A colleague recently asked a series of questions related to "techniques" in finding a new job? What recommendations might we have for someone looking for a new job. What job sites might be helpful? Are any Web 2.0 tools beneficial? Any suggested books? And, "if you could offer one piece of advice, what would it be?"
For my part, I think much of the common wisdom about job hunting that was around before Web 2.0 still definitely applies today. Key among these are:
- Tapping into your professional network.
- Being proactive. Specifically, the time to position ourselves for our next gig starts long before we start looking for our next gig.
- Being visible.
On the point about being visible, I'd say that, assuming a candidate has been pro-actively nurturing her professional network all along, then she may already have a head start when she makes it known that she's looking for new challenges and new opportunities. If not, then now's a good time as any to start. Among my recommendations: Join a professional association and volunteer as a resource to help others. That, btw, is the approach I recommend for networking. That is, don't just go looking to collect a bunch of business cards and start sending out a bunch of resumes or typing them all into your database "for later."
Rather, network with the objective of finding ways to help or connect others with other helpful resources. The "pay it forward" philosophy is my favorite. For example, we might offer to:
- help set up meetings,
- serve on a committee,
- conduct a workshop, or
- write a white paper on a topic that we are expert in.
"What techniques do you recommend?" Well, in addition to the points above, I'd also suggest joining professional online groups and/or social networks.
- Participate in online discussions.
- Answer questions when others post questions asking for help or professional opinions.
- Help facilitate an online meeting such as a webinar.
- Better yet, offer to present a webinar on a topic in which you have expertise.
- Post an e-book, or
- Digitize some work samples you've created and offer to make available as templates for others to download as a free resource. (Hint: Don't forget to give yourself attribution in the templates!)
"What job sites are helpful?" I'd offer a similar answer as those above. As for specific sites, I might offer the following:
o LinkedIn (www.LinkedIn.com);
o Jobster (www.jobster.com);
o Open Networkers (opennetworkers.ning.com)
"Are any 'Web 2.0' tools beneficial?" In short, YES! ;-) (See points above.)
"Any books you would suggest people read?"
- "Knock-em-Dead," Martin Yate.
- "Million Dollar Networking," Andrea R. Nierenberg
- I've also heard good reviews of "Never Eat Alone," Keith Ferrazzi and Tahl Raz.
"If you could offer one piece of advice that would help them get out of their current job into one that was even better, what would it be?" I'd offer the idea of pro-actively mapping out your desired career. Here's a great online article I happened across a few months back on sciencemag.org. Really cool is the presentation of a simple 4-quadrant grid for plotting Stengths/Weaknesses vs. Likes/Dislikes.
