So Many Resources.....So Little Time!!!!

A Jobseekers Resource Guide..... (revised 9/30/19)

Good news Jobseekers! There are many resources available to you here on LinkedIn! I am going try to provide a list of resources for Jobseekers in one place. These resources are free and can add a great deal to you and your search efforts. A good first start is the use of Hashtags. Search for hashtags that might be helpful for you as people search for candidates. Below are several that will help you. Add them in your profile.

Hashtags:

#oleg Thanks - Oleg Vishnepolsky!

#projecthelpyougrow Thanks Ira Bowman!

#ONO - Thanks Jared Wiese!

#TeamUniter - thanks Bill Brinkle

#JobseekerSmartlist - Thanks Rodrigo Martinez for the platform!

Here are some tips you can use to help you with your presence and visibility on LinkedIn:

Update your profile to show who you are, not what you do (your resume does the what you do part). Help potential employers see the dynamic you! Let them understand the you, that doesn’t fit on a resume. What will make you better for the company even if you don't fit the technical requirements 100%

Make your LinkedIn profile public. Go in the settings and make it visible publicly. Be sure and check your various settings because it take more than one to makes this work. You want potential employers or recruiters to be able to find you.

Engage people on LinkedIn. Even if you don't write content, like, comment and share. If you write content, tag people to let them know you have posted something that might interest them. Be respectful and get to know them or ask permission before tagging. Look at this post for insight into engagement: https://www.dhirubhai.net/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6451043720522502144

Write a post telling what you are looking for in a job and what kind of company and boss you want. Don't be bashful to tell it like it is. Be clear, be concise and be honest. Remember to focus on who you are as much or more than what you do. If you're not sure what you are looking for, do your research on what companies and jobs are about. Consider seeking and if possible, pay for career advice. Some great resources for career advice are on LinkedIn. One of the best books I know of for career direction is: What Color Is Your Parachute by Richard Bolles.

Learn everything you can about being a Leader and Follower. In any job, you are going to lead or follow (not being a dormat) because both roles are there and equally important. Whichever role, be the best there is! Here is a couple of links that might help: https://Trainingconsultant.fyi.to/WardOnLeadership https://Trainingconsultant.fyi.to/10tips10days https://www.dhirubhai.net/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6447827267849641984 https://www.dhirubhai.net/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6449692663607291904

Choose companies you are interested in working at and pursue them. If you believe there is a company well suited for you, research them. Find out about who and what they are. Learn who your boss would be. Email or write a letter to the company about what you like about the company. Ask them to please let you know if they have any current or future openings that you would fit in. Respectfully request a meeting with the person that would be your potential boss. Find out if you would like to follow them and help them be successful (you benefit from their success as well).

Offer to be an intern, even unpaid to get in the door. Getting in the door of the company you desire to work for is the hardest part. Many wait weeks even months trying to find an opportunity so why not try to make your own opportunity? Take on the project others don't want and do it the best it can be done! By doing this, you show initiative and you get a chance to prove yourself. You also get to find out if this is really what you want. This way, you have seen the worst so it would all be better from here.

If the current school of thought isn't working, go "old school" and shake things up! If your current resume isn't getting you anywhere, try something different and unique. With the ease of changing your resume now, try many different versions, even at the same company. Another "old school" approach is to visit the company, well dressed, resume and cover letter in hand and ask to speak to the hiring manager or the person you would be working with. If the first person asks if you have an appointment be honest and say, no. Let them know that you are there in the hopes of helping the hiring manager or to offer assistance to the person that you would be working with. If that doesn't work, ask to leave your resume for the person you would be working for. Have it in an envelope with their name neatly written on the front and your contact information as well.

Be an entrepreneur in your job search. Approach your job search as if this was your new business (for the moment it is your current job)! Develop your vision, mission and strategy. Develop a plan to market yourself. Set a "work" schedule and include making appointments. Keep a servant and a gracious attitude. Don't go with an entitlement mindset but rather an attitude that you want to bring value to the client (company). Be prepared to be rejected! It's a part of being an entrepreneur. When you are rejected, learn from it if there is something to learn and apply the learning to the next situation.

Don't give up! Don't quit moving forward! Part of growing and becoming a better you is through the journey and the struggles. The only way that you truly fail is to quit! Adjust and redirect as needed but don't give up. Seek out others that can support you. Read about how others have struggled and overcome. Be purposeful in having a support network. That network needs to include people that care enough to help you with love AND truth. People that will tell you when you are wrong. This group is best to include some older mentors. People that have more experience than you. People that can offer you real perspective and can honestly tell you that, "this too shall pass."

Here are some web resources that will also be helpful if you use them:

https://tinyurl.com/ya22zkad - Roll Call from Brett S Brody is a monthly newsletter for Job Seekers to get exposure on LinkedIn.

https://tinyurl.com/ydxlaup8 - Voice Out Weekly from Abhijit Joshi is another venue to gain exposure as a Job Seekers.

https://lnkd.in/dcMGMC7 - this is a Jobseeker Smartlist that you can be added to.

https://lnkd.in/d9hv5eg - this is a Jobseeker resource including free advice and available recruiters.

https://lnkd.in/eujMz_R - this is another Jobseeker smartlist you can be added to. It is created by Jane Jackson who is a career coach.

https://lnkd.in/eCV-8y3 - this is a smarlist you can join and find others to engage with on LinkedIn. Ira Bowman leads this group and is a great resource for you to grow and increase your presence on LinkedIn and get exposure to more job possibilities.

https://projecthelpyougrow.com - Here is a website created by Ira Bowman as a resource as well. Check it out for additional resources.

https://jaredjwiese.fyi.to/best-free-advice-get-job - this is a smartlist from Jared Wiese with great tips on helping improve your profile on LinkedIn.

https://tinyurl.com/y7ddjlk4 - this a great article from Zeta Yarwood on staying motivated.

https://tinyurl.com/y7w46k2q - this article from Zeta Yarwood on job interviews.

https://tinyurl.com/yaf9df6t - great advice and resources from Geoff Koboldt!

https://tinyurl.com/y9ldslen - great article with great tips from Brad Emrey!

https://tinyurl.com/yxpqqmnb - a great resume writing course from Rob Deptford!

#WKWPeopleBuilder