WEB 2.0 AND RECRUITING

Looking for a job in this economy can be difficult. One obstacle that you have to overcome is the embarrassment of telling your friends and family that you are out of work. You must get over this and let people know you are looking. You never know who might be able to help you. Unless you were fired for inappropriate conduct, there is no shame in being out of work. It happens to a lot of people, and in many cases through no fault of their own.

So if you are out there looking, what is the most productive use of your time as a job seeker? Does it pay to respond to newspaper ads, attend job fairs, network with family and friends? The people who actually do the hiring responded to a poll by Challenger, Gray & Christmas. They said your time is best spent networking; your time is least effectively spent attending job fairs.

Ranked in order of effectiveness were:

1. Your time is best spent networking. This includes letting everyone you come in contact with know you are looking. Use your e-mail contact list, family, neighbors, and friends. You never know who might know about a job and can help you.

2. Using social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. With one simple post or tweet, you can notify large groups that you need help.

3. Getting referrals from management recruiting firms. If you are being laid off you need to try to negotiate as good a deal as you can get. Ask if they will pay for outplacement services.

4. Posting resumes on Internet job boards such as CareerBuilder.com, monster.com, yahoo’s hotjobs.com, etc. And don’t just look for job postings. Post your resume so that employers who may not have posted a job can find you. Remember, 80% of jobs are not posted.

5. Posting resumes directly on employers' websites.

6. Cold-calling employers or sending unsolicited resumes.

Good luck in you search!

Marty Brack
E-mail: mdbrack@crimson.ua.edu
Cell: 205-837-4098