Are You Using Twellow As Part Of Your Job Search?

Although LinkedIn is still king, Twitter is up and coming among recruiters and hiring managers. Twitter should also be a medium you use as part of your job search. There are many great tools available on Twitter to enhance your job search, including searching for posted positions (http://www.twitjobsearch.com/ or searching #jobs) or networking by connecting with employees at a target company, Another great Twitter tool is Twellow, a vehicle that allows you to search Twitter profiles.

There are eight main categories to search, with subcategories in each. The categories include Recreation & Sports, Entertainment, Society & Culture, News & Media, Health, Computers & Technology, Government and Education. There are around 20 or more subcategories under each listing. You can search for a company that you want to work for, or can search people’s bios and URLs associated with their bios. There are numerous career advice experts that can be found by using the directory, and searching Employment > Career > Job Search. You may want to even find a group from an industry you are interested in breaking into, and ask people in that industry what they like about the industry, or how they broke in. Be creative, and the possibilities are endless.

Interview Blunder #5 – The Wrong Body Language

Body language often provides more insight about a person than anything articulated verbally. You can say anything you want; if your non-verbal cues don’t match, it won’t be believable. A couple of years ago I interviewed a candidate who claimed to be at a senior management level within the organization she worked for. This actually piqued my interest, because this particular organization was the subject of a reality show, and her department was featured quite often. I found it strange however that when I started asking more specific questions about people that would be her colleagues (based directly from the reality show), she began fidgeting with the cap on her bottled water. The further I probed, the worse it became. Soon she was sitting on the edge of her chair, and she would not make direct eye contact. It was obvious by now that she did not work in the department, or in the position that she claimed.

There were three body language cues she displayed, and each had an associated meaning. The fidgeting is linked to anxiety and unease; sitting on the edge of her chair is indicative of being physically or mentally uncomfortable; avoiding eye contact is connected to evasion and discomfort. Each signaled that what she had stated was not matching up with the truth, as a big portion of messages are communicated through body language.

It’s normal to be nervous, have anxiety and feel butterflies in your stomach before and even during an interview. Interviewing is something in and of itself that the majority of people out there do not enjoy. But just be careful not to let this anxiety get the best of you to the point where you are sending off non-verbal messages that will hurt you in the interview. Over time I observed different behaviors and body language cues, and would research the meaning of each new one I encountered so that I would be more in tune with what these cues meant. The following (including the three I mentioned already) are some that readily come to mind that you should be aware of as well:

Fidgeting = anxiety and unease

Sitting on the edge of your chair = physically or mentally uncomfortable

Avoiding eye contact = evasion or discomfort

Foot and Finger Tapping = stress, impatience or boredom

Slouching shoulders = lack of self confidence

Crossing arms = resistance or overconfidence

Looking at your watch = boredom

Biting your fingernails = anxiety, nervousness or boredom

Holding something in front of you = shyness or putting up a barrier

Shifting body weight = unease or discomfort

The fake smile = deception or lying

Now you can probably see quite easily how doing the opposite of some of these would convey a positive signal. For example, sitting upright with your shoulders straight shows confidence, and sitting comfortably in your chair shows you are at ease. It’s important to smile, but be genuine or it can appear to convey a meaning of deceit or dishonesty. With an understanding of what your body language is conveying, and a little training to correct the flaws, you will send a much more positive message to the interviewer. Something this important could be the difference between getting the offer or not.

Interview Blunder #4 - Bringing Up Pay & Benefits Before The Interviewer

I remember interviewing a candidate once who made a grand entrance into the room, sat down in the chair, and without being prompted let me know that he was not going to accept employment outside a specific range. He then proceeded to ask what this particular position was intending to pay. In hindsight I wish I had ended the interview right then and there. As we proceeded through the interview, my assessment of this particular candidate was not very good. By the time it was over, it was even worse. Although there were answers to questions suggesting a heightened sense of importance, the initial question from him about pay set the tone in a negative direction. It never recovered.

The best rule to follow for the issue of pay: let the employer bring up compensation. In an interview setting, this will work wonders. In order to negotiate the best possible salary for yourself, let your skills, background and qualities do the talking; if you do so, your chances for a higher offer increase significantly. There is a psyche, as in the case I just mentioned, about the perception of actually being interested in the job versus only being interested in what it pays.

Once the pay issue if brought up, be prepared to answer it competently. Prior to your interview, do your homework to see if you can figure out what the potential salary range will be. For your part, state a salary range instead of a specific amount. Make sure your range is realistic; you probably don’t want a range of $30,000, so staying within $5,000 to $10,000 of your target is much more reasonable. If you are not within the range they want to pay, either high or low, it’s probably not worth the time to apply.

I have seen companies that ask for salary requirements and then state a range of compensation based on experience. The ranges can fluctuate substantially, for example $70,000 to $100,000 depending on skills and background. The reason they do this is because they have not completely decided what exactly they want the position to entail. By evaluating a pool of applicants, they may be able to hone in on candidates that possess qualities they feel would best fit the company. Sometimes that means they figure out candidates in the $70,000 to $75,000 range will suffice; other times the $90,000 to $100,000 applicants appear to be the best fit. Don’t automatically assume that you fall at the top end of the range. More often than not I see the applicants who believe they are at the high end are in reality the ones who are actually at the lower end. They eliminate themselves quickly.

The bottom line for you as a job seeker is to do your homework, figure out where your salary range fits, and let the interviewer address salary and benefits first. Otherwise, you may also find yourself eliminated fairly quickly.

LinkedIn Tip: Make Sure Your Profile Is 100% Complete For Highest Optimization

Did you know that LinkedIn users with complete profiles are up to 40% more likely to garner opportunities, including new jobs, than user profiles that are incomplete? Perhaps the biggest mistake made unknowingly by a number of LinkedIn job seekers is that they do not have complete profiles. You are shooting yourself in the foot, and your ability to found with an incomplete profile.

Earlier this year, LinkedIn made some alterations to the way completeness of profiles is determined. The new parameters constituting a 100% complete profile are:

• Current position, including a description
• Industry and location
• Profile photo
• 2 most recent positions
• Education
• Minimum of 3 skills
• Minimum of 50 connections

One eliminated requirement that stands out to me was the need for three recommendations. The new parameters require no recommendations. Although it is no longer mandatory, there are a variety of reasons why at least a handful of recommendations make sense.

How To List Your Title on LinkedIn When You're Unemployed

It is never easy when you are laid off or lose your job. It doesn’t get any easier when you start the daunting task of a job search. I’ve said it a dozen times, and I’m sure you have heard it a hundred more from others, but utilizing LinkedIn as part of your search is highly recommended. A question came up the other day from a job seeker in regards to the title one should use on a LinkedIn profile when unemployed? 

LinkedIn actually suggests that you should say “open to new opportunities” if you are unemployed and searching. There are several similar titles that you can use such as “available for a new opportunity,” or “currently exploring new opportunities.” Compare these title versus titles such as “I need a job!,” Hire me,” or “available for employment immediately.” These are all actual titles I have seen, and in contrast convey a different connotation to recruiters and hiring managers. You want to emphasize you are open and available, but not desperate. Desperation is not an attractive quality.

In addition to your new title, make sure to update your status at least every few days so that your network knows you are looking. Again, don’t sound desperate (“able and willing to do anything”). Use the same type of updates as your title, with just a little more specificity. “Open to new opportunities in finance,” or “currently exploring opportunities in the field of marketing” are much better ways of stating it. One last way I have seen many people attack the title issue is by stating they are open for freelance positions. Generating some cash and supplementing your income while you are unemployed is always nice.

Keep in mind that in order to be visible on LinkedIn, you have to be active on LinkedIn. Here are 10 steps increasing your visibility and success on LinkedIn.

Lastly, don’t get caught up on dwelling about being unemployed to the point that you become a self-fulfilling prophecy. In other words, don’t assume that because you are not currently employed that nobody will want to hire you. Instead focus on the skills and experience you bring to the table, and you will attract the right recruiters and hiring managers. The key is to start early, be persistent, and remain positive through the ups and downs. Remember: countless others have successfully secured new employment opportunities while unemployed, so there is no reason you cannot either.

Interview Blunder #3 - Trashing A Former Boss Or Company

A big red flag for recruiters as well as hiring managers is when job seekers trash a former boss or company in an interview. We are looking for evidence of what you bring to the table as a candidate. When the conversation turns to badmouthing your boss or former company, it makes recruiters and hiring managers think twice about bringing the same negativity into their companies or clients’ companies.

Most of us do check social media sites (and those who don’t should be), so all of the negative posts you made about your former employer are out in the open. It won’t matter if you don’t badmouth your employer during an interview; you already did in a public forum.

If you really need to get it off your chest, write a letter to your former boss or employer to vent, just don’t actually send it! It is a way to express your feelings without actually damaging your future job prospects and reputation. When it comes to a question pertaining to why you left a previous position, it’s best to put a positive spin on it. Start by accentuating the skills and experience you gained, and leave a complimentary impression. There is always SOMETHING you can think of to say that is nice, even if you feel bitter or enraged. Take the higher road; trust me when I say that those interviewees who mistake an interview as an opportunity to vent about previous employment end up being on their own job searches a little longer.

The Recruiter SCAM Using Your Resume To Apply To Online Ads

A caution both job seekers and companies should be aware of is the scam some recruiters try to pull to make a quick buck. In a previous post (found here), I address a similar ruse in greater detail. However I will share an excerpt from that post along with further details here to explain how this particular scheme works:

A recruiter advertises a job, or by some method entices you as a job seeker to submit your resume. The recruiter then sifts through the received resumes, and chooses what he/she deems to be the “cream of the crop.” He/she then substitutes your personal contact information with his/her own on your resume, unbeknownst to you, in an attempt to represent you by applying to jobs online. The reason is simple: he/she is now in a position to attempt to make a commission off of you. All the while, you have no idea. More often than not, these tricks backfire, and end up doing damage to you as a job seeker. Your resume may end up banned by the company, and thus any possibility of a job prospect in the future. You also have no idea what the recruiter is saying about you, or how you may be misrepresented.

Companies end up in a sticky situation because they believe they are receiving an application directly from a top candidate, until they find out there is a price tag associated with it. If the company cannot pay a placement fee, or does not want to, it ends up hurting both parties; you as the job seeker do not receive a job offer, and the company loses out on a great talent. All because some recruiter acted shady in a lousy attempt to make money.

It is more common now to see this from companies, but if your company is advertising position and is not, here is what I would recommend. Simply include a disclaimer at the end of any job advertisement that explicitly states something to this effect:

“XYZ Company does not accept resumes from headhunters, placement agencies or other suppliers that have not signed a formal agreement with us. Any resume received from an unapproved supplier or source will be considered unsolicited, and XYZ Company will not be obligated to pay a referral or placement fee.”

One last warning that is worth mentioning is this: If you as a job seeker come across an ad description online that is vague, or refuses to name itself, it is probably a good idea to steer clear. These are the exact type of ads predators use to obtain your information. Don’t let desperation come in the way of being savvy about your job search, especially when there are people out there ready to take advantage.