How to Build Relationships on Twitter

Start with who you know

To get started, you need to establish who your online stakeholders are. A great way to get started with this is to take your existing donor or membership database and find those people online. It sounds like an overwhelming task, especially if you aren’t already collecting your supporters’ Twitter handles (and now is a great time to start, if you aren’t), but there are services that will automate this process for you (feel free to reach out to @SmallAct to learn more).

In addition to your database, if you’ve been on social media for awhile you probably already have a short list of believers - the people who retweet (RT) your content regularly and respond to your questions. Build a list of these people and start categorizing them with appropriate tags that show their relationship to you (donor, volunteer, advocate, etc.) and what is most important to them (i.e. which topics they are most passionate about from your organization and also online in general).

Then start engaging

Once you’ve got some of those folks tracked down, you can begin listening to what they care about. What are they posting? Whether it has to do with your organization or not, this information is valuable intel that can help you cultivate a relationship, so keep track of it in a spreadsheet or with a social CRM tool. For instance, if you find out someone loves tigers, on their birthday you could send them a tweet with a link to a cute tiger picture. It shows you’ve been paying attention and that you care - and will both surprise and delight them.

The tiger picture idea is an example of building whuffie, or social capital - a concept pioneered by Tara Hunt in her book, The Whuffie Factor. Tara argues that before you can ask someone to do something for you online (or elsewhere), you need to accrue whuffie (or in other words, social capital) by doing things like thanking people individually, retweeting their content, seeking feedback, responding to questions and requests for help. After all, aren’t you more likely to do a favor for somebody who’s already helped you?

Ultimately, seek to build relationships with people one-on-one. How you do that will vary from person to person and depends largely on your style and your organization’s culture, but be creative and find ways to engage with people on a real, human level.

Won’t that kind of engagement take a ton of time?

In our experience, you get the best results by gardening the most fertile soil. In other words, focus your time on people who are the most responsive to you. Even if that’s just a handful of people to start, those individuals can then influence their own friends and followers, which is ultimately how your outreach pays off.

What’s the value in cultivating such deep relationships?

At the end of the day, of course you’re going to be asked about the return on your investment of time and energy into cultivating these relationships. Your value can be measured in many ways:

• Promotion: People sharing your content with their networks. This is a free way for people to start getting more involved and help you on a regular basis.
• Action: People taking action on behalf of your organization, volunteering and signing petitions, and defending your organization in the face of negative publicity.
• Membership and Donations: People joining your organization and donating more money, more frequently.

Ironically, by focusing on fewer people, you can actually reach more. Because for every new “true believer” you create, you effectively gain access to their entire network. And that is social media power.

by Casey Golden of Small Act (@SmallAct)

Why you should move to DC!!!

If you're currently looking for a job and are willing to relocate, there's plenty of cities that have a booming job market--you just have to know where to go. Indeed.com just updated their statistics on job postings across the United States for the month of April. Here's a quick summary of what they found:

Job Postings Per Capita

Indeed measured the number of job postings in the 50 most populous metropolitan areas. San Jose, CA tops the rankings with 204 job postings per every 1,000 people. Other cities in the top 10 include Washington, DC, Baltimore, San Francisco, Boston, Cleveland and Seattle. You can see the full listing here.

Job Market Competition

They also ranked the top 50 cities by the ratio between job postings and unemployed persons. In nine cities--Washington, DC, San Jose, Boston, New York, Baltimore, Cleveland, San Francisco, Hartford, CT and Austin, TX--there was a 1:1 ratio, meaning one job posting for every unemployed person in the city. Even in the lowest ranked city, Miami, there was one job posting for every five unemployed persons. You can see the full list here.

Industry Employment Trends

Indeed also looked at industries with the most growth in job postings. Transportation and manufacturing topped the list, with 109% and 64% growth respectively. Every other industry, besides real estate, all have experienced growth in the last quarter. See all of the statistics here.

So what does this all mean? Things are looking up in the job market! With the growth in job postings, it means more companies are looking to hire new employees. However, this also may mean moving for a new opportunity. If you feel stuck in your job search in your current city, try considering another location. You never know where your next opportunity could come from!

For more info on relocating, read Moving for Better Job Opportunities.  http://bit.ly/ltDPzF 

10 Things We Want From You!

Every job hunter has the same question: What do employers look for, and how can I best show I’ve got “it?"
A few days ago, I attended a panel discussion for career coaches led by three of the leading recruiters in Greater Boston. Each recruiter had the assignment of explaining their view of today’s hiring environment, what employers are looking for, and then to give a few tips for candidates. The recruiters deal with different specialties, including: Human Resources, Medical Devices, Information Technologies (IT), and Marketing.

Nonetheless they agreed on one thing: Five years ago, if an employer listed a job with 8-10 bullet points of “requirements," a candidate might have been hired if he/she only had 3-4 of them. But today, virtually every client of theirs wants “12 out of 10 requirements to be evidenced - just to get the initial phone interview.”
It comes as no surprise they all report both recruiters and companies are being inundated by resumes, as more people are chasing fewer and fewer jobs. In this environment, they report employers have come to view job boards like Monster as counter-effective. When they advertise a position, they get SO MANY responses it becomes an overwhelming task just to sort through all the extraneous resumes to find the quality people who would be of interest. Result? They are utilizing alternative methods of identifying and recruiting top talent. It is more time efficient and effective for both corporate (in-house) and contingency (third party) recruiters to scour LinkedIn and other social media sites to find candidates worth pursuing. More and more, self-submitted resumes are not responded to because they aren’t even read!

Employers are looking for the following:

1. Candidates are expected to clearly articulate their accomplishments as part of their personal brand. LinkedIn profiles must highlight an individual successes and results! Skills are important – but only insofar as candidates use them to attain results. Never lead with: “XX years of experience doing...” Each resume bullet point should tell a story: “Accomplished X by doing Y, resulting in Z.”
2. Clear branding. Know who you are, what you offer, and what you are after. Be comfortable with your own story, and have that story down pat. Convey it consistently in your resume, LinkedIn profile, on Facebook, and increasingly on Twitter. Tip: get all those references to partying, and anything that wouldn’t well represent an employer’s brand off your own Facebook page – NOW! LinkedIn is seen as a way screen people in, and Facebook is viewed as a means to screen people out – even before an individual knows he or she might be considered.
3. Fit, fit, and fit! It’s the buzzword of the decade, but it means different things to different companies. Fit goes beyond the job requirements and speaks to an individual’s experience working in a similar type organization in size, product/service, marketplace or geography. Questions of “fit” go to the concerns. Would a given candidate be happy working as part of this company/team…and would the people here be happy to work side by side with this individual? If hired, would the person last? Commonly, employers are utilizing behavioral interviewing to determine if a candidate is a “fit."
4. One recruiter put it this way, "The length of time [companies are taking] to fill openings is increasing. Companies are increasingly picky about who they hire. But they are hiring people who have ‘bull’s eye' skill sets, have industry experience, and are a fit for their particular corporate culture." More and more, you have to have all three to be hired, and candidates should adjust their job search accordingly.

Recruiters are looking for the following:

1. People who can show they volunteer to do more than is required of them in the workplace
2. People who “know what they don’t know,” make no bones about it, and constantly strive to learn to fill in the gaps of their knowledge and experience.
3. People who can explain what they did in a past job that makes them valuable to a future employer.
4. People who can understand recruiters are professional service providers who deserve respect. (If you are dealing with a recruiter who doesn’t deserve your respect, move on to another one!) Understand recruiters work with candidates, but ultimately for companies.
5. People who make an effort to establish a mutually beneficial relationship, by addressing them personally, offering to help find other candidates for positions if they aren’t the right fit themselves.
6. People who recognize it is counterproductive for both themselves and the recruiter to do the “end run” around the recruiter and deal directly with the company they represent.

All of this goes to show the importance of seeing the search for a new position as a “hunt” which requires a coherent strategy and a consistent message. Getting a job is a job! For more information about what recruiters are advising job hunters, don’t hesitate to be in touch with me directly. I offer an initial free consultation to any job hunter. Happy hunting!

Arnie Fertig coaches job hunters locally in Greater Boston, and throughout the U.S. via phone and Skype. He is a frequent public speaker and can be contacted at: fertig@jobhuntercoach.com. He invites you to connect with him on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter.


Read more: http://www.ibtimes.com/blogs/articles/26057/20110422/10-things-employers-recruiters-want-from-you.htm#ixzz1KGldp7cO

Considering A Job Change? 10 Ways to Make a Successful Move!

Are you looking for more than just a better job? Are you looking for a more rewarding profession, one that better aligns with your skills, interests, values, and plans for the future? If so, be prepared to face a lot of reflection and planning.

It’s important to take a serious look at the many possibilities and outcomes before you jump into a new career or field. Consider these 10 tips as you make a transition from your present career to your next:

1. Have a clear plan. The smartest move that you can make is to carefully map out an effective career-change strategy. This should include a detailed action plan that takes into consideration finances, research, education, and training. Keep in mind that a successful career change can take several months or longer to accomplish, so patience is key.
2. Wait for the right time. The best time to consider a new career is when you are safely ensconced in your existing position. It goes without saying that a steady paycheck can relieve a lot of pressure. There are many ways to take steps toward your new career path; you can volunteer or offer yourself as a freelancer or consultant. This can help you to “test the waters” in your desired new field.
3. Be sure of your reasons. Just because you’re unhappy in your current job isn’t a strong enough reason to make a total career break. Carefully analyze whether it is your actual career you dislike or whether your employer, supervisor, or office situation is the problem.
4. Do your research. Be sure to examine all possibilities before attempting a career jump. Talk to people in your network; read career and job profiles; meet with a career management professional. The more information with which you arm yourself beforehand, the more successful you will be.
5. Decide what’s important. This is the best time for thoughtful self-reflection. Ask yourself what it is you really want to do with the rest of your life. Take an honest inventory of your likes and dislikes, and evaluate your skills, values, and personal interests. Many people who are looking to change careers do so to find a balance between their personal and professional lives, to accomplish the right mix of meaning and money. You may want to consider consulting a career coach and/or taking a career assessment test.
6. Examine your qualifications. Do you have the necessary experience and education to be considered a qualified candidate in your desired career field? If not, you need to find a way to bridge the credentials gap. This might mean making your goal more long-term while you go back to school or receive additional training.
7. Learn about the industry. Get a feel for the field that interests you. Read industry journals, attend conferences, and talk to people in the profession about what they do. Learn whether your target industry has growth potential. Trade magazines, organizations, and entrepreneurs have created a slew of Web sites that offer searchable databases where job openings in many specific industries are listed. Start looking at these sites on a regular basis.
8. Develop your network. Begin nurturing professional friendships early and tend them regularly. Professional organizations and job industry trade associations are a good place to start. Many of them hold networking events and job fairs.
9. Update your job search skills. It is especially important to polish up your job-hunting skills and techniques before you get out there and start networking. Make sure you are using your time and resources as effectively as possible.
10. Pay your dues. Don’t expect to begin at the same level of seniority in your new career that you held in your old one. It will take time to move up the ranks, but if you find a new career that you absolutely love, it will be worth it.

AllBusiness http://www.allbusiness.com/

Great Words for your Resume!

Nothing is worse than reading a resume with the same adjectives over and over. Here is a list of great words to use when spicing up your resume and describing your experience.

Achieved, Acquired, Adapted, Addressed, Administered, Analyzed, Anticipted, Assembled, Assisted, Audited, Bugeted, Calculated, Centralized, Changed, Composed, COndensed, Conducted, Contracted, Converted, Coordiated, Created, Cultivated, Demonstrated, Designed, Developed, Devised, Discovered, Drafted, Edited, Established, Expandeed, Explained, Forcasted, Generated, Improved, Implemented, Interpreted, Launched, Maintained, Managed, Marketed, Motivated, Negotiated, Organized Originated, Oversaw, Performed, Planned, Prevented, Produced, Programmed, Promoted, Provided, Published, Recruited, Reorganized, Selected, Surveyed, Solved, Simplified, Taught, Trained...

Another Woman With Great Advice - 5 Ways to Spring Clean Your Job Search

-by Heather Huhman

With spring slowly approaching, it’s time to think about cleaning up your job search efforts to create more focus and less chaos all around.

Ready to start? Here are five ways to begin:

Company search instead of job search
Too many people focus on scouring job boards and blindly applying for openings. Instead, follow 5-10 companies that interest you and put your focus onto those organizations. Tap your network for contacts they may have at your ideal organizations, and get to know someone on the inside through an introduction.

Put your focus on networking
Networking is the number one way people land new jobs. Period. Although many people are hesitant of the word “networking,” just think of it as talking with people you know or meeting other individuals in your field. Many hiring managers are avoiding advertising new job openings because of the extreme amount of applications they may get. So how do they fill those openings? Through referrals and recommendations!
Networking efforts can be in-person and online, so spend your time building relationships with thought leaders and professionals through Twitter chats, conference attendance, guest blogging, volunteering and LinkedIn groups.

Apply less, follow-up more
Your job search shouldn’t be about quantity, but rather quality. Don’t send off resumes and applications to dozens of openings each day. Instead, apply for highly targeted openings for which you’re completely qualified. In your cover letter, state that you will follow-up in one week if you do not hear back beforehand—and then follow through on that promise. You’d be surprised at the amount of people who will respond to a well-intentioned follow-up.

Focus your personal brand
What makes this person stand out? What are their strengths? Why should I hire them? These questions will inevitably run through a hiring manager’s mind, and you should have a firm grasp on the answers before they even ask. Keep your brand consistent throughout your job search documents, networking profiles and interview answers.

Evaluate job search activities
If something you’re doing in your job search hasn’t turned up any leads, re-evaluate why you’re doing it or eliminate the activity altogether. If it’s not working, it’s time to try something new!

How will you spring clean your job search this month? Learn More http://heatherhuhman.com/2011/03/5-ways-to-spring-clean-your-job-search/

5 Ways to Get Fired - by Amy Epstein

I just read this very funny post on 5 ways to get fired and just had to share it with you all. Please check out Amy Epstein's blog for more post like this one! http://moneywatch.bnet.com/career-advice/blog/on-job/facebook-your-job-5-ways-to-get-fired/281/

5 Ways To Get Fired!

In a perfect world, Facebook would be a safe space to express yourself and share your life with your family and friends, period. Unfortunately, that line inevitably becomes blurred. First, you start linking with co-workers you’re close with; next thing you know, your boss “friends” you and you can’t say no.
Even if you try to keep your personal and work life completely separate, both on- and offline, and you implement rigid security measures, social networks are truly a public arena - and should be treated as such. “If you really want your employer looking at you in a hot bikini holding a mai tai, so be it. Just make sure that is the image you want to project in your career as well,” says John Millikin, a professor at the W. P. Carey School of Business, and former vice president of human resources at Motorola in Phoenix. (I’d add that unless your boss happens to be Hugh Hefner or Charlie Sheen, this is generally the opposite of the image you want to project.)

But not all transgressions resulting in termination are as colorful. “A client of mine put information up about how his boss [could not] prioritize,” says David Couper, a career coach, consultant and author of Outsiders On The Inside: How to Create a Winning Career…Even When You Don’t Fit In. The client “did not name names, but it was obvious who he was talking about. He didn’t get fired [immediately], but when there was a downsizing he was one of the first to go,” Couper says.
Here are five other ways that social media can mess with your employment — or even end it.

1. Updating Your Status — Hourly
It’s not only what you post — it’s how often you post. Unless your job title includes the words “social media,” keep updates to a minimum. “Frequent postings suggest that you may not be actively engaged at work or you may not have a life outside of work.  Either way it’s still sending the message: pathetic,” says Roy Cohen, career coach and author, The Wall Street Professional’s Survival Guide.

2. Living Like a Pre-Rehab Lindsay Lohan
You know this, I’m sure, but it bears repeating: “When it comes to Facebook, think of yourself as a celebrity.  If anybody has a camera, behave,” says Kenneth Sundheim, president and founder of staffing agency KAS Placement. And mind you: In the smartphone era, pretty much everyone has a camera. “You can only control what you do; you can’t control what others put up,” Sundheim says.
After you finish reading this, immediately change your settings to prevent tagged photos from being automatically visible to everyone. Go to Privacy Settings, click on “Customize settings” and then edit to allow “Only me” to view “Photos and video I’m tagged in.” Then, at your leisure you can choose appropriate ones to put in albums for your friends to see. This will prevent bleary-eyed photos from Friday night from greeting your boss online Saturday morning.

3. Making Your Religious Status: “Satanic Scientologist”
You shouldn’t share any political or religious views on Facebook that you wouldn’t face-to-face, says Dan Schawbel, personal branding expert and founder of Millennial Branding, a full-service personal branding agency. Just use the same guidelines as in the workplace: “Don’t talk about politics, race, class, or gender on Facebook in an aggressive way that disturbs your co-workers,” says Schawbel.

4. Bragging About Your Beautiful Baby, Boyfriend or Boat
Nobody likes a show-off. “They see all these great posts by friends about trips, parties, kid’s firsts, etc. and [may] feel that their own lives don’t measure up,” says J.T. O’Donnell, CEO of CareerHMO.com. “Having a better life than your boss could lead to him/her treating you different in the office,” O’Donnell adds. “Your fabulous life might just make a boss say, ‘Well, I guess he/she could handle being let go.’”

5. Getting Chatty with the Competition
Clearly, updating your Facebook status to “I just had an amazing job interview with Our Biggest Competitor, Inc. Fingers crossed I’m blowing this pop stand, stat,” will get you fired, stat. However, even friending multiple people from a competitor after meeting them at a networking event - or socially - can ruin your office rep. “Sending out red flags like these may have you headed straight to the boss’s office for some unwelcome news way before you were ready to hand in a resignation letter,” says Rusty Rueff, Glassdoor.com’s career and workplace expert.

Do you know anyone who was fired because of Facebook? Please sign in below and share the cautionary tale. And for more career advice, follow @MWOnTheJob on Twitter.