Do you know what I mean by the 80/20 rule for job hunting?

Comments below ….

(All correct answers put in a hat – winner gets a small prize)

(All funny answers put in a hat – winner gets a small prize)

I presented to 200+ job seekers at the National College of Ireland this morning, as part of their annual Career Bootcamp. The subject was “Get Creative & Get Hired”. I’d like to thank Robert and Emma for asking me to participate in this worthwhile event.

The key objectives of the talk …

- To help job seekers accept the job market has changed. To help job seekers accept the job search strategies must change.

- To help inspire creativity in the job search.

- To outline creative strategies for targeting the advertised and unadvertised job markets.

- To talk for 1hr and 45 minutes without discussing CVs

I would like to thank all of the people who attended the event today. I had fun doing it, and hope you all took something away. Now – put this into action!! I thought the talk went well – did you?

Feel free to post your feedback and comments ….

Below is an article from the Sunday Times.

How to tweet your way to the top (Frank Dillon Published: 4 July 2010)

Twitter and blogging sites can help to advance your business as well as your career. Just be particularly careful what you say

Paul Krugman, the Nobel prize-winning economist, does it. So does John Motson, the football commentator. Even Davina McCall manages it, when she’s not busy presenting Big Brother. Blogging and tweeting is increasingly popular, but is it advisable for those not courting celebrity?

Paul Mullan, a consultant from the career coaching firm Measurability, says that, used properly, a personal online presence can help executives build strong brands that can enhance their careers, but he warns they need to be careful how they use it.

“Social media have transformed how senior executives can build their personal brand,” he said. “It is a powerful platform to help individuals increase visibility and recognition within their area of expertise. Like all powerful tools, though, it needs to be handled with care and what social media can build quickly, they can also destroy quickly.”

More and more executives are buying their personal name domains and creating website profiles and blogs. Mullan is a fan of the practice.

“Blogging supports personal branding as it enables executives to differentiate themselves, attract requests for media commentary and communicate their expertise to their audience,” he said. Motson, for example, has been posting daily blogs from South Africa during the World Cup. Krugman writes long, considered articles for his New York Times blog. McCall, on the other hand, has been posting only sporadic missives since Big Brother began.

Mullan says it is important to integrate social media tools and not treat them as individual stand-alone platforms. If you write a personal blog, a link to it can then be tweeted on Twitter and posted in a group on LinkedIn, the business networking site.

Irene Dehaene, training and events manager for the Irish Internet Association (IIA), has also noticed that interest in social media is high among executives. “Last year people were dabbling,” she said. “This year they are getting professional training to maximise the potential. They recognise that it’s a valuable marketing tool for their businesses and for themselves.”

While blogging and tweeting is a cost-effective form of brand building, doing it properly takes time, she says. “You need to be available to respond to queries and questions,” she said. “You need to be able to sustain a topical presence.”

You also need to be careful what you write about online, as Krishna De, an expert on social media in Ireland who runs courses for the IIA, points out. “I have seen executives post negative comments about their employers, for example, which is always unwise,” she said.

“Recruiters are increasingly researching candidates online. If you are saying something bad about your current employer, they will wonder what you are likely to say about them if they employ you.”

De uses a wide range of social media but says LinkedIn is the key social networking tool for professionals. “It has a relatively small population compared to Facebook but it is a walled garden and is very professionally focused,” she said.

Keith Bohanna, a self-employed internet consultant and technology entrepreneur, is a keen LinkedIn user. He has 670 contacts on the network and has used it to cold call potential business leads before attending conferences, including a technology event in Los Angeles. “I used it to set up meetings with new contacts there. I doubt I would have been able to do that otherwise,” he said.

He has also found Twitter useful. “I was sceptical about it at first but I really like the instant nature of it,” he said. “It’s the most engaging and supportive communications network I am involved in.”

The rise of the personal brand has been facilitated by social media, says Joe Sinclair, digital strategist and director of public relations firm Burson-Marsteller UK. He says that personal brands, however, need to play by social rules. “Using Twitter to broadcast your idle thoughts to the world is like shouting in the middle of a supermarket — people will look at you strangely and ignore what you are saying. The real power of the personal brand is your ability to make connections, engage in dialogue and answer questions,” he said.

Developing your personal brand is invaluable for both new business prospects and job opportunities but it is transparent, Sinclair notes, so you need to be careful.

“How you use your personal brand can also reflect on your business, so those late-night blog rants might just come back to haunt you.”

Online dos and don’ts

Separate professional from personal business usage and discourage your friends from posting potentially embarrassing content or comments

Never post negative comments about your colleagues or your organisation

Maximise your impact by linking content between different social media that you use n Post useful links and information as this will help drive traffic to your pages

Where appropriate, use privacy settings to filter what you show to different users

“Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue.” David Brent

I work with many job seekers who feel they have monopoly rights on the role of “the statue”. One of their main job search frustrations – left hanging by recruiters/employers, without feedback, post job application or interview. Job seekers react to this in different ways, with many finding it difficult to move on. They develop an obsession, dedicating every waking hour to the quest for feedback. Others snap, and seek revenge, like the next story outlines.

From The New York Times Blog – A job seeker was invited for job interview by a Manhattan magazine. He interviewed with the HR Manager and Managing Editor. Following the interview he was asked to complete a test and return asap. Three months passed by, with numerous attempts to seek feedback, but no word. The job seeker finally snapped and sought revenge. He emailed the Managing Editor to say he had accepted the job, he was delighted to be joining the team and that he would report for duty early Monday morning. The three month cold shoulder ended. He was bombarded by urgent emails/voicemails demanding an immediate call to HR. He eventually called to come clean but not before giving a piece of his mind…

This story brought a smile to my face. I am sure it brought a smile to anyone who has had a similar experience. Nice to read, but I don’t promote revenge or stalking. Below I have outlined some advice for those feeling like a statue.

Complaining about the pigeon won’t help – I try to let go of negativity, because it has a direct impact on the achievement of my goals. When I hold onto negativity, I have an urge to tell others and complain. Most people I meet are turned off by blaming and complaining. If you find someone who wants to listen to your hard luck stories, you are hanging around with the wrong crowd. Job hunting success is determined by effective networking and engagement, which means negativity and complaining will hold you back.

Don’t waste time chasing pigeons – I have found myself in the role of stalker, spending hours chasing feedback from clients. I now realise that this was a waste of energy, and only served to frustrate me further. I must assume that the client received my message, after the 40 emails, 10 voicemails, 2 LinkedIn InMails, 1 postcard and 10 texts messages. I now ask myself - Can I put this energy to a better use? (like the next point)

Moving targets are harder to hit – I always tell myself that there is something bigger and better around the next corner (that hopefully doesn’t fall from the sky above ). It would be a great help to get feedback, but I don’t let lack of feedback hold me back. I keep moving!! I turn my focus to generating new opportunities. This means I have little time to dwell on hard luck stories. It dust myself down and move on.

Feel free to post your comments!! Don’t forget Measurability Careers & Jobs Club - a LinkedIn group with free advice for jobseekers on how to avoid pigeons . I will be presenting on Tue 17th Aug 9.30am @ National College of Ireland – “Get Creative and Get Hired!!” For more information Career Bootcamp 2.

Most LinkedIn tips and advice are geared towards jobseekers between jobs. LinkedIn can be a valuable tool to support jobseekers in active employment too. This post examines how current employees can use LinkedIn to source a new job.

Get over your fear and start using LinkedIn – Using LinkedIn does not automatically mean you are job hunting. Many business and professions use LinkedIn for other reasons.

Create a strong LinkedIn Profile – A LinkedIn profile is your own personal sales brochure. Some compare it to an online CV but I think it offers more. Build a full and up-to-date profile ensuring impact content and achievements, keywords and recommendations.

Your Headline/Status updates – Many job hunters between jobs use this to tell the world they are actively seeking employment. Use your headline to indicate what you do and who you do it for. Avoid putting information about your job hunt on your status.

Manage your account settings – Adjust settings so that your connections are not informed when make changes to your profile or status. If they can see you are connecting with recruiters it might give the game away. Use the settings to indicate that they are interested in career opportunities and that you accept messages from other members. Help recruiters/opportunities get in touch.

Ensure your profile is keyword rich – In US 85% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find talent and Ireland is following fast. Identify the keywords that recruiters may use to search for your skills.

Join relevant groups – Join groups in your specific field or industry. Recruiters and potential hiring managers will be monitoring. Contribute to the groups by posting meaningfully comments. This will help increase visibility and draw potential opportunities to your profile. Remember that everyone can read your comments so don’t give the game away.

Expand your network – The more people you connect to the more you expand your reach. Remember it is about quality and not numbers. Actively hunt down and build relationships with relevant recruiters through your group membership.

Comment on Blogs/Forums – When you comment on an industry forum or blog it is important to post your Linkedin URL. This can draw people to view your profile.

Email signature – Place your Linkedin URL on your email signature. When you send emails you are opening yourself up to potential viewers. Use your personal email and depending on your role you may be able to add to your work email.

LinkedIn Training – Individual & Group

Linkedin Group – Measurability Careers & Jobs Club

The National College of Ireland is running Career Bootcamp 2 from Mon 16th – Sat 21st August. Career Bootcamp is a week long series of FREE seminars and workshops to give practical help in the current employment market and real skills to cope with the new rules of job search.

I am one of the guest speakers presenting. My talk will be on Tue 17th Aug from 9 – 11am and is titled “Get creative and get hired!” The aim of the talk is to help jobseekers understand the current job market, inspire a move to more creative job searching and identify creative ideas and strategies.

If you are free on Tue 17th August then drop by. I will be about for a few hours after and free to talk and catch up.

Other FREE resources for jobseekers

Measurability Careers & Jobs Club on Linkedin
Measurability on Facebook
Measurability on Twitter

I have noticed a significant increase in the number of requests for help with phone interview preparation. WHY the increase in use as a recruitment tool? Because there are higher volumes of job applicants in Ireland and because there is an increasing volume of people seeking work outside Ireland. There is a misguided view that phone interviews are easier than face to face interviews because the human contact is removed and they are generally shorter. As a result many interviewees cut corners. BIG MISTAKE!! As with the face to face interview – PREPARATION IS KEY!!

Below are some quick points to help you prepare for phone interviews ……

Normal preparation – Phone interviews are normally a quick sifting tool prior to face to face interview. Phone interviews are used as a quick sift to confirm you are the person you say on paper (skills and experience) and “Do you want to work for us?” BE WARNED!! Don’t assume it will be short and prepare as you would for a normal face to face interview. Prepare questions to ask the interviewer but you may not get an opportunity to ask them at this stage.

Relocation Relocation – Phone interviews are often used to check out candidates prior to paying to fly them over for face to face. You have to convince that you are committed to relocate!! I have many examples where commitment to relocate was the key element of the phone interview.

Ensure you cheat – Have a copy of your CV, the job description, relevant notes and a pen/paper to take notes. You don’t have this luxury at a face to face interview but you do during a phone interview.

Communication – Phone interviews remove body language from the equation. This means you need to work harder with voice and actual words to communicate your message across. And try smiling before you pick up the phone.

General – Ensure you take the call in a location where you will not be disturbed – free from animals or crying children. Ideally take the call from a landline as mobiles can have a coverage issue. Ensure you are by the phone and have everything set up prior to taking the call!!

Good luck!!

For more job hunting advice join Measurability Careers & Jobs Club on LinkedIn

Below are 10 tips to help get a stalled job search moving again. This is an article I wrote for RecruitIreland towards the end of 2009. Hope you find the advice useful. For an additional 10 tips check out “10 MUST DO actions to revitalise your job search”

Be honest – Many jobseekers say they are job hunting but review tells a different tale. Some kid themselves while others work with limited knowledge about how to successfully job hunt. You need to be honest with yourself. If you are not putting in the effort then increase your activity. If you don’t know how to search effectively then seek help and support.

Avoid negativity – Surround yourself with positive people and minimise time spent with glass half empty people. Positive people have energy and ideas whereas negative people suck the goodness away. Aside from people, focus on positive newspaper articles, TV or radio. 

Write down your success list – Confidence and self belief can be continually eroded during a job search. It is essential to remind yourself about previous successes as a way of maintaining confidence. A great way to do this is write down all your successes – 100 if you can. Read this list at the beginning of each day or when you are feeling beat. Try it – you will be surprised!!

Record activity – If you don’t already have one then set up a recruitment log today. You need to record activity and review regularly to highlight what is working and what is not. Your recruitment log acts as your job hunting compass allowing you spend more time on the right path/strategy and take a different path/approach when you are off track. You cannot improve your results if you don’t know what needs fixing.

Stop cutting corners – If you are sending the same CV and cover letter for every application then STOP. You are cutting corners and this is costing you potential interviews. I am amazed at how many jobseekers tell me they don’t have the time to tailor CVs and cover letters.

Stop hiding behind your computer – There are excellent online strategies to source a new job including job boards and social media networking but real world human interaction should not be ignored. When you are meeting people and talking to people you are opening yourself to ideas, leads and powerful information. Remember to be alert as you interact with people everyday.

Phone 10 people today – Target easy calls initially including ex-work colleagues, friends and relatives. Your goal is to get a job but any conversation can deliver information to maintain momentum. Remember if people don’t know you are looking they can’t help you. 

Join Linkedin – This is a popular tool for professionals to network. Once you join you can create a profile, connect with contacts, develop your connections and join online network groups. The important point is to make yourself visible online. Help employers find you. You can join Measurability Jobs & Careers Club.

Add a signature to your email – Set up a signature on your email account including – Name, contact details, what you do (e.g. HR Professional seeking Permanent & Contract Generalist roles) and Your Linkedin Profile. You never know who might read this or want to get in contact.

Don’t forget to take a break – Too much can be counterproductive. We all need a break to recharge our batteries and when job hunting it is no different. Walk on the beach, go for a run or go to the gym. I find that exercise revitalises me and it also reduces stress. 

BONUS (Follow me on twitter) – I post job tips, advice, job news and other useful information for jobseekers. You can follow me at Paul Mullan Twitter.

When I mention “interview cheats” it is automatically assumed that I am talking about lying at interview. I don’t promote lying at interview and I actually think it is a pointless exercise. If you want to get an edge over the competition then invest your energy in what I call “Investigative Googling” prior to interview.

The explosion of social media has enabled recruiters/employers do more research on applicants throughout the recruitment process. When you apply for a job you will be Googled or checked out on LinkedIn by the recruiter/interviewer. Have you ever thought about using this strategy to give you an edge during your job search? Perhaps you should start doing some “Investigative Googling”. Rather than researching the company (which is obviously important too) I am talking about researching the interviewers, recruiters or hiring managers.

I am a firm believer that people hire people and not skills and qualifications. The ability to do a job is important but so is the ability to fit into a team and get on with management. This makes your ability to build rapport with the interviewer during interview very important. How do you build rapport at interview? Research the interviewer and find common interests, experience, education, associations and memberships prior to your interview. Much of this information is freely available on a LinkedIn profile. The subtly bring this up during interview.

Start turning the tables at interview today. Check out interviewers online prior to interview and access powerful information to help give you an edge at interview. For more useful advice on INTERVIEWING join Measurability Careers & Jobs Clubon Linkedin or follow me on Twitter.

Feel free to post any additional interview advice or comments below!!

I heard about this story recently but I only saw the actual video today. Get yourself a cup of coffee, sit back and enjoy. 

Remember!!!

Activity + Creativity = Increased Visibility .. AND .. Increased Visibility = Increased Opportunities

Would love to hear your comments ……