Using Social Media to Job Search

This day and time, looking through the want ads in the newspaper is not really productive when looking for a job or career change. There are limited jobs listed in the local want ads.

Today’s world is all about social media. If you are beginning a job search, it is time to open some accounts with sites such as LinkedIn, Google+, Facebook and Twitter. It is important to keep these sites professional, as potential employers will be looking at all of your sites. It is better for your career to keep drama and negativity off of the internet. Connect with previous co-workers and classmates, announcing you are looking for a job. A friend’s wife, a former employer or previous co-worker may know of someone in need of your area of expertise. Don’t stop there, posting your most current resume on career sites allows an employer to search for you as well as you searching for them, doubling your search effort.

Best Dealer Jobs is one of those sites that help guide you to your new position. Some of the biggest dealerships in the United States search BDJ for qualified candidates to place in their most productive careers. If you are looking for a career in heavy equipment, you definitely do not want to miss this site.

When posting a resume to a site, it is good practice to ask someone to review it and your cover letter for typos. When you are ready to apply for a specific job, customize your resume to fit the particular job you are applying for. This may mean simply prioritizing your skills differently. It is a good idea to submit at least a short cover letter designed specifically for each job applied for.Give complete information including addresses and telephone numbers. Double and triple check all numbers and information, assuring a future employer can contact you, as well as your references.  

When your resume is posted on sites, such as Best Dealer Jobs, your perfect opportunity is sure to be just around the corner. 

Preparing for an Interview - Interview Tips 102

When applying for a job, there are several things to be aware of and remember. Before submitting a resume, always be prepared to receive a telephone call to discuss the position you are applying for. Learn who the company is, what they do, how they do it, who works there and as much about those people as possible. This is a great start to determine if you may be a good fit. Most companies have a website to begin with. Take advantage of social media by searching for them on Google+, Twitter and Facebook. Review profiles of owners and managers on LinkedIn. This may include more company information as well. Look for length of time in business, locations, divisions and the kind of product or service provided.

Do not be shy about asking employees that you may know for referrals. If you know someone who works at a company, contact them and ask for information that may be helpful to you.

When you receive a telephone call and schedule an interview, review the company again for updates or news articles of relevance. Review your resume and cover letter submitted so conversation is consistent with information previously provided.

Confirm with professional contacts and friends they will be references. Make them aware you are interviewing and may receive a call or email so they will be prepared. Gather complete telephone numbers, addresses and emails. List all of this information on nice stationery to provide at interview if needed.

First Impression Counts 

Dress neatly and conservatively. Clothes should be clean and pressed, hair neatly combed, shoes shined and minimal makeup, perfume, aftershave and jewelry. A good rule to follow is “if in doubt, do not wear it”. Do not take away from the interview by wearing distracting clothes or accessories. An interview is not a good time to wear the bright flowered tie you received for a gift. A conservative solid or striped tie will not be distracting. A jacket is always a winner paired with a button down blouse or shirt. After researching the company, determine how formal is necessary. Anything less than neatly groomed will lead an interviewer to think this may be the best that it gets. 

Interview Etiquette

Leave sunglasses and ear buds in the car, leaving your hands available, thus avoiding embarrassing scrambling and dropping things. Prepare for an interview by being well rested and alert. If you are distracted during an interview, an employer may wonder how well you will focus in a job.

Take a nice folder with extra copies of your resume and references. An interviewer may not have a copy available or may bring others in who may like one as well. Include a pen and notepad. Having this information readily available is also necessary should you need to fill out an application. All dates and information will be consistent with your resume. Be prepared to take notes. This shows you are interested and also saves you forgetting useful or needed information.

Be on time. Map your route prior to the day of the interview if you are not sure of the location. Arrive 15 minutes early, even if you stay in the car for 5 minutes. If you are late, it shows lack of respect for the interviewer’s time, the company, as well as your time management skills and work habits. This also allows time to relax and focus before being in front of your potential employer.

If you have a bottle of water or cup of coffee beforehand, toss it before even going into a building to interview. This will save embarrassing spills and distractions. It may be just as well to even pass on a drink if offered during an interview. Turn cell phones off or silence before entering the building and put away. It is impolite and distracting for a phone to ring during an interview.

While waiting for your appointment in the lobby, spend this time examining your surroundings. Are there books available showing examples of work the company is involved in? Are there pictures or awards on the walls? Learn the company mission statement. Leave all emotional baggage behind so you have a pleasant expression on your face as people walk past you as you are waiting. Genuinely smile as people may pass by. 

You are well on your way to making a great first impression and winning a new job. 

Social Media's Role in Today's Recruiting

Image courtesy of Google Images

Are you strategically thinking of recruiting tomorrow’s talent for today’s employers? If not, your recruiting goals could possibly come up short….

With the overflow of Social Media the recruiting process for many HR professionals and employers has changed dramatically! Remember a few decades ago when a resume usually reflected only one or two employers over a 10 to 15 year span? Those same resumes often included characteristics such as dedication, loyalty and stability.

Fast forward 20 years….to today. Recruiting trends reflect talent pools of resumes which now commonly list multiple employers and within a short 3 to 5 year span. They also regularly include characteristics of adaptability, diversity in skills and talent. How does this translate in today’s market? Productivity numbers have been on the increase for several months, and output per Hour has increased by 3.5% in the first quarter of 2013 while hourly compensation has been reduced by 6.9%.

Output per Hour  : +3.5 % (r) in 1st Qtr of 2013

Hourly Compensation : -6.9 % (r) in 1st Qtr of 2013

Unit Labor Costs : -10.0 % (r) in 1st Qtr of 2013

Output : +5.3 % (r) in 1st Qtr of 2013

Hours of All Persons : +1.8 % (r) in 1st Qtr of 2013

Do you see a trend here…?  Employers have learned to do more with less. But where do we find that multifaceted, low cost employee?  The answer may surprise you… .employers are now reconsidering how to strategically recruit this socially multifaceted generation.

Taken from an article titled The New ROI for Social Media Recruiting, “emerging among recruiters a recognition that social media is a marketing and promotional tool. The effectiveness of sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, even Pinterest is probably not in the number of hires or even applicants a company can trace directly to one of the social media sites. Instead, as recruiting consultants Gerry Crispin and Mark Mehler reported last year, social media is a channel of influence.

You can’t not be there, one of the round-table participants observed, because candidates, potential candidates, and those whom you hope to attract and someday hire will see your absence from the social media landscape as a negative.”

Recruiting poorly is equally negative. You should not only have a presence but an active and attractive one, too. Perhaps the key is a blend of the old and the new. This new social media generation may offer more “bang for your bucks”, a welcomed sight as many employers are faced with driving higher productivity and creativity (fresh and new ideas), as well as, lowering costs.

In an attempt to help employers find candidates and lower their costs, we at NEX21 Partners are happy to introduce our newest division, Best Dealer Jobs. We are taking an active approach and the use of social media to unite employers, specifically those in the equipment sales, parts and service industries, with qualified potential employees. Please see our site at www.bestdealerjobs.com