Simply Hired Blog

Get Organized for 2011 Job Search Success

To get the most out of your job search in the New Year, it is essential to get organized so you can effectively manage the sometimes chaotic process. In addition, an organized job search can be more time effective and efficient. Getting organized doesn’t have to be a complicated process. Here are a few simple ways to get organized to bring you the most job search success in 2011.

Calendar & Schedule
You can easily keep track of your daily plans, upcoming interviews, scheduled follow-ups with employers and other appointments with the help of a calendar. Many electronic calendars can be set to send you notifications a certain amount of time before upcoming events so you can prepare for them in advance. However, use what you’re the most comfortable with, whether that’s a calendar on your computer, your phone or even a daily planner.

Contact Manager
To take advantage of your network, create a list of contacts that you speak with during your job search. Include people you’ve interviewed with or met at networking events, recruiters you’ve been in contact with, and people who have served as your references. Make sure to make a note of how you’ve met them (or who introduced you), their contact information, company, when you last spoke and what they’ve done to help in your search (for thank you notes later). There are a few computer software options for contact management, however, a card file, address book or notebook can work just as well depending on your preferences.

Job Search Spreadsheet
Create your own job search spreadsheet to keep track of all of the positions you’ve applied to, including links to the jobs, your application date, when you plan to follow-up, the names of any contacts you have at that company and any other notes about the position. Not only will you avoid applying to the same position multiple times (which doesn’t look good to employers) but you can save time by having all the necessary information about each position in one place. By creating a spreadsheet with this information, you don’t have to research where you found the position, what the requirements are, or the name of the contact person.

File Management
When you target resumes and cover letters to specific opportunities, you’ll find yourself with multiple versions of these files saved on your computer after applying to a few positions. To keep track of all your files, consider organizing your application materials into separate folders. Make sure to use a file naming strategy that makes sense, such as “Resume-Manager Roles” or “Cover Letter-Edits from Pat” so you can easily find the right files.

In addition, you can organize your email. File all job search correspondence into its own folder and consider creating additional subfolders for each employer you’ve emailed. This way, you can avoid losing any email with important information.

A little organization can go a long way when it comes to preparing for and jump starting your job search in 2011. If you have any other tips to organize your job search, please share them in the comments below.

LinkedIn Tips for Job Search Success

Now is a great time for job seekers to update their resumes and social profiles to hit the ground running for their 2011 job search. Many employers and recruiters use LinkedIn to source talent, which is why it’s imperative for job seekers to incorporate this professional network into their job search strategy. Here are a couple tips for finding job search success on LinkedIn.

Complete Your Profile
1. Include all relevant companies, positions, education and awards that you’ve held or accomplished to show off the experience and education you’ve developed over the years. The more robust your profile is, the more likely your profile is to appear higher up in search results.

2. Use keywords throughout your profile to improve your search ranking on LinkedIn and Google. First, generate a list of keywords for which you would like to show up in searches. Incorporate these in your profile, by including them throughout your summary, specialties, past experience and education fields.

3. Include a professional profile picture that you use on multiple social sites. Since faces are often easier to remember than names, this will help others identify you when adding you as a connection on LinkedIn, or to help someone recognize you in the local coffee shop when meeting up to discuss business ideas or potential employment opportunities.

4. Add any websites, blogs or online portfolios that can give a potential employer more information about you and your work. Such information could put you ahead of another candidate that did not include that information.

Work Your Network
5. Increase the number of your connections by adding people that you know, including past and present colleagues, family, professors you know well, vendors, clients, etc. LinkedIn has an easy webmail upload tool to help you add your email contacts as LinkedIn connections. When adding connections, make your request message personal, including how you know the person (for example, you’re in the same group, have the same alma mater, or have a mutual acquaintance) and why you would like to add them to your network.

6. Solicit meaningful recommendations from your connections to highlight some of your specific accomplishments and give some perspective on your work from an outside source. However, skip the recommendation from your parents, sibling or best friend, unless you’ve worked together substantially in a workplace environment. Recommendations are the most useful when they describe not only how great you are, but exactly what you’ve done and why you’re such a star employee.

7. Update your status with relevant information about your current company, personal and business accomplishments, news articles you’ve written or are quoted in, information about your latest blog post, or even that you’re looking for a job (and what you’re specifically looking for). Keep in mind that LinkedIn is a professional network, so not all statuses that you might post on your Facebook or Twitter profiles are LinkedIn-worthy.

Get Involved
8. Use the “Company Follow” feature to stay updated with the specific employers for which you have an interest. You will then receive updates when there are changes to that company’s profile, including when employees join, leave, or take on a new role in the company, new employment opportunities posted on LinkedIn, and any company news.

9. Join and participate in LinkedIn "Groups” that are relevant and interesting to you. In these groups, you can position yourself as an expert in your field and network with others with similar interests or backgrounds. You can share appropriate articles with the group, solicit information about a certain subject or begin a topical conversation. It’s also a great way to connect with those who have the same alma mater, who work in the same field, or live in the same area as you.

10. Participate in the “Answers” section of LinkedIn, by posting and answering questions relevant to your career and interests. Here you can also strengthen your brand as an expert in your field by sharing your knowledge with others.

Become “Findable”
11. Create your own personal vanity URL on LinkedIn to build your online personal branding and help control your Google search result ranking. In addition, it makes your LinkedIn profile much easier to share on your resume, business card or in your email signatures. If possible, opt for the same vanity ID that you use on your other online profiles, to standardize your identity and professional brand online.

12. Set your visibility settings to publish your full public profile to the Web. This will make your profile easier found by recruiters and can give potential employers a snapshot of your experience at-a-glance.

To jumpstart your 2011 job search, maximize your LinkedIn presence to build your network, stay top-of-mind with friends who could introduce you to a great job opportunity, and give potential employers a sense of your stellar work and background.

Do you have additional tips for LinkedIn job search success? Have you found a job through LinkedIn? Share your insight and experience below!

Top Industries Expected to Grow in 2011

As the New Year approaches, many people think of ways to step up their career – either by getting promoted in their current field or trying out a new one. The current economy has caused great changes in the job market, which has made new opportunities available. While many current industries have decreased by size or demand, others have continued to grow. If you are considering a career change, check out these industries expected to grow in 2011.

Healthcare
With or without a recession, the healthcare jobs continue to thrive. Medical care is continually in need for the public, and is especially in demand now with the nation’s aging baby boomer generation. Plus, because this field consists almost entirely of hands-on work with patients, few healthcare jobs can be outsourced.

Healthcare jobs include:
Registered Nurse jobs
Physical Therapist jobs
Pharmacist jobs
Anesthesiologist jobs
Dental Hygienist jobs

Green
In an effort to create more sustainable and eco-friendly power and technology, green jobs are expected to grow in the upcoming years. Analysts report that Americans are looking for alternative energy sources such as solar, geothermal and hydropower, and construction is needed to build “green” buildings. Many of these jobs are not only standing positions being filled, but newly created jobs.

Green jobs include:
Solar Project Manager jobs
Environmental Engineering Technician jobs
Water Treatment Specialist jobs
Waste Management Specialist jobs
Clean Energy Program Manager jobs

Business
Business jobs continue to offer steady employment, and the hard-hit financial sector is showing signs of recovery. As businesses grow, so does the need for employee onboarding and development, as well as management of finances within companies.

Business jobs include:
Accountant jobs
Human Resources Manager jobs
Personal Financial Advisor jobs
Investment Banker jobs
Business Analyst jobs

Manufacturing
Manufacturing jobs took a hard hit in employment during the recession. As consumers regain confidence in the market, they are becoming more apt to buy. Manufacturing companies need to hire employees to produce and build the products that consumers want to purchase.

Manufacturing jobs include:
Assembler jobs
Machine Operator jobs
Automobile Manufacturing jobs
Quality Assurance Technician jobs
Food Processor jobs

Technology
The world is beginning to rely more on technology in business and for everyday activities, so demand increases for people who create it. From software to web pages and business networks, people in technology jobs are needed to not only upkeep the current technology, but create new technology as well.

Technology jobs include:
Software Developer jobs
Network Architect jobs
Systems Administrator jobs
IT Support Specialist jobs
Web Designer jobs

What do you think the top careers of 2011 will be? Do you agree or disagree with our list? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Simply Hired Celebrates the Holidays

Every year, the Simply Hired team celebrates the holidays with our fun, and sometimes crazy, company holiday party. This year, the gifts were overflowing and the lip-smacking food was abundant. However, the best part of the party, of course, is the white elephant exchange.

Bacon scented soap, nerf guns and even basketball tickets to the Golden State Warriors game were some of the many gifts to choose from. But if you were lucky enough to choose a desirable gift, good luck on holding on to it!

For those unfamiliar with a white elephant gift exchange, it’s pretty simple: choose a wrapped gift from a pile, open it in front of everyone and hope that nobody steals it from you. Each player has a number, and players pick gifts in that order. The catch is that players can steal a gift from anyone else, and a gift can be stolen three times before being “locked”.

Check out some of the pictures below and you’ll get the idea of how competitive this game can get!

Happy holidays!

Gift Ideas for the Holidays

The holiday season is in full force and many people might be scrambling for gift ideas for their coworker, boss or friends in a job search. It’s not too late to get someone a gift they will love! We’ve put together a list of ideas to consider when buying that holiday gift, especially for those on a budget.

 

Gifts for Your Coworkers or Boss

Coffee – A great gift for your favorite java junkie is a coffee-filled gift package, including coffee beans, a regular or travel mug, and even one of those nifty beverage warmers for especially busy people.

Something Personalized – Sometimes, things just seem nicer when they’re specifically yours. And the great thing is that you can personalize almost anything—stationary, pens, business card cases, coffee mugs, clocks, even stars (the celestial body type).

Gift Baskets – Giving a basket full of goodies can be a good choice if you have an idea of what the person likes. There are many ready-made gift baskets with almost anything you can imagine. Besides the baskets full of cheese and crackers, chocolates, fruit and other baked goods, there are also wine and beer baskets, pasta baskets, and even edible floral arrangements. Another option is to create your own basket of a few items that you think the person would enjoy.

Gift Cards – If all else fails, it’s usually a safe bet to give a gift card so your coworker/boss/friend can choose something they will like. You can get a gift card for virtually every establishment now, whether it is a coffee shop, their favorite restaurant, the movies, an electronics store, online music retailer or even a local bookstore. If you really can’t think of a certain place they’d like a gift card to, you can always buy a prepaid credit card

Lessons – Many people choose New Year’s resolutions relating to learning something new. You can kick-start their efforts by giving the gift of a lesson for something they’re interested. Examples include sports-related lessons such as golf or tennis, a cooking class or even a music class.

 

Gifts for a Job Seeker
For the job seekers currently looking for a job, there are a few other gifts to consider in addition to the list above.

Interview Outfit – Many job seekers have a few choice outfits picked out for interviews. If they’ve been on a number of interviews lately, chances are that some of those interview outfits may be so worn, they’re ready for retirement. Get that job seeker a crisp, new interview outfit to give interviewers a great first impression.

Briefcase/Portfolio – It’s always a good idea to bring a few extra copies of your resume to an interview, or your portfolio of work if applicable. However, some of these don’t travel well, especially in less-than-stellar weather—think rain or wind that can wreck havoc on sheets of paper or electronics. Give the job seekers in your life a protected and organized way to transport these items.

A Way to Relax – Searching for a job can be very stressful for all those involved, but especially for those job seekers who may not be able to remain at their standard of living without a source of income. A great gift idea for a job seeker is something to help them wind down and relax, such as a spa day, aromatherapy kit, bath set or a few nights at a hotel for a mini-vacation.

Do you have other holiday gift ideas for your coworkers, boss, or the job seekers in your life? Comment below!