I recently conducted a poll…ok, it wasn’t that recent, but it has only recently gotten enough of a response to make some statistical significance.

The question was “how you got your most recent job?”

And it is official, 44% of respondents got their last job through someone they knew. So, with almost a year of preaching, my little unscientific poll has validated my claims after such a long time…NETWORKING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT WAY TO GET A JOB THESE DAYS. It used to be about WHAT you knew, today it is about WHO you know.

So, if you are one of the 5 people in the world that read my blog, I urge you, check out some of my archived articles, follow the tips, and start networking. LinkedIn is a good place to start, but your professional networking should not be limited to that. Use your Facebook contacts, your church/congregation contacts, and help out any where you can. But, regardless, whatever you do make new contacts. Show your strengths and core competencies to others, and let them support you in your efforts.

Good luck, and remember that if you haven’t already done so, add me to your network http://www.linkedin.com/in/konst2k

Should you advertise your linkedin profile or other social networking url on your resume?

This is a common question I’ve been asked as of late, and the answer is pretty simple.

If your social networking profile (regardless of whether it is on linkedin, myspace, facebook, flickr, hi5, etc.) is professional and comprehensive,  then yes, absolutely post your url on your resume. Stick it right at the top next to your email address, and just below your name. Your professional profile can be a great source of information to a potential employer offering depth to your application.

Recommendations (on LinkedIn) and posted “Answers” will give all prospective employers a window to your insight, and networking savvy…Critical skills in a role that requires any type of human interaction. A well thought out social network profile, regardless of the site, could be the difference between you getting the job, or someone else.

If on the other hand, your social networking profile is like my facebook page, i.e.  has pictures of you doing things you would rather not see your future employer doing (we all know about those pictures of you dancing on tables, or inebriated at your brother’s wedding)…we just don’t want to see them. Keep these sites private where they belong.

Disclaimer: No, I do not admit to having pictures of me inebriated or dancing on tables on my facebook page…but even if I did, with a network closed only to my immediate friends and family…you’ll never know!

For more information on this topic, check out this post by Amy McGeachy.

PRACTICING WHAT I PREACH

I was teaching a LinkedIn seminar last week for a group of recently laid off HR professionals. It was a basic “how to” seminar that outlined the key functions of networking tool, and how to use it to find a job.

The seminars I have been involved with are pretty intricate as I like to make sure that I deliver valuable content and remain a trusted resource when it comes to online networking and recruitment.

IN A NUTSHELL

One thing I find with most seminars I do is that there are still many out there in our industry who are not utilizing LinkedIn as a networking tool or as a job search resource. For this reason I wanted to share a few simple ways for newbies to get online and get hired through LinkedIn.

1. Create a LinkedIn profile (of the 15 attendees, 4 hadn’t even done that – kinda of ironic don’t you think, since this WAS a LinkedIn seminar).
2. Build your network (invite EVERYONE you know – and their friends too).
3. Create a list of all the variations of job titles that you are looking for (for example, HR Manager, Human Resources Manager, HR Director, HRD, etc.).
4. Create a similar list of the hiring manager for this role and all the variations of their job titles (VP HR, SVP HR, EVP HR, VP Human Resources, etc.).
5. Create a target list of companies and/or industries you’d like to work in.
6. Use the Advanced People Search page and find the hiring manager in each of target companies you are looking for, within your network.
7. Use your network for a referral, and network your way in!!!

And remember to connect to me! www.linkedin.com/in/konst2k. I will help you out any way that I can.