Just a little bit more…

Here are a few handy job hunting tips that I have picked up in recent months, some of which may seem a little surprising at first!

Networking

• Never underestimate the importance of your online profile and online networking – online networking is today as important as offline so create and work at your online profile to make yourself really stand out:

1. LinkedIn is a great way to not only market yourself online but make and keep contacts and hunt for jobs. For advice on how to build a great LinkedIn profile and use LinkedIn and facebook to find a job see http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/26-tips-to-enhance-your-experience-on-linkedin/ and http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/10-tips-for-finding-a-job-using-facebook-and-linkedin/
2. Write articles for online sites in your industry, start your own blog and comment on other blogs
3. Sign up to Twitter – you can use this to publicise your blogs, comment on or broadcast interesting articles and posts by others and make valuable connections

• Think of others rather than yourself when networking: offer your services without expecting anything in return; match up the skills of friends and colleagues to create great partnerships and; at networking events be friendly and talk to as many people as possible, you never know who you will meet or when you may need their skills in the future.  This may not seem like the most obvious networking strategy nor the most personally helpful, but by assisting others and showing generosity and willing you will be remembered favourably by all those you meet and will be the first point of call if they seek your skill set in future

Application

• Present your cv or cover letter in creative ways to make your application stand out and leave a mark on the reader, you could include chocolate or present your application in person
• Persist with your application after it has been sent: follow up with a phone call or visit the organisation in person
• Don’t be afraid to use contacts, even those that may seem tenuous: think of who you can draw upon in the organisation you are applying to or who you know within that sector.  Use them to find out who exactly deals with applications or heads the department you seek to work in, contact this person directly or ask your contact to put in a good word.
• For more creative ways to get a job see: http://www.thebiggerexperience.com/blog/?p=357

 

 

Graduates, act professional!

If you are a graduate and you are looking for a job, one of the most important aspects in your job hunt is to leave your details with all the potential employers or new people in your professional network.  If you’re wondering how do you do that, having a business card is the right answer. Most graduates consider that having a business card is only for people who are working. This perception is completely wrong. A business card can be a powerful marketing tool in your job hunt, even as unemployed. Just think about how many times were you asked for contact details either it was a networking event, a job fair or even a party you attended.

A business will make you look professional and it will definitely make you stand out from the crowd! And it’s an easy way to make a powerful first impression in a networking situation, while ensuring that your personal details are conveyed accurately and efficiently to the people that count.

Psychologically, business cards have another big advantage. Once handed to a recruiter, it’s almost impossible for them to avoid returning the favour. Soon, you’ll soon find that the more cards you hand out, the more you get back. From this, your network will grow – and all because of a simple piece of white card.

Business cards don’t have to be elaborate or expensive. All that’s needed is a plain piece of card and on it, your name, address, email, and phone number. If you are not working, including your home address is completely optional, but do make sure that your business card has a simple design and appearance, as it can say a lot about you.  After you decide on a design, get lots of copies made and don’t forget to always carry a couple of them with you, as you never know when a networking situation may arise.

 

Shy, scared or simply have no idea on how to exit a conversation in a networking situation?

How many times did you enter a conversation and you didn’t know what to do to get out of it gracefully? Don’t panic! There are no natural born networkers and only practice makes it better!

A networking conversation can be very challenging, especially when you are using networking as part of your job hunt. Professional networking events are usually intimidating for graduates, as they involve two tricky situations: entering a conversation and exiting a conversation. Exiting a conversation is actually the hardest part of networking, as you always need to be sure that you leave a good impression and an open door to develop your professional relationship.

Either you’re a shy person or you’re simply afraid of what others may think of you in a networking event, here are some tips on DOs and DON’Ts when exiting a conversation.

DON’Ts

• Don’t use fake excuses such as “I need to go to the toilet, excuse me” or “I need to fill up my glass” and never come back to the person you were talking with. This can only leave a negative impression about your personality and it totally lacks professionalism. And sometimes, the person you were talking to can follow you at the bar, for instance… so you definitely won’t get out of the conversation!
• Don’t force the conversation to continue by approaching irrelevant topics so you can cling to the person you’re talking to. You will just going to waste your time instead of taking advantage of the opportunities available in a networking event!

DOs

• Excuse yourself in a polite way. There are several options to excuse yourself and leave a conversation properly. One line can be “It was very nice meeting you. I am sure there are other people waiting to talk to you. I hope we can keep in touch”. This line does not only make you look professional, but it also gives you the opportunity to ask or to give a business card.  Another way of excusing yourself can be “It was nice talking to you and I would like to keep in touch. Will you excuse me, I see a friend/colleague I would like to talk to before the end of the event”. This can only show the person you are talking to that you are honest and not afraid of being direct!
• Introduce the person to somebody else. When it’s possible, the simplest way of exiting a conversation and keeping yourself professionals is introducing a third person into the conversation. This is a win-win situation! You can move on to your next conversation and offer somebody else the opportunity to network!

 

When your conversation comes to an end, don’t panic and think of it as being the end of the professional relationship you’ve just created! Leave your conversation with a smile and a proper handshake and the door will be open to get in touch again!

Happy networking!

 

 

We should all be like Murdoch and chums*

By Aaron Yamoah

What do James Murdoch, Rupert Murdoch, Rebekah Brooks, Andy Coulson, heads of the
Metropolitan Police, several ex News of the World staff and at least three Prime
Ministers have in common?…Each other.

Here at chronicles, we’re always blogging about the importance of networks and
utilising the people in your circle, and beneath this hacking scandal lies an
incredibly effective network. I’m sure that there were many other introductionsn in between but Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron can all thank Murdoch and his network for playing a significant part in their rise to power—we all know Sarah Brown didn’t throw that pyjama party just for kicks. Likewise Andy Coulson didn’t get the PM’s communications director job by applying through a grad scheme. The sheer number of ex News of the World staff who held high positions with the Metropolitan Police is also another effective use of this
network.

Now this is a network that has too much power and has clearly abused it but we can’t deny the facts. None of these people could have got to their current positions without the help of each other. Likewise, your own networks can give you access to a multitude of opportunities, not because of who you know but because of who knows you. However, it’s up to you to make sure you’re good enough for the job.

*This is no excuse for you to start hacking phones and abusing power.

 

Things to do when you don’t have work today, or tomorrow, or the day after and the day after that…..

 

 

Being unemployed, or looking and applying for a job  every day, or dealing with rejection letters can be very stressful. What’s the key to cope with all this?? Be resilient! Don’t think “Oh, no, this happened again to me” but try to use your time wisely and do all the things that helps you relax your mind and your body!

 

 

Here are some quick tips on how to deal with unemployment:

• Reconnect with your friends and people around you – when you are unemployed and looking for a job, you are tempted to spend most of your time at home. But getting out there and talking to friends and people around you can offer you support and increase your self-confidence. And it can also be a great way to improve your network and thus to increase your chances of finding out about available job

 

• Hit the gym – exercise can be a great way of relieving your stress. Hitting the gym will give you more energy for your job applications and will make you look better for your next interview. Taking care of our bodies instantly improves our mood and can even lift us out of a depression

 

• Get an internship or do volunteer work – “working for free” can give you a good reason to get out of the bed in the morning. And it also has lots of benefits, as you can enhance your CV, learn new skills and add new people to your network

 

• Learn a new skill or a new language – take this as a challenge and make an action plan for it. It will help make use of your time and add something extra on your CV. It can also make you feel more confident in your own abilities

 

• Have goals to look forward to – Feeling good about the future is important for our happiness. We all need goals to motivate us and these need to be challenging enough to excite us, but also achievable. If we try to attempt the impossible this brings unnecessary stress. Choosing ambitious but realistic goals gives our lives direction and brings a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when we achieve them.  Having goals can also help you stay motivated in your job search

 

• Read and listen to music – use your free time to read all those books you wouldn’t have enough time for when in a job.  Books and music can definitely help you relax and give you positive emotions.

 

There are much more interesting things to do while you are job hunting, things that can enhance your employability and help you keep your confidence.  The important part is to remember that pain is temporary and winning lasts forever. Being unemployed is only temporary!