Hosting a Webinar: "Recruitment - The Future is Social"

I am so pleased to write in my post that I am co-hosting with my colleague Jonathan Holowka, www.byeka.ca, on how human resources can leverage social media on their recruitment initiatives.  

For those who are interested in learning how HR can leverage social media feel free to sign up for the free event through www.hr.com you can download the slide deck (.ppt) at a later date.

To join this FREE event on Tuesday, January 10th, 12:30-1:30pm "Recruitment-The Future is Social"  you may register by signing up at the following website http://bit.ly/wpUdEw  

http://www.hr.com/en/webcasts_events/webcasts/upcoming_webcasts/recruitment---the-future-is-social_gvy4l5kk.html

Get Your House in Order Before Looking For a Job

This time my blog is catered to those looking for a new job opportunity.  I will try to alternate between those seeking talent and others who are selecting their company of choice.  I really appreciate any feedback or areas I have missed to help job seekers and recruiters alike.  I am hoping this will be a forum to share best practices on both sides of recruitment.

We all know that looking for a job is a full-time job.  Some job seekers dive-in head first without seeing how deep the waters are--they are deep and choppy waters.  There are many forums to find jobs and navigating these waters are tricky without a little help.  I will throw a lifesaver with some tips below to help get you started in an organized job search.  (the below is targeted for the Toronto/Ontario/Canada job market)

Helping Hand

• Get the support from your family and friends by asking for their encouragement and to keep their ears to ground if they hear of any suitable jobs.
• If you belong to an employee assistance plan ask for a coach that specializes in job search.  They may also provide feedback on your resume.

Roll up your sleeves

• Make a list of on-line job posting boards such as:  monster, workopolis, craigslist, kijiji, yahoo, etc.
• Get your resume and cover letter up to date and upload on applicable websites such as:  linked-in, monster, workopolis, yahoo groups, etc.
  • Prior to posting, have a second set of eyes to review your resume for grammar, spelling, formatting, etc.
  • You will need to customize your cover letter and resume for each job application.
• Research recruiters that specialize in your area of expertise.  You can search google, check out your library.
• Research companies that you want to work for and see on linked-in if there are any connections. 
  • Sometimes jobs are not posted but are in the works--pipeline jobs.
• If the job advertisement does not state "do not call" then I would advise you contact the person listed.
  • Ask the person for five minutes of their time to discuss the role as you have the value-added skills and experience for the job.
  • I would have handy the top 10 skills/experiences that benefits the company.

There is only 24 hours in a day

• Time management skills are key as you can get lost in the web of information.
• Block time periods on your calendar (outlook for instance) that you will research jobs, apply for jobs, and networking events.

References

• Reconnect with old employers and let them know you are seeking another opportunity.
• This is a good time to also ask those you reported to and worked with for permission to use them as a reference.

Keeping track

• Last but not least you will need to create a tracking mechanism of jobs that you applied for so that you look organized and professional.
  • You may use an excel spreadsheet, access database, etc.
  • The data should contain at a minimum:  company, website, contact name, phone, email, position name, date applied, associates (that work there from your linked-in research), interview date, interviewers name.

Also, please stay tuned for using social media on your job search.

I hope you found this helpful and any feedback/input is greatly appreciated.