JobSearchJedi.com: March 2021

15 Tips for Using LinkedIn and Facebook to Find a New Job

by Gabi Casin

Today, recruiters and hiring managers are increasingly using social networks to find talent. This is why it’s essential to have a professional social media presence if you’re in the market for a new job (and important to manage the privacy settings on your social accounts you don’t want recruiters and hiring managers to see). Below are some general tips for using social media to job search, along with specific job-search tips for using LinkedIn and Facebook.

General tips

1. Put your personality on display

In addition to your educational background and professional experience, hiring managers and recruiters are interested in your lifestyle, hobbies, and the media you consume—such as books and articles in your field of work or study. At best, this type of personal information can be a decisive element for recruiters when deciding between candidates. And at least, being present on a social network and showcasing your personality and what makes you unique will allow recruiters to know more about you.

2. Search for and connect with employers

Social media is a great place to discover new employers and connect with them. For example, start-ups and tech companies are usually very present on social networks. Don't hesitate to send a short message or interact with companies that interest you via their social feeds. Maybe, someday, you’ll see a job opening at one of these firms, which could lead to an interview and ultimately a great job offer.

LinkedIn tips

1. Let it be known that you’re looking for a job

First of all, if you're looking for a job, make sure to let recruiters and your network know on LinkedIn that you're open to new career opportunities. If you indicate which job offers you’re interested in and your preferred location, LinkedIn will ensure that your profile is found in search queries when recruiters are looking for suitable candidates.

2. Expand your network

Widening your networking will improve your chances of landing informational interviews and job interviews. So, make sure to connect with fellow students, colleagues, friends, clients, and partners.

4. Be active

Don’t just sit around and wait for recruiters to reach out. Instead, share photos, articles, and social posts that you think are relevant and interesting. Or publish content yourself such as a blog on a topic in your field to highlight your expertise and improve your visibility. At the very least, make sure to link to any outside portfolio or blog that you host.

Facebook tips

1. Tidy up your public posts

Even if you already know this, it’s worth repeating since it’s so important: Don’t make intimate, personal photos or political tweets public on Facebook. Recruiters can, in fact, eliminate your job application if they consider that you’re posting inappropriately. So, scrub your public profile until it’s squeaky clean.

5. Pay close attention to how a company deals with criticism

How companies deal with negative comments on Facebook says a lot about their ability to accept criticism and their culture. Is there room for open dialogue? Is criticism taken seriously? Is criticism welcome? A company’s corporate culture is clearly evident in its communication with Facebook followers. Closely looking at this communication will help you weed out employers you don't want to work for, while pointing you in the direction of what could be your dream employer.

Read all 15 tips and the complete Vault article

4 Signs It's Time to Ditch Your Day Job and Work for Yourself

Cohin Kakar, PharmD, MBA

Entrepreneur Leadership Network Contributor

We've all been there: That dragging job that drains us of our energy, guts us of our dreams and makes us wake up in the morning wondering if this is really what we were born to do.

For many of us there is that million dollar idea that burns inside and with each passing day gets more stale. It is a hard decision to make between leaving the comfort of a stable job and building something of your own. What about the salary? The benefits? The dependents? The 401K?

All those luxuries disappear the minute you turn the company laptop in for the last time.

Conversely a recent survey of 2,500 people, including 500 small business owners, conducted on behalf of Invoice2go found that 60% said they’re committed to the idea of working for themselves rather than an employer, citing an interest in following their passion (57%), a belief that they could be of benefit to others (53%) and a need to set their own schedule (52%).

So how do YOU know if it's time to jump ship?

1) Fulfillment

Any entrepreneur that has started their journey after working for another company has had this question: "Am I living up to my potential?"

The answer might be as simple as a role change, a jump into a new career, and maybe, just maybe...a light bulb that is the fact that it's time to start your own journey.

3) Motivation

If you are finding it hard to get motivated to participate, to lead, to achieve, etc. there is definitely a root cause. It does not always have to be work related. It could be in your personal life. However every day that passes where you are not giving it your all ends up being a day that you wish you had back.

See all 4 signs and the complete Entrepreneur article

100 Companies Hiring Right Now, March 2021

Monster staff

These are unprecedented times when it comes to jobs and career opportunities. Remember, however, there are companies hiring right now. You have the skills and experience that are needed to get a job—and we aim to help you do just that with the Monster 100.

Let's get started. Using the LaborInsight tool from Burning Glass, we created a list of 100 top companies now hiring on Monster in the past 30 days. From tech and retail to health care and transportation, there are loads of industries all across the country (and remotely!) with jobs hiring now. So get your resume and cover letter ready, and remember to customize them to the specifics of the jobs to which you apply—that can help you stand out from a sea of other applicants.

The top five companies now hiring with the most positions are Allied Universal, Fiserv, Deloitte, Assurance Independent Agents, and Marriott International. Click through the full list of jobs available below to see if one would be a good fit for you—and remember, jobs are always being added on Monster, so bookmark this page and check back often!

Companies Hiring Right Now

See 26-100 plus the full Monster article

A winery will pay you $10,000 a month to work and live rent-free in Sonoma

If a post-work glass of wine is what you look forward to each day, maybe it's time to quit your day job.

This month, Murphy-Goode Winery announced a one-year position with its team in Sonoma.

But not only will the lucky candidate get to move to sunny California -- they will live there rent-free for a year.

The company wants someone who 'takes life one sip at a time'

The application, open to those 21 years or older authorized to work in the United States, requires a video resume explaining why the candidate believes this is their dream job.

The company will evaluate applications on "role value, creativity, and design, applicable experience and skill set."

Candidates can apply for the role from now until June 30. The job will roughly begin in September.

The most important qualification for Murphy-Goode's "A Really Goode Job" is loving wine -- the position includes 30 cases of it.

Read the full CNN article

A career expert shares 5 questions she wishes more candidates ‘had the guts to ask’ during job interviews

Liza Kirpatrick, Contributor

@lizakirkpatrick

Many people forget that job interviews are a two-way street — and that, when done right, turns into an engaging conversation between the candidate and the interviewer.

As a director at the Kellogg School of Management’s Career Management Center and a former recruiter of 10 years, I’ve found that even the most qualified candidates fail to distinguish themselves by asking hard-hitting — yet thoughtful — questions. (Usually, they only ask generic ones that they can easily find answers to via a quick Google search.)

Below are five questions I wish more candidates had the guts to ask during job interviews. While some of them may seem too intimidating or awkward to ask, doing so will not only impress your interviewer, but it will help you leave the interview feeling more confident and better informed about the position.

1. ‘What are the biggest challenges I’ll face in the first 90 days, and how will success be measured?’

If you’re interviewing for a high-level position, this is a question that you might get asked. But if not, then you need to bring it up.

Ninety days is the typical probationary period when a company determines whether hiring you was the right decision. So it’s good to be prepared and have a strong understanding of what the expectations are and whether your experience and skills indicate you’re right for the role.

Don’t be overwhelmed if the challenges sound daunting, because as a new hire (and particularly early into the position), you won’t necessarily be judged on your knowledge. If you really want the job, you must be willing to learn and do what it takes to get on track and excel.

2. ‘Is there anything about my background that makes you hesitant to move me forward in the interview process?’

Hiring managers love when candidates ask this question because it shows a sense of self-awareness.

The response you get may be hard to digest, but it’s better to know now, during the early stages of the interview, so you have a chance to address the employer’s perceptions and change the narrative.

Let’s say you’re told: “I’m worried you might not be happy in this job because it’s not a client-facing position.” You can course-correct by saying, “I understand your concern. But that’s exactly why I’m pursuing this job. I’ve been in client-facing positions for most of my career, and I’m interested in doing something different.”

See questions 3-5 and the complete CNBC article

What Questions to Ask During a Job Interview

By Deborah Acosta

In brief

Ask questions that will help you understand what would be expected of you on your first day and in a year, such as “How do you measure success for someone in this role?”
Some of the best questions are about the employer and aim to get a sense of its values and culture.
Ask questions about your interviewer’s experiences that will help you build a rapport.
Use the interviewer’s responses to your questions as a jumping off point to highlight your strengths.

Job interviews are a two-way street and, when done right, should be a conversation between the candidate and the interviewer. “You are interviewing and auditioning them for the job, too,” says Paul McDonald, senior executive director at Robert Half, an HR consulting company. This kind of exchange is only possible if you have researched the employer and prepared thoughtful questions to understand how you can immediately provide value. Not only will you leave the interview better informed, but you also will have impressed the interviewer with your deep interest in the role and demonstrated your suitability for it.

Ask questions that help you understand the role and how to succeed in it.

Aim to feel confident and comfortable enough that you could start the job tomorrow. “How do you measure success for someone in this role?” is a good question to get to that point, says Daniel Santos, the chief executive officer of career-counseling service Prepory. By understanding what an employer’s ideal candidate would achieve, you can present your past accomplishments in a relevant way. The answer also shows how you will be evaluated if you are offered and accept the job.

2) Why is the position open? Another key question is why there is an opening, says Mr. McDonald. Did the last person in the role get promoted? If so, this is your chance to find out what led to their promotion and to set yourself up for similar success. If your predecessor was underperforming, perhaps you can learn how to avoid the same mistakes, says Mr. McDonald. If the role is new and part of a company expansion, you could ask about what led to the decision to expand that department to get a better understanding of the employer’s goals.

More questions about the job:

What are some of the day-to-day responsibilities of this job? Get a concrete sense of what the job actually is and whether you would want to do it.
What needs to be immediately addressed by the person you hire? The answer to this question will highlight what the pace will be when you first start and will give you an opportunity to follow up by explaining how you would meet those needs.
What are your expectations for this role during the first month, three months, six months, a year? What does success look like? Identify what the employer expects from you, so that when you begin, you can keep track of, meet or exceed the benchmarks for the role. You can share examples of similar achievements from your previous job experience.
What do you think are some of the biggest challenges for someone in this role? Get a full picture of any unpleasant aspects of the job, so you are not surprised once you start.
What is the typical career path for someone in this role? This shows the interviewer your interest in growing with the organization and gives you an understanding of how the employer invests in its staff.

4) Build a rapport with the interviewer.

No matter who you are interviewing with, it is important to foster a relationship with them. You might be working with them someday, and even if not, their opinion of you will likely be considered when the employer decides whether to hire you. While you can ask generic questions, such as how long they have worked at the company, a better approach is to focus on individuals.

“The thing you don’t want to do is ask a question only to look smart,” says Sam Owens, founder of SamsCareerTalk.com. “The interviewer will likely see through that immediately and you won’t look smart.” He recommends asking “genuine questions,” that the interviewer is uniquely qualified to answer and that matter to you. That way, you are more likely to have a memorable conversation.

Questions about the interviewer:

What do you like most about working for this employer? Their answer will indicate what they value most and what working at the company is like.
How has your role evolved since you joined the company? Get a sense of their stature within the company as well as opportunities for career development.
If you could give someone one piece of advice about working here, what would it be? This shows you respect their input and may help you make the transition to the position smoother if it works out.

Read all 6 question topics and the complete WSJ.com article

7 successful executives share what it takes to climb the ladder during COVID

Jessica Thiefels

Are you ready to advance your career but worry about getting noticed through a Zoom lens? The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted several discussions about promotion etiquette. Some employees are wondering what they should do if the pandemic puts their promotions on hold, while others wondered about the ethics of asking for promotion during this time.

If you’re ready to climb the career ladder despite the pandemic, you have the power to get noticed—either your current company or even a competing one. But don’t take it from us. Here’s what seven executives had to say about growing your career during COVID.

1. Evaluate your Digital Presence

If you want the leaders in your industry to notice you and vie for your talent, make sure you can easily be found online and that your digital profiles look their best.

“Covid has presented an excellent opportunity for leaders to really focus on developing their personal brand and eminence online, not just around their industry or subject matter expertise, but as people, strategy, and thought leaders,” Victoria Pelletier, VP of North American Talent and Transformation at IBM, says.

Now may be a good time to create a professional Twitter account, attend virtual meet-ups, and showcase how much you know on social. Pelletier says starting out in a virtual setting can also give you some “electronic courage” before you meet in person.

4. Find a Mentor

If you aren’t sure what you want to do or what options are available within your career field, seek out a mentor who can guide you in the right direction.

“Mentors can support us in reaching our full potential and bring inspiration to our career development,” explains Dorota Lysienia, community manager at LiverCareer. “While mentors help fresh graduates look for career guidance, they can also serve as an excellent source of knowledge for more experienced professionals. Even though it’s currently challenging to meet in person, we can still reach out to them and schedule online mentoring sessions.”

If you’re not sure where to start, consider working with a professional mentor service that can match you with someone who would be the best fit for your goals and desires.

6. Keep Networking

Despite the pandemic canceling events and moving meetings remotely, it is possible to keep networking. More importantly, the old adage of “who you know,” still rings true. Forming connections today can still help you down the road. Not feeling it? David Cusick, Chief Strategy Officer at House Method shares an important reminder:

“Even if you feel like you’re stuck…don’t stop. Building those connections with people will not only help you grow in your career or grow your business—it will also make your work more fulfilling.”

It’s never too early, or a bad time, to build your network and leverage the learning and career growth opportunities that come from it.

See all 7 tips and the complete TheLadders article

These are the 10 traits recruiters are looking for

By Stephanie Vozza

In a recent study, recruiters ranked what they consider to be the most important traits for job applicants.

Like it or not, first impressions matter. A study from the résumé-building website Zety found that 83% of hiring managers call that initial gut feeling they get about a person a critical factor when making hiring decisions. What drives a first impression is your traits.

“Traits are different than skills,” says Zety’s career expert Jacques Buffett. “Skills are what is on your résumé. Hard skills could be a programming language you know, and soft skills include leadership, teamwork, and communication. Personal traits are the qualities that turn up during the interview. It’s the impression you leave through your attitude and how you compose yourself from the second you walk in the door.”

In the Zety study, recruiters ranked what they consider to be the most important traits. Here are the top 10:

4. Adaptability

In 2020, companies learned that the best laid plans don’t always turn out. As a result, recruiters are looking for candidates who can roll with punches, tackling new problems and opportunities. “There’s so much growth in every business sector,” says Buffett. “Employees need to be able to adapt.”

8. Emotional Intelligence

This trait is particularly important with leaders who need to read others’ emotions to communicate effectively, says Buffett. “To respond appropriately you need to understand the person’s motivations,” he says. “There are plenty of bad bosses out there, and to be good boss you need emotional understanding and compassion. Employees aren’t robots. Teams are made up of unique individuals with unique traits and qualities.”

10. Open-Mindedness

Recruiters also look for open-mindedness, which can be someone who is willing to try new ways of doing business and new methods of working. “This also feeds into tolerance,” says Buffett. “It’s also being open minded to different cultures, religions, and political backgrounds. You don’t have to agree to be open-minded and tolerant.”

How Employers Identify Traits

First impressions can be valuable, but recruiters will often dig deeper to confirm their instincts. Buffett says many will turn to social media platforms like Facebook, Tik Tok, or YouTube.

“It’s a very common way of finding personal information,” he says. “Recruiters won’t find that information on LinkedIn. If you’re looking for a job, make sure your social profiles are cleaned up.”

Recruiters also rely on behavior tests. The survey found that more than half use psychological profiling techniques to identify candidates’ personality traits.

While social media and personality tests dig deeper, if your first impression isn’t good, a recruiter may not choose to move forward with either. The bottom line for a job seeker is to be mindful of your demeanor from the second you walk in or log into the videoconference. Buffett says phone calls and emails can also help to form that impression.

“Speak to current friends and colleagues to find out what impression people have of you,” he recommends. “Look at the 10 key traits and determine how you can improve on those. How you come across is critical.”

See all 10 traits and the complete Fast Company article