NO I WON'T PAY FOR YOUR TUITION!

Three times today I have talked with recent University graduates (Computer Science) and each one gave the same reason for their stated salary expectations....

"I had to pay a lot for my tuition and degree"

STOP IT people, do not use this reason for seeking ridiculously high starting salaries.

In addition, your 3 Co-Op/Internships of 4 months duration do not mean you have 3 years of experience so should be treated as a Intermediate or Senior Level candidate...and I do not care what your Professor or next door neighbour says you are worth - Industry and businesses will tell you different.

Several good ideas to prevent YOU [the 3 individuals and others who use the same flawed  thinking] joining or adding to the estimated 25% of under/not employed recent graduates is to be realistic in your salary expectations for not only your chosen discipline/profession, but also target business, geographical location and market value.

Top Social Media Tools to use [carefully] in a Job Search!

Using the list of reasons to use Social Media provided by Lilach Bullock in her blog on Social-Able of Top 10 Reasons to use Social Media I thought it would be a good starting point for job seekers or career transition people; so, from Lilach’s reason list we have:

Reason To Use Social Media

1. Build relationships
2. Network with like-minded people
3. Drive traffic to our website(s)
4. Sell our service/products
5. Show our expertise
6. Get support & motivation
7. Organise & promote events
8. Integrate with other websites
9. An alternative to a website
10. Monitor your brand awareness

Some of the Tools to utilize to support the ‘Reason’

1)      LinkedIn, Google+, Quora, Facebook, Twitter, Plaxo, Gist, Blog, Vizualize.Me, 

Slideshare, Box.Net, BranchOut, Hootsuite, Bit.ly, goo.gl, Mirror.Me, BeKnown

2)      LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Quora, BeKnown, Gist, Plaxo, Ning, Xing, RSS, 

Hootsuite, Tweetdeck, Bit.ly, goo.gl

3)      About.Me, Skillpages, Twitter, RSS, Prezi, Tumblr

4)      LinkedIn, About. Me, Facebook, Twitter, Indeed, Social-Hire, Wordle, Tumblr, Bit.ly, 

Goo.gl

5)      LinkedIn (Groups, Answers), Google+, 

Blog. Slideshare, Skillpages, Talent.Me, 

Quora, Prezi, Tumblr, Mirror.Me

6)      Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Quora, 

Blog

7)      Eventbrite, LinkedIn, Facebook, 

Google+, Plancast, Twitter, Box.Net, Bit.ly, 

goo.gl

8)      Google+, Twitter, Box Net, RSS, Dropbox, Box.Net, Slideshare

9)      Blog, Google, About.Me, Tumblr

10)    Google Alerts, iGoogle, Hootsuite, Tweetdeck

The list is by no means complete, new and/or improved ones are appearing.  If you know of others and would like to share them – with your thoughts – please do.

2 Important Areas often neglected on your #IN profile

Procrastination is my biggest enemy!  I have been 'going to write about this!' for the past couple of weeks.  And finally I got a kick up the backside by a question from LinkedIn on Job Search and Confidentiality

There are 2 key areas [sections] of your LinkedIn profile that need attention and should be as current as possible;

Firstly: Contact [First Name] for:

When you first create a basic profile on LinkedIn this one area that is paid attention too once and then forgotten about.  Big mistake, depending what you allow to be visible here, will determine how LinkedIn allows others to connect/contact you.   If you are 'confidentially' seeking another opportunity then make sure you un-check 'Career opportunities' and even consider un-checking 'Consulting offers':

Secondly: Add Skills:
If you have not already done so, Add the section: Skills to your profile - this section is searchable and can be used to enhance your 'find-ability':

You can add up to 50 'Skills' - so utilize and maximize this section.

If you haven't added this section to your profile yet - DO IT NOW!!!

How too:  Log-in to your LinkedIn Acct, from the Top menu bar chose Profile - Edit Profile, scroll down until you see NEW Add sections - click on the + symbol on the right

then scroll down until you find Skills, select it then click 'Add to profile' - 

Don't be like me a procrastinate - do it now whilst it is still fresh in your mind. :)

Does your Job Search Pass or Fail the 3-Legged Stool Test?

So you have decided [or been chosen to decide!] the time is now to seek a new career / job / opportunity...

Reality sets in very quickly for some, and takes a little long for others, and intolerable time for a few, before you are able to answer and understand the WHY question [could be: new challenge, promotion, career shift, redundancy, etc...] Now you are ready to move forward and take a positive and realistic approach to:

The 3-Legged Stool Test...

I am told that I am terrible for using analogies to explain my arguments, thoughts, ideas or plain conversations...and the 3-Legged Stool Test is no different...

Before [and during] your job search get off to a roaring pace, you need to imagine sitting on a 3-legged stool, the goal being - achieve a level seat area and not too wobbly. I am going to assume you know to position the stool on level comfortable ground first.

For this I want you to take the following questions and imagine each is one leg of that 3-legged stool...

1. What? [do what you want to do...]
2. Where? [geographical or physical location of the What!...]
3. How much? [do you need to support the first 2 Q's]

To pass the test, each leg must be of equal length [take and apply a realistic, obtainable and deliverable approach]. Easy eh...I don't think so, so many people put unrealistic values to one or two of the answers...here is an example! A new client came to me and he had prepared his 3 answers, and said his stool was level - you decide...

What - Nuclear Physicist - Power Generation (he had PhD and experience from another country)

Where - Rural area of South Western Ontario (likes open spaces and going for walks and decided this was were he wanted to live with his family)

How much - Six figures plus

OK, so what is the problem here... Er-mm! let me see, first - NO companies or facilities employ his What within 200 kms of his Where, his How Much is therefore irrelevant.

He Failed the 3-Legged Test

After identifying his options, he recognized that he could still achieve his What and How much by adjusting his Where and so leveling his stool, not wobbling around and oh yes, did I mention, he would be living in a rural community and satisfy the original reason for his Where...he now re-took the Test and Passed.

If you are conducting a job search, go-on take the test and see if you are level and stable, or leaning and wobbly!