Five Quick Tips to Rock Your Network® Online

June 1, 2011June 1, 2011Wendy Terwelp Leave a comment

1. Pick Three: There are MANY social networks online to choose from, I recommend picking three so you can manage them effectively. For job seekers, I recommend: LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. Yes, I said Facebook.

Facebook’s fastest growing population is adults age 35 and older. They have 600 million users, 200 million members use Facebook primarily on their smart phones. With LinkedIn, there are more than 300,000 recruiters as members and 100 million members.

2. Create a branded bio: Tell a story in your profile (bio). Don’t just regurgitate your resume information. Know that chemistry helps you land and KEEP a job. Likability counts, so be interesting.

3. Know what you want: When you start networking online, it’s important to know what you want from the activity. If you want a job, be sure your profile is on brand and professional. Have a professional headshot as well.

4. Join a group: Know that in order to make the most of an online group, you’ve got to take an active role. You can take a leadership role in online groups. You can answer members’ questions and provide your expertise.

5. Be relevant and add value: Social networking gives you a chance to demonstrate your thought leadership and set yourself apart from your competition. As an executive and leader, it is even more critical to demonstrate your expertise online.

For example, these experts say…

Every executive should be on LinkedIn. We look at LinkedIn before ever looking at a resume. — Wayne Mitchell, executive recruiter, Career Thought Leaders Conference & Symposium, March 2011

The Facts: 83% of employers now use LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to find new hires, according to a survey by recruiting platform Jobvite. Of those, by far the largest number, 89%, rely mainly on LinkedIn, followed by Facebook at 28% and Twitter at 14%.

In a survey of more than 500 human resources managers, Office Team found that 36% of respondents believe it’s at least somewhat likely that resumes will eventually be replaced by profiles on social and business networking websites. —Wired Workplace, 2011

Take Action: Review your current social media and identify at least three action items from the above list you can implement immediately. Make an action plan to effectively manage your online network. If you’d like more tips, join my upcoming class, Rock Your Network Online, starting next week Tuesday, June 7.

Wendy Terwelp has helped thousands of clients get hired faster and be rock stars at work since 1989. A recognized expert on networking, both online and off, Wendy was dubbed LinkedIn Guru by The Washington Post and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The Chicago Tribune, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Fast Company, The Business Journal, Careerbuilder.com, Monster.com, NBC, ABC, and more as well as numerous radio and television shows. She has published hundreds of articles on the web and in print and wrote the ultimate networking book, Rock Your Network®. Rock your career and buy the book at http://knocks.com.

Do One Thing

March 23, 2011April 16, 2021Wendy Terwelp Leave a comment

Just got back from the Career Thought Leaders conference where I was a presenter. What a positive experience!

Now, it’s back to work and there is a lot to do. I’m guessing I’m not alone in that feeling. Who hasn’t gotten back from a trip and then looked at the huge pile of work looming on their desk waiting to be completed?

The same is true for job seekers. With so much advice coming at you, it can be overwhelming, and sometimes tough to know where to begin.

Here are some suggestions to help you get things done and whittle that pile down to a manageable size.

1. Do ONE thing. Just one. Taking that first step is a start in the right direction. My friend Dr. Rich Schaefer, author of “Extreme Thought Makeover” says, if you want to get into an exercise routine, just take that first step on the treadmill. The rest will follow. The same thing with your work. Do ONE thing.

2. Baby steps. Yes, if you watched the movie What About Bob? that’s the concept. Break up those overwhelming tasks into smaller chunks. What’s one thing you can do right now that takes you toward your goal? Just one.

3. The daily list. Rather than making a huge list that has item after item after item on it, break it down. What are the top three things you’ve got to finish today? Make a list of action items before you go to work each morning. This way, you’ll get most things done and not respond to all those emails, tweets, calls, and questions before knocking some items off your list.

Getting a blog post in today was one of my things. What’s one of yours? Have you done it yet?

Share YOUR ideas of how you get things done. We’re listening.

Personal Branding: Myth, Madness, What?

January 4, 2011January 27, 2011Wendy Terwelp Leave a comment

Recently, a member of one of my LinkedIn groups asked, “I hear the term branding a lot, but rarely if ever see examples of it! Is it merely a catch phrase, or it is a real, effective strategy?”

Let’s bottom line it, shall we?

I was a recruiter prior to becoming a career coach. And I have a solid network of recruiters and employers across the country. Here’s the common thread, candidates who fit the culture of the company stick. Those who don’t, don’t. Recruiters to this day still tell me if a candiate doesn’t make the cut, 90% of the time, it’s because they were not a “right fit.”

Here are some real examples of personal branding from a few of my clients:

1. One of my clients, a sales representative, was known as “The Cold Call King.” He provided me with documentation of the same. We used it in his cover letter AND provided backup in terms of results (i.e. why he was deemed “The Cold Call King” by his company president).

2. Another client, a PR pro, was dubbed a “PR Martyr” by her coworkers. Yes, we used it, and again provided the backup.

3. And an industrial engineer client of mine shared his philosophy of design with me, which we used on his resume and his cover letter. Plus, I used a logo he designed on these docs as well – proof of performance. He also had a website, online ID, etc.

All three communicated their brands while networking, on the interview, and throughout their job search campaigns.

Bottom line is this – each of these clients was hired faster; each held positions long term; each got paid more than was expected.

Does personal branding work? The answer is a hearty YES!

When does it become a catch-phrase? When it’s merely talked about and NOT implemented.

When applied, can’t deny, it works.

Want to know where your brand stands? Take the quiz:

http://www.knocks.com/RockCareer/CareerBrand_Quiz.html

Note: Artwork provided by SnapHappy Creative LLC

Yes Virginia, companies ARE hiring over the holidays

December 15, 2010November 13, 2013Wendy Terwelp 1 Comment

Companies ARE hiring over the holidays. Here are some short networking stories to give you some ideas to try during the next few weeks. Use them. Share them. Get your story in before Dec. 31, 2013.

1. Chris T. – HIRED as Director of Sales and Business Development with a social media marketing firm. How’d he do it? He used a multi-step social media campaign – including Twitter and LinkedIn.

2. Jennifer A. – HIRED – How’d she do it? Went to a meeting at her church. Connected with several members. Followed up. Landed at her current position – and started this week.

3. Steve S. – OFFER PENDING – How’d he do it? Avid networker who reconnected with former coworkers over the holidays. They put him in touch with this opportunity. After his third interview, he’s awaiting the offer – this week.

Go ahead! Try one or more of these ideas and share your story!

Share your holiday networking story and get a chance to win my book! That’s right – send in your holiday networking story to me directly: consultant@knocks.com or post it here on this blog and get a chance to WIN!

The deadline is Dec. 31, 2013. The earlier you send in your stories, the better ’cause I’m feeling generous. We’ll be doing more than one drawing.

And, for those of you who simply can’t wait for a drawing, get my book, Rock Your Network® for Job Seekers, by clicking on the book cover.

I look forward to hearing all of your cool holiday networking stories. Thanks in advance for sharing!

PS: Here are links to two holiday networking stories – to give you some ideas:

“Holiday Networking: Pass the Nuts and Your Resume Please” and “Good News: Hired Over the Holidays.”

Note: Article originally published in 2010. Deadline updated for 2013. Send in your stories! | Graphic created by SnapHappy Creative LLC.

Five Social Media Tips for Holiday Networking

December 7, 2010January 27, 2011Wendy Terwelp 1 Comment

Here are Five Quick Tips to help you rock your social media over the holidays. Use them. Share them. Get your story in before Dec. 25, 2010.

1. Pick three. There are MANY social networks online to choose from. I recommend picking three so you can manage the effectively. For job search, I recommend LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. Yes, I did say Facebook.

2. Reconnect with old friends (and make new ones). I reconnected with friends from “back in the day” on Facebook. Not only was it fun, but now as “grown-ups” we can help each other in our careers. You can help your friends as well.

Side note: If you’re going to a Christmas party and photos of you are snapped that may not be as professional as you wish, gently remind folks not to tag you on their Facebook pages. If they do, ask them to take down the photos or un-tag you.

3. Join a group. The holidays can be a great time to join a new group or reactivate your participation in an existing one. Check out the groups your friends are involved with on LinkedIn. Which ones might be a good fit for you? Join and take an active role.

4. Take your online network OFFline. Plan a lunch date or pick up the phone. Learn about the other person’s business and life. Holidays are a great time to do this as people are more relaxed and willing to chat.

5. Be relevant and provide value. Social networking gives you a chance to demonstrate your thought leadership. Share your ideas. I love Twitter for this as I can share my ideas AND re-tweet others’ ideas I feel will be of value to my network (aka: followers).

Go ahead! Try one or more of these ideas and share your story!

The deadline is Dec. 25, 2010. The earlier you send in your stories, the better ’cause I’m feeling generous. We’ll be doing more than one drawing.

And, for those of you who simply can’t wait for a drawing, get my book, Rock Your Network® for Job Seekers, by clicking on the book cover.

Now, here’s the really cool thing, buy one, get one FREE! And, only ONE shipping rate. Woo hoo! (Offer ends 12/31/10.) Get one, give one. Go on!

To get the deal, enter “HO HO HO 2010″ in the special message section when you place order. (We use PayPal.)

I look forward to hearing all of your cool holiday networking stories. Thanks in advance for sharing!

PS: Here are links to two holiday networking stories – to give you some ideas:

“Holiday Networking: Pass the Nuts and Your Resume Please” and “Good News: Hired Over the Holidays.”

Note: Graphic created by SnapHappy Creative LLC.

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