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Workplace

How Social Media is an Online Privacy Risk for You

The spread of social media has its risks for all of us. Those same sites that we use to connect to family, friends, and our community can also compromise sensitive information. According to Carnegie Mellon researchers, information listed on social media may be enough to guess a social security number, the key to identity theft.…

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Workplace

How Personal Branding is Just Like Riding a Bike

“Don’t worry, it’s just like riding a bike.” How often have you heard this cliche? Chances are that around the age of 5, you learned how to ride a bike. After numerous times of falling over, banging your shins against the pedals, and losing control, something magical happens. You are riding! The feeling is euphoric…

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Workplace

How to Design Your Resume on Prezi

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results” – Albert Einstein  I have always thought about doing something different, but that meant that I had to leave my comfort zone and that’s not always easy. So I decided to leave my comfort zone and move to another country, learn…

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Timebound

LinkedIn User Stats: By Network, Profiles, Groups and Applications

LinkedIn now has 150+ million users. But how are those users really using the world largest professional networking site? Good question which this infographic will try to answer. Here are some of the highlights of the study.
 
First off, most users (90.9%) use the free version of LinkedIn and the rest have an upgraded paid account. Probably the way it should be, paid accounts are typically only useful for people using LinkedIn for recruitment or business development.
 
Most users (51%) have between 0-500 first degree connections on LinkedIn. Compare that to recruiters using LinkedIn, they have an average of 616 first degree connections (more at How Recruiters use Social Networks).
 
This is interesting: only 50.5% of users have ‘complete profiles’ as defined by LinkedIn. Getting a complete profile is really simple so wonder why so few people have done this?
 
The majority of LinkedIn users are in 10 or more groups. 10.4% of users are a member of the maximum 50 groups. Being in more groups gives users more visibility and ability to search for others, something only one in ten users have clocked on to.
 
How must time are users investing in LinkedIn? No surprise here that the biggest group (47.6%) only spend between 0 and 2 hours on the network per week. Only 10.5% of users spend more than 8 hours on LinkedIn per week, probably the same users that are members of 50 groups!
 
What do people like about LinkedIn? Most users say they like Groups, people searching, finding people they might know, seeing who’s viewed your profile and looking up company information. No mention of snooping on competitors or looking up ex-girlfriends.
 
Related reading: Global LinkedIn Demographics and Statistics 2012

Source: Power Formula

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Workplace

3 Smart Ways to Boost Your Job Search

A job search can be a joyful and exhilarating process. A job search can be an annoying and exhausting process. Which statement do you identify most with? Most people would say, “It depends.” One emotion that is dominant during a transition is one of urgency.

Here are three simple ideas to simplify and successfully manage your search.
 

1. Pay attention to how you start.

 

Treat your job search as a process NOT an event.

• Thoughtful reflection. What is your “ideal” job? Specifically, list and prioritize your top five criteria and support these with examples. Can you clearly explain to someone why these criteria are important to you? Use your transition time to review your work values, interests, skills in relation to past experience and future possibilities. What was right in the past might not necessarily be right today! Priorities do change with circumstances.

• Critical Analysis. Recognize that hiring does take place even in a tight job market and that employers hire when they are convinced why you can do the job. Conduct in-depth research and analyze position requirements carefully to assess how you can meet employer needs BEFORE you develop your marketing materials and job search strategy.
 

2. Pay attention to your marketing plan.

 

Craft your marketing plan AFTER completing a thorough self-assessment.

• Value-Add Marketing Materials. Craft your written and spoken communication based on performance and results, NOT tasks. Use the “so what” test to convince and build confidence in an employer by giving them insight into how your role made a key difference to a business problem.

• Winning Outcomes: What is the best way to look for a job? With the many choices available, first, create your target list of choice employers and geographic preferences before planning your search strategy. Why apply for a job in Phoenix, Arizona if you never plan to move there? Decide how and where you want to expend most of your creative energy for the best results. You want momentum which you get when you get off the rocking horse.

• Build Your Network: Employee referrals continue to be the number one source for hiring. Networking with people is NOT about asking people for a job; rather, it is the process of building alliances. A process that begins much before you need to look for a position and it is a process that you cultivate as a lifetime habit. Who are your networks? Think of giving back to get help. Create visibility and build credibility by sharing resources and skills to generate opportunities to market your skills.
 

3. Pay attention to your “whole” being.

 

Anxiety, turmoil and loss of confidence are sometimes built into the job search process because you feel vulnerable. It does seem that someone who does not know your and your skills well is judging your worth based on a few conversations. Calm the “storm” when the going is rough with two simple ideas.

• Maintain Focus. Remember transitions are temporary. Remember your preparation. Surround yourself with trusted advisors. Re-assess and re-evaluate. Exercise.

• Assess Your Energy. Recognize that you will have good and bad days in your search. Avoid second-guessing and self-criticism. Remember you are not being rejected; rather your skills might not be the “right fit” for that opportunity. Use all opportunities to get feedback on how effectively you have included self-assessment, research and marketing into your strategy.

• A job search can be a joyful process. A job search can be an annoying and exhausting process. Both statements are true. You make the choice.

Related reading: 6 Clever Ways to Improve Your Job Search Tactics.
 

Sunitha Narayanan is a certified career coach with a passion for connecting people and their talents to life and work opportunities. She is a co-active coach, empowering her clients to believe in their dreams, set actionable goals and actively create joy in their work lives. She is with Image credit Angelo Gonzalez

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Employer Branding Talent Acquisition Workplace

What are the Pros and Cons of Being a Freelancer? [INFOGRAPHIC]

What the heck is a freelancer? A freelancer, freelance worker, or freelance is somebody who is self-employed and is not committed to a particular employer long term.

Freelancing has become an enormous part of the work landscape and is popular among all generations. For many Americans, the days of 40-hour work weeks in the office are long gone, and they’re happier because of it. Freelancers are generally well educated, with about 20% of freelancers having a Master’s Degree.
 
Not having a stable employer can also have big downsides, such as missing out on employer-provided medical insurance and getting stiffed by clients. Half of all freelancers say not having affordable health care is their number one concern. Freelancing is a great choice for many people, but filled with a few unavoidable pitfalls. This graphic points out some of the worst to look out for.

Related: How Freelancers Can Use Social Media to Market their Services.

Source: MastersDegree.net

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Workplace

What Makes You a LinkedIn Super Connector?

How many super connectors do you know on LinkedIn? Are you one of them? What is a super connector? Let’s start with the basics. A super connector is basically someone that is very well connected (no surprise here). The author Keith Ferrazzi uses the term in his book Never Eat Alone, here’s his definition: “Super…

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Employer Branding

8 Interview Questions to Get the Conversation Flowing

Is there intelligent life in outer space? Looking in the mirror, you are your own worst critic. It is very easy to pick out your flaws because you are watching yourself in stasis, in one dimension. Your friends, on the other hand, observe you while you’re in motion. They see you when you are laughing…

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Workplace

How to Make Your Dream Employer Notice You

Standing out from the crowd is not always easy, especially if academically you’re pretty average. There is always a plethora of younger, brainier, prize-winning ‘cream of the crop’ types vying for the best jobs – so why would an employer notice your application? Here are some top tips to help get your application considered… 1)…