Are you using LinkedIn to  network for a job? Well, you should be. Most people sign up for LinkedIn and never have formal training on how to use the site.

As a job seeker (especially business to business) take the time to learn LinkedIn: the etiquette, content, search features, where to find jobs, etc. When used properly it can be an excellent tool not only for finding a job but also for building business.

TIPS FOR BUILDING LINKEDIN FUNDAMENTALS:

1.  Build a compelling PROFILE – it’s not a resume

2.  OPEN your network Connections

3.   Create a CUSTOM/VANITY URL

4.  Groups, join 50!

5.  FULL Public Profile

6.  Connect with people you know and write a custom invite

Want to LEARN how to use LinkedIn? Join us for a Social Media Workshop for Job Seekers in the Philadelphia area. Not local? We can set up a remote training just for you! Call us for details and take control of your job search with a powerful LinkedIn Profile. 215.699.5500 ask for Kristin

November 12, 2009 – Bala Cynwyd, PA

Tracy Davidson of NBC10 hosts “Survive and Thrive” every Wednesday from 5:30-6:00pm. Tracy’s focus is on the consumer providing tips, hints, warnings and deals in the Philadelphia Region. Tracy has been focusing on the pressing issue of ‘careers’ and helping job seekers.

Kristin Kane of Kane Partners has been a special guest on the segment answering job seekers’ questions from: interviews, resumes, cover letters etc. Kristin’s contributions have been as a guest blogger on Tracy Davidson’s website (www.tracydavidson.com), answering questions LIVE in-studio via Facebook and remotely from Kane Partners HQ in Lansdale, PA.

In collaborating with Tracy and the NBC10 team, “Rev Up Your Resume” was created. Kristin Kane of Kane Partners Staffing Solutions gave a short presentation on how to tailor your resume to meet today’s market. This was an exclusive event for NBC10 viewers to not only hear a new perspective on constructing your resume to get a response, but to also seek help with a true professional, at no cost. “Working with Tracy Davidson has been amazing. She truly is looking out for her viewers in anyway she can.” said Kristin of Kane Partners. When Tracy heard the October event sold out she was the first to say, let’s do it again for the viewers. I am proud to support Tracy and the NBC10 team as they are helping our community “Survive and Thrive”.

The “Rev Up Your Resume” vision was not only to give jobseekers information but allow them to apply it on their personal resume and situation. The best way to do this successfully is in a one on one situation. Kristin recruited local Career Experts/Resume Writers to join her in answering questions one on one with jobseekers to ensure they had a top notch resume to meet today’s needs.

The success of the first event, October 8th, called for an encore presentation which was held November 12th. This event was fortunate to have 13 resume experts on hand to answer questions at a sold out event! The photo is shown of our experts from November 12th: Hanson Consulting, Dubin Group, Charesume, Career Concepts, McCloskey Partners, Debbie Harris, Carolyn Cott Resumes, Kristin Kane – Kane Partners, Tracy Davidson, JoyMark, and WorkingMatters.

Keep a sharp eye on NBC10 and Kane Partners Staffing Solutions “Career” events in 2010!

Kane Partners Staffing Solutions is proud to volunteer and help our local community seeking employment opportunities via events and community service projects. Track Kane Partners Jobs with Twitter at www.twitter.com/KaneJobs

LinkedIn: Networking

Social Media is information content created by people using highly accessible and scalable publishing technologies. At its most basic sense, social media is a shift in how people discover, read and share news, information and content. It’s a fusion of sociology and technology, transforming monologue (one to many) into dialog (many to many) and is the democratization of information, transforming people from content readers into publishers. Social media has become extremely popular because it allows people to connect in the online world to form personal and business relationships.

Social Media allows you to create an online brand. Your brand can be expressed through: blogs, profiles, articles, news, user groups, live chat, help, consumer directories, etc.

LinkedIn is a professional site dedicated to on-line networking for business professionals. This site allows for a mix of both business and personal personalities. Proceed with care when choosing your online persona on LinkedIn and other public sites!

LinkedIn (Free and Paid Versions – free is most common)

Getting Started: www.linkedin.com

* Link both your work and a backup email when creating or updating your account.

Review Account Setting and choose what will work best for you and your objective with LinkedIn. You can choose your privacy setting, public and private profiles, hiding contacts etc.

* Remember the purpose of LinkedIn is to network, choose your settings wisely – you can always change or update.

PROFILE:

• Employment History (Completed, Your roles in each Company, Value Added)
• Picture/Image (Logo/Landscape)
• Recommendations (Quality not Quantity)
• 50+ connections (Target getting 50 good connections first then grow)
• Summary (Who you are, expertise should limit to 8…)
• Activities/Interests (What defines you; business and professional)
• Groups (Excellent resource to grow your network, join industry/personal interest groups)
• Web links (Only 3, use them wisely, be careful if mixing religion and politics)

Profile Writing Style:

Resume, common but lacks value added and online persona. Instead try writing in short essay style using a bullet format – Tell your story.

Contact Information:

If you want to be a LION (Open Networker) or just want to be able to be contacted if someone wants to reach out to you, then put your email on your public profile.

Customize Your Profile:

Edit your profile link to be unique to you. (In Profile Edit in the first box you will see your link)

Add a photo, even if its not you, have something that people can identify you.

Consider a professional photograph.

Applications – The NEXT step to Maximizing LinkedIn

Make your Profile Public or Customize your Public Profile to be found on Google.

Status Updates – add value!

Blogs – Industry-specific or expertise content

Presentations – Products, Work, SlideShows – Great Tool!

APPLICATIONS:

• Events – Post/Search/Attend
• Polls – Create/Answer
• SlideShare – Business/Expertise
• Blogs – Informational
• TripIT – If you are a traveler, GREAT!
• Amazon – Recommend a good book!
• Q&A – Great to show your expertise!

CONNECTIONS:

Start with the people you know and go from there:

• • • Colleagues that you KNOW or KNEW WELL
    • Classmates
    • Your past supervisors
    • Health care providers
    • Neighbors
    • Parents of your child’s friends
    • Service Providers (plumber, landscaper, exterminator, etc.)
    • Professional organizations

When you invite someone to connect send a personal note as to why you want to connect. Show you care enough to at least say Hello when connecting! Don’t just send the auto message.

You do not have to accept all invitations. Do not hit: I DON’T KNOW, which will mark them as SPAMMERS, instead as a courtesy just click “Archive.”

LIONS can be a great resource to build your connections.

While they will expand the number of connections in someone’s network, I am reluctant to let this statement stand on its own without further expressing that you are only adding connections with whom you have a lesser chance of having your invitation accepted. So LIONS increase search results, but reduce the “warmth” of an introduction, and therefore, the chances of having an invitation accepted.

When requesting to connect with your contact’s contacts:

• Be professional, but casual.
• Remind your contact how you know them.
• Make your intentions known.
• Find a MUTUAL reason to connect.
• State how you know the contact that you have in common.
• Include a memorable tagline or short and memorable value statement.

SEARCHING:

LinkedIn is a great resource to find people to network with the unconventional way. You can search for new clients, competitors, potential partners etc.

• People – By Name/Company/Education
• Company – Name/Location
• Answers - Industry Experts/Best Answers
• Groups – BEST CONNECTIONS
• Connections of Connections

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT/Career IDEAS*:

Research

• Post questions, Source contacts, Watch company patterns or growth

Establish Expertise

•       Answer questions in your areas of competency, Use applications to share professional resources and presentations, Contribute to group discussions

Contacting/Networking/Being Active

•       Forward posted jobs to people in your network (LinkedIn makes suggestions)
•       Recommend someone as an expert for an Answer
•       Invite contacts to appropriate groups
•       Forward profiles for your contacts’ reference
•       Forward invitations and requests
•       Make recommendations and endorse service providers
•       Comment on someone’s status

FOLLOW UP:

Remember to keep in touch with your network. Share information, forward contacts, and make recommendations. Show your value!

• Use contact information if it appears elsewhere on the Internet.
  • Let the person know how you found their contact information.
  • DO NOT tell them about your mutual LinkedIn contact without your contact’s permission, but invite them to join your network.
• Send your collateral ONLY when it is requested.
• Thank you’s are ALWAYS a good idea.
• Update your profile regularly; blast it sparingly.

Remember LinkedIn is a tool and resource to network. It starts with one connection and grows from there! Set aside some time to explore and familiarize yourself with the site and discover how the online tool can be useful to you and your networking business strategy!

*Some contributions by Karen Huller of Charesume.

Your RESUME is a tool to get the INTERVIEW… the INTERVIEW is what will get the JOB!

• Important that you create the RIGHT resume, to get the Interview! Especially in today’s economy.
• Understand each job and send an appropriate resume to reflect your experience.
• Describe where you are going, not where you have been.
• Remember you are “Selling Yourself” so know your product!

SUGGESTED RESUME FORMAT BASICS:

1-2 Pages, Simple/Consistent Text/Fonts – sizes 10-12, Bullet Format, Check Contact Information, & Appropriate Emails Only! Your information should be easy to scan for a ‘quick read’.

RESUME CONTENT:

• Overview or Summary (Not both, 3-5 sentences at MOST, written in 3^rd Person.)
• Does your resume state your relevant experience?  [Keywords to relate to the job listing.]
• Are your Key Accomplishments listed? What makes you different from someone in the same job?
• Did you Quantify & Qualify?
  • “Managed team” instead try “Managed a staff of 5 operators as direct reports.”
  • “Saved company money” try “Cost savings of 15% in 2008”
• Action Words: Developed, Trained, Managed, Implemented…
• Clean Clear & Concise Content

RESUME No-No’s:

Do not: Use I or me, lie, exaggerate, leave out dates, leave Education vague with no degree/year, leave gaps, write everything you did, no laundry lists, use different fonts with multiple sizes and MOST IMPORTANT, do not rely on SPELL CHECK alone!

TRACK YOUR RESUME:

• “Spray & Pray” will not work.
• Know where your resume is at all times.
• Know what version was submitted, then you can bring the correct version for an interview.

COVER LETTERS:

• Better safe then sorry… it’s suggested to include one.
• Keep it simple, short and to the point.
• Address the person by proper name, if you don’t know, call the company.
• Express your interest in the company and job – customize each letter

CAREER RESOURCES:

• Newspapers & Monster, CareerBuilder, HotJobs, JobCircle – “JOB BOARDS”
• Associations/Professional Organizations
• Recruiter/Agencies/Career Coaches
• Personal Networks/Former Colleagues
• LinkedIn / Facebook / Twitter (Social Media Outlets)
• Indeed (www.indeed.com) / SimplyHired (www.simplyhired.com)  *Spiders job boards/websites.

INTERVIEWING:

• The INTERVIEW will get you the OFFER!
• Practice & Prepare, Practice & Prepare, Practice & Prepare. . .
• Know the type/style of interview, who you are meeting with and length of interview.
• Anticipate objections.
• Arrive with a firm handshake, look them in the eye, introduce yourself and thank them for their time. When you leave, a firm handshake and thank you and confirm your interest.
• Be PRESENT, acknowledge the person speaking, smile, nod when appropriate.
• Wear Business Professional Attire, arrive onsite at least 15 minutes early.
• Remember the interview starts when you arrive! Assume everyone has a say in hiring you, even assistants.

PREPARE & PRACTICE:

• Research the company
• Study and know the job description
• Prepare a few questions for the interview (always ask at least 1 questions, NOT Salary/Benefits)
• Be discretely confident.
• There is a noticeable difference in delivery from someone who has actually practiced.

INTERVIEW NO-NO’S:

Don’t Be: Late, looking around or seem distracted, over talk, be negative or talk down about a previous employer or boss, use slag, umms or yeah.

COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

• What experience do you have that can relate to our company/job? (Know the Company)
• Why do you want to work for us? / Why should we hire you?
• What did you like/dislike about your last company/job? (Remain POSITIVE)
• Why are you seeking a new job? / What are you looking for in your next job?
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
• Do you work better in a team or independently? Which do you prefer?
• What motivates you?
  What are your strengths/weaknesses?
• What salary are you looking for? (Consider staying open, based on the overall package.)
• Tell me about yourself. (Relevant to the job and your journey, past/present/future)
• Tell me of your best accomplishment. (Give example and provide details)
• Give me an example of multi-taking.
• Describe an objection and how you overcame it. (Explain objection, steps to overcome it, along with your outcome, what you learned.)

REFERENCES:

Ask for them BEFORE you leave your job, ask for contact information including personal in case they change positions. If you are unemployed reach out to those co-workers/managers to request them as a reference, asap. Make sure they can give you a reference.

NETWORKING:

• Create business cards for free: www.vistaprint.com (Contact Info, Typical Titles, LinkedIn Link)
• Attend events: Industry Specific, Job Fairs, Chamber of Commerce, and other career functions.
• Educate your family, friends and former co-workers of what you are looking for, they can be a great resource.
• Do not define yourself as “Unemployed.” Explain you and experience and you are “in transition.”

AGENCIES/STAFFING FIRMS/CAREER COACHES:

All are excellent resources! Manage your relationship, know where your resume is, keep them up to date.

Kristin Kane presented at Rev Up Your Resume. An encore presentation will occur on November 12th at NBC10 Philadelphia Studios. You must register, first 100 guests only: http://nbc10.eventbrite.com

FULL VIDEO

Full Story for Survive & Thrive on NBC10 visit: www.tracydavidson.com

By: Kristin Kane, Kane Partners

1. Font and Size – Keep it consistent. 10-12 size, Arial and Times New Roman are most common.
2. Details – Do not re-write your job description. Instead, incorporate your accomplishments and what value you added to the job description. Examples: cost savings of $x, meeting deadlines on time or ahead of schedule, implementing processes or procedures etc. What makes you different or unique?
3. Dates – Double check your dates to be sure they are accurate on your resume. Do not lie or misrepresent this in any way. It will cost you the job or offer. Using months and years are preferred.
4. Education – Clarify if you are degreed or ‘in process’ taking classes, note your major/minor and if you have a strong GPA consider including that as well.
5. Objective – Consider omitting the objective and replacing it with a summary or overview that sums up your experience and value added.  Remember to keep this objective and factual, written in third person.
6. Customizing – Always review your resume before sending it to a company. If you know you are a fit for the role, your resume has to read that you can do the job. You may have to edit your resume to fit a job and ensure a call.  Do not assume the person reading your resume knows what you do because of your job title. Remember an employer is looking to see what you can do for them!
7. Industry Terms/Acronyms – Each company/industry has terms/acronyms that are unique. Spell out the acronym first and define it if needed. For example if you are running a proprietary software database write that vs. just INLEX CRM. Do not miss an opportunity to link your skills and experience to the job description. Do not get lost in translation!
8. 8. Approach – Write your resume for the job you want not the job you have. The resume is the vehicle to get you the interview the interview is what will get you the job.
9. Style – In today’s market the competition is fierce, making a well crafted resume is even more important. It should be easy to read locate skills, catch the attention of the reader and say “Pick Me.” Consider Bullets that begin with Action Verbs that explain your experience, most important/significant at the top.  Add a skills section that pulls out keywords explaining your industry skills/exposure.
10. Spelling/Grammar – This is your first impression to potential employer. Grammatical errors, spacing, word use, spelling all are the most common mistakes on a resume. If you want to stand out don’t rely of spell/grammar check, get a second person’s opinion!

After spending countless hours getting your resume prepared with excellent content and no spelling or grammatical errors, the last thing you want to think about is a cover letter, right? Wrong!

The cover letter is and can be just as important as the resume. It is your personal entrée depicting yourself to your potential employer. Most importantly it is your first communication as a possible employee, so there is no room for error!

What do you say in a cover letter? We recommend keeping it short and sweet. The cover letter is usually a quick read before opening your resume so you only have a few short moments to make an impact. It can include a brief introduction to why you feel you are the candidate for the position. Provide one or two examples or factual evidence to why you are the candidate for the job. You may also consider including in a sentence what brings you to the market. Make sure you close with your interest in the company along with your availability to answer questions or for an interview. Of course, thank them for their time and write your salutation.

Don’t forget: read and reread this letter, you do not want to have any mistakes or punctuation errors. Ask for a second pair of eyes to double check your final draft.

A recap for writing a cover letter:

• Research the name of the person receiving the resumes; address them by name.

• Dear “Mr/Ms x”:

• Do not write: To Whom It May Concern or Dear Sir/Madam:

• Do not attach the Cover Letter in a separate document, instead make your cover letter the body of your email or attach it in your comments.

• Customize each cover letter unique to each position/company.

• Do not use a canned letter.

• Keep it short and to the point.

• Introduce why you feel you are good for the position, use facts.

• Highlight your key experience/s that will get you the interview.

• State your enthusiasm and interest in their company.

• Include your contact information.

* As a reminder your resume should include your accomplishments and the value added which you provided to your employers not just a laundry list of what you have done. Consider including in your resume: overview/summary, chronological experience, job titles, dates of employment, technical skills, awards/accomplishments and education/certification.

By: Kristin Kane, Kane Partners Staffing Solutions | www.kanepartners.net

Signing up with an IT staffing agency is not something most jobseekers consider right away. When many IT job seekers think about staffing agencies, all sorts of misconceptions come to mind. By the time they consider using the services of an IT staffing agency they have spent on average around six months unemployed.  

If the job candidate is a recent graduate, he may be unsure about whether the IT industry is the right choice. Candidates want to find a job, but they prefer not to settle for just any job. They want something interesting, and signing on with an IT staffing agency doesn’t seem to be the answer for many. 

The truth about IT Staffing

An IT staffing agency will be prepared to place most IT experts with the right job to fit their particular skill set. The opportunities available through IT staffing firms are:

• Temporary positions
• Temporary to hire positions
• Full-time positions 

According to the American Staffing Association’s website, over 90-percent of businesses in the U.S. use staffing firms. 40-percent of all candidates attempting to find their first job, or are reentering the workforce, secured their first job through an IT staffing agency.

In an uncertain job market, utilizing the services of an IT staffing agency could be the way to go. But first, there are some myths surrounding IT staffing that need to be cleared up. 

Myth 1: Staffing agencies only provide temporary work, but I need a real job. Any job you receive through an IT staffing agency is a “real job.” If you start out in a temporary position, and a few weeks later the company opens the position for hire, you could receive first consideration. 

Myth 2: IT staffing jobs only provide job candidates with low wage jobs. Not true. Most IT staffing positions are dependent on an individual’s experience and education, just like any other job. 

Myth 3: IT staffing companies only work with entry level professionals. This may have been the case several years ago, but today IT staffing firms can offer job seekers a variety of employment options. 

Myth 4: Job assignments only last for about two weeks at a time. It all depends on the assignment. An assignment could last for a day, a week, a month or longer. You could even get hired permanently. 

Myth 5: The temporary jobs available through IT staffing firms do not offer benefits. Not always true. It depends on the staffing company. Some agencies offer a variety of benefits to choose from. They include 401K, medical, dental, employee referral bonuses, holiday pay and so forth. 

Myth 6: There are not enough information technology jobs to go around. This is a commonly voiced concern. Many people assume that most IT jobs are being outsourced overseas. However, there are still plenty of domestic IT positions available here in the U.S. for a variety of positions. Workers with Web 2.0 experience are in high demand. 

Myth 7: You can only get the good jobs by going to the larger companies directly. An IT staffing company can be the key to helping you gain entry into many of these large companies. And don’t automatically count out smaller companies. Many of these companies provide candidates with well paying positions and give you the chance to expand your skills through other duties. 

Myth 8: Because of today’s economic challenges, a staffing firm can’t help me find a job. Not necessarily true. While their may be a longer wait time in some instances, companies are still looking for dedicated, qualified employees to join their organizations. 

Myth 9: If I get a job I don’t like, I could be stuck. That’s the beauty of working with an IT staffing agency. We take great care in the interviewing process to provide you with compatible employment opportunities. If a job doesn’t seem to be the right fit, we can make changes as necessary. 

Myth 10: It takes too long to get paid once you are hired. Employees hired through the IT staffing agency can count on a weekly paycheck as long as they are working, regardless of the payroll schedule of the company you’re working with.

Bio: Kimberly Ben is a free lance writer and editor. “10 Myths About IT Staffing”

Kane Partners is currently offering our career services at no cost to the job seekers. We appreciate donations to our cause – LIVESTRONG Challenge Philly 2009. Donations can be made online at http://philly09.livestrong.org/kristinkaneford.

We appreciate your support and we hope to be a continued resource as you look to find a job and again when you look to hire!

The Kane Partners Team