on people’s walls, in private messages, on event walls, on picture comments, ect.  The important thing is to have a strategy.  There is so much happening on Facebook, it can be overwhelming.  Stay focused.  What do you want to do with Facebook?  Find a job? Ok.  What kind of job? In a certain field? A certain position? Write it down on a post-it and stick it on your monitor, because Facebook can be quite distracting.

Use the Search Function

Look for groups related to the field that interests you.  Some Facebook groups are even dedicated to certain professions.  If you have a certain company in mind that you would like to work for, search for the company’s group.

Join the Conversation!

Talk to the people on the group’s wall. If there are no conversation (which is very likely for most groups), look up the members in the group and send them private messages.  Facebook groups are a gold mine of resources.

Initiating Conversations Through Private Messages

How you approach these people is very important.  There is a certain etiquette you must follow.  Nobody likes to be solicited and you don’t have time to waste. Here are a few suggestions:

• Be genuine, honest and transparent.
• Introduce yourself and state your intentions.
• Be aware that you are entering somebody else’s private space and be respectful.  I like to mention where or how I stumbled on their profile, i.e., that you saw they are members of a certain group or  they listed their job in their profile. This introduction doesn’t need to be more than 2 or 3 sentences.
• Explain your situation and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Suggestions to consider: Ask about the best ways to get a foot in the door in their field. Ask if they can suggest resources or organizations for you to explore for information. Ideally, mention something that you have learned about them that you admire or make a connection. (For example, “I see you attended the University of Illinois; so did I!” or, “I read your article about ______ and was thrilled to find you on Facebook.”)  Be sure to offer something in return. (I produce podcasts as a hobby, and I’d be happy to share my expertise if you’re interested.) Limit yourself to 1 or 2 questions per message.

Facebook can help you contact men or women who are currently working your dream job or in your field of choice.  It is a great way to ask for informational interviews.  If your contacts are geographically close to the area where you would like to work, be sure to solicit them for an informational meeting.

I don’t recommend sending over 10 private messages per day because Facebook might flag you as a spammer and you can get your account suspended.  My suggestion is to send around 5 to 7 private messages a day and spread them throughout the day.

Facebook is a great self-promoting tool, especially if you are creative and know how to manage your image.  For instance, www.onedayonejob.com created a job search experiment using Facebook ads. The idea was to target potential employers and have the job hunters become the hunted. Be creative and respectful and you may be surprised by the results!

Happy hunting!

Have you used Facebook groups to propel your search? Share your thoughts in the comments section!

photo by Jacob Bøtter

• Basic Info
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• Status update
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[This article was written by Miriam Salpeter, Keppie Careers.]

It seems as if every time I turn around, the economic news gets worse. More people are being laid off. Recent college grads are having job offers rescinded. Retirees are going back to work because their investments took such a hit. No question that this is a stressful time.

If you are lucky enough to be currently employed, but are in the midst of a job hunt, you have a whole different set of stress factors to manage.

Your career is your responsibility. If you look around and don't envision yourself in the same organization for the long haul (or even for the short haul), it is up to you to take steps to find something new. No matter how difficult it is or how little time you have, if you don't take the wheel, you can't drive your own career bus.

So, some tips to help the busy employee who leads a double life as a job seeker:

Do NOT - I repeat - DO NOT conduct your job search while AT work. Even using your employer issued computer on your own time is iffy. If you don't want to be shown the door before you are ready, conduct your search on your OWN time. What? You don't have any of your own time? That's the reason you are looking for a job? Carve some out. Searching online job boards, blogs (!) and sending emails applying for positions from your company computer is risky. Just don't do it.

Manage your time. You need to take a break from work. If that "break" also involves spending some of your "down" time prepping for a job hunt, so be it.

Invest in yourself. Hire someone to help you or put in the preparation that you deserve to ensure that you know how to look for a job and that your materials represent the best you have to offer. Do not sell yourself short by sending around a resume that isn't optimized. The investment you put into your search at the outset will pay off for you in the long run with a shorter hunt. I invite you to review my blog for tons of free tips!

Network! Open your eyes - networking opportunities are all around. Soon,  holiday parties will begin. Family get-togethers are in the offing. Take advantage of social situations to grow your network. Too busy for parties? Social networking (online) will fill in the gaps. I recommend a dual-prong networking strategy that involves in-person and online networking for full exposure. Investigate Twitter. Optimize your linkedin profile.

Keep connected and engaged in your current job, no matter how difficult it is. Sporting a positive attitude will help make you desirable to potential employers (and make it easier for you at work). Even if you have one foot out the door, don't start acting as if you are already off the payroll. When's a good time to tell your colleagues that you are looking for a job? When you give your notice! Turn to non-work friends for support during your search.

Gather information. If you interview for a job, be sure to ask about their timing. You want to know if they will be making a hiring decision soon or if you are the first of 100 interviews! Having information will help you manage your search. Ask questions that will help put you in the driver's seat down the road.

Above all, recognize that the positive steps you take now to manage your own career will pay off in the long run. Don't wait. Don't let stress or fear get the best of you. Take the wheel and turn the key.

Miriam Salpeter is a speaker, blog author, career action coach and founder of Keppie Careers. She advises clients in the U.S. and abroad regarding career transitions and speaks to groups about job hunting and social networking strategies. Miriam has been offering clients confidence, clarity and job-seeking know-how for over 10 years.

Translation of Guillaume Couture's article: Doit-on se méfier des médias sociaux?

Social Media such as Facebook, MySpace, Hi5, etc. have become very popular, especially with the younger generation, and we are beginning to observe different reactions to this phenomenon.

As in the past, the emergence of new means of communication creates reactions of rejection from a certain public. Let's take for example the alarming articles about the dangers of social media, especially in the field of employment, that have multiplied in the traditional media recently. Fear of progress or denial of change?

I want to draw a comparison with passed technological revolutions. Take Télévision for example, in its rapid development in the 60s and 70s. The older generations among us will remember 2 extreme reactions: entire families having supper in front of the television, hence the invention of "TV Dinners", but at the opposite: people rejecting completely the concept of TV. They argued that watching TV was akin to intellectual laziness. I remember clearly, when I was little, the various debates about the negative influence of Television on children and older people who cursed the diabolical invention.

Ok, I spent a great portion of my childhood staring at the cathode-ray tube and I didn't turn silly! It seems to me that even during teenage years, my general knowledge was far greater than my parents' when they were the same age.

Of course, it is all a question of usage. Too much of a good thing can be just a bad as too little, and we should always exercise judgement. You need to keep in mind that employers will make more and more vists to social pages of their employees. The risks are different and so are the possibilities, but that is the reality of our modern times. It is important to keep in mind that what is private should remain private because sometimes, what we put on the internet cannot be removed (or we forget that it is "out there") and try not to bad mouth your employers on your blog!

photo by Dianna Blackwell

During my research, I stumbled on a great post by Marty Nemko, a Career Coach from California. Here are 3 great metaphors that I wanted to share because I believe it creates a different perspective on job hunting. I think the best metaphor is the last one:

When you contact someone and it proves useless, think of it as a library book that turned out not to be helpful. No emotion expended, no sense of rejection, you just put it back on the shelf and try another book.

I quit my previous job before my current job and I can understand the stress and pressure of looking for a job. I had to constantly self motivated myself because when we don't receive feedback, it can be very depressing. I think half of the job hunt is mental and Marty's metaphor is a fresh perspective that can help you stay positive. It also helps at relieving pressure. If this call or interview doesn't work, that's fine, there are plenty of others. I don't need to waste any emotions or energy.

I want to share a key job hunting strategy I overlooked when I was looking for a job.  After I quit my previous job, I turned to the internet and career counsellors to find information that will help my job search.  The information was overwhelming and was also confusing at time.  

The best suggestion I received was to write 2 or 3 sentences explaining my job or career objectives.  I ignore the advice because I already had a hard time keeping my resume under 2 pages without giving a headache to the reader.  Thankfully, I got a job that I love but now that I look back, I understand that my job search would have been less painful if I wrote an objective paragraph.  Even if you wrote a cover letter, the most important file you send is the resume so make sure that your objectives are stated on it.

Recruiting is not in my job description but I had to go through (what seems like) an endless list of cv this week.  Most of the time, I didn’t even know what type of job the person wanted.  I had to look for the “work experience” section and look at their last job.  The ones who did write their objectives (took me less than 5 seconds to read) stood out a lot more and I can tell you that they have a much better chance at getting a call from the hiring manager or the staffing agency.

Writing your specific career objectives is very important and should be at the top of you resume.  Be concise and state what you want.  Try to keep it around 3 lines.

English translation of Guillaume Couture's article: Erreurs fréquentes dans la préparation d'un CV

We have all been told that companies and staffing firms receive many resumes a day, and thus we must differenciate ourselves and stand out from everybody.  Yes, this is true.  However, do not overdo it in fact, less is more.  Here is a list of mistakes job seekers often make that we recommand you to avoid:

• Use a readable file format!  Most word processors produce acceptable files and the acrobat format (pdf) can be read by many computers.  However, avoid incompatible or uncommon softwares.  Believe it or not, we have received resumes on Excel spreadsheets, in PowerPoint, Publisher or Photoshop format (!) the list goes on.  Keep in mind that the employer at the other end is not necessarily equiped with the same softwares as you.
• Password protected files: to avoid!  Employers are rarely interested in playing Sherlock Holmes in order to look at your cv...
• Files containing non-compressed pictures and images.
• Scanned documents attached to resumes: these files are very large and can be bounced or create problems your the employer's inbox.  Do not attach them unless they were explicitely requested.
• Files infected by a virus! Make sure you always have an updated anti-virus.  Sending a virus to a potential employer is not the best first impression.

1. It is important to be knowledgeable about the Company to demonstrate that your interest and enthusiasm about being a part of their staff. Try to learn about the Company's history, have an overview of their products and services, their strengths (see their Web Site or publicly available documents).
2. Bring a copy of your résumé and remember its content in case you need to refer to it during the interview. This shows the accuracy of the information it contains.
3. It is very important to be well dressed for a job interview and, a solid hand shake is very important as you introduce yourself.
4. Be positive and attentive during the interview. Talk about your strengths in a natural way.

1. Personalize your letter; include the name and title of the person you are sending it to
2. Be brief and to the point
3. Do not repeat the content of your résumé
4. The first paragraph must attract the reader's attention
5. The letter must be brief, but neither be too short or too long
6. Express your interest in the position and why they should see you for an interview
7. It must include your main accomplishments
8. Use the same writing style and font as for your résumé
9. Include your telephone number and email address where you can be reach easily
10. Make your self available for an interview
11. Finish your letter on a positive note. For example: Looking forward to meeting you to discuss a future position with (name of the Company)