Trends for the Now, the New & the Next in Careers: Networking is Important

Based on surveying numerous companies, individuals, and organizations, the following statistics describe the power of networking and other important aspects of the job search. Please keep in mind not all of these stats are verifiable nor are they attributed to an individual or organization in particular, so read them with that in mind

• At least 65% of new hires come as a result of networking.
• Up to 80% of new hires come as a result of networking.
• Recent Wall Street Journal survey showed 95% of positions were found through networking and leads through people the job seekers knew.
• 90% of all corporations upload resumes and do keyword searches to identify qualified candidates.
• 80% of recruiters are using social media to recruit candidates.

Info courtesy of Career Thought Leaders

http://www.careerthoughtleaders.com

Trends for the Now, the New & the Next in Careers: Opportunities for the Unemployed

Even if you are currently jobless, you still need to remain connected and active to make the most of networking opportunities. Many very talented individuals have been out of work for extended periods of time as the country continues to recover from the economic recession. In response to market demand, new companies are emerging that allow the unemployed to remain active and current while learning new skills, helping others, contributing to important issues, expanding their networks, and filling in the “hole” that may exist on their resumes. Some of the newest companies moving onto the scene are CreateTheGood.org, UpwardlyGlobal.org, and voluntourism organizations. Keep a keen eye out for new ones on the horizon, and start getting involved!

Info courtesy of Career Thought Leaders

http://www.careerthoughtleaders.com

Trends for the Now, the New & the Next in Careers: the Salary Discussion

Try to move the salary discussion further back in the interview process so it’s not used as a potential way to eliminate you from the running. You want the companies to know your real value before you discuss money. One possible way to get around a salary requirement in an online application is simply to fill in “1,” with the expectation that the hiring decision maker will still be interested in you based on your experience, credentials, achievements, and other qualifications. Alternatively, if you are allowed to enter words into the salary field, simply write “Negotiable.”

For more information about interviews and how to discuss salary, stop by the Career Center!

Info courtesy of Career Thought Leaders

http://www.careerthoughtleaders.com

Trends for the Now, the New & the Next in Careers: Online Identity

Monitor your online identity! If you want to know what others are finding out about you, Google yourself routinely – for job seekers, at least once a week. An easy and efficient way to keep an eye on this al-important identity is to set up a Google alert to be notified whenever your name appears online. If you find digital dirt (negative things) about yourself, you should work very hard to move those Google results to page 3, at least. You can write blog posts, participate on LinkedIn and other social media sites, join online groups, and otherwise increase your digital footprint to populate your Google searches with favorable information.

Info courtesy of Career Thought Leaders

http://www.careerthoughtleaders.com

Trends for the Now, the New & the Next in Careers: LinkedIn

LinkedIn is THE online place to be seen. It is now the #1 online networking platform for job seekers, both active and passive. However, job seekers are not currently devoting the amount of time necessary to write the well-branded and comprehensive LinkedIn profiles that are absolutely essential – remember, LinkedIn is used daily by recruiters and hiring managers to find quality candidates.

Make sure your LinkedIn profile is accurate, professional, polished, and connected with companies and other professionals. Expand your network!

Info courtesy of Career Thought Leaders

http://www.careerthoughtleaders.com

Trends for the Now, the New & the Next in Careers: Google Results

Google has replaced the resume as the preferred introduction to job seekers. Dick Bolles, author of What Color is Your Parachute? and a true pioneer in the employment industry, was recently quoted as saying, “Your Google results are the new resume.” Today’s recruiters are using Google searches and LinkedIn to source candidates instead of trolling job-board databases.

Info courtesy of Career Thought Leaders

http://www.careerthoughtleaders.com

Trends for the Now, the New & the Next in Careers: Twitter and Resumes

Twitres is an interesting and advantageous technology innovation. Job seekers who are active on Twitter can use Twitres (www.twitres.com) to display their resume. All you need to do is upload a copy of their print resume and it will appear as the background on your Twitter page. This is a great tool for job seekers recently out of college.

If you are not currently using Twitter for the job search, start doing so! There are numerous articles and resources out there about how to best utilize Twitter for finding a job. Get connected!

 

Info courtesy of Career Thought Leaders

http://www.careerthoughtleaders.com

Trends for the Now, the New & the Next in Careers: Utilizing Microsoft Word

Word is the dominant global word processing software and is the standard upon which every Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is built. An ATS is the program responsible for scanning your resume to see if you are a good match for the position. As such, job seekers must create a resume in Word (.doc) format. The newer .docx format is not yet widely accepted, so rather than risk the chance that their file can’t be viewed or opened, job seekers should always opt for the lower-level .doc format. Plain text versions (saved as .txt files) are also important because they are the best format to paste into online job applications. Today’s technology has not yet reached the point where, universally, online applications can read Word files accurately and interpret them correctly. Similarly, ATS and scanning systems are not all capable of reading PDF files, so unless specifically requested, a PDF file should not be used for online applications nor with resume scanning and applicant tracking systems.

 

Info courtesy of Career Thought Leaders

http://www.careerthoughtleaders.com

Trends for the Now, the New & the Next in Careers: the Power of Testimonials

One of the strongest elements you can add to a resume today is a testimonial in which someone else extols a job seeker’s skills, talents, achievements, and value. You can place them in the resume headers and footers, in shaded boxes, in summary sections, under job descriptions, and in other places where they are most appropriate. Testimonials give job seekers a truly competitive edge and a lot of credibility to substantiate their value.

 

Info courtesy of Career Thought Leaders

http://www.careerthoughtleaders.com

Trends for the Now, the New & the Next in Careers: Resume Branding

A personal brand is an authentic differentiator that identifies and communicates the unique value of an individual clearly and concisely and with 100% accuracy. Once someone’s brand has been uncovered it should then be clearly conveyed in every communication of that professional’s career portfolio – resume, career bio, cover letters, thank-you letters, LinkedIn profile, and everything else. One consistent brand equals one consistent message of value and a resume that gets noticed, an interview that gets scheduled, and a job offer that’s made.

 

Info courtesy of Career Thought Leaders

http://www.careerthoughtleaders.com