Maybe you just got laid off. Or management is driving you crazy. Maybe you need to make more money. Or you're anxious to advance yourself.
Whatever your reasons, it's critically important that you go into the job marketplace with your eyes wide open. If you haven't been there recently, things have changed--a lot!
For example, the expectations of employers are different from what they were just a few years ago. Formerly, it was enough to have a good resume with a strong employment track record of accomplishments. You could tell an employer what you used to do and hope that he/she would make the connection and see you as a valuable addition to the organization.
Those days are gone forever!
Today, you have to be able to demonstrate that you understand the goals of the organization and show exactly where you would fit in and how you can make a contribution to bottom line.
So, before you head into that marketplace you have to understand and practice the FOUR BEES.
1. BE COMMITTED to your career. Make it a part of your life. Accept responsibility for what goes right as well as what goes wrong.
2. BE PROFESSIONAL . . . in how you treat people . . . in how you sell yourself . . . the way you negotiate a deal . . . even how you dress and speak.
3. BE ASSERTIVE. Go into the job marketplace assertively . . . not aggressively. That means respecting other peoples? right to expect quality. And to refuse you if they choose. Most importantly, it means you expend every effort to command their attention so that you can help them make a decision in your favor.
4. BE PERSISTENT. Don't even bother with the first three BEES if you're not going to follow through and follow up. If you are going to wait for someone else to make decisions for you . . . or if you're going to sit around and wait for the phone to ring . . . do yourself a favor and bow out gracefully while you're still ahead. You're not going to make it in today's demanding job marketplace.
Fortunately there are exciting new strategies and techniques that can turn you into a winner. They can significantly shorten your job search and get you above average compensation. Best of all, they show you how to make the FOUR BEES work for you.
Have you secretly been wondering what all the hoopla is over social networking sites liked LinkedIn...but been too afraid to ask? Or perhaps you are in the midst of a job search and know using sites liked LinkedIn should be part of your job search strategy....but you are not exactly sure how to go about it?
If so, you are going to love these 5 easy tips for using LinkedIn to create powerful networking connections, brand your image and quickly get you noticed!
Tip #1: Create a powerful profile
It's free to join and once you have, you'll want to create a profile which best highlights the skills and strengths you most want to showcase. Here are a few tips to setting up your account:
- Use a current version of your resume to post your profile. - Your profile should contain those things you wish to be known for - and nothing more! - Don't go back too far with your job history unless you have a really good reason for it. - Have someone (friend, loved one, resume writer) edit and proof your profile. - Use discretion with listing personal information...just like a resume.
Tip #2: Find your friends
You can search for old classmates, past companies, friends or just try keyword searches in your area of interest. Invite friends and associates to connect with you and accept invitations from others to quickly grow your network (you will want to read LinkedIn's information about accepting others' invitations to help you decide whose invitations to accept). Bear in mind the larger your network, the wider your audience and that is generally what you want.
Tip #3: Get involved in Q&A
Easily search topics and offer answers to establish yourself as an expert. You can also ask questions to engage others and establish rapport. This small investment of your time will pay off abundantly in both the short and long term.
Tip #4: Join groups
There are tens of thousands of groups and group forums on LinkedIn. Forums give you an instant audience in a particular industry, networking group, alumni group, company or geographic area! Currently you can join up to 50 groups.
You can post a question, post a news or blog article or announce you are open to new career opportunities.
If you are a job seeker, don't forget to post your candidacy on the 10,000+ member recruiter groups. You will be casting a wide net, but stand to garner several positive responses. Just be clear about what your specialty is to make it easy for the recruiters to identify potential interest on their part.
Tip #5: Use LinkedIn's group email feature
Sometimes LinkedIn will charge a user to connect with others, but not in group forums. Check out the member listings for your groups and email selected group members (in the group forums) absolutely free!
Being a member of LinkedIn quickly establishes your credibility, gives you an audience in an amazing choice of industries and allows you to fully leverage yourself in the market.
These five tips will get you quickly moving forward, however this is just the tip of the iceberg! My friend, Jason Alba, wrote an amazing little book called, "I'm on LinkedIn, Now What?" That is packed with useful tips to quickly getting your LinkedIn membership working for you!
Both Paul Megan & Mary Elizabeth Bradford are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Paul Megan has sinced written about articles on various topics from Employment, Careers and Job Hunting and Employment. Check out The World's Fastest Job Search System! Grab EEI's stunning FREE REPORT: "How To Lock Up A High-Paying Job In 14 Days (Or Less)!" Discover tons of FREE job search tips and strategies!. Paul Megan's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.
Mary Elizabeth Bradford has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cover Letter, Employment and Interview Questions. Would you like to learn how to quickly and easily get more interviews, shorten your job search and increase your salary? Check out my website: