Virtual Career Hunter

Vizualize.me - Welcome to the future of resumes

2013-01-31T11:14:00.002-05:00

Check out new site. A new approach to the traditional resume format, still in its infancy and being currently being developed to provide more features and benefits

Guerrilla Marketing: The Facebook Job Experiment Saatchi LA

2013-01-24T15:52:00.001-05:00

2013-01-24T15:01:00.003-05:00

Recently found this site via Mashable. By joining you can build a better resume through feedback from others who have similar experience in your job/company/industry. We shall see! It is a new site and I have submitted my resume and awaiting review and their feedback. I am bracing myself. Check out the link, any feedback let us know! http://www.resumesocial.com/

The Differences Between Leading And Managing Your Job Hunt

2012-12-10T10:41:00.000-05:00

There's a huge difference between looking around for a job and actually taking full responsibilities of your job hunt. In this competitive workforce, you need to be completely proactive.According to a survey conducted by JobVite, 61 percent of job seekers say that it’s been harder finding a job this year compared to the previous one.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/4-differences-between-leading-and-managing-your-job-hunt-2012-12#ixzz2EfEDK1dC

Elance: 24 Hours in Online Employment

2012-11-29T16:12:00.001-05:00

With online work, employers, businesses and entrepreneurs are connecting with providers, freelancers and consultants from all over the world to get work done. register online and start freelancing now www.elance.com

2012-11-29T16:01:00.001-05:00

This is yet another new site, invited to join in by some one in my LinkedIn network. It focuses on skills specifically. It is not a resume/curriculum vitae virtual library. People thinking of registering this site should focus and clearly outline their skills in detail.

Where The (Really Good) Jobs Are

2012-09-25T18:02:00.001-04:00

From our unique vantage point as a firm that does extensive recruiting for the Consulting industry, at Ivy Exec we see a number of hiring trends in the consulting sector that can help job seekers tap into new opportunities. According to Plunkett Research, Ltd., a market research and economic analysis firm, corporate profits have grown dramatically since late 2009 and into early 2012, while government budgets in the U.S. and much of Europe, have been under severe pressure with lower tax revenues. These trends have created opportunities for consulting companies worldwide. Plunkett Research estimates that global consulting industry revenues (including HR, IT, strategy, operations management and business advisory services) will be about $391 billion in 2012 up from $366 billion in 2011.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/elenabajic/2012/09/25/where-the-really-good-jobs-are/

Should You Pay for Job Listings?

2012-09-25T13:42:00.004-04:00

When faced with a rough market, stiff competition, or a search that’s been going on for months, many job seekers are looking for creative ways to get leads on potential gigs. One of those approaches is using paid job sites like the Ladders, LinkedIn Premium, Higher Bracket (CAN), The Ivy Executive (US) and FlexJobs etc. These companies claim to give an edge in a competitive market, either by weeding out the majority of positions from their listings so you can focus only on the ones that are right for you, getting your resume in front of recruiters, or offering personalized job search guidance and tips. But are they worth it? http://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2012/09/25/should-you-pay-for-job-listings/

The Shortest Route To A New Job

2012-09-25T13:15:00.002-04:00

Lewis’ is a classic story of direct contact leading to a great job. He didn’t find the position through an ad or even through networking. Instead, he knew where he wanted to work, he figured out who was in charge, and he reached out to that person directly, making a compelling case with his orange grease pencil for why he’d be an asset. Read more,click to link. If you are hungary, passionate and know want you want - go direct to the person in charge. http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2012/09/21/the-shortest-route-to-a-new-job-2/

2 Things That Will Give You Long-term Job Success

2012-09-25T13:07:00.002-04:00

“If you’re looking to find a job or a career where you can be truly successful long-term, put joy on your list of requirements and embrace the idea of challenge" http://www.forbes.com

Learn why it's all about you

2012-09-01T11:16:00.000-04:00

We design about.me for ourselves. It is a free service that lets you create a beautiful one page website that's all about you and your interests. Upload a photo, write a short bio, and add your favourite soical networks to show the world the big picture of you. We've focused on enabling you to create your own personal page quickly and build a personal and dynamic page that points visitors to your content from around the web.

PART1

Watch this short video to find out how t get more visitors to your page. Put a link to your email signature, share your page on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Add it to your Twitter bio, LinkedIn profile, blog etc and get free about.me cards

PART2

BranchOut vs BeKnown - Which One Should YOU Use?

2012-08-31T11:06:00.000-04:00

Which Facebook app should you use for your career? BranchOut and BeKnown both help you use Facebook to develop your professional network, yet each has it's pros and cons. Watch this video to decide what you think. The most important lesson you'll take away is the fact that regardless of which you chose, you MUST get engaged in this type of technology for your career.

Create a Visual Curriculum Vitae

2012-08-30T11:09:00.001-04:00

Yes, you must be on LinkedIn, Viadeo, Xing, Plaxo - 4 professional networking sites. LinkedIn is no doubt the most high profile site. Its good to be present in all four, but use LinkedIn extensively for your networking.

I came across: Visual CV another site to use to help you be more visible online. Make time to explore and set your details on Visual CV.

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Monster's Be Known Facebook App

2012-08-24T18:02:00.000-04:00

Last year Branch Out Facebook App was introduced and now Monster's Beknown Facebook App is available. Make use of it, you can join via Monster or go direct to http://www.beknown.com/landing

Recruitment Agencies & Executive Search

2012-08-24T17:00:00.004-04:00

Many recruitment and executive search companies have a career centre web page providing lots of good advice on and links to various sites to help potential candidates not just on their curriculum vitae/resume but also on their branding, networking, interviewing, negotiations and onboarding (once job starts). It is worth to spend a bit on time checking these sites. for example Mandrake, click on link: http://www.mandrake.ca/corporate/career_centre/career_centre.asp

Curriculum Vitae Writing & Presentation

2012-08-24T16:38:00.000-04:00

I was advised by some one to check and have a look at Sharon Graham's blog and website. Great helpful tips and samples. Please visit her site and get a free assessment of your resume or curriculum vitae: http://sharongraham.ca/

How to Build the Ultimate Social Media Resume

2011-10-09T18:42:00.000-04:00

Dan Schawbel is the author of Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success, and owner of the award winning Personal Branding Blog.

Social media resumes are important for attracting hiring managers directly to you, without you having to submit your resume, blindly, to them. The problem with submitting your resume online to job postings is that most job postings aren’t even vacant, might not exist, and 80% of jobs offers are received through networking. Please check out Link!

Personal Branding

2011-10-09T18:23:00.000-04:00

Dan Schawbel is the author of Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success, and owner of the award winning Personal Branding Blog.

In the past few years personal branding has been discussed exhaustively throughout the Net. The difference between today and over ten years ago when it was first mentioned by Tom Peters, is the rise of social technologies that have made branding not only more personal, but within reach.

Top 25 Job Seekers New Years Resolutions

2011-01-05T12:21:00.004-05:00

"The New Year can be a time for introspection and evaluation of personal change, especially when searching for a job. Beyond New Year’s career goals, many people resolve to get in shape, eat healthier, or improve relationships. Still others resolve to meet personal, financial or business goals. It’s a good guess that many readers of this site have finding a new or better job as a part of their New Year’s resolutions."

"2010 was another lousy year for job search – continuing the toughest job market in our lifetime for most readers. The past two years also turned many job seekers assumptions of job search around 180 degrees, as candidates began to realize that the old job search rules no longer work today. While 2011 might be better, our friendly economists are warning us not to expect much improvement for the coming year." Check out link for more information.

http://www.recareered.com/blog/2010/12/31/top-25-job-seekers-new-years-resolutions-of-2011/

More than 80% of job openings are actually unlisted

2011-01-03T10:21:00.007-05:00

Job boards are irresistible because they seemingly put everything within easy reach. Unfortunately, the majority of job hunters are competing for the same small pool of jobs and getting turned down.

More than 80% of job openings are actually unlisted, says Steven Rothberg, founder of job website CollegeRecruiter.com in Minneapolis. This can be a good opportunity for outside candidates with research and networking skills since most companies will try to promote from within or rely on employee referrals. Look for signs: Keep up with what's going on in your industry. Read trade journals, follow analyst commentary and monitor the stock market for indicators showing which companies are growing, restructuring or contracting out services. Good or bad news can lead to staff changes so regularly check company websites and Facebook pages for jobs since they may not be advertised elsewhere. Compile a list of companies that you'd like to work for and research relevant positions within those organizations. You can find job descriptions on career websites and industry blogs. For newly created jobs, try Glassdoor.com, a site offering inside job information that is supplied by anonymous employees.

Only apply to jobs that closely fit your skills and experience, says Susan Strayer, a career coach in Washington. "If you want to become that wildcard choice, a 30% match isn't going to cut it. You need to be as close to 100% as possible." It's people, not paper: Tap your personal network of colleagues, friends and family to find those inside connections that can forward your résumé to decision makers. If you don't have a direct line, try reaching outside of your immediate network to friends of friends, old classmates or even cold call somebody in a useful capacity who can offer inside intelligence about company culture. Don't overlook contacts working for company vendors; they are often seen by decision makers as trusted sources of referrals.

The more senior you are, the smaller the network tends to be, so join professional trade organizations and attend trade shows, conferences and seminars. Make it easy to find you: Promote your availability by posting your résumé on networking websites like LinkedIn.com and on specific industry websites like ClearanceJobs.com or edjoin.org, a website for educators. Emphasize unique skills on your résumé since companies will search online databases when they have specialized needs. That's how Vanessa Broaten, a teacher from Anaheim Hills, Calif., got her job after posting on several teaching websites. She was hired because of her master's in education and fluency in Spanish and Portuguese. Follow up with employers since first hiring picks don't always work out. The same job may get reposted six months down the line. You want to be available to that employer before they post the new job.

Plaxo With Simply Hired

2010-09-16T12:04:00.005-04:00

Plaxo is a social network that resembles LinkedIn to a certain degree. You’re able to create your own profile with a section about you, your contact information and your “pulse stream,” which is made up of your presence on social media sites such as Twitter. You’re even able to share your photo album and send eCards, which is a nice differentiator. Another online job search vehicle.

The real value in Plaxo is the address book that keeps track of all of your contact information, including a Yahoo! Map indicating where your contacts live. Plaxo, which is owned by Comcast, is also integrated with Simply Hired, which is a job aggregator that searches thousands of job sites and companies and aggregates them in a single location for you. After building your Plaxo profile, use it as part of the recruitment process when applying for jobs with Simply Hired for success. posted by Dan Schawbel

Facebook Job Search App Gets $6M in Funding

2010-09-16T10:32:00.007-04:00

BranchOut brings career networking onto Facebook. Facebook isn’t all party pics and FarmVille, some of us do serious career networking on the site. BranchOut caters to the professionally oriented Facebook user. This relatively new application transforms Facebook into your personal career center. You can search through your friends by company to see which social connections can help you professionally, too.You can use the app to discover new contacts and business opportunities on Facebook, as well. There’s a friends-of-friends feature that will help you find connections at specific companies you’re interested in, and you can use the app to post and find job openings.

All in all, BranchOut is useful enough that we wonder why Facebook isn’t doing more internally on the career and job-search end. Here’s a brief demo video.The big question most would ask about this app is obvious: Why would you use a Facebook app when LinkedIn already exists to cover the same space of social/professional networking? And isn’t it risky to build your business on a pure-play app atop someone else’s platform?

LinkedIn has quite a few challengers these days, but none have the momentum or userbase of Facebook. Yet Facebook itself isn’t a direct competitor. We think building a career networking app on top of Facebook’s social network is actually brilliant because it taps into very real and vibrant connections within a social graph, not just the sometimes-stale professional Rolodex stored in a LinkedIn profile.

Facebook is also a network that many users check into every day, so if you’re job-hunting or trying to connect with specific people, your chances might be better than on other career sites, where the folks who check in daily are more likely to be other job seekers than your desired contacts.

As for the pure-play aspect, in most cases, we’d be extremely cautious and not so optimistic. In the event that Facebook decides to devote serious time and effort to career networking and job-search features, BranchOut’s goose may be cooked. But for the time being, there could be some interesting, creative and potentially lucrative things coming out of this startup.

And apparently we’re not the only ones who see promise in the BranchOut model; the startup, which just launched in July, has raised a healthy $6 million dollar Series A from Silicon Valley venture capital firm Accel Partners. What do you think of BranchOut? Do you or have you ever used Facebook to find a job, help someone else get a job or do general professional networking?

Masable Article September 2010

How to Stand Out in Your Job Search

2010-06-18T10:49:00.000-04:00

Stop Chasing Jobs and Start Attracting Them

Found this on LinkedIn - Kevin Kermes's company. Please click link and sign up for his free webinars. Great advice. Different compared to others I have heard.
http://www.careerattraction.com/free-webinar/

Keep Positive and Keep Striving

2010-06-15T15:25:00.000-04:00

Keep positive, be systematic with your daily job search. Network hard on LinkedIn and get telephone and face to face interviews. Aim and target a 2-4 quality interviews a week if you can. Go through the JobBoards and sign up with agencies as well as contacting companies direct.

Net Work Xing

2010-06-15T15:20:00.010-04:00

XING (named openBC/Open Business Club until November 17, 2006) is a social software platform for enabling a small-world network for professionals. The company claims that it is used by people from over 200 countries. Available languages include English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Dutch, Chinese, Finnish, Swedish, Korean, Japanese, Russian, Polish, Turkish and Hungarian. By displaying how each member is connected to any other member, it visualizes the small-world phenomenon.

The platform offers personal profiles, groups, discussion forums, event coordination, and other common social community features. Basic membership is free. But many core functions, like searching for people with specific qualifications or messaging people to whom one is not already connected, can only be accessed by the premium members. Premium membership comes at a monthly fee of 5 € (around 9 USD). The platform uses https and has a rigid privacy and no-spam policy. Unlike many other networking websites, XING provides its paying members very easy email access to any members.

XING has a special Ambassador program for each city or region around the world with a substantial constituency. The Ambassadors hold local events that promote the use of social networking as a business tool, letting members introduce business ideas to one and other, and get to know each other on a personal level. XING competes with the American platform LinkedIn and the European Viadeo for social networking among businesses. XING also offers the system for closed communities, called Enterprise groups with their own access paths and interface designs. The platform serves as the infrastructure for corporate groups, including IBM, McKinsey, Accenture and others.